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Fish Taco Recipe

5 from 2 votes
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posted: 03/10/24

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This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy

These Fish Tacos are so easy to make, and are restaurant quality good. The amazing flavors of the fish, slaw, and sauce come together in the most perfect way.

overhead of six fish tacos on a platter

The other day when I shared my Fish Taco Sauce with you, I promised you a great Fish Taco recipe to go with it, and here it is! This recipe comes together in just about 20 minutes, and it is absolutely delicious. It will feel like eating at a great taqueria right in your own kitchen.

How to Make Fish Tacos

This is a brief overview of how easy it is to make Fish Tacos. For the full recipe with all of the measurements see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

  1. Make the slaw. We want the slaw to sit for a little bit, so it is important to start it before you do anything else. Just combine some shredded cabbage, vinegar, and sugar in a bowl.
  2. Make the fish taco sauce. Whisk together the sour cream, yogurt, Sriracha (or hot sauce), lime juice, sugar and salt. Set it aside.
  3. Cook the fish. Whisk together the spices, pat the fish dry, then rub the spices into the fish. Cook them in a skillet with a little oil for 2 minutes on each side.
  4. Put together the tacos. Let everyone add a little bit of everything to their tacos and enjoy!
overhead of seasoned cooked cod for fish tacos on a platter

Best Fish for Fish Tacos

For these fish tacos we are going with a white fish. I suggest either cod or halibut. Both cook very quickly – a major plus of this recipe – and neither has an overwhelming fish taste. That is fantastic because it means it can pick up the easy seasoning we are throwing on the fish before sautéing it.

Cooking Cod

In this recipe we are cooking the seasoned cod in a skillet with a little bit of oil. One of the things I love most about this recipe is how quickly the fish cooks. It literally only takes about 2 minutes per side when you put it in a hot skillet. Watch it closely because you don’t want it to over cook.

The fish has finished cooking when you can push down on it and it easily flakes apart. You can also tell it is done because it will be opaque in the center. Cod should be cooked to an internal temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Using an instant read thermometer is always helpful for recipes like this when you don’t want to overcook the meat.

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Slaw for Fish Tacos

We are making the simplest slaw for these fish tacos. Normally when we pickle things, we let them sit for a while before enjoying them. In this recipe we are only letting the slaw sit for about 15 minutes before we use it.

This short amount of time is just enough to soften the cabbage a little and give it a delightful bite from the vinegar. If you are curious about the sugar we are adding here, it is to balance that bite from the vinegar.

If you want to take this slaw up a notch, and you happen to have it on hand, you can use Rice Wine Vinegar in this recipe. It gives the slaw a delightful flavor!

close up of a fish taco on a platter

Fish Taco Sauce

Our Fish Taco Sauce is the simple combination of six ingredients. It is light and compliments the fish perfectly. I encourage you to read the whole post on this recipe, especially the section on how to adjust the flavor. It is helpful for all types of recipes!

Fish Taco Sauce

This simple Fish Taco Sauce is perfect for all of your fish taco recipes. Use it on breaded fish tacos, fish tacos with slaw, or even shrimp tacos.
small jar of fish taco sauce with spoon dishing it up

FAQ

Which fish is best for tacos?

Any white fish will work well for fish tacos. We prefer cod or tilapia, but halibut or snapper would work as well. These fish are easy to work with, cook up quickly, and take on the flavors in this recipe well.

How do you know when cod is cooked?

Cod will be opaque when it is fully cooked, when you press down on it lightly with a fork it will easily flake apart. I love using an instant read thermometer when cooking fish. The cod is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 140 degrees.

Are fish tacos healthy?

Yes! Fish, in general, is quite healthy. Additionally, we are cooking the fish in minimal oil and then serving it up with low fat dairy and veggies.

Are fish tacos gluten free?

If you serve these in corn tortillas as the recipe is written, these are gluten free. As always, check all of your ingredients when cooking for someone with a gluten intolerance.

fish taco recipe sitting unfolded on parchment paper

What to Serve with Fish Tacos

These tacos stand great alone on their own, but if you are looking for side dishes, consider some of the following:

  • Chips and guacamole will always win over my heart.
  • This Spanish Rice recipe is super easy, and is always a great side dish.
  • My Corn Salsa would be great in these tacos, but it also works as a side dish like a salad.
  • Can you even have taco night without margaritas? I think not.

If you try this fish tacos recipe or any of my other recipes, leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

overhead of six fish tacos on a platter
5 from 2 votes

Fish Taco Recipe

Serves: 4 servings
(tap # to scale)
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 5 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
These Fish Tacos are so easy to make, and are restaurant quality good. The amazing flavors of the fish, slaw, and sauce come together in the most perfect way.

Ingredients

For the Fish Tacos

  • 1 pound white fish (like tilapia or cod) thaw according to package instructions
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 12 corn tortillas (6 inches)

Fish Taco Slaw

  • 1 cup shredded red cabbage
  • 1 cup shredded green cabbage
  • 1/3 cup vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sugar

Fish Taco Sauce

  • 1/2 cup low fat sour cream
  • 1/2 cup low fat plain yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1 – 2 tablespoon Sriracha Sauce (hot sauce would work here too, just start with less)
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

  • Before making the fish, in a medium bowl mix together the ingredients for the salw. Allow it to sit while you are making the fish.
  • Pat dry the fish. Rub the fish with spices and salt, covering both sides.
  • In a skillet over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Make sure it coats the entire pan. Add the fish and cook for 2 minutes on each side. The fish is cooked through when it is compltely opaque all the way through or reaches an internal temperature of 140 degrees. Flake apart the fish.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream, yogurt, lime juice Sriracha, sugar, and kosher salt. Adjust the flavors of the sauce to your taste. Read more about how to do that here.
  • To put together the tacos, add a small amount of fish, slaw, and sauce to each one. Enjoy!
Serving: 3tacos Calories: 382kcal (19%) Carbohydrates: 45g (15%) Protein: 28g (56%) Fat: 10g (15%) Saturated Fat: 3g (19%) Cholesterol: 61mg (20%) Sodium: 1295mg (56%) Potassium: 887mg (25%) Fiber: 6g (25%) Sugar: 6g (7%) Vitamin A: 835IU (17%) Vitamin C: 32mg (39%) Calcium: 207mg (21%) Iron: 2mg (11%)
Author: Lisa Longley
Course: dinner
Cuisine: Mexican
overhead of six fish tacos on a platter

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Fish Taco Recipe

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Hi! I'm Lisa Longley, and I am committed to giving you simple dinner ideas and recipes that are easy to make; recipes that will fill your home with joy. I am the owner and author of SimpleJoy.com and I'm so glad that you are here.

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  1. Ruth Phillips says

    5 stars
    Yum 😋

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