The Best Grocery Store Copycat For McDonald's Filet-O-Fish

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Since becoming a permanent fixture in 1965 after a legendary face-off with the Hula Burger, McDonald's Filet-O-Fish has gone on to achieve cult status. Featuring a breaded fish fillet, a half-slice of melted American cheese, and creamy tartar sauce on a soft, steamed bun, the sandwich offers something unique as McDonald's only seafood-based item. It certainly has no shortage of admirers, but it has come under scrutiny thanks to its price, which many claim doesn't match its size. So if you're looking to get more bang for your buck, why not head on down to Target and make a copycat version using Gorton's Fish Sandwich Breaded Fillets?

Gorton's Fish Sandwich Breaded Fillets come in at $8 or $9 for 18.3 ounces of frozen fish fillets. This already makes it a great value alternative, considering that just one Filet-O-Fish sandwich sets buyers back roughly $4.59, with certain locations known to charge upwards of $8. One major green flag about these frozen fillets is that they use the same fish as McDonald's — wild-caught Alaskan pollock — giving both a similar taste and texture. Both also have a strong sustainability track record: 100% of McDonald's fish are sourced from Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified sustainable fisheries, whereas Gorton's has revealed that over 99% of its seafood is certified by either the MSC or Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP).

Another important similarity is the shape of the patties. McDonald's Filet-O-Fish patties are square because whole Alaskan pollock fillets are layered together into large rectangular blocks at sea and then sliced into uniform square shapes. Judging by the images of Gorton's fish patties, they also undergo trimming. This means the resulting copycat sandwich will have McDonald's characteristically clean and tidy shape, fitting snugly into the bun.

Gorton's recommends heating its frozen fish filets in the oven or air fryer, but if you want to do it like McDonald's, whip out the oil instead. According to McDonald's, it fries its fillets in vegetable oil. To replicate it at home, all you need is a neutral oil with a high smoke point — this is the best oil for frying fish without changing the flavor; vegetable oil is a good option, but canola or avocado oil work too.

We'd recommend brushing or shaking off any loose ice crystals or frost from the frozen fillets before cooking since excess ice can cause dangerous splattering and oil overflow. With that in mind, cook your fillets one at a time rather than a whole batch. On high heat, fry the fillets for up to five minutes until they've developed a beautiful golden color reminiscent of the real McCoy. To keep them shatteringly crispy, let them cool on a dedicated drying rack, then once dry, dab them with a paper towel to remove any excess oil.

But the fillets are only one part of the equation. The American cheese isn't a complicated addition, and you can easily buy pre-made tartar sauce or whip some up at home (pro tip: add Old Bay into the mix to recreate McDonald's Old Bay Filet-O-Fish). But how you prepare the bun is the tricky part. We'd always go for a simple brioche, which already comes with that naturally soft, fluffy texture. To steam it like McDonald's, try the classic DIY steamer hack: Add a bit of boiling water to the bottom of a pan, drop in a few balls of crumpled tin foil, place a plate with your bun on top, and cover for a minute or two. The bun should come out soft as a pillow.