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Here in Wisconsin, fish and chips are a way of life. Every year, restaurants compete for the title of best fish fry, and now you can be a part of the tradition with this easy bakedFish and Chips recipe!
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This is an easy, healthy, crispy oven baked fish recipe that’s inspired by a lifelong fish and chips history.
I grew up eating fish and chips at my hometown parish fish fry during Lent. I’ve frequented the Best Fish Fry award winners here in Wisconsin where fish fry is sacred year-round,. Fish and chips is the dish I ordered the first time I ever traveled abroad at a British pub in London.
After three decades of noshing different versions, I love today’s healthy fish and chips recipe most of all.
I mean no disrespect towards any of the fine fish and chips restaurants I’ve patronized throughout the years.
The fish fry is a beloved classic for a reason, and every once in a while, a greasy-napkin basket of beer battered fish and chips hits the spot.
99.9% of the time, however, I’m much happier with this easy baked fish recipe.
Like the beer battered fish and chips recipes you’ll find in bars, my baked version is golden and crispy on the outside, and the fish is moist and tender on the inside.
Although this isn’t a traditional English fish and chips recipe, I bet even Gordon Ramsay, the famously blunt and accomplished British celebrity chef, would approve!
To make this fish recipe even easier, the chips (a.k.a. fries) bake on the same sheet pan as the fish. You’ll have just one pan to wash in the end.
Ready to make the fish fry an every night ordeal? Let’s make baked fish and chips!
The Secret to Crispy Baked Fish and Chips
The secret to this perfect crispy exterior and tender interior combination is the double dredge.
Tip!
The fish fillets are first dredged in flour (the first dredge), then egg whites (the binder), then seasoned panko breadcrumbs (the second dredge).
Thanks to the double dredge, the fish fillets bake up crispy and crusty on the outside, while the inside stays moist and flaky.
This baked fish is tender but retains a pleasant firmness. It doesn’t taste greasy or fall apart.
The double dredge might seem tedious, but when you taste the crispy fish results, you will see that the extra step is WORTH IT.
5 Star Review
“It was PHENOMENAL! This couldn’t have been easier or more delicious. The fries were the icing on the cake.”
— Jasmine —
How to Make the Best Fish and Chips
If you’re looking for a healthier version of this classic recipe that doesn’t sacrifice on taste or texture, then it is better to bake the fish than fry it.
Fried, battered fish and chips is not healthy by most standards due to the amount of oil involved in deep frying. I made it my goal to find a more wholesome way to enjoy this beloved meal.
This healthy oven baked fish and chips recipe gives you that perfect taste and texture, no messy deep fry required!
The Fish
- White Fish. You should use any firm, white fish for fish and chips. I typically make fish and chips with cod, because it is widely available, inexpensive, and works perfectly in this oven fried fish and chips recipe.
Market Swap
Haddock and pollack would also work well. Halibut is another unquestionably delicious option. It does come at a premium price, however, so be prepared if that’s the direction you choose.
Do not use a flaky white fish, such as tilapia or snapper, as they will not hold together as well.
- Buttermilk + Seafood Seasoning (such as Old Bay). The delicious, flavorful, and easy fish marinade.
- Egg Whites. Typically, the fish batter is made with flour, beer, and seasonings. Since I wanted to make this a fish and chips recipe without beer, I found an alternative. Using egg whites with the seasonings instead makes this recipe more healthy and ensures the panko adheres to the outside of the fish.
- Whole Wheat Panko. For the best baked fish, I recommend panko instead of regular breadcrumbs. Panko is a style of Japanese bread crumbs that is larger. It creates a more crunchy exterior.
You can find panko at almost any grocery store. I also use it to make perfectly crunchy, juicy Crispy Asian Chicken Tenders and Honey Mustard Chicken Tenders, to top off casseroles like this Broccoli Rice Casserole, and on the outside of my Baked Chicken Parmesan too.
The Chips
The recipe is called fish and chips, because “chips” are what the Brits refer to as fries. Chips are typically wide and flat, more like potato wedges.
- Wedges. In this recipe, I opted for thick-cut oven baked potato wedges made from russet potatoes. Wedges are easier to prep than thin-cut chips, take up less space on the pan, and bake up irresistibly crisp and golden. They are also most similar to ones you’ll find in the country that is famous for fish and chips, England.
- French Fries. If you’d like a thinner style of chips that resembles a more classic French fry, check out my recipe for homemade Baked French Fries.
The Directions
- Mix the buttermilk and part of the Old Bay together in a ziptop bag. Add the fish, then refrigerate for 20 minutes.
- Cut the potatoes into wedges and toss with oil and seasonings. Bake the wedges for 25 minutes at 400 degrees F on a baking sheet.
- Dredge the fish in the flour, then egg white, then seasoned panko. Arrange it on the baking sheet with the chips.
- Bake the chips and the fish together on a baking sheet for 15 minutes. ENJOY!
Fish Dipping Sauce Suggestions
- Tartar Sauce. Store-bought tartar sauce is a quick, easy option and Ben’s favorite.
- Malt Vinegar. Another classic you’ll find in British and Irish pubs is malt vinegar. I adore it!
- Dijon Yogurt Sauce. For something different and healthy, try Greek yogurt stirred together with a squirt of Dijon mustard. It’s delicious and not at all traditional, but then again, neither is this recipe! Dip as you please.
- Basil Yogurt Sauce. See this post Zucchini Fries for the recipe.
Storage Tips
- To Store. While this recipe is best enjoyed the day it is made, you can store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 1 day.
- To Reheat. Let the fish come to room temperature, then place it and the chips uncovered on a baking sheet in the oven at 350 degrees F for a few minutes, just until warmed through. The chips may take longer to reheat, so I like to give them a head start.
Meal Plan Tip
The fish can be marinated for up to 8 hours in advance. Cover and refrigerate it.
What to Serve with Fish and Chips
Recommended Tools to Make Fish and Chips
- Baking Sheet. Perfect for our sheet pan fish and chips recipe.
- Pie Dish. My favorite for dredging meat and seafood prior to baking and for baking quiches, frittatas, and, of course, pie.
- Fish Spatula. Great for transferring your fish to and from the baking sheet.
Let’s make every night Friday night with this baked fish and chips!
Fish and Chips
4.76 from 49 votes
Easy oven baked Fish and Chips. A quick, healthy version of fish and chips that cooks on ONE pan. Panko makes the fish crispy outside and tender inside!
Prep: 15 minutes mins
Cook: 40 minutes mins
Total: 55 minutes mins
Servings: 4 servings
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Ingredients
- 1/4 cup low-fat buttermilk*
- 5 teaspoons Old Bay divided
- 1 pound cod Pollock, halibut, or other firm, white fish fillets, cut into 4×2-inch pieces** (about 4 pieces total)
- 2 large russet potatoes about 1 1/2 pounds, scrubbed and peeled
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic about 1 large clove
- 1/4 cup white whole wheat flour
- 2 large egg whites
- 1 cup whole wheat Panko breadcrumbs
- Lemon wedges for serving
- Tartar sauce or malt vinegar for serving
Instructions
Place a rack in the center of your oven and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil and generously coat with nonstick spray. Set aside.
Add the buttermilk and 1 teaspoon of the OLD BAY to a large ziptop bag and mix to combine. Add the fish and tightly seal. Refrigerate for 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, cut the potatoes in half lengthwise. Then, cut each half into thirds, also lengthwise, so that you have 6 wedges total per potato. Place the potato wedges in a large bowl. Top with olive oil, garlic, and 2 teaspoons OLD BAY. Toss to coat, then spread in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet, discarding any liquid that collects at the bottom of the bowl.
Bake for 25 minutes, turning once halfway through. Remove from the oven and push the potatoes to the outside edges of the baking sheet.
Place the flour in a large, shallow dish (a pie dish works well). In a second dish, briskly whisk the egg whites and 1 teaspoon of OLD BAY until foamy. In a third dish, stir together the Panko and the last teaspoon of OLD BAY. Remove the fish from the buttermilk marinade, shaking off any excess, then dip in the flour, coating all sides. Shake off the excess flour, then dip in the egg whites to moisten, and finally dip in the Panko. Press the Panko onto the fish’s surface so that it sticks to all sides, then arrange the fish in the empty space on the baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining fillets.
Bake the potatoes and fish together for another 15 minutes, until the fish is golden brown and flakes easily with a fork. Serve with lemon wedges and tartar sauce.
Video
Notes
- *No buttermilk? Mix 1/4 cup regular milk with 2 teaspoons lemon juice or white vinegar. Let sit 5 minutes (the milk will curdle) then use as directed.
- **Do not use a flaky white fish, such as tilapia or snapper, as they will not hold together.
- TO MAKE AHEAD: The fish can be marinated for up to 8 hours in the refrigerator prior to preparing.
- TO STORE: This recipe is best enjoyed the day it is made. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 1 day.
- TO REHEAT: Let the fish come to room temperature, then place it uncovered on a baking sheet in a 350 degree F oven for a few minutes, just until warmed through.
Nutrition
Serving: 1(of 4), without tartar sauceCalories: 291kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 32gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 50mgFiber: 4gSugar: 2g
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Erin Clarke
Hi, I'm Erin Clarke, and I'm fearlessly dedicated to making healthy food that's affordable, easy-to-make, and best of all DELISH. I'm the author and recipe developer here at wellplated.com and of The Well Plated Cookbook. I adore both sweets and veggies, and I am on a mission to save you time and dishes. WELCOME!
