Sides for fried fish go beyond chips, coleslaw and tartar sauce (though all are deliciously appropriate). We have recipes for the classics plus a few new ideas that make any fish fry spectacular.
21 Delicious Sides for Fried Fish
Updated on Feb. 07, 2024
It doesn’t matter if you’re making a Friday night fish fry during Lent or just eating more fish in general: All fried fish needs a good side dish. Once you figure out the best fish to fry, whether it’s air-fryer fish and chips or deep-fried halibut, you can’t go wrong with classic sides like creamy coleslaw, tartar sauce and even pickles. But you can also adopt some regional specialties, like hush puppies or rye bread, or switch out fries for oven-roasted potatoes, onion rings or sweet potato chips. Broccoli works, too!
That’s all to say, when you need sides for fried fish, the options are limitless. We’ll get you started with some of our favorite recipes.
Hush Puppies
Cornmeal batter fried to a golden brown is one of the best things about a fish fry (after the fish, of course). The key to keeping hush puppies together is making sure the oil is hot enough.
1/21
2/21
Classic Tartar Sauce
Total Time
10 min
Servings
1 cup
From the Recipe Creator:
You'll never buy the jarred stuff again once you've tried this homemade tartar sauce recipe! —Michelle Stromko, Darlington, Maryland
This simple and quick tartar sauce recipe will have you swearing off the jarred stuff for good. While you can serve this immediately after making, it tastes even better after sitting in the fridge for a few hours.
Psst! You might also like these fish fry recipes.
3/21
Crispy Baked Onion Rings
Total Time
35 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
These crispy, lightly browned rings are a healthy alternative to the deep-fried version. Thyme and paprika enhance the flavor of the tender onions. —Della Stamp, Long Beach, California
These crispy and lightly browned onion rings make a great side for fried fish. Serve with any kind of dipping sauce, from ketchup to thousand island or tangy fry sauce.
4/21
Sauteed Zucchini
Total Time
10 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I plant many vegetables to use in cooking. Zucchini is among our favorites and usually grows in abundance. This zucchini stir-fry is always a hit at our house. —Deborah Elliot, Ridge Spring, South Carolina
5/21
Cowboy Cornbread
Total Time
40 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This cornbread is richer and sweeter than others I’ve tried. It's especially delicious alongside ham and beans. —Karen Ann Bland, Gove, Kansas
Half and half makes this sweet cornbread richer than others, and it’s a dynamite side for fried fish and just about everything else. Check out more cornbread recipes for other savory and spicy options.
6/21
7/21
Soft Dinner Rolls
Total Time
50 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
The dough for these rolls has a nice texture and is simple to shape. The recipe came from an old church cookbook. —Norma Harder, Weyakwin, Saskatchewan
8/21
Easy Dill Pickles
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
9 quarts
From the Recipe Creator:
This treasured dill pickle recipe is like an old friend. These crispy spears have a slightly salty, tart flavor with a good balance of dill, garlic and peppers. —Betty Sitzman, Wray, Colorado
If you like a crisp and tart contrast to fried fish, this easy dill pickle recipe is the perfect place to start. Make zesty homemade spears with lots of dill, garlic and peppers.
9/21
Dill & Chive Peas
Total Time
10 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Growing my own vegetables and herbs helps keep things fresh in the kitchen, but frozen peas make this side is a breeze to prepare. —Tanna Richard, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
The Brits like mushy peas with their fish and chips, but these herbed peas are a nice alternative. Use fresh or frozen peas and lots of fresh dill and chives.
10/21
Crispy Ranch Fries
Total Time
20 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Would you like fries with that? Coming right up is an express recipe for Crispy Ranch Fries with a creamy, not-so-secret sauce. —Phyllis Schmalz, Kansas City, Kansas
Turn boring frozen fries into these zippy fries in a flash. Don’t skimp on the zesty dipping sauce.
11/21
Baked Sweet Potato Chips
Total Time
30 min
Servings
5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
The next time you have the hungries, don't reach for high-fat junk food. Instead, spend a few minutes preparing these tasty baked sweet potato chips. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
For a crunchy and addictive side dish for fried fish, toss thinly sliced potatoes with seasonings before popping them into a hot oven. They’re so good, you’ll want to make a double batch!
12/21
Bread and Butter Pickles
Total Time
45 min
Servings
7 pints
From the Recipe Creator:
My mom always made this crisp bread and butter pickle recipe when we were kids, and she gave me the recipe. They're pleasantly tart and so good. Now I make bread and butter pickles for my own kids all of the time! —Karen Owen, Rising Sun, Indiana
These pleasantly sweet-tart pickles make a good foil for fried fish. Once you see how easy it is to pickle cucumbers, try other pickling recipes. The possibilities are endless.
We love the idea of serving other vegetables in place of potatoes on a fried fish platter. These zucchini fries are coated with panko, baked until crisp, and served with any kind of dipping sauce you like, from marinara to ranch.
14/21
Buttery-Onion Corn on the Cob
Total Time
20 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My mother has been making this recipe for years. Every time I make it for company they rave and can't believe how easy it is! —Lisa Denson, Decatur, Alabama
In some parts of the country, corn on the cob is a fish fry staple. But instead of boiling it, try slathering corn on the cob in butter and onion soup mix and roasting it in the oven.
15/21
Old-Fashioned Macaroni and Cheese
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Bring back the taste of days gone by with this ooey-gooey classic. A little ground mustard and hot pepper sauce give this old-fashioned baked macaroni and cheese just the right spice. —James Backman, Centralia, Washington
Jazz up baked macaroni and cheese with ground mustard and hot pepper sauce. It’s the perfect side dish for fish, barbecued meats and more.
16/21
Southwestern Sauteed Corn
Total Time
20 min
Servings
5 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My mother-in-law came up with this corn skillet dish one night for dinner. Everyone who tries it absolutely loves it! —Chandy Ward, Aumsville, Oregon
You only need a few extra ingredients, like tomato, cumin and cilantro, to give corn a punch of flavor. Use fresh or frozen corn kernels.
17/21
Brown Sugar Baked Beans
Total Time
1 hour 35 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
If you must be stingy with salt, you're sure to appreciate this flavor-rich bean dish. "These beans are well-received by folks who love hot and spicy foods and those with a more conservative palate, too," writes Debra Hogenson of Brewster, Minnesota. "It's requested for all our family reunions."
Making baked beans from scratch takes a little more time than opening a can, but the rich flavor is worth the effort. These sweet and spicy beans make the perfect side dish for just about anything.
18/21
Fry Sauce
Total Time
5 min
Servings
1-1/2 cups
From the Recipe Creator:
Want a change of pace from ketchup? Try fry sauce! You'll often find this spiced-up blend of ketchup and mayo in Utah and Idaho. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
When you want to go beyond ketchup, blend it with mayo and spices for the perfect fry sauce. Use it as a dip for fries, fried zucchini, onion rings—anything!
19/21
Rustic Rye Bread
Total Time
55 min
Servings
2 loaves (12 pieces each)
From the Recipe Creator:
This gorgeous rye bread has just a touch of sweetness and the perfect amount of caraway seeds. With a crusty top and firm texture, it holds up well to sandwiches, but a pat of butter will do the job, too. —Holly Wade, Harrisonburg, Virginia
Around the Great Lakes, especially in Wisconsin, you’ll see potato pancakes and rye bread at every fish fry. This gorgeous loaf has just a touch of sweetness and goes well with a thick pat of butter.
20/21
Contest-Winning Old-Fashioned Potato Salad
Total Time
35 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
We live at the edge of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, where there are lots of small farms. Country markets are plentiful here, so potatoes are a staple. I use them up in this delicious old-fashioned potato salad recipe. —Nancy Grove-Nichols, Dillsburg, Pennsylvania
Everyone will want this old-fashioned potato salad at every fish fry, family gathering, picnic and potluck. While hard-boiled eggs, celery and green onions are a classic combination, make the recipe your own by adding other mix-ins like diced red pepper, fresh herbs or bacon.
21/21
Herbed Steak Fries
Total Time
25 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Seasoned to perfection, these herbed steak fries from our Test Kitchen make a quick and tasty side dish for casual suppers. A great way to dress up frozen fries in a hurry!
These steak fries make a quick and tasty side for a casual supper, from fried fish to burgers, meatloaf and more. Plus, the recipe calls for frozen fries, so it’s easier than you think.
