Skillet-Fried Fish Nuggets

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 02/14/22
Bowl of fried chunky cod breaded nuggets on steel table

Diana Miller/Getty Images
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 8 mins
Total: 13 mins
Servings: 6 to 10 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
279 Calories
6g Fat
19g Carbs
36g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 10
Amount per serving
Calories 279
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 6g 7%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 147mg 49%
Sodium 508mg 22%
Total Carbohydrate 19g 7%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 36g
Vitamin C 0mg 2%
Calcium 100mg 8%
Iron 3mg 18%
Potassium 788mg 17%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Frozen fish sticks have been around a long time. They are a quick dinner solution, as well as a way to get your kids to eat fish. But many versions are heavy on sodium and preservatives, and often the ratio of breading to fish is not in our favor. Luckily, making your own fish sticks—or, in this case, nuggets—is easy, especially if you use a pre-made dry pancake mix. When seasoned breadcrumbs are added, you get a nice coating that crisps up when pan-fried in a little bit of oil. The lemon pepper and garlic salt add just the right amount of flavor.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons canola oil, more as needed

  • 3 pounds fish fillets

  • 1 dash lemon pepper

  • 1 dash garlic salt

  • 1 large egg, beaten

  • 1/4 cup water

  • 1 cup dry pancake mix

  • 1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Heat the oil (it should come up to about 1/2 inch) in a large deep skillet over medium heat to 350 F to 365 F.

  3. Cut fish into bite-sized pieces. Lightly sprinkle the pieces with lemon pepper and garlic salt.

  4. Place the beaten egg and water in a bowl. Combine the pancake mix and breadcrumbs in a large plastic food storage bag.

  5. Dip the fish in the egg and water mixture and then place in the bag to coat with the crumbs.

  6. Fry the coated fish pieces in the hot oil for 7 to 8 minutes, or until golden brown, turning once.

  7. Drain well on paper towels. Serve fried fish nuggets immediately with cocktail sauce or tartar sauce.

  8. Enjoy!

Tips

  • Choosing the right fish is crucial to making this recipe work. The best fish for frying is a firm, meaty, white-fleshed fish; do not use a delicate fillet or else it will simply fall apart in the oil. Varieties to look for are Alaskan cod, tilapia, halibut, hake, or catfish.
  • No matter which type of fish you choose, make sure it looks and smells fresh. If the fish is frozen, you may want to slice it into nugget-sized pieces before it is thawed; the fish will be easier to cut when the flesh is very firm.
  • To make these nuggets into a complete meal, serve with french fries and coleslaw or carrot and celery sticks.

Recipe Variations

  • For a healthier recipe, use organic, whole grain, or whole wheat pancake mix. Many of these variations not only offer more fiber but are also usually low in sugar, calories, and sodium.
  • If you'd rather not use boxed pancake mix, you can easily make your own. A simple dry pancake mix includes flour, baking powder, cream of tartar, powdered milk and shortening. For an even healthier version, try a mixture of oats, 4 different flours, buttermilk powder, and malt powder.
  • To change up the texture and flavor of these fish nuggets, substitute cornmeal for the breadcrumbs and swap out the lemon pepper and garlic salt for Old Bay seasoning.
  • If you like this recipe but are looking for something with a little more kick, beer batter fried fish nuggets have a bit of hot sauce and cayenne pepper, making these crispy pieces perfect for fish tacos.