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Make your next taco night a fresh catch with this fish taco recipe! It’s just like you order at your favorite cantina with fresh fish baked to perfection and wrapped up in corn tortillas with homemade crema sauce, shredded cabbage, avocado, and whatever else you like. My whole family loves when taco night takes a seaside spin so come give it a try!

Best fish taco recipe

Best Fish Taco Recipe

Fish tacos make for one of the best dinners of all. They’re easy and they make all seafood lovers happy. It costs less to feed your whole family fish tacos at home, plus you’ll be sure of all the fresh ingredients and the love that’s put into them.

Fish taco ingredients

Fish Taco Ingredients

  • Fish filets – I used (and hence recommend) tilapia.
  • Butter and olive oil – Both keep the fish from sticking when you bake it and the butter adds a richness to the fish.
  • Fish taco seasoning – Make your own with cumin, chili powder, salt, and black pepper.
  • Garlic lime crema sauce (Fish Taco sauce recipe) – You’ll make this too with sour cream, mayo, garlic powder, fresh-squeezed lime, and sriracha.
  • Corn tortillas – These are the most authentic tortillas to use with fish tacos.

Easy fish taco recipe

“Carpe Diem does not mean “Fish of the Day”.
Anonymous

Easy Fish Taco Recipe

Dinner is done in 40 minutes and you’ll probably eat it all in 5 seconds, but hey, it’s worth it. These easy fish tacos are just too good to resist and will likely earn themselves a spot in your weekly dinner rotation.

How do you make fish tacos from scratch

How do you Make Fish Tacos from Scratch

You’ll make the fish taco seasoning first and then sprinkle it on both sides of your fish. Then brush it with olive oil and add diced butter before baking at 350F for 30 minutes. While that bakes, make the crema sauce. Then, shred the fish and serve it in toasted corn tortillas. I like setting up a station for my family to grab the toppings so they can put cabbage, avocado, cilantro, and the crema on top. Feel free to add anything else you like too!

How to cook fish tacos

Expert Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Fish Taco Every Time

  • Season both sides of the fish. Because you’ll shred the fish when it’s done, you want to ensure every bit is flavored with deliciousness!
  • Try different ways of cooking the fish. There are so many delicious ways to cook the fish that will change the flavor and texture of your fish tacos. Whether you’re doing grilled fish tacos, baja fish tacos, battered fish tacos, or a fried fish taco recipe, this recipe will still be similar. The main thing that with change is simply the way you cook the fish.
  • The crema sauce makes it the best. The fish taco seasoning packs a little heat but the crema balances it out. It also adds that key citrus component for perfect umami.
  • The fresher, the better. It should go without saying that if you can get fresh tilapia, it will be an even better fish taco. Frozen will work too, but fresh is always best.

How long to cook fish for tacos

What are fish tacos made of?

Fish tacos are made with a mild white fish that is seasoned with fish taco seasoning and wrapped in corn tortillas with crema sauce and a variety of toppings including shredded cabbage, avocados, and cilantro.

What goes well with fish tacos

What kind of fish is best to use for fish tacos?

Anything that is white-fleshed and mild is a good choice. This recipe calls for tilapia which is quite easy to find in most places though if you can only find grouper, flounder, cod, halibut, snapper, pollock, or mahi mahi, you can use those too.

What kind of fish is best to use for fish tacos

What is Baja sauce made of?

While this recipe uses a crema sauce, Baja sauce is a bit similar with sour cream, mayo, lime juice, seafood seasoning, cilantro, and ancho chile pepper.

What is baja sauce made of

Are corn or flour tortillas best for fish tacos?

Corn tortillas are the best for fish tacos. This is the most authentic choice to the true cuisine. Of course, if you prefer flour tortillas, you may use them if you wish.

Are corn or flour tortillas best for fish tacos

What type of fish is in Baja fish tacos?

In Baja fish tacos, the difference is that the fish is battered and fried. This fish taco recipe uses baked fish that is seasoned with fish taco seasoning.

Does cod work for fish tacos?

Yes, you can use cod for fish tacos. It is white and flaky plus the taste is mild enough to work in a taco recipe.

What fish is used for Rubio’s fish tacos?

Rubio’s makes fish tacos by battering wild Alaskan pollock and frying it to a nice crisp. Then they tuck it into a warmed corn tortilla with salsa, cabbage, and white sauce.

Are corn or flour tortillas best for fish tacos

How to Cook Fish Tacos?

Fish tacos are cooked in the oven. You will bake the fish and then fill the corn tortillas with it. You can also briefly toast your tortillas on the stove top though it’s fine if you don’t. Assemble them and plate them or let your family add the toppings they like on their tacos.

How Long to Cook Fish for Tacos?

It takes 30 minutes to bake the tilapia for your fish tacos at 350F. This gives you plenty of time to prep the sauce and any toppings you’ll be using.

What are fish tacos made of

What Goes Well with Fish Tacos?

Rice (either plain or Mexican style), beans, salsa, guacamole, Mexican street corn, and tortilla soup are all wonderful ways to add more to your meal of fish tacos.

Does cod work for fish tacos

How to Store Fish Tacos

Any leftovers you have from your fish taco dinner need to be refrigerated. It’s best to keep the ingredients separated or you’ll risk compromising taste and texture.

How Long Do Fish Tacos Last?

You can keep your fish tacos in the fridge for up to 3 days, 4 maximum. These are best when they’re fresh though.

How long do fish tacos last

Can You Freeze Fish Tacos?

It’s best to just freeze the fish portion of your tacos. If you have leftovers, you can stow them in the freezer and thaw in the fridge overnight. Then you’ll only have to prep the crema and tortillas.

How to Reheat Fish Tacos?

Take the fish out of the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge overnight. When you’re ready to cook them, just throw them in a skillet on medium-low heat until they’ve warmed up.


Watch How To Make Fish Tacos (Video)

Easy Fish Taco Recipe

5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 12 servings
Calories 215
Easily a crowd favorite fish taco recipe! Fresh fish seasoned to perfection with fresh veggies and a delicious garlic lime crema sauce to top it off. My family LOVES this recipe and yours will too!

Ingredients

  • 5 tilapia filets
  • 2 tbsp olive oil 
  • 4 tbsp butter (cubed)

Fish Taco Seasoning

  • 2 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper 

Garlic Lime Crema

  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 fresh squeezed lime
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp sriracha
  • 1 package corn tortillas

Instructions 

  • Combine the the taco seasoning together in a mixing bowl and sprinkle on both sides of the tilapia filet. Brush with olive oil and top with the diced butter. Bake the fish at 350F in the oven for 30 minutes or until completely opaque.
  • Next, make the crema sauce. In a small bowl, whisk the mayonnaise, sour cream, garlic powder, siracha, and lime juice to make the garlic lime crema.
  • Shred the fish and serve in toasted tortillas. Top with cabbage, avocado, cilantro, and the garlic lime crema and any of your other favorite toppings. Serve immediately.
Calories: 215kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

Calories: 215kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 331mg | Potassium: 294mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 124IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 1mg

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I’m a mom of two, food and wine lover, and recipe creation enthusiast. Good food brings families together. Which is why I’m devoted to sharing my best recipes that are simple enough for even the beginner cook that your family will love!

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