Fish Tacos

I’m always on a mission to find quickfamily-friendly ways to add more seafood to my diet. And what better way to introduce the kids to mildflaky whitefish than to season it with familiar spices and wrap it in a warm corn tortilla? Fish tacos are one of my favorite taco recipes because they can be made with almost any fish and garnishes. Set out all the toppings and let everyone in the family customize their own meal.

The fish is tender and perfectly seasonedbut it’s the slaw that really makes this fish taco recipe shine. The slaw veggies add a fresh crunch to the soft corn tortillaswhile the sour cream and lime dressing doubles as a creamy sauce. It’s so good that you might want to double the dressing and serve it on the side! Put it all together and you’ll have a meal that makes you feel like you’re on vacation in the sunny Baja peninsula (margaritas optional)!

Ingredients for Fish Tacos

• Fish: We use tilapia in this recipebut any white fish works for fish tacos. You could also use codhalibutmahi mahi or snapper.
• Fish seasoning: The fish gets its zesty flavor from a seasoned flour made with all-purpose flourtaco seasoningsalt and pepper.
• Canola oil: I recommend using canola oil (one of the best oils for frying). It has a high smoke point and neutral taste. With the higher heatit will give the exterior of the fish a nice crispy crust while keeping the inside of the fish buttery and moist.
• Corn tortillas: Corn tortillas are the traditional choice for fish tacosbut you can easily substitute flour tortillas. For a really special experiencemake corn tortillas from scratch (they’re much easier to make than you’d think!).
• Slaw for fish tacos: We dress coleslaw mix with a creamytangy dressing made with mayonnaisesour creamlime juicehoneysalt and pepper. Make the slaw first; it tastes better if it has at least 30 minutes for its flavors to blend together.
• Fish taco toppings: Finish this fish taco recipe by adding your favorite taco toppingslike sliced avocadolime wedgessour creamsalsadiced tomatoescilantrocrumbled Cotija cheesethinly sliced radishessliced jalapenos and diced red onion.

Directions

Step 1: Make the slaw

In a large bowlwhisk together the mayonnaisesour creamlime juicehoneysalt and pepper until combined. Stir in the coleslaw mix. Cover and refrigerate the slaw for at least 30 minutes.

Editor’s Tip: Allow enough time for the slaw to sit and marinate. The dressing will be thick initiallybut it will become thinner as the cabbage releases liquid.

Step 2: Cook the fish

In a shallow dishcombine the flourtaco seasoningsalt and pepper. Add the fishand lightly coat it on each side.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Shake off the excess coatingand place the fish in the skillet. Cook until the fish is lightly brownedtwo to three minutes per side.

Once cookedflake the fish into chunks.

Editor’s Tip: Be careful not to overcrowd the panor the fish will steam instead of crisp up around the edges. You may need to cook the fish in batches.

Step 3: Warm the tortillas

Toast the corn tortillas in a dry hot skillet until they’re lightly brownedone to two minutes per side.

Editor’s Tip: For a more hands-off way to warm corn tortillaswrap them in foil in stacks of five and cook them in a 350°F oven for 10 to 15 minutes (or until they’re heated through).

Step 4: Assemble the fish tacos

Fill each tortilla with tilapia and top it with slaw. Add optional toppingsif desired. Serve the fish tacos immediately.

Fish Tacos Variations

• Swap in shrimp: You can easily turn this recipe into shrimp tacos! Simply coat peeled and deveined shrimp in the flour coating and cook them in the skillet until they turn pinkfour to six minutes. You can also use your favorite shrimp recipes for grilledair-fried or baked shrimp.
• Use grilled fish: Add a little char to your fish tacos by turning this into a grilled fish recipe. Grill the fish on a lightly oiled rackcoveredover medium heat until it just begins to flake easily with a forkthree to four minutes on each side.
• Make the fish crispier: Instead of coating the fish in seasoned flourswap in a batter and fry the fish to make crispy fish tacos. Try using the batter from either our Baja fish tacos or our beer-battered fish tacos recipe.
• Spice it up: Taco seasoning gives the fish a bold flavor that’s still mild enough to appeal to all palates. If you prefer a spicier fish tacoadd a dash or two of cayenne to the flour mixture and serve the tacos with a side of hot sauce.

How to Store Fish Tacos

Store each of the taco components in a separate airtight container in the refrigerator. The slaw and most taco toppings will last for up to four days. Cooked fish will last three to four days.

Can you make fish tacos ahead of time?

We don’t recommend making the fish for fish tacos ahead of timeas it tastes best fresh out of the skillet. Howeverthe slaw can be made up to four days ahead. The cabbage will release water as it sits in the fridgeso drain any excess liquid before serving.

Fish Tacos Tips

What fish is best for fish tacos?

White fish is generally considered the best fish for fish tacosbut there’s always an exception to the rule (salmon tacos are always delicious!). Tilapia is inexpensive and relatively easy to findbut feel free to swap in a different white fish to make mahi mahi tacoshalibut fish tacos or cod tacos.

How do you know when the fish is finished cooking for fish tacos?

The best way to tell if fish is finished cooking is to gently prod it with a fork at its thickest part. When it’s done cookingthe fish should flake easily and appear opaque.

Are fish tacos healthy?

This fish taco recipe is a healthier alternative to fried fish taco recipes. Instead of breading and deep-frying the fishwe lightly pan-sear the tilapia in just enough oil to keep it from sticking to the pan. The taco toppings used will also affect the nutrition content of fish tacosso it’s always a good idea to choose fresh vegetable options like radishesonions or diced tomatoes. If desiredyou can lighten up the slaw dressing by swapping in low-fat mayonnaise or Greek yogurt.

What do you serve with fish tacos?

Load the fish tacos with your favorite taco toppings and serve them with Tex-Mex side dishes like southwestern ricerefried beans or esquites. Tortilla chips and dipping sauces like homemade guacamolequeso dip or homemade salsa recipes are always good optionstoo.

Watch How to Make Fish Tacos with Slaw

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