Here at Sporked, we’ve already covered the best fish sticks you can find at the grocery store and the best dipping sauces to go with them. “But what about the sides??” we heard you cry to the heavens. And so we’re back on that fish sticks beat to tell you what to eat with fish sticks. You’re welcome! The next time you toss a box of fish sticks in your shopping cart, be sure to throw at least one of these accompaniments in your cart, too. Fish sticks would stink without ’em!
- Kroger Crinkle Cut French Fried Potatoes
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It pains me to admit this, but the English really did one thing right when they put deep fried fish and french fries together. (I mean, when you compare it to beans and toast for breakfast, anything would look good, so I guess I can’t give them too much credit.) If you assumed in advance there would be french fries on this list, you were correct. We won’t bury the lede, as we say in the biz. And since fish sticks are the school cafeteria version of fried fish fillets a la fish and chips, we’re going with the most cafeteria-esque of all the frozen french fries: crinkle cuts. Don’t tune (tuna?) us out quite yet; these crinkle cut fries are great. They’re potatoey, yes, but they’re also super creamy. And they’re gonna taste great dunked in tartar sauce along with your fish sticks.
Read the full ranking of the best crinkle cut fries
- Roots Organic Sweet Potato Fries
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Sweet potato fries are a great substitute for french fries when you want to eat fried food but also feel like you’re eating healthy. In other words, french fries feed the soul and sweet potatoes feed the body. Roots sweet potato fries are full of flavor, fresh tasting, and, best of all, they’re right there in the frozen aisle with the fish sticks. According to Sporked managing editor Gwynedd Stuart, they get this beautiful caramelization factor in the air fryer that somehow just goes so well with a few fish sticks.
Read the full ranking of the best sweet potato fries
- Betty Crocker Creamy Butter Mashed Potatoes
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Do fish sticks and instant mashed potatoes make a particularly gourmet pairing? Hell no. Does it make my soul tingle when I get the opportunity to drag a fat fish stick through some mashed potatoes and eat them both in one bite? Abso-lutely. And these Betty Crocker Creamy Butter mashed potatoes are the best mashed potatoes for the job. They’re buttery and smooth and perfectly complement the crispy crunch of a grip of sticks. Contrasting textures elevate any meal, so quit being a snob about our fish sticks and taters!
Read the full ranking of the best instant mashed potatoes
- Great Value Broccoli Florets in Steamable Bag
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Peas might be your first pick when it comes to what to pair with fish sticks (they even found their way onto the box art for Fremont Fish Market’s fish sticks). And I will admit that the thought of swapping peas for broccoli might not immediately make your mouth water, but think of how delicious the two would be with a spritz of lemon and a sprinkle of parm, or maybe even a dollop of cheese sauce. My favorite thing about this combo? Your side and your main won’t be fighting over precious oven space since this broccoli cooks up perfectly—firm and flavorful—in the microwave.
Read the full ranking of the best steam in bag broccoli
- Fremont Fish Market Oven Crispy Popcorn Shrimp
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Popcorn shrimp and fish sticks don’t just belong together on the menu at Long John Silver’s. They’re just as good together at home! Bust out those lemon wedges and get your taste buds ready for this aquatic pairing. With twice the deep fried seafood options, you get twice the breading, and that’s just the icing on the cake. According to Gwynedd, these popcorn shrimp from Aldi are “pretty much perfect”—moist and tender and not too greasy. The best things to eat with fish sticks are fun, but we don’t want you to OD on oil either.
Read the full ranking of the best popcorn shrimp
Custard