Why Should Fish Have All the Fun? These Stick-Shaped Foods Will Please Kids and Kids at Heart

Fish sticks are one of the ultimate family-friendly dinner options for good reason. They’re crunchy, craving-curing, and are truly one of the best hero suppers when we’re short on time and are unsure of what to whip up. If you have a box on ice, dinner is mere minutes away.

Alongside mac and cheese, frozen fish sticks are often one of the first things kids learn to cook on their own. But we’re firm believers that the stick-shaped snacks shouldn’t stop there. So ahead, we’re dishing up 10 delicious reminders to think outside of the box.

All of these from-scratch, stick-shaped handheld delights ahead are easy to make. They’re also easy to enjoy while commuting (why not start the day with French toast sticks?) or holding a drink in one hand (from now on, game-day won’t feel complete without air-fryer taquitos!). Ready to dive in?

Before we explore all of the alternatives, we couldn’t resist offering a refreshingly simple take on the classic. Instead of a seafood or fish mash, these homemade sticks are made with slices of tilapia fillets coated in curry-seasoned cornmeal, whole wheat breadcrumbs, and shredded coconut. Instead of tartar sauce as a teammate, try our 60-second creamy carrot-yogurt dipping sauce. It’s tangy, spicy, sweet, and savory all at once.

Speaking of classics, our Midwest BFF Molly Yeh has conquered one of our all-time favorite sports bar bites, DIY-style, with these cheesy sticks. Fans confirm that they can be made with either slabs of block mozzarella or string cheese — feel free to choose either or both. We bet you’ll melt for the extra dose of cheese in the Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs (grated Parmesan), as well as the vodka sauce-like creamy marinara, made simply with jarred red sauce, crème fraîche and a pinch (or a few, depending on your spice preference) of crushed red pepper flakes. After frying to golden brown, the result is “easy AND delish,” one fan confirms. “The sauce is to die for. I've made them twice already, and my family is asking for them again for next weekend.”

Round doughnuts are good. But stick-shaped doughnuts that offer even more pillowy, doughy goodness to savor are even better, if you ask us … and many Midwesterners who enjoy Long Johns regularly on weekends. Reminiscent of an éclair, just sans filling (making the prep steps even easier!), these long and lovely doughnuts can be coated in any flavor of frosting you like. Add a mug of coffee or cold milk, and you might just be transported back to the breakfast table.

If you’re unfamiliar with tequeños, think of them as a “you might also like” for mozzarella stick enthusiasts. Instead of breadcrumbs, though, the hard cheese sticks are wrapped in spirals of empanada discs. Recipe developer Larisa Alvarez shared her family’s signature recipe for the Venezuelan party snack, and told us that “my parents say that one of the factors for deciding if a party was great is whether or not the hosts ran out of tequeños.” Now that you know how to make them — and a spicy avocado sauce — in less than an hour, you need not worry about coming up short.

Corn dogs are normally reserved for a snack or meal during lunch or later in the day. But why wait that long to wait to get the party started when you can kick off your morning with Molly Yeh’s breakfast sausage and pancake mash-up? One home cook described them as “kind of like a doughnut-covered sausage — so definitely a special treat. Mine weren’t oily at all, and I thought my husband was gonna pass out from delight” Our recommended Rx for that response? Another Pancake and Sausage on a Stick drizzled with maple syrup.

In case you could use yet another excuse to add a rotisserie chicken to your next grocery shopping list, it’s the secret shortcut ingredient that makes it possible to bring these crunchy chicken taquitos to the table in just 35 minutes. Their sturdy stick shape makes them ideal for dunking in guacamole, salsa or any Tex-Mex sauce you desire. Once you have your rotisserie bird back home, shred and toss that protein with cheese, sour cream, spices and hot sauce, then scoop and roll that inside corn tortillas. Then all that’s left to do is spritz the exterior with cooking spray and air fry until golden.

No need to choose between cereal or French toast for breakfast this weekend. Ree Drummond has cracked the code to allow you to enjoy both in one convenient, playful and sweet package. Beyond the rich custard that infuses loads of flavor and richness into the Texas toast, she calls for coating the exterior with cinnamon-sugar-tossed breadcrumbs and crushed corn cereal. While you’re at it, we recommend preparing a double batch so you can enjoy some today, and freeze the rest to bake from frozen another morning when you’re short on time.

Yes, we know we just gushed about the benefits of adding chicken to your menu. But we’re also firm believers that it shouldn’t get all the glory, as it often does when we’re discussing anything Buffalo sauce-related. For this healthyish party snack, try breading and baking zucchini sticks. Showered with blue cheese crumbles, paired with carrot and celery sticks and offered with a side of Buffalo sauce for dipping, we’d wager that no one will feel like this plant-based alternative is missing a thing.

“I've made many pretzel recipes before, but this was the best,” one Food Network fan said of this Jeff Mauro creation that takes the concept of soft pretzels and stretches it out into sticks. “My wife screamed at me to save this recipe, because I always forget which one I used. Five stars all day!” Their shape is designed for cradling hot dogs or sausages, but we give you full permission to rewrite the rules and simply dunk in whole grain mustard or nacho cheese.