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    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes » Fish Taco Recipe

    Fish Taco Recipe

    Published: April 20, 2017 · Modified: May 13, 2022 by John Kanell

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

    Loaded with fresh, bright flavors, this Fish Tacos recipe is perfect for a quick weeknight meal. Tender and flaky perfectly seasoned fish served over a warm tortilla with all your favorite toppings and a homemade creamy taco sauce, this recipe is seriously delicious. You won’t believe how easy it is to make.

    A freshly made fish taco on a blue and white plate in front of a platter of fish tacos.
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    Pinterest graphic of an overhead view of a platter of fish tacos.
    Pinterest graphic of an overhead view of a plate of a fish taco with a lime wedge beside it.
    Pinterest graphic of fish taco sauce drizzled over a taco.
    Pinterest graphic of an assembled fish tacos on a plate by a drink.
    Pinterest graphic of a plate with a fish taco in front of a drink and platter of more tacos.

    After your first bite, you will find out why I am obsessed with these fish tacos. They are so fresh and flavorful! They’re perfect as an easy weeknight dinner recipe for your family but are also great for get-togethers as its easy to scale this recipe up. They are so satisfying and filling but still light enough that you have room for dessert.

    Another reason I love making these fish tacos is just how easy they are to customize. You can use a variety of white fish and load them up with whatever your favorite toppings are. You can set everything out so your family can build their own tacos, and everyone’s happy. Want to make this into a taco bar? Make my shrimp taco recipe and lobster tacos recipe as well!

    What You Need to Make This Recipe

    Ingredients needed to make fish tacos.

    Homemade taco sauce — I recommend making your own sauce. All you need is ​​sour cream, mayo, lime juice, garlic, and sriracha. However, if you prefer a store-bought one, you are welcome to go that route!

    Fish — choose your favorite white fish for these fish tacos. Some options include cod, halibut, tilapia or mahi mahi. To make prepping this recipe easier, buy fish with the skin removed.

    Seasoning — I use cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper to season the fish. Make sure you are using American chili powder and not chile powder which is made of ground chile peppers.

    Cabbage — I use purple cabbage, but you can also use green cabbage. Keep in mind that purple cabbage is a bit sweeter and softer than green cabbage.

    Corn tortillas — I love using corn tortillas for my fish tacos but if you prefer flour tortillas, feel free to swap them in.

    How to Make Fish Tacos

    Set of two photos showing the sauce combined and fish added to seasoning.

    1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the sour cream, mayo, lime juice, garlic, and sriracha. Cover and chill until ready to use.

    2. In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons of olive oil, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Add the fish and turn to coat. Let stand for at least 15 minutes.

    Set of two photos showing fish seared in a skillet and tortillas warmed on the stovetop.

    3. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil and swirl to coat. Add the fish, discarding any remaining marinade. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until browned. Flip and continue cooking until browned, and the fish flakes easily with a fork. Remove from the heat and keep warm.

    4. Warm the tortillas by either charring them over the flame of a gas burner or heating a skillet over high heat and cooking on both sides until blistered.

    Set of two photos showing toppings added to an assembled taco.

    5. Place the red cabbage in a large bowl. Toss with 3 tablespoons of the fish taco sauce. Flake the fish into large chunks and place them in the center of each tortilla. Top each taco with cabbage, tomato, avocado, onion, and cilantro.

    6. Drizzle the fish tacos with additional sauce and serve with a lime wedge.

    A platter of multiple fish tacos with extra toppings on the side.

    Pro Tips for Making This Recipe

    • Careful not to overcook the fish as it’ll become dry instead of tender and flaky. If you have an instant-read thermometer, the fish’s internal temperature should be 145F.
    • White fish tend to be more sweet and mild in flavor, so do not skimp on the seasoning.
    • Set a timer to avoid over-marinating the fish as the lime will start to break the fish down.
    • Patting the fish dry before adding it to the bowl of seasoning helps it adhere better to the fish.
    • If you’re not a fan of cilantro in your fish tacos, you can swap in parsley or chives.
    • If you have a mandolin, you can easily use that to slice your cabbage thinly. Use a slicing guard to protect your fingers.
    • For the best flavor in your fish tacos, use fresh limes and not bottled lime juice.

    Overhead view of a fish taco on a plate along with a lime wedge beside it.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I use frozen fish?

    Yes, you can use frozen fish. Make sure you fully thaw the fish before using it for these fish tacos. As frozen fish tend to have a lot of moisture, make sure to pat it dry as the moisture makes it hard for the seasoning to stick.

    What can I serve with fish tacos?

    Fish tacos go with everything! Try serving them with chips and salsa or homemade queso, guacamole, sweet potato fries, pineapple salsa, mango salsa, or my pico de gallo. Want to make this into a party? Serve the tacos with my chicken enchiladas, birria tacos, nachos, and churros.

    Can I make this ahead of time?

    You can make the sauce 2 days ahead of time and keep it in an airtight container in the fridge. The fish can also be pan-seared a day ahead of time and gently reheated before shredding and assembling the tacos. You can shred the cabbage a few days ahead of time as well.

    If you love this recipe try these out!

    • Two bowls of taco salad with a small bowl of pico de gallo and chips on the side.

      Taco Salad

    • A plate with tostones with additional on a platter in the back along with dip.

      Tostones

    • A plate with an arepa stuffed with shredded meat.

      Arepas

    • A plate with two empanadas by a plate with more.

      Empanadas

    • A small plate with five coconut shrimps in front of a dipping sauce and a platter with more shrimp.

      Coconut Shrimp

    If you’ve tried this Fish Tacos recipe, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!

    A platter of fish tacos with lime wedges and fresh cilantro around it.
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    5 from 15 votes

    Fish Tacos

    Made with simple ingredients, these fish tacos are a fresh and flavorful meal you can whip up quickly on a busy weeknight. Everyone will be reaching for seconds!
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Mexican
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes
    Total Time 25 minutes
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 658kcal
    Author John Kanell

    Equipment

    • mixing bowl
    • Skillet

    Ingredients

    For the Fish Taco Sauce:

    • ½ cup sour cream
    • ¼ cup mayonnaise
    • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
    • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon sriracha or to taste

    For the Fish:

    • 3 tablespoons olive oil
    • 2 tablespoons lime juice about 1 lime
    • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
    • ½ teaspoon chili powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ cayenne pepper optional
    • 1 pound white fish like tilapia, cod, halibut

    Assembly and Toppings:

    • 12 6-inch corn tortillas
    • ½ head purple cabbage shredded (3 to 4 cups)
    • 1 tomato diced
    • 1 avocado thinly sliced
    • ¼ red onion diced
    • ½ cup cilantro leaves chopped
    • 1 lime cut into wedges

    Instructions

    For the Fish Taco Sauce:

    • In a medium bowl, whisk together the sour cream mayo, lime juice, garlic, and sriracha. Cover and chill until ready to use. (If you want a thinner sauce, add a tablespoon of water or milk.)

    For the Fish:

    • In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons of olive oil, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Add the fish and turn to coat. Let stand for at least 15 minutes.
    • Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil and swirl to coat. Add the fish, discarding any remaining marinade. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until browned. Flip and continue cooking until browned and the fish flakes easily with a fork. Remove from the heat and keep warm.

    For the Assembly and Toppings:

    • Warm the tortillas by either charring them over the flame of a gas burner or heating a skillet over high heat and cooking on both sides until blistered.
    • Place the red cabbage in a large bowl. Toss with 3 tablespoons of the fish taco sauce.
    • Flake the fish into large chunks and place in the center of each tortilla. Top with the cabbage, tomato, avocado, onion, cilantro, and additional sauce. Serve with a lime wedge.

    Video

    Notes

    • Careful not to overcook the fish as it’ll become dry instead of tender and flaky. If you have an instant-read thermometer, the fish’s internal temperature should be 145F.
    • White fish tend to be more sweet and mild in flavor, so do not skimp on the seasoning.
    • Set a timer to avoid over-marinating the fish as the lime will start to break the fish down.
    • Patting the fish dry before adding it to the bowl of seasoning helps it adhere better to the fish.
    • If you’re not a fan of cilantro, you can swap in parsley or chives.
    • If you have a mandolin, you can easily use that to slice your cabbage thinly. Use a slicing guard to protect your fingers.
    • For the best flavor, use fresh limes and not bottled lime juice.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 658kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 80mg | Sodium: 549mg | Potassium: 1172mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1949IU | Vitamin C: 81mg | Calcium: 178mg | Iron: 3mg
    *Nutrition Disclaimer
    Have you Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @preppykitchen and tag #preppykitchen!

     

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    Thanks for stopping by! I’m John Kanell, a husband, dad to twins Lachlan and George, Los Angeles native, and an avid baker and cooker of all things delicious thanks to a life long education from my mother. This blog is where I share all of my kitchen creations!

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