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Homemade Filet-O-Fish (BAKED!!)

By:Nagi
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Homemade McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish burger! An epic fish burger that tastes remarkably similar to the real deal with the added bonus that it’s bigger, you know what goes in it, and it’s healthier ’cause it’s BAKED!! (Though you can totally fry it)

Two Homemade Filet-O-Fish (BAKED!) stacked on top of each other with a side of fries

Homemade Filet O Fish Burger

Skip the Drive Through of Shame. It’s incredibly quick and easy to make Filet-O-Fish at home, and you don’t even need to fry!

Plus, you can make bigger ones at home. Ever notice how small the Maccers Filet-O-Fish are? Those teeny fish burgers barely scrape the bottom of my stomach.

At least we can make proper meal-size ones at home!

A homemade fish burger with a crunchy crumb that tastes just like McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish!

Homemade Filet-O-Fish (BAKED!) cut open to short the inside

Baked Crumbed Fish Patties

I’ve been making faux oven-fried things most of my adult life, and for most of that time was disappointed by how the crumb came out all splotchy with white & burnt bits no matter how brutally I doused with oil spray.

So this is how I make all things crumbed in the oven: toast the breadcrumbs + one seasoned dredge batter with stronger glueing powers + oil spray = guaranteed golden, crunchy baked crumbed anything (baked crumbed fish, in this case). 🙂

I just recently shared a baked crumbed Chicken Tenders recipe using this same method where I wrote more about the logic so if you’re so inclined, pop over there for a read. It’s all driven by love of fried food vs waist and bottom expansion. The bonus is clean hands – no marshmallow fingers!

Preparation steps for Homemade Filet-O-Fish (BAKED!)

Yes, your fish will come out warped. They won’t be perfectly square and flat, like the boxed ones in the frozen section of the supermarket. We’re using fresh fish here, so warpage is the price we pay for true fish flavour and texture.

I’m totally cool with that!

Copycat McDonald’s Tartare Sauce

A quick inspection of the Filet-O-Fish ingredients followed by a taste test (yes, I did the Drive Through of Shame for this recipe!) is all it took to ascertain that the Tartare Sauce is pretty standard. Mayo, pickles / gherkins, capers, lemon juice, salt, sugar, parsley.

It’s just my basic Tartare Sauce recipe, minus dill plus a touch extra sugar (surprise, surprise 😂).

Tartare sauce for homemade Filet-O-Fish in a white bowl

I make my homemade Filet-O-Fish burger using brioche buns because they are the closest to the super soft, super sweet buns used by McDonald’s. Though…. not as sweet and not quite as soft… but close enough!

And as for the cheese, in the spirit of copy-catting, I used this smoked processed cheese that I found at Coles (Aussie supermarket) with the signature Maccers orange hue but strangely lacking in smoked flavour. 🤔 So it’s perfect!

But any processed cheese will do. Or you could be a real rebel and use real cheese. 😳 – Nagi x

More burgers

And more fish recipes!

Homemade Baked Filet-O-Fish with French fries and a coke, ready to be eaten

Watch how to make it

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Two Homemade Filet-O-Fish (BAKED!) stacked on top of each other with a side of fries

Homemade Filet-O-Fish Burger (BAKED!)

Author: Nagi
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Total: 35 mins
Main
4.97 from 32 votes
Servings4
Tap or hover to scale
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Recipe video above. Tastes remarkably similar to McDonald's with the added bonus that it's bigger, it's healthier and you know exactly what goes in it! Toasting the breadcrumbs guarantees beautiful golden, truly crunchy fish fillets even though these are baked. Fry option - follow the dredge / crumbing / fry steps in this Schnitzel recipe.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups panko breadcrumbs (Note 1)
  • 400 - 500 g / 0.8 - 1 lb white fish fillets , flat / thin (I used Ling, Note 2)
  • 4 soft buns , brioche recommended (Note 3)
  • 4 slices processed cheese (Note 4)
  • Oil spray (I use olive oil)

Dredge Batter (Note 5):

  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbsp mayonnaise
  • 1 tbsp dijon mustard (or other mustard)
  • 1 tbsp flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • Black pepper

Tartare Sauce:

  • 1 cup / 220g mayonnaise
  • 1 tbsp dill pickle / gherkin/ cornichon , very finely chopped
  • 1 tsp fresh parsley , chopped*
  • 1 tsp capers , drained and finely chopped*
  • 1.5 tbsp lemon juice , fresh (or cider vinegar)
  • 1 tsp white sugar
  • 1/4 tsp salt

Instructions

Tartare Sauce:

  • Mix ingredients in a bowl. Set aside for 10 minutes+.

Toast Breadcrumbs:

  • Preheat oven to 180C/350F.
  • Spread breadcrumbs on a tray. Spray with oil directly down, not from side.
  • Bake for 3 - 5 minutes until golden. Immediately transfer to bowl.
  • Brush tray clean, spray with oil.

Crumbing / baking:

  • Cut fish fillets into square-ish shapes slightly larger than the buns (they shrink when cooked). 
  • Mix Batter ingredients in a bowl.
  • Carefully coat fish in batter (handle with care, fish fillets can be delicate).
  • Place in breadcrumbs. Use other hand to cover top and sides with breadcrumbs, pressing to adhere. Transfer to tray. Repeat with remaining fish.
  • Bake 12 - 15 minutes until fish is cooked through. Immediately top with cheese - allow residual heat to make it semi melt (do not oven melt processed cheese, you get a plasticy film!).

Assemble:

  • Cut buns in half, microwave for 20 seconds to warm through (microwave = stays soft).
  • Top with fish and cheese, dollop with tartare sauce. Devour!

Recipe Notes:

1. Panko are Japanese breadcrumbs which are larger than standard breadcrumbs. Nowadays they are available in all major supermarkets, usually in the Asian section, and cost just a fraction more than ordinary breadcrumbs. It is well worth using because the breadcrumb pieces are bigger so they create a far better "crunch" than standard breadcrumbs.
I know 2 cups sounds like a lot but you need it. Also if you skimp on the breadcrumbs, crumbing the last fish gets messy!
2. Fish -This recipe will work with any white fish fillets but the best to replicate the square, flat fish patties in Filet-O-Fish is to get flat, thin fish fillets that can be cut into square-ish pieces. I use Ling, Maccers uses Pollock. I don't get too hung up on perfect square shapes because the fish shape warps when it bakes because we're using real fish here. That's just real life, my friends! 
Note: the fish will shrink and increase in height once baked by about 20%. Crumb off cuts and pop them on the tray, good for nibbles.
3. Buns - The super soft Maccers buns have a LOT of sugar in them. The closest in flavour and texture are brioche buns. Soft hamburger buns are also suitable, if you can find a suitable size (I only seem to see giant ones, too big to make fillets that fit though you could totally double up)
4. Processed Cheese - just like Maccers! I used a smoked processed cheese from Coles (Aus supermarket, Coles brand) which is the orangey Maccers colour and doesn't even taste smoked.
5. Dredge Batter - created especially for "oven-fried" crumbed recipes, I use it for all my baked crumbed recipes like these Crunchy Chicken Tenders, though for this recipe the batter is slightly thinner because fish is more delicate than chicken. It's got more flavour than just using egg & flour as well as oil, compensating for not deep frying in oil (because let's face it, frying makes everything taste better). It's also thicker and a stronger glue for the breadcrumbs.
6. GENERAL NOTES:
* Tartare Sauce - Makes more tartare than probably required but it's a tragedy if there's no enough so I err on the side of caution. Keeps for ages in fridge.
* Fry option - follow dredge / crumb / fry steps in this Schnitzel recipe (video included)
* More background about this toasting / unusual single Dredge Batter / oven-fried technique in this Crunchy Baked Chicken Tenders recipe. It's all driven by love of fried food / attempt to control waist expansion.
7. Nutrition per serving, assuming 1/2 cup of tartare sauce is used across all 4 burgers.
Nutrition Facts
Homemade Filet-O-Fish Burger (BAKED!)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 656 Calories from Fat 324
% Daily Value*
Fat 36g55%
Saturated Fat 9g56%
Cholesterol 125mg42%
Sodium 1545mg67%
Potassium 458mg13%
Carbohydrates 47g16%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 34g68%
Vitamin A 275IU6%
Vitamin C 2.7mg3%
Calcium 365mg37%
Iron 4mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 656cal (33%)Carbohydrates: 47g (16%)Protein: 34g (68%)Fat: 36g (55%)Saturated Fat: 9g (56%)Cholesterol: 125mg (42%)Sodium: 1545mg (67%)Potassium: 458mg (13%)Fiber: 2g (8%)Sugar: 6g (7%)Vitamin A: 275IU (6%)Vitamin C: 2.7mg (3%)Calcium: 365mg (37%)Iron: 4mg (22%)
Keywords: Filet O Fish, Fish Burger
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Life of Dozer

How am I supposed to work when this golden furry head keeps butting in to see what I’m doing??

Dozer the golden retriever dog getting in the way while trying to work

Hi, I'm Nagi!

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative!

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138 Comments

  1. Jane says

    Hi Nagi, do you think you could use basa fillets for this recipe? I’m going to make it with my fillet-o-fish addicted niece on the weekend.

    Reply

  3. Maree says

    4 stars
    My breadcrumbs didn’t stick during baking🤷‍♀️ dont know what I did wrong followed the recipe exactly. The underside was also soggy not crunchy. Could it be because I put it on baking paper? I still assembled it all and ate it. Tasted amazing!

    Reply

    • Nagi says

      Hi Maree, sorry you had issues here – if you cooked it on baking paper, any liquid from the fish will sit on the crumbs and cause it to fall off and become soggy. N x

      Reply

  4. MAKIKO says

    5 stars
    The both fish and tartar sauce was soo good! I tried ur browning panko technique with Tonkatsu years ago, but it was done using pan frying. Oven method was much easier! Thank u for another fantastic tasty recipe. I will definitely make it again.

    Reply

  5. NG says

    5 stars
    Baking the breadcrumbs initially was such a game changer! Was deliciously crispy! Family loved it, thank you!!

    Reply

  6. Rhonda says

    I don’t really like fish but am trying to eat healthier! Anytime I try to bake battered fish it’s mushy on the other side! Any simple recipes/ideas would be appreciated!!

    Reply

  7. Mehreen says

    Hi! Thank you for sharing your recipe, I know it’s going to taste amazing already. Can I ask, what oven temperature you bake the fish on? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Nagi says

      Hi Mehreen, it’s listed in step 1 when toasting the breadcrumbs – the oven remains the same temperature at 180C/350F. N x

      Reply

  9. Gord says

    Did I come here because everyone is thinking the same thing..’I want a filet-o-fish burger’and I’ll make my own because McDonald’s only does takeout.

    Reply

  10. May says

    Thank you for bringing joy into my life! My mom loves the filet-o-fish, but too afraid to eat takeout right now. She loves this recipe!

    Reply

  11. Courtney H. says

    5 stars
    I made your Brazilian Stew Recipe but substituted homemade crispy oven baked seasoned potatoes instead of bell peppers and used vine tomatoes versus canned crushed tomatoes. The dish came out superb! Thank you for the recipe. I served it with my side dish of seasoned rice. 😋

    Reply

  12. Tracy says

    Hi Nagi, just came across your Baked Crumbed Fish Patties and was wondering if I baked up a bunch of panko if it would store ok? I’m excited to try this recipe, and will definitely check out your other recipes. Thanks for all your effort and info.

    Reply
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