Name: The Best Fried Fish Burger Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 cup all-purpose flour; 2 tsp baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 2 eggs; 2/3 cup sparkling water or beer; 2 Tbsp fresh dill (chopped); 1 pound of white fish, cut into four filets; 1/2 tsp salt; 3 liters vegetable oil; 1 cup coleslaw; 1/4 cup tartar sauce; 4 brioche buns

Jump to Recipe

Bring West Coast comfort food home with this crispy fried fish burger recipe made with flaky cod, crunchy slaw, and tangy tartar sauce on toasted brioche buns.

Fried fish filet on a brioche bun with coleslaw and tartar sauce on an orange plate.

This is the kind of crispy fried fish burger that turns a regular weeknight into a celebration. It is flaky and crispy, with the perfect combination of crunchy coleslaw and zesty sauce.

Armed with fresh Pacific cod, a few pantry staples, and a deep fryer, you’re just minutes away from the best fish sandwich you’ll ever taste.

Be sure to check out more of our favorite seafood recipes, like this lemon grilled salmon, the best crab rolls, grilled halibut, and garlic butter shrimp.

Too busy to make this right away? Pin it for later! Pin this post to your favorite board on Pinterest and it will be there when you’re ready!

A Little Backstory

During our last salmon fishing trip in Prince Rupert, we discovered a local gem called OV Burger. Their fried fish burger was so ridiculously delicious! Inspired by the trip (and a whole freezer full of cod), we knew we had to recreate this burger at home.

Fast forward to today: we’ve nailed it. This recipe has been on repeat in our house all summer long!

This year we came back from our fishing trip with a freezer full of fresh seafood! No, seriously, we had our small freezer strapped to the back of the truck, full of fish, on our sixteen hour drive home.

While we were mainly after salmon and halibut, we also caught a surprising amount of cod! Rock cod, Pacific cod, and even black cod filled the boat.

Crispy Fish Burger Recipe

Cod, a delicate white fish, makes the perfect beer-battered fried fish, but you can also use any other white fish you choose. We’ve done a similar dish with halibut, seen here in our fish taco recipe, and rock cod, a West Coast staple, is delicious too.

We were particularly happy to have caught a black cod, also known as sable fish, which is the best filet of fish that you could ask for. But, whichever white fish you have at your disposal, this fish burger is going to take it to the next level!

White fish fillets cut into squares and stacked on a white plate.

Ingredients

All-purpose flour – The secret to that light, crispy coating that makes every bite extra satisfying.
Baking powder – Gives the batter a little lift so it fries up airy and crunchy instead of heavy.
Salt – A simple ingredient that makes all the flavors pop.
Eggs – Helps the batter cling to every delicious piece of fish.
Sparkling water or beer – The bubbles create that irresistible crunch.
Fresh dill, chopped – Bright and fresh, dill is the perfect complement to fish.
White fish, cut into four filets – We’re using cod filet here, but halibut and rock cod are great options too.
Vegetable oil – A neutral oil that lets the crispy fish flavor shine while frying beautifully golden brown.
Coleslaw, homemade or store-bought – Cool, crunchy slaw balances the warm crispy fish perfectly.
Tartar sauce, homemade or store-bought – Creamy, tangy, it is a classic condiment for fried fish.
Brioche buns – Soft, buttery, and slightly sweet, they hold everything together.

Note: Use this keto fish batter for a low carb version of the fish breading. When in a pinch, we will also use a gluten-free beer batter mix from Humble & Frank.

Instructions

1. Prepare the fish by cutting it into filets. Pat your pieces of fish dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture, then sprinkle each side with kosher salt.

2. Heat oil in a deep fryer or Dutch oven to 350°F.

3. In a medium bowl, combine beer batter ingredients and mix well.

4. Dip each cod filet into the batter, letting the excess drip off, then carefully place into the hot oil.

5. Allow the fish to cook for about 2 minutes per side, rolling the fish halfway through cooking so that both sides are a nice golden brown color.

Each piece of fish will take about 5 minutes total to cook and, depending on the size of your deep fryer and thickness of the fish, you may need to cook in batches.

6. Transfer cooked filets to a wire rack (to maintain the crunch) or baking sheet lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.

7. Build each fried fish sandwich by adding coleslaw and tartar sauce to the fish on a burger bun.

We love to serve this homemade fish burger with air fryer French fries or ripple chips. This recipe is a total crowd-pleaser and a great way to celebrate your latest catch (or supermarket haul).

Whether it’s your turn hosting a crowd or just a quiet dinner at home, this fish sandwich is guaranteed to make you a hero in the kitchen.

Fish Fry Details

When cleaning out the freezer to store our latest catch, we discovered that we still had halibut from last year in there! So, seeing that we needed to use this fish, we invited everyone over for a fish-fry and used flaky white halibut filets in this recipe instead.

This was such a great way to feed a large group of people. I had a big bowl of fresh coleslaw, homemade tartar sauce, hamburger buns, and ripple chips laid out on the counter.

Then we simply fried the fish and had guests build their own burger as the cod was cooked. The burgers were a hit with everyone and we had a blast sharing our catch with friends and family — we love to feed people!

Recipe Notes

Go for a neutral oil when deep frying, like canola oil or peanut oil, for a clean, crispy finish.
You can use either fresh or frozen fish for this recipe. Just make sure frozen fish is completely thawed and patted dry to avoid soggy results.
Instead of using room temperature batter, chill it slightly. The chilled batter hits hot oil like a champ, creating that coveted crispy crust.
Homemade tartar sauce is fairly easy to make with mayonnaise, minced dill pickles (or relish), lemon juice, and fresh dill.
If tartar sauce isn’t your jam, try Dijon mustard and mayonnaise.
Mix it up by adding fresh herbs like green onion or cilantro to the coleslaw.
Top with your favorite burger toppings like lettuce, sliced tomato, or pickles.
If you are planning to cook a lot of fish, keep the first batch warm in a 200°F oven on a baking tray while frying the rest.
Leftover battered fish? Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and use the air fryer to reheat them the next day.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best fish to use for a fried fish burger?
Cod is one of the most popular choices because of its mild flavor and flaky texture. Halibut, haddock, rock cod, and pollock also work really well for homemade fish burgers.

How do you keep fried fish crispy?
The best trick is placing the cooked fish on a wire rack instead of directly on paper towels. This helps prevent steam from softening the crispy coating.

Can I make fried fish burgers in the air fryer?
Yes! While deep frying gives the crispiest texture, you can air fry battered fish at 400°F until golden and cooked through. It’s a great lighter option.

What toppings go best on a fish burger?
Classic toppings include coleslaw, tartar sauce, lettuce, pickles, sliced tomato, and red onion. Some fish lovers even add American cheese for an extra indulgent bite.

How do I store leftover fried fish?
Store leftover fish in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat in the air fryer or oven to help bring back the crispy texture.

If you’ve been craving one of those Filet-O-Fish burgers from that fast food restaurant that shall not be named, I am here to tell you this easy recipe is one hundred times better and worth the effort.

Give it a go and let us know how you’ve made it your own. Cheers to flakey fish, crispy batter, and one heck of a fried-fish sandwich!

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