Grab your favorite jersey, Seafoodies!
Football season is finally here! Whether you’re a die-hard sports fan or just along for the snacks, we can all agree on one thing—food is the real star of any tailgating event.
There’s something special about gathering for a potluck game day feast with friends and family. For when you’re grilling at the stadium or “homegating” in your living room, we’ve got a game-winning recipe that’s sure to please everyone.
Make some noise for our new hot n’ crunchy fish sandwich!
This lip-smacking dish takes inspiration from popular restaurants and drive-thru favorites but kicks it up a notch when made at home. Ready for a play-by-play? Sink your teeth into a perfectly crispy fish fillet, seasoned just right with a hint of heat and crunch that’s downright addictive. It’s a touchdown in every bite!
What makes this sandwich a real crowd-pleaser is the layers of flavor and texture. The fish fillet is crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside and seasoned to perfection. And the best part? It’s super easy to whip up, thanks to the expert assistance of one of our favorite kitchen MVPs—your air fryer! That means you can spend less time cooking and more time cheering for your favorite team.
Once your family gets a taste of this crunchy fish sandwich recipe, we guarantee you’ll be making them on more than just game days. But no need to throw a flag! With only 30 minutes of prep and cook time, they’re perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a laid-back weekend lunch as well.
So, why not bring a little restaurant flair to your football festivities? Kick off your sports season with a recipe that’s bound to score big!
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Air Fryer Nashville Hot n’ Crunchy Fish Sandwich
Reminiscent of a restaurant favorite, our homemade Nashville Hot n’ Crunchy Fish Sandwich is easy to make and just as satisfying. Air-fried fish fillets are coated in a sweet and spicy hot sauce and nestled between soft Brioche rolls with creamy mayo and tangy pickles. Treat your table to take-out flavors—no drive-through required!
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 4 (5-6 ounce) Wild Alaska pollock fillets (or other favorite firm white fish)
- 2 large eggs
- 1¼ cups vinegar-based hot sauce, divided
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon plus dash of ground cayenne
- 1 teaspoon melted butter
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
- Olive oil or avocado oil spray
For serving:
- 4 kaiser or Brioche rolls
- Dill pickle chips
- Mayonnaise, mayonnaise-sriracha, horseradish or favorite prepared creamy spread (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare three low-rimmed bowls for dipping. Place buttermilk in the large bowl. Add fish to the buttermilk and let sit for 10 minutes.
- In one of the other two low-rimmed bowls, whisk together eggs and ¼ cup of the hot sauce. In last bowl, combine flour, panko, salt, black pepper, garlic powder and dash of cayenne pepper; use fork to mix well.
- Preheat air fryer to 380 degrees for 5 minutes.
- After fish has soaked for 10 minutes, take each fillet and dip into egg mixture one at a time, coating well. Then dredge through flour-panko mixture, ensuring that fillets are coated well.
- Spray air fryer basket with olive or avocado oil. Place each fillet in air fryer, leaving space between each piece. (Pieces of fish should not touch. If all pieces don’t fit in basket, cook in two batches.) Spray tops of fillets with oil well and coat all over top of fish. Cook for 7 minutes on 380 degrees. Flip fillets, spray top of fish with oil and cook for 7 more minutes or until crispy and golden. Remove fish and let cool on cooling rack for 5 minutes. (Don’t skip the cooling step—this keeps the fish coating crunchy!)
- While fish is cooling, mix remaining 1 cup hot sauce and ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, melted butter and brown sugar. Microwave for 30-45 seconds, then mix again.
- Place fish on plate, pour half of the sauce evenly over top of fish. Using tongs or fork, gently flip fish and pour remaining sauce over fillets. Place fish on roll, top with mayo or other creamy spread and pickle slices.
Notes
Recommended utensils: Air fryer, 3 bowls, fork or tongs, plate, cooling rack
- Cuisine: White Fish
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