If you have canned sardines sitting in the pantry, this is such a fun little recipe to try. These crispy fried sardines are coated in flour and seasoned egg, fried until golden, and served with a quick garlic lemon mayo sauce that makes them sooo good.
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Check out my Crispy Fried Sardines recipe video below to see how I make them step by step. If you like easy fish recipes like this, please like the video and subscribe to my YouTube channel for more simple, budget-friendly recipes.
Why you’ll love these fried sardines
Let’s be honest… canned sardines are not always the first thing people get excited about, but frying canned sardines changes everything. The outside gets golden and lightly crisp, while the fish stays soft and tender inside.
I love this recipe because it is quick, cheap, high in protein, and made with simple ingredients you probably already have. It works as a snack, party finger food, or a quick dinner when you want something easy but still satisfying.
Texture + flavor
These pan-fried sardines have a light, crispy coating on the outside, but they are still soft and flaky inside. The sardines already have plenty of flavor, so you do not need a lot of seasoning.
The garlic lemon mayo gives the fried fish a creamy, fresh, slightly tangy finish. It is simple, but it really works. How can you not love a crispy little fish bite with a good dipping sauce?!
Did You Know: Canned sardines are already cooked, so this recipe is more about crisping the coating and heating them through, not cooking raw fish.
Crispy Fried Sardines Ingredients
For the sardines
- 3 cans sardines, in oil or spring water, drained gently
- 2 large eggs
- 1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour (50 g)
- Salt, just a little, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Dried parsley, to taste
- 2 to 4 tablespoons olive oil or cooking oil, for frying
For the garlic lemon mayo
- 3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon mayonnaise (50 g)
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed or pressed
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- Small pinch of salt
- Black pepper, to taste
- 1 to 2 teaspoons olive oil
Equipment
- Sieve or small colander
- 2 shallow bowls or plates
- Fork or small whisk
- Frying pan
- Spatula or tongs
- Plate lined with a paper towel
Let’s make these crispy fried sardines
Step 1: Drain the sardines.
Take a sieve and carefully place the sardines inside so they can drain properly. Try not to move them around too much, because sardines are delicate and can break apart easily. Once the sardines are in the sieve, set them aside for a moment so the extra oil or spring water can drain off before coating them.
Note: Sardines in oil and sardines in spring water both work for this recipe. Just try to use a brand with firm sardines, because they are much easier to coat and fry without falling apart.
Step 2: Make the egg mixture.
For the egg mixture, crack 2 eggs into a separate bowl. Then add just a little salt, because canned sardines already have a good amount of flavor. Add black pepper and dried parsley as well, so the egg coating tastes simple but not plain once the sardines are fried. Beat everything together until the eggs are smooth and the parsley is mixed evenly through the mixture.
Step 3: Set up the flour.
Now, let’s get our simple coating setup ready. Add the flour to a plate and spread it out a little, so it is easy to coat the sardines without having to press them too much. Keep the egg mixture close by as well, because the sardines are delicate, and it is much easier to work gently when everything is ready before you start coating them.
Step 4: Coat the sardines.
Take the sardines one by one and carefully coat each piece in the flour, working gently so they stay in nice pieces and do not break apart. Try not to press the sardines into the flour. Instead, sprinkle a little flour over the top, then gently turn or roll each sardine until it has a light coating all around.
Once each sardine is coated with flour, dip it into the egg mixture and let the outside get covered. Then lift it out carefully and place it onto a plate. Keep going with the rest of the sardines in the same way, placing them side by side on the plate so they are all ready to go into the pan.
Top Tip: Use a light coating of flour instead of packing it on heavily. Too much flour can make the outside taste dry, and it can also make the delicate sardines harder to handle.
Step 5: Fry the canned sardines.
Now the sardines are nicely coated, and it is time to fry them. Add some cooking oil or olive oil to a frying pan, using just enough to cover the bottom of the pan. Let the oil heat up for a moment before adding the sardines, because this helps the coating start frying straight away and gives the sardines a nicer golden outside.
Fry the sardines for about 2 minutes on each side, or until they look golden and crispy. Turn them gently, because the fish is soft inside and the coating is delicate.
Top Tip: Do not overcrowd the pan. If the sardines are too close together, they can be harder to turn, and the coating may not crisp as nicely.
Step 6: Make the garlic lemon mayo.
While the sardines are frying in the pan, let’s make a simple sauce that goes so well with this sardine recipe and gives you something fresh and flavorful to serve with them at the end.
Add the mayonnaise to a small bowl first, then add the crushed garlic and stir it through the mayonnaise so the garlic flavor is mixed evenly into the sauce.
Next, squeeze in the juice of half a lemon, because that fresh lemon flavor works really well with fried fish and makes the sauce taste brighter.
After that, add a small pinch of salt. Then add some black pepper for a little extra flavor. I also like to add a small drizzle of olive oil because it makes the sauce taste smoother and brings everything together nicely.
Mix everything together until the sauce is smooth and well combined, then keep it ready on the side so you can serve it straight away with the hot, crispy sardines.
Step 7: Drain and serve.
Once the sardines are golden and crispy on both sides, carefully lift them out of the pan and place them on a plate lined with paper towels, so any extra oil can drain off.
Try to handle them gently at this point, because the coating is crispy and the sardines are still soft inside. Serve them while they are still warm, with that simple garlic lemon sauce on the side.
Related Recipe: If you liked these crispy fried sardines, then also check out my tuna and potato patties recipe here, because they have that same crispy outside and soft, flavorful inside. They are another simple, budget-friendly fish recipe, and they are perfect when you want something quick, filling, and easy for dinner.
Pan Fried Sardines with Garlic Mayo Dip
If you have canned sardines sitting in the cupboard, then let me show you how to turn them into crispy fried sardines that taste way better than you would expect. It is a quick, budget-friendly recipe, perfect as a high-protein snack or easy dinner.
3
servings10
minutes10
minutes480
kcal20
minutesIngredients
3 cans 3 (270–330 g total) sardines, in oil or spring water, drained gently
2 large 2 eggs
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon 1/3 (50 g) all-purpose flour
Salt, just a little, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
Dried parsley, to taste
2 to 4 tablespoons 2 to 4 (30–60 ml) olive oil or cooking oil, for frying
- Dip
3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon 3 (50 g) mayonnaise
2 pieces 2 crushed or pressed garlic cloves
1/2 lemon 1/2 (15–20 ml) lemon juice
small pinch small salt
Black pepper, to taste
1 to 2 teaspoons 1 to 2 (5–10 ml) olive oil
Directions
- Drain sardines gently in a sieve to remove excess oil or water.
- Break eggs into a bowl, add a small pinch of salt, black pepper, and dried parsley. Beat until smooth.
- Spread flour on a plate. Coat sardines lightly with flour without pressing.
- Dip flour-coated sardines into the egg mixture, then set aside on a plate.
- Heat olive oil in a frying pan. Fry sardines for 2 minutes on each side until golden and crispy.
- Mix mayonnaise, crushed garlic, lemon juice, salt, black pepper, and olive oil until smooth for dipping sauce.
- Drain fried sardines on paper towels. Serve warm with garlic lemon mayo sauce.
Recipe Video
Notes
- Best Sardines To Use: Sardines in oil or spring water both work well for this recipe. Choose firm canned sardines if you can, because very soft sardines can break apart when you coat and fry them.
- Storage And Reheating: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and use them within 3 to 4 days, following USDA leftover guidance. Reheat them in a skillet or air fryer so the coating crisps up again, instead of using the microwave.
- Serving Ideas: Serve these crispy fried sardines with garlic lemon mayo, lemon wedges, salad, potatoes, rice, or fresh bread. They also work well as party finger food because they are small, quick, and easy to serve.
Nutrition Facts
- Total number of serves: 3
- Calories: 480kcal
- Fat: 33g
- Carbohydrates: 13g
- Protein: 31g
Serving ideas
These crispy fried sardines are delicious with the garlic lemon mayo, but they also go really well with a simple salad, mashed or roasted potatoes, rice, or warm flatbread.
For a snack plate, serve them with lemon wedges, pickles, sliced cucumbers, and a small bowl of sauce. So simple, but so satisfying.
For dinner, I love them with something fresh on the side, because the fried coating and creamy sauce are already rich and flavorful.
Storage and reheating
These fried sardines are best served right away, while the coating is still crisp.
If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. To reheat, place them in a skillet over medium heat for a few minutes, turning gently until warmed through. You can also use an air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 3 to 5 minutes, just until hot and a little crispy again.
I would avoid microwaving them if you can, because the coating will soften.
More easy fish recipes
If you enjoyed these crispy fried sardines, make sure to check out more easy fish recipes below.
- Easy Air Fryer Tuna Patties – These tuna patties are crispy on the outside, tender inside, and made with simple pantry ingredients for a quick and satisfying meal.
- Healthy CRISPY Air Fryer Sardines – Enjoy crispy sardines with less oil using this easy air fryer recipe that delivers plenty of crunch and flavor.
- How To Fry Fish With Flour And Egg – Learn how to make perfectly golden fried fish with a simple flour and egg coating that keeps the fish tender and flavorful.
And please leave a comment or question about this crispy fried sardines recipe in the comment section below or in the YouTube video comments. I really love hearing from you, and I will try to respond to all your comments and questions.