Quickest Fish Sandwich (2024)

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This Fish Sandwich layers a flaky fish fillet with the rich creaminess of avocado and the tang of a lemon-infused sauce, all sandwiched between buttery toasted brioche buns. It’s a flavor-packed bite every time, and ready in under 20 minutes!

ThisFish Sandwichis part of our Back-To-School Lifesavers — a series of recipes that are intended to have little (or no) veggie chopping, minimal prep time, around 10 ingredients or less (not including pantry staples), and use kid-friendly ingredients.Click here to see all the recipes in the series!

Quickest Fish Sandwich Recipe

Who doesn’t adore a fish good sandwich?! That combination of a toasted buttery brioche bun, a golden crispy fish fillet, slices of creamy avocado, and a zesty lemon sauce is just heaven!

But let’s be real: Sometimes, amidst the chaos of shuttling kids from one activity to another, there’s little time for preparing those crispy fish fillets from scratch. Enter my lifesaver: frozen crispy fish fillets. Grab a quality brand, pop it in the air fryer, and you’re set. Couple it with a quick homemade sauce, and voila, you’ve got a sandwich that rivals any upscale eatery. Yes, really!

Fish Sandwich Ingredients:

• Brioche buns: Brioche buns are slightly sweet and ultra buttery, making them perfect for this sandwich.
• Softened butter: This isn’t just about flavor; butter ensures that the buns toast to a perfect golden hue, enhancing the sandwich’s overall texture and taste.
• Gorton’s® fish sandwich fillet: We have a soft spot for Gorton’s – remember our Fish Stick Tacos made with their fish sticks? However, if you have another crispy fish fillet brand that you swear by, go for it! A pro tip: If you’re armed with an air fryer, it not only speeds up the cooking but also makes the fillets taste phenomenal.
• Ripe avocado: The creaminess of a ripe avocado is unbeatable in this sandwich. Test its ripeness with a gentle press; it should give just a bit.
• Leaf lettuce: Nothing beats the crunch and freshness of leaf lettuce. But here’s the catch: Make sure it’s thoroughly dry after rinsing. The last thing you want is a watery sandwich!

QUICK TIP

In a jam without a fresh avocado? Grab “avocado minis” – they’re lifesavers. Just ensure you pick the pack that mentions “Hass avocados” as the sole ingredient, avoiding those guacamole mix variants. Half of one mini pack will substitute nicely for a fresh avocado in your sandwich.

Ingredients In The Best Fish Sandwich Sauce:

• Fresh lemon juice and zest: For the juiciest lemons, pick ones that are heavy for their size and boast a vibrant yellow, smooth exterior. A quick trick: Firmly roll your lemon on the countertop before juicing to max out the yield. And, if you’re looking to make your job easier, a microplaneandcitrus juicer will be your best buddies.
• Full-fat mayo: Use a good mayonnaise; the better the mayo, the better the sauce will taste. (We love Hellman’s/Best Foods®.)
• Sweet pickle relish or finely diced pickles: To infuse a sweet-tangy punch into your sauce, relish is your go-to ingredient. We’re Team Heinz® on this one. But if relish isn’t your jam, finely diced bread-and-butter pickles are an excellent alternative. Remember, the goal is a consistent texture, so finely dice those pickles if you’re skipping the relish.
• Fresh dill: Nothing spells freshness like dill. Its light, bright flavor beautifully balances the sauce, contrasting the lemon and relish’s tang.
• Worcestershire sauce and Dijon mustard: These are the flavor amplifiers, adding layers of depth and tanginess to the sauce. But a word of caution – their potency can quickly overpower. Be judicious, and taste-test as you mix them in.

How To Make A Fish Sandwich (Tips)

1. Quality matters: Investing in high-quality ingredients can make a noticeable difference in the flavor of your fish sandwich!
2. Air fryer: When using an air fryer for the fish fillets, make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer. This ensures that each piece gets evenly cooked and crispy.
3. Bun-to-ingredient ratio: Too much sauce or fillings can make the bun soggy. Always ensure there’s a balance. If you find the sauce too runny, add a touch more mayo to thicken it up.
4. Assembly: When assembling, start with the sauce on the bun, followed by the lettuce (which acts as a barrier to prevent sogginess), then the pickles, and lastly the fish fillet.
5. Storage: If you’re making the sauce in advance, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It’s even better the next day after the flavors have had time to meld.

What To Serve With A Fish Sandwich:

The perfect sides can elevate the entire meal. Here are some suggestions:

• Fries: Whether they’re classic potato fries, sweet potato fries, or even just some roasted potatoes, these are our favorite sides! I like to pop a bag of Alexia® Sweet Potato Fries in the air fryer alongside the fish fillets. SO good!
• Coleslaw: A tangy and creamy coleslaw provides a refreshing contrast to the rich flavors of the fish sandwich.
• Pickles: Offering extra pickles on the side can be great for some extra tang and crunch.
• Salads: Light salads with aCitrusy Dressing complement the fish well. Or try a Cucumber Salad, a simple Green Salad, or a Tomato and Mozzarella Salad drizzled with balsamic.
• Chips: Kettle-cooked potato chips or some vegetable chips are an easy and crunchy addition.
• Potato Salad: A classic side that offers both creaminess and tanginess to complement the sandwich.
• Fruit Salad: A refreshing fruit salad, especially one with tropical fruits like mangoes and pineapples, provides a sweet and tangy contrast.

More Easy Sandwich Recipes:

• Grilled Cheesewith three cheeses!
• English Muffin Sandwichwith a sweet potato hash brown
• Air Fryer Sandwichmade four different ways
• Cucumber Sandwichwith a three-ingredient spread
• Chicken Caesar Sandwich using a Caesar salad mix

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Fish Sandwich

5 from 3 votes

- Review this recipe

This Fish Sandwich layers a flaky fish fillet with the rich creaminess of avocado and the tang of a lemon-infused sauce, all sandwiched between buttery toasted brioche buns. It's a flavor-packed bite every time and ready in under 20 minutes!

Print Recipe

Fish Sandwich

5 from 3 votes

- Review this recipe

Print Recipe

This Fish Sandwich layers a flaky fish fillet with the rich creaminess of avocado and the tang of a lemon-infused sauce, all sandwiched between buttery toasted brioche buns. It's a flavor-packed bite every time and ready in under 20 minutes!

Course Dinner, lunch, Main Course

Cuisine American, Healthy

Keyword Fish Sandwich

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 8 minutes minutes

Total Time 23 minutes minutes

Servings 1 sandwich (with sandwich spread for more)

Chelsea Lords

Calories 622kcal

Author Chelsea Lords

Cost $4.61

Ingredients

Sauce (For multiple sandwiches!)

• ▢ 2 tablespoons lemon juice, plus 1/2 tsp zest
• ▢ ½ cup good mayo (Best Foods/Hellman's)
• ▢ 1½ tablespoons sweet pickle relish (Note 1)
• ▢ 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh dill, optional
• ▢ ½ teaspoon each: Worcestershire sauce and Dijon mustard
• ▢ Fine sea salt and pepper

Fish Sandwich (for 1; scales up easily!)

• ▢ 1 brioche bun plus softened butter
• ▢ 1 frozen fish sandwich fillet (Note 2)
• ▢ ¼ large ripe avocado, thinly sliced
• ▢ 2 pieces leaf lettuce
• ▢ Optional: pickles

Instructions

• SAUCE: Combine all of the sauce ingredients in a medium-sized bowl. Season to taste. (I add ⅛ tsp each of salt & pepper.) Mix well, and refrigerate until ready to use. Re-stir before using.

  

• FISH FILLET: Prepare the fish sandwich fillet as per the package instructions, either by air frying or baking.

• TOAST BUNS: Generously spread the insides of the brioche bun with softened butter. Place the buns buttered side down on a pan or grill set over medium heat. Toast for 30 seconds to a minute or until golden brown. Watch closely to prevent burning. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.

  

• ASSEMBLE: Generously spread the prepared sauce on both halves of the toasted bun. Layer with leaf lettuce, avocado slices, cooked fish fillet, and pickles (if using). Top with the other half of the bun. Serve immediately and enjoy!

  

Recipe Notes

Note 1: Sweet pickle relish: We're Team Heinz® on this one. But if relish isn't your jam, finely diced bread-and-butter pickles are an excellent alternative. Remember, the goal is a consistent texture, so finely dice those pickles if you're skipping the relish.

Note 2: Gorton's® Fish Sandwich Fillet: We love Gorton's fillets, but if you have another crispy fish fillet brand that you swear by, go for it! A pro tip: If you're armed with an air fryer, it not only speeds up the cooking but also makes the fillets taste the very best.

Nutrition informationwill vary, depending on the quantities of butter and relish used as well as the brand of brioche bun used.

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 622kcal | Carbohydrates: 33.7g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 44.1g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 1008.2mg | Fiber: 6.4g | Sugar: 7.9g

We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed.

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