What goes with the fish sticks? - 11 best side dishes

Fish sticks are a quick, easy and, not to forget, delicious food that can be enjoyed both as a proper meal and as a snack. They are usually bought frozen at the supermarket and fried to turn them into a comfortable meal.

They can be eaten on their own or become a proper lunch or dinner, accompanied by equally delicious side dishes.

What accompanies the fish sticks?

The most emblematic garnish of the fish sticks would be the French fries (“fish and chips”); however, alternative garnishes for fish fingers can be mashed potatoes, pasta, quinoa salad, coleslaw, and fried green tomatoes.

Read on for our pick of the 11 best garnishes for fish fingers, what to dip your fish fingers in, and how to further elevate their flavor:

11 Best Garnishes for Fish Fingers

So, without further ado, let’s get started! Below you will find 11 wonderful garnishes to accompany your fish sticks. Tell us in the comments which are your favorites.

1. French fries

Fish and chips, anyone? It’s impossible to talk about fried fish and not mention French fries. After all, it is a classic combination that everyone likes.

Both are equally easy to prepare, since they are deep-fried and ready in a few minutes. If you want to do without excess oil, you can also bake them in the oven.

Be sure to add some grated Parmesan cheese and seasonings for added flavor.

2. Mashed potatoes

Mashed potatoes are one of the most popular side dishes served with all kinds of meals, including gravy, steaks, grilled chicken, and fried fish.

Add just the right amount of half and half and butter to the potatoes for a creamy mash that pairs perfectly with the crispy on the outside and tender on the inside fish fingers.

You can add peas to the mashed potatoes to give it more texture , or a little cream cheese and garlic powder to make it even more flavorful.

3. Coleslaw

Hot fish fingers and cold coleslaw are a dynamic duo. Coleslaw is a refreshing side dish that is incredibly easy to make and goes great with fried fish.

Aside from the difference in texture and temperature, the coleslaw cuts through the richness and oil of the fried fish and works wonders with it.

Whether you use store-bought coleslaw or make your own at home, keep in mind that it tastes best when cold, so leave it in the fridge for a few hours before eating.

This will give it plenty of time to soak in the flavors and make for an even more delicious side dish.

4. Roasted vegetables

As delicious as fish fingers are, we all know that they are a frozen processed food and far from healthy.

To make up for the lack of nutrition, you can accompany them with your favorite roasted vegetables, which will not only add health benefits to your meal, but also a nice color contrast to your plate.

You can choose any vegetable you like, flavor it with the herbs and spices you prefer, and put it in the oven for a couple of minutes.

Roasted cauliflower, asparagus, green beans, carrots, onions, and Brussels sprouts are some of the best toppings for fish sticks.

5. Sweet potato wedges

Substituting potatoes for their sweeter cousin adds a different flavor element to an otherwise salty dish, and is a healthier alternative to the popular fish and chip combo.

You can make them even healthier by not frying them and cutting them into wedges, coating them with your choice of seasoning, and baking them.

For an absolutely delicious taste, rub the sweet potato wedges with a little olive oil, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, and cumin, and thank us afterwards.

6. Rice

The fish sticks by themselves are not very filling. Of course, they can be enjoyed as a snack, but if you want something that will keep you full for a while, pair them with a delicious serving of rice for a complete meal.

You can have regular boiled rice, or if you don’t like sleaze like many people do, you can go for one of the fancier rices, like lemon rice, garlic rice, or even delicious Chinese-style rice.

7. Fried Green Tomatoes

A popular part of southern culinary culture, fried green tomatoes are served as a garnish to many dishes and as a topping on burgers and sandwiches.

They are battered in cornmeal and fried until golden brown, and they taste great with fish fingers that are also fried. You can use the same oil to fry both and enjoy them during lunch, dinner or a snack at noon.

8. Creamy Cucumber Salad

Cucumbers are one of the most refreshing foods and the perfect accompaniment to fish fingers to counteract their oiliness.

A creamy cucumber salad is not only a healthy side dish option, but also delicious and refreshing, especially for a light lunch on a hot day.

You only need fresh cucumbers, red onions, dill, and oregano. Mix them all together and top with some creamy Greek yogurt for a cool, crunchy contrast to the fish fingers.

9. Paste

You can accompany your fish sticks with any pasta you like and make yourself a substantial dinner.

If you’re looking for something no-fuss, whip up a creamy serving of macaroni and cheese and add richness to your otherwise plain meal.

If you want to take a healthier route, you can try using cauliflower instead of pasta, allowing you to eat more for fewer calories.

You can also accompany your fish fingers with spaghetti, macaroni, casserole and pasta salad for a change.

10. Quinoa salad

Nutrient-dense and energy-packed, quinoa is one of the healthiest foods on the planet.

Quinoa salad is a refreshing, crunchy and delicious side dish that goes well with fish fingers.

The quinoa salad is made up of quinoa (obviously), fresh cucumber, red onion, red bell pepper, chickpeas, fresh parsley, garlic, olive oil, and lemon dressing.

Accompanied by some delicious fried fish sticks, the quinoa salad is a very complete lunch or dinner.

11. Fresh fruit

Another delicious and healthy option; the fresh fruit tastes great on its own and also when combined with fish fingers.

To some it may be an odd combination, but fruit makes a great garnish for fried fish fingers and adds a refreshing contrast to the dish.

Some of the most popular fruit options are bananas, apples, grapes, mangoes, and pineapples. To enhance the sweetness of the fruit, you can drizzle some honey or maple syrup over them.

What is the best dressing for fish fingers?

Fish sticks are one of those easy-to-prepare foods that most people always keep in the freezer. All you have to do is fry them until golden brown and that’s it!

They taste great on their own and can also be eaten with delicious sides like chips, rice, and salads.  If you don’t want to accompany your fish fingers with a proper garnish, you can simply enjoy them with a variety of dipping sauces.

Growing up, we’ve all eaten fish fingers with tartar sauce or ketchup. But that is not all. There are many other great sauces that you can use to dip your fish fingers in. Some of the most popular are

• Tartar sauce
• Ketchup
• Ranch
• Barbecue sauce
• honey mustard
• salsa and guacamole
• Marinara sauce
• buffalo sauce
• nacho cheese
• cocktail sauce

How can I make fish sticks taste better?

Kids love fish sticks. Quite a few adults too, but for most of them they are a go-to meal when there is no time to prepare anything else.

What if we told you that there are ways to elevate the flavor of fish fingers and incorporate them into recipes to make something absolutely delicious that kids and adults alike will enjoy?

You can make fish sticks more interesting with some tasty twists, like making fish stick tacos or baking a creamy fish stick casserole for dinner.

To make amazing fish tacos, all you have to do is wrap fried fish fingers in warm corn tortillas and fill them with some shredded green or purple cabbage, cilantro, jalapeños, red onions, tomatoes, avocado and salsa. .

You can also bake the fish sticks instead of frying them. 

Another great option is the Fish Stick Casserole, which is a twist on the classic favorite and an ideal dinner for the whole family to enjoy on a weeknight.

Line the top of the casserole with pre-cooked fish fingers and top with a generous layer of cheese. Bake it for 35-40 minutes at 375°F and enjoy it with your family.

You can also make fish finger sliders topped with malt vinegar coleslaw and drizzled with tartar sauce for a fun dinner. To turn it into a complete meal, you can accompany it with some French fries or some delicious pieces of sweet potato.