Lightly crisped on the outside and tender on the inside, these EASY fish nuggets are picky-eater approved and they're baked not fried! Made with a combination of Parmesan cheese, panko breadcrumbs, plus there's homemade tartar sauce for dipping!
Prep Time20 minutesmins
Cook Time10 minutesmins
Total Time30 minutesmins
Course: Seafood
Cuisine: American
Keyword: baked fish nuggets, breaded tilapia recipes, crispy baked tilapia, dipping sauce for fish nuggets, fish nuggets, tilapia fillet recipes
Servings: 4
Calories: 706kcal
Author: Averie Sunshine
Ingredients
Fish Nuggets
⅓cupall -purpose flour
½teaspoonsalt.
¼teaspoonpepper
2large eggslightly beaten
1cupgrated parmesan
1cuppanko breadcrumbs
1teaspoondried parsley flakes
1.25 to 1.50poundstilapia filetsabout 4 large filets
Olive oil cooking spray
Tartar Sauce
⅓cupmayonnaise
⅓cupsour cream
2tablespoonsketchup
2tablespoonsdill pickle relish
1tablespoonDijon mustard
Instructions
Fish Nuggets
Preheat oven to 400F, optionally line a baking sheet with foil, and the spray the foil or the baking sheet with olive oil cooking spray; set aside.
To a medium bowl, add the flour, salt, pepper, and stir to combine; set aside.
To a separate small bowl, add the eggs and lightly beat; set aside.
To a separate medium bowl, add the Parmesan, panko breadcrumbs, parsley, and stir to combine; set aside.
Cut the fish into bite-sized nugget shapes or strips/sticks.
Dredge each piece through the flour, then the egg, and then the panko mixture.
Place breaded and battered fish on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until done* (See Notes). While fish bakes, make the tartar sauce.
Tartar sauce
To a medium bowl, add all the ingredients, and whisk to combine; set aside until ready to use.
Serve fish nuggets immediately with tartar sauce, as desired.
Notes
Air fryer instructions: Spray the breaded nuggets with cooking spray, fry for 8 minutes, flip, spray again, and fry for an additional 4 minutes. (Check out my Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets for a frame of reference.)Storage: Nuggets are best warm and fresh but will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 4 days noting that the nuggets will not stay crispy. Tartar sauce will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days.