McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish
Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Servings: 4 sandwiches
The Filet-O-Fish is the sleeper hit of the McDonald’s menu. It was invented in 1962 for Catholic customers who couldn’t eat meat on Fridays during Lent, and it’s been quietly beloved ever since. The formula is dead simple: a crispy fried fish fillet, tangy tartar sauce, half a slice of American cheese, and a steamed bun.
The homemade version uses real cod or pollock with a light club soda batter that fries up shatteringly crispy. The tartar sauce is four ingredients. The whole thing takes about 20 minutes from start to finish.
Why Make It at Home?
A Filet-O-Fish costs around $5.49 and contains a pretty thin fillet. This recipe gives you a generous, thick piece of real fish for about $3.00 per sandwich. You also get to use actual cod instead of mystery fish product, and your batter will be fresh and crispy — not sitting in a warming tray.
Tips & Variations
- Club soda is the secret to the batter. The carbonation creates tiny air pockets that make the coating light and crispy instead of heavy and doughy.
- Half a slice of cheese is correct. It sounds stingy, but the full slice overwhelms the fish. McDonald’s knows what they’re doing here.
- Steam the bun. This is the step most people skip, and it’s the difference between a fast-food sandwich and a regular fish sandwich. The steamed bun is pillowy soft and slightly moist.
- Use pollock for authenticity. McDonald’s actually uses pollock, not cod. Both work great, but pollock is cheaper and has a milder flavor.
More McDonald’s Recipes to Try
The Filet-O-Fish pairs perfectly with these classics:
- Copycat McDonald’s French Fries Recipe — the double-blanch, peanut-oil technique that gets you close to the real thing.
- McDonald’s Big Mac — if you’re making a McDonald’s spread at home, the Big Mac is the centerpiece.
- Copycat McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets — light battered nuggets for the table, great alongside fish for a mixed platter.
See all McDonald’s copycat recipes →
