Best Copycat McDonald's Filet-O-Fish Sandwich Recipe
The McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish is a crispy, flaky white fish filet topped with tangy tartar sauce and a slice of cheese, all tucked into a soft, steamed bun. It’s simple but hits the spot when you’re craving it!
Growing up, this was my go-to order, my guilty pleasure! But as much as I loved it, I always felt like it could be even better—more sauce, higher-quality fish, and better ingredients all around. So I took it upon myself to recreate this classic at home, making a version that’s fresher, more flavorful, and just downright tastier!
For more copycat recipes try my Copycat Chick-Fil-A Market Salad and Copycat Cheesecake Factory Skinnylicious® Chopped Salad next.
Why You’ll Love My Recipe
Better Ingredients: With high-quality, wild-caught cod, organic cheese, freshly baked brioche buns, and a homemade tartar sauce made with simple ingredients.
Healthier Meal: By air frying the fish instead of deep frying it, excess oil is eliminated, cutting calories while still preserving the incredible taste of the McDonald's version.
Easy to make: This may not be fast food, but with simple instructions, you can have dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes—less time than it takes to decide what to order from a drive-thru menu!
My Go-To Kitchen Tools for this Recipe!
Ingredients You'll Need:
Cod or Halibut: 2 large filets (both are excellent high-quality choices). Use larger, thicker fillets for even cooking and a better fit on the bun—no one wants a small piece of fish in a big bun!
Soft Buns: 2 buns of choice (I used brioche).
Cheese: 2 slices of cheddar or American cheese (my go-to is organic, high-quality cheese, but feel free to use any cheese you like!).
Panko Breadcrumbs: 1 cup (I prefer panko for their crunch, but regular or gluten-free breadcrumbs can be used if you’d like).
Avocado Oil Spray: I recommend Chosen Foods cooking spray for its high quality.
Wet Batter
1 egg: whisked
1 tablespoon mayo: I prefer Chosen Foods avocado oil mayo as it’s made with avocado oil and contains no inflammatory oils.
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon flour: A bit of flour is needed for a thick batter. I used gluten-free flour, but you can choose white flour, almond flour, or oat flour as well.
1/2 teaspoon salt
Tartar Sauce
1/2 cup mayo
1 tablespoon pickles, chopped
1 teaspoon parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon capers, chopped
1/2 lemon: juiced
1/2 teaspoon salt
How to Make Copycat Filet-O-Fish Sandwich
1. In a small bowl, stir together the mayo, dill pickles, fresh dill, capers, lemon juice (I like using this citrus juicer!), and salt. Pop it in the fridge for about 10-15 minutes while you prep the remaining ingredients.
2. Grab a large skillet and set it to medium heat. Add the panko breadcrumbs and toast them for 3-5 minutes until slightly golden, stirring with a spatula to prevent burning.
3. In a large shallow bowl, add the egg, mayo, Dijon mustard, flour, and salt. Mix well until you achieve a smooth consistency.
4. In another large shallow bowl, add the toasted breadcrumbs.
5. Pat the cod filets dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
6. Pat the cod filets dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
7. Dredge each cod filet in the wet batter, ensuring both sides are coated, then transfer it to the bowl with the panko breadcrumbs. Use your fingers to press the breadcrumbs onto the fish to ensure they stick well.
8. Line your air fryer basket with parchment paper (optional) and spray it with avocado oil spray.
9. Place the breaded fish filets into the air fryer basket. Spray the tops of the filets with avocado oil and air fry at 375°F for 10 minutes, or until golden brown.
10. While the fish is cooking, toast both sides of your buns in the same skillet used for the breadcrumbs over medium heat until slightly warm.
11. Once the fish is cooked and golden brown, place a toasted bottom bun on a plate. Top it with the fish filet, a slice of cheese, the tartar sauce, and then the other half of the bun.
12. Serve your delicious Copycat Filet-O-Fish Sandwich with your perfect side dish, such as sweet potato fries, potato salad, or creamy coleslaw!
Storage
As for leftovers, this sandwich is best eaten fresh. However, if you find yourself with some extras, store them in an airtight container, and when ready to eat, simply pop it into an air fryer at 400°F for 3-4 minutes. Maybe try turning your leftover fillets into some fish tacos! Yum!
Jazz's Tips & Tricks!
This copycat recipe can be made with any white fish you choose: haddock, halibut, bass, catfish, or tilapia fillets.
Prefer a thinner breading? Try cornmeal instead!
Toasting the panko breadcrumbs before applying them to the filets takes your Filet-O-Fish sandwich to the next level of crispiness!
Whether you are using fresh fish or frozen fish, pat the filets dry and remove any excess moisture so the seasoning and breading will stick.
Don’t forget to place the fish filets far enough apart so they can properly crisp.
Ingredient Variations:
1. The Bun
The bun plays a big role in texture, and there are plenty of options to choose from:
Brioche Bun – Buttery and soft, perfect for a more indulgent sandwich.
Toasted Potato Bun – A slightly denser option that holds up well to a saucy sandwich.
Sesame Seed Bun – If you love a nod to fast food chain classics, this is a great choice.
King's Hawaiian Fish Deluxe Sandwich Style – For a hint of sweetness, try a Hawaiian roll.
2. The Fish:
Most fast-food fish sandwiches use wild-caught Alaskan pollock or North Atlantic cod, but you can mix it up:
Wild-Caught Alaskan Pollock – A popular choice in fast food restaurants like McDonald’s Fish Sandwich and Wendy’s Fish Sandwich.
North Atlantic Cod – A flakier, slightly sweeter fish often found in seasonal fish sandwiches.
Flounder Fish Sandwich – A milder alternative with a delicate texture.
3. The Coating:
The best fried fish fillet has a crisp outer layer, and here’s how to tweak it:
Panko Bread Crumbs – A must for an extra crunch, just like Wendy’s Crispy Panko Fish Sandwich.
Black Pepper & Sea Salt – Essential seasonings for balance.
Spicy Glaze or Spicy Mayo – For heat lovers, brush on a spicy glaze or mix up a spicy mayo.
Garlic Aioli or Creamy Dill Sauce – Great for those who prefer creamy sauces with a little tang.
4. The Toppings:
Shredded Lettuce or Fresh Lettuce – Adds a refreshing bite.
Crinkle-Cut Pickles – For that signature tang found in many fast food fish sandwiches.
Slice of Cheddar Cheese – To create a Fish 'n Cheddar Sandwich feel.
Red Onion – For a little sharpness and crunch.
Serving Suggestions:
When it comes to pairing the best side dishes with your fish sandwich, you have plenty of good options. Some popular choices include:
Homemade fries, like my sweet potato fries, would pair perfectly with this dish, along with onion rings, creamy coleslaw, my air fryer green beans, or collard greens for a well-balanced meal! A fresh salad, such as a tomato salad, balances the richness of the fish, and for those seeking a low-carb option, cauliflower rice is an excellent choice.
FAQ
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For the best results, opt for flaky fish like cod or halibut. These types of fish provide the right texture and flavor, creating a delicious fried fish patty that can hold up well when topped with a slice of American cheese and delicious tartar sauce.
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The McDonald's Filet-O-Fish is traditionally fried, featuring a crispy fish patty made from white fish like Alaskan Pollock, deep-fried in hot oil. In contrast, my homemade version is air-fried, which cuts down on excess oil while still delivering a deliciously crispy texture and using fresher, high-quality ingredients.
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McDonald's uses American cheese slices for their Filet-O-Fish sandwich, which melt beautifully over the fried fish patty. In my homemade version, you can use the same American cheese or opt for a different kind of cheese based on your personal preference for a delightful twist.
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Frozen fish filets can be cooked in the air fryer, but that won’t work for this copycat filet-o-fish recipe. The filets are dredged in an egg mixture, then coated in panko breadcrumbs. Frozen fish would cook unevenly, and the breading would fall apart.
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If you don’t have an air fryer, you can pan-fry the breaded fish fillets in a skillet with a bit of oil until they are golden brown and cooked through. Just make sure to flip them carefully!
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You can easily pair your Sandwich with a dill pickle, potato chips, or your favorite side dishes like French fries and sweet potatoes.
This fish sandwich recipe is a must-try! With crispy fried fish on a soft, toasted bun and topped with cheese, it’s one of the best fish sandwiches you can whip up at home, and the best part is that it's incredibly easy to make! I can’t wait for you to try it!
Copycat Filet-O-Fish Sandwich
This Copycat Filet-O-Fish Sandwich is battered fish, air fried fish to a crispy golden brown then sandwiched between two fluffy buns with a zesty tartar sauce made from scratch. Enjoy this homemade take on a fast food classic for lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
- 2 large cod or halibut filets
- 2 buns of choice, I used brioche
- 2 slices of cheddar or American cheese
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- Avocado oil spray
- 1 egg, whisked
- 1 tablespoon mayo
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 1 tablespoon pickles, chopped
- 1 teaspoon parsley, chopped
- 1 teaspoon capers, chopped
- ½ lemon, juiced
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- To make the tartar sauce, the mayo, pickles, parsley, capers, lemon juice and salt together in a bowl. Set aside in the fridge for about 10-15 minutes until we prepare the remaining ingredients.
- Heat a skillet over medium, add the panko breadcrumbs and allow them to toast for 3-5 minutes until slightly golden. Make sure to move them around with a spatula to ensure they don't burn.
- Into a large shallow bowl, add the egg, mayo, dijon mustard, flour and salt. Mix well until a smooth consistency is achieved.
- Into another large shallow bowl, add the toasted breadcrumbs.
- Prepare your filets by patting them dry with a paper towel.
- Begin by dredging your cod filet into the wet batter on both sides, then into the panko breadcrumbs. Use your fingers to ensure the breadcrumbs stick to the fish.
- Line your air fryer with parchment paper (optional).
- Spray the air fryer or parchment paper with avocado oil spray.
- Place the fish filets into the air fryer and spray again with avocado oil on top.
- Air fry at 375 for 10 minutes.
- Toast both sides of your bun on the same skillet you toasted the panko breadcrumbs on medium heat until slightly warm.
- Once the fish is cooked & golden brown, begin assembly!
- Place a toasted bun on the bottom, the fish filet on top, a slice of cheese, the tartar sauce then the other half of the bun.
- Serve with your favorite side, like fries!
Hey, I’m Jazz
I’m a nutritional therapist practitioner and spent 3 years as a personal chef to NBA athletes. Follow along for easy, attainable and healthy recipes in under 30 minutes!
Watch the Recipe Tutorial
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