Fish Taco Recipe
You’ll love this fish taco recipe if you’re looking for a delicious and easy way to enjoy fish. Fish tacos are a popular Mexican dish that consists of grilled or fried fish, tortillas and various toppings and sauces. They’re fresh, flavorful and fun to eat.
I’ll show you how to make fish tacos recipe from scratch, including best types of fish to use, how to prepare the fish taco sauce and how to cook fish using different methods. I’ll also share some tips and tricks for making the best fish tacos ever, as well as some of my favorite toppings and serving suggestions. Plus, I’ll answer some frequently asked questions about fish tacos recipe and provide full recipe with ingredients, instructions, notes and nutrition information.
Types of Fish to Use in Tacos
One of great things about fish tacos is that you can use almost any fish you like. However, some types of fish work better than others for tacos. These are some of the best types of fish to use in tacos:
Cod: Cod is a mild, flaky white fish that is easy to cook and has a nice texture for tacos. It’s also relatively inexpensive and generally available.
Tilapia: Tilapia is another mild white fish that is perfect for tacos. It’s lean, tender and cooks quickly. It’s also one of most sustainable and affordable types of fish.
Mahi: Mahi is firm, meaty fish with mild sweet flavor that lends itself well to grilling or frying; it is popularly featured as part of fish taco recipes at many restaurants.
Salmon: Salmon is an exquisite oily fish with an irresistibly succulent taste and rich hue, offering high levels of omega 3 fatty acids and protein to provide an easy meal option that can be cooked grilled, baked or pan fried as tacos.
Shrimp: Although technically not fish, shrimp is a fantastic addition to tacos. Succulent, juicy and straightforward to cook, shrimp adds flavor when seasoned with spices and sauces for maximum taste!
How to Make Fish Tacos

Making fish tacos is not complicated but involves a few steps. Here’s an overview of how to make fish taco recipe from scratch:
Prepare Fish Taco Sauce: Sauce is one of the most important components of fish tacos recipes. It adds moisture, creaminess and flavor to the dish. You can make your fish taco sauce using mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, garlic, cilantro, cumin, salt and pepper. You can also add some hot sauce or chipotle peppers for heat. Whisk all the ingredients in a small bowl and refrigerate until ready.
Prepare Fish: Next step is to prepare fish for cooking. You must rinse fish fillets and pat them dry with paper towels. Then, it would help if you seasoned them with salt, pepper, chilli powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and oregano. You can also add some lime juice or zest for some extra freshness. Rub seasonings all over fish fillets and let them marinate for 15 minutes at room temperature or 2 hours in the fridge.
Cook Fish: Final step is to cook the fish using your preferred method. You can grill, air fry, bake, or pan fry fish fillets until they are cooked and flake easily with a fork. Cooking time will vary depending on type and thickness of the fish fillets and method you use. Generally speaking, it will take about 10 to 15 minutes to cook fish fillets.
Assemble Tacos: Once fish is cooked, you can assemble your tacos by warming up some corn or flour tortillas and adding some shredded cabbage or lettuce, sliced avocado or guacamole, chopped tomatoes or salsa, cheese or cotija cheese (optional), cilantro (optional), lime wedges (optional) and of course, fish taco sauce.
Trish’s Tips and Tricks
These are some of my tips and tricks for making best fish taco recipe ever:
- Use fresh or thawed fish fillets for best flavor and texture. Frozen fish fillets tend to be watery and bland.
- Cut fish fillets into equal sized pieces so they cook evenly and fit well into the tortillas.
- Take your time with fish fillets or they will become dry and tough. Cook them til they are dirty and flake easily with fork.
- Use corn tortillas for a more authentic Mexican flavor and texture. You can also use flour tortillas if you prefer.
- Warm up the tortillas before assembling tacos to make them more pliable and prevent them from cracking or breaking.
- Serve tacos immediately or keep them warm in a low oven until ready to serve. Keep them from sitting for too long or they will become soggy.
Grill, Air Fryer, Oven or Stovetop

You can cook fish fillets using different methods depending on your preference and equipment. These are some instructions for each form:
Grill: Preheat a grill to medium high heat and lightly oil the grates. Place fish fillets on grill and cook for 4 to 5 minutes per side, flipping once, until they are charred and cooked through.
Air Fryer: Preheat an air fryer to 400°F and spray basket with cooking spray. Place the fish fillets in a single layer in basket and cook for about 10 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until they are crispy and cooked.
Oven: Preheat an oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. Place fish fillets on the prepared baking sheet and bake for about 15 to 20 minutes, flipping halfway through until golden and cooked through.
Stovetop: Heat some oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add fish fillets and cook for about 4 to 5 minutes per side, flipping once, until they are browned and cooked.
Favourite Fish Taco Toppings
One of the best things about fish tacos recipe is that you can customize them with your favorite toppings. These are some of my favorite toppings for fish tacos:
Shredded cabbage or lettuce: Adds crunch and freshness to the tacos.
Sliced avocado or guacamole: Adds creaminess and healthy fats to tacos.
Chopped tomatoes or salsa: Adds juiciness and acidity to the tacos.
Cheese or cotija cheese (optional): Adds saltiness and richness to tacos.
Cilantro (optional): Adds herbaceousness and brightness to tacos.
Lime wedges (optional): Add freshness and tanginess to the tacos.
What’s in the Taco Sauce?

Taco sauce is one of most important components of fish tacos recipe. It adds moisture, creaminess and flavor to the dish. Taco sauce is made with:
Mayonnaise: Base spice that adds creaminess and richness.
Sour cream: Adds tanginess and lightness to sauce.
Lime juice: Adds acidity and freshness to sauce.
Garlic: Adds aroma and flavor to the sauce.
Cilantro: Adds herbaceousness and brightness to sauce.
Cumin: Adds warmth and earthiness to sauce.
Salt and pepper: Enhances flavour of gravy.
Hot sauce or chipotle peppers (optional): Adds heat and smokiness to the sauce.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe?
- It’s easy to make with simple ingredients and steps.
- It’s versatile and customizable with different types of fish, cooking methods and toppings.
- It’s delicious and satisfying with tender, flavorful fish, soft tortillas, crunchy cabbage, creamy avocado, juicy tomatoes, cheesy cheese, zesty cilantro, tangy lime and spicy sauce.
- It’s healthy and nutritious with lean protein, healthy fats, fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Serving Suggestions
You can serve these fish taco recipes as a main course or as part of an enormous Mexican feast. These are some serving suggestions for these fish tacos:
Rice: You can serve these fish taco recipes with white or brown rice for a filling and satisfying meal. You can add some beans or corn to the rice for extra flavor and texture.
Salad: You can serve these fish tacos with fresh salad for a light, refreshing side dish. You can use any greens you like, like lettuce, spinach, kale, or arugula and add some dressing you choose, like ranch, vinaigrette, or salsa.
Chips and dip: You can serve this fish tacos recipe with tortilla chips and dip for a crunchy and tasty snack. You can use any drop, like salsa, guacamole, queso, or hummus.

What to Serve with Fish Tacos: 10 Delicious Ideas
Fish tacos are a popular and easy dish to make at home. They are usually made with grilled or fried fish, shredded cabbage, salsa, lime juice and cilantro. But what can you serve with fish taco recipes to make them even more satisfying and flavorful? These are 10 delicious ideas for side dishes that go well with fish taco recipes.
Mexican Rice: A classic, simple side dish that adds carbs and spice. You can make it with white or brown rice, tomato sauce, half chicken broth, onion, garlic, cumin and chilli powder. Fluff it with fork and garnish with chopped coriander plant.
Black Beans: Another staple of Mexican cuisine, black beans are rich in protein and fibre and fish tacos nicely.You can cook them from scratch or use canned beans and season them with onion, garlic, oregano, cumin, salt and pepper. You can add some cheese, sour cream or salsa for extra flavour.
Corn Salad: Fresh and colorful salad that adds crunch and sweetness to your plate. You can be use fresh or kernels and toss them with cherry tomatoes, red onion, avocado, cilantro, lime juice, olive, salt and pepper. You can add cheese, jalapeños or beans more variety.
Guacamole: Delicious creamy dip it goes well with everything. You can make it with ripe avocados, onion, garlic, cilantro, juice, salt and pepper. You can also add some tomato, jalapeño or cumin for more spice. Serve it with tortilla chips or as topping for your fish tacos recipe.
Coleslaw: For an irresistibly crunchy and tart salad to add an edge and texture to any meal, Coleslaw is an easy and fun side dish to prepare using ingredients like cabbage, carrot, mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper – you could also try adding apples, raisins or nuts for extra sweetness and crunch!
Mango Salsa: Make an exciting twist to your fish taco recipe with mango salsa! Combine diced mango, red onion, jalapeno peppers, cilantro leaves, lime juice and some salt and pepper until desired texture and colour has been reached. Adding pineapple, peach or cucumber for variety adds another twist!
Cilantro Lime Rice: Create this fragrant and delicious side dish to accompany any fish taco dish by mixing white or brown rice, chicken broth, lime juice, cilantro leaves, butter and other seasonings like salt and pepper to form the base for this fragrant treat. Fluff up using a fork before enjoying!
Roasted Vegetables: Roasted vegetables make easy and nutritious side dish that adds color and nutrition to any plate. Choose any vegetable like zucchini, squash, peppers, onion carrot or broccoli before cutting into bite sized pieces and tossing with olive oil, salt pepper and any additional herbs or spices of choice before placing in oven tender and golden brown.
Nachos: A fun and indulgent side dish everyone loves. You can use tortilla chips or make your own by baking corn tortillas in the oven until crisp. Top them with cheese, black beans, salsa, sour cream, guacamole, jalapeños or any other toppings you like. Bake them in oven cheese is melted and bubbly.
Margaritas: A refreshing and festive drink that goes perfectly with fish taco recipes. You can make them with tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, sugar or agave nectar and ice. Blend them until smooth or shake them with ice and strain into a glass rimmed with salt. Garnish with a lime wedge and enjoy.
Conclusion
Fish tacos are delicious and versatile dish you can take home with your favorite ingredients. They are also easy to pair with different side dishes, enhancing their flavor and texture. There is side dish, whether you prefer something light and fresh or hearty and cheesy. Try one of these 10 ideas the next time you make fish taco recipes and enjoy a satisfying and flavorful meal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of fish is best for fish tacos?
How do you make fish tacos sauce?
Sour cream sauce: Mix sour cream with lime juice, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
Chipotle sauce: Mix mayonnaise with chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (or chipotle powder), lime juice, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
Creamy cilantro sauce: Mix mayonnaise with sour cream, cilantro, lime juice, garlic, salt and pepper.
Avocado sauce: Blend avocado with sour cream, lime juice, garlic, salt and pepper.
How do you warm up tortillas for fish tacos?
In microwave: Wrap them in a damp paper towel and microwave them for 10 to 15 seconds or until warm and soft.
In oven: Wrap them in aluminum foil and bake them in a preheated oven at 350°F for 10 to 15 minutes or until warm and soft.
On stove: Heat a skillet over medium high heat and cook them for a few seconds on each side or until warm and soft.
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