Amazing Baked Fish Tacos Recipe - Lauren's Latest (2024)

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This is the ultimate recipe for Baked Fish Tacos bursting with flavor! Tender tilapia topped with a homemade zesty lime slaw, avocado slices, and fresh herbs. Delicious, easy to make, healthy (requires no frying!), and ready in just 30 minutes! Love fish tacos? Try my Shrimp Tacos next!

Amazing Baked Fish Tacos Recipe - Lauren's Latest (1)

Why You’ll Love These Baked Fish Tacos

My favorite Fish Tacos are made with fried fish, but heaven knows I’m not going to fry up fish and stink up my house every taco Tuesday (I dislike the lingering smell of fried food in my house immensely.) So, I decided that I still like fish tacos enough to try them with baked fish in place of the fried to see how it would go over.

Well, I’m happy to say that these do not disappoint! This is now my favorite way to make to make good fish tacos! I also love to make my Fresh Mango Salsa to spoon over the top of these fish tacos. It’s heavenly!

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Ingredients Needed for Baked Fish Tacos

Fish is the main ingredient for this easy fish taco recipe, which means, to make amazing tacos, your fish needs to be seasoned perfectly. Here’s what you need to do that:

For the fish

  • tilapia –fresh or defrosted. Feel free to use your favorite white fish filets instead.
  • avocado oil –or olive oil. This helps cook and keep the fish moist while baking.
  • lime zest– or mojito lime seasoning
  • pantry staples– salt, black pepper

For the fish taco slaw

  • coleslaw mix-you can find this at your local grocery store in the produce section.
  • fresh cilantro– if you’re one that doesn’t like the taste of cilantro, don’t add it in.
  • red onion– if red onions are too powerful for you, try marinating them in a combination of white wine vinegar, sugar, salt, and water – aka: pickled onions!
  • sour cream– this creates the base of the sauce. Creamy tangy goodness.
  • taco seasoning– you can use the store-bought kind or make your own.
  • lime zest + juice– mojito lime seasoning would also be good here.
  • pantry staples– garlic or garlic powder, salt

For the tacos:

  • warm flour tortillas–or corn
  • avocado–or guacamole
  • cilantro– for garnish

Variations

  • Swap tilapia for your favorite flaky white fish- cod, halibut, rock fish etc
  • Use plain Greek yogurt instead of sour cream for a lighter option
  • Experiment with your favorite toppings like mango salsa, cotija cheese, lime crema sauce or shredded lettuce.
  • Add some heat to your seasoning by adding a little chili powder, cayenne pepper, onion powder or hot sauce.

More 30 minute meals to try!Shrimp Scampi,Beef Stroganoff,Chicken Piccata, andSmothered Baked Pork Chops.

Tips and Tricks for the Best Baked Fish Tacos

The secrets for these fish tacos not tasting fishy include:

  • using very fresh white fish OR using fish that is vacuum-sealed from the freezer section. White fish typically has the most mild flavor.
  • rinse and pat your fish dry dry dry!
  • coat with a thin layer of avocado oil and season it well with salt and lime zest.
  • bake it until it’s *just* finished cooking. Over cooked fish is dry and rubbery. Yuck.
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How to Make Baked Fish Tacos

For full recipe details, including ingredient measurements, see the printable recipe card down below. Here is step-by-step instructions for making this Baked Fish Taco Recipe:

1. Preheat Oven + Prep

Preheat oven to 375° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

2. Pat Dry, Season + Bake Fish

With paper towels, pat dry each fish filet really well. Place dry fish filets onto parchment paper and rub lightly with a little oil on both sides. Sprinkle with salt, black pepper and lime zest and bake for 10-12 minutes to perfection (or until opaque and can flake easily).

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3. Make Fish Taco Slaw + Dressing

While fish is baking, place coleslaw mix, cilantro and red onion into a large bowl.

In a small bowl, whisk sour cream, salt, taco seasoning, lime zest, lime juice and garlic together until smooth. Pour dressing over coleslaw mixture and toss until everything is well coated.

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Amazing Baked Fish Tacos Recipe - Lauren's Latest (8)
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4. Assemble Tacos

To serve, warm tortillas and top each tortilla with a small piece of fish, prepared slaw, avocado slices (or guacamole) and more cilantro, if desired.

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Storing Leftovers

I typically steer clear of reheating fish of any kind…it’s just not the same as the day you first prepare it. Plus, absolutely zero people want the smell of reheated fish wafting through the kitchen. 😉 And for the love of god, do not reheat them in the office microwave. 🙂 For best results enjoy fish tacos fresh. If you have leftover coleslaw and want to make another round of fish tacos in the next few days, store everything in separate containers for up to 4 days in the fridge.

Make Ahead: If you want to save yourself sometime, you can prepare the coleslaw mixture in advance and store in the fridge, covered in an airtight container. Then bake your fish and assemble the tacos just before serving.

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What to Serve with Baked Fish Tacos

These healthy fish tacos are delicious on their own or pair them with one or two of these great options!

  • Mexican Street Corn
  • Fresh Mango Salsa
  • Cilantro Lime Rice
  • Amazing Pico de Gallo
  • Grilled Corn Salsa
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More Taco Recipes to Love!

  • Baja Fish Tacos
  • Taco Lettuce Wraps
  • The Easiest Fish Taco (using fish sticks!)
  • Taco Sloppy Joes
  • Asian Beef Tacos
  • Birria Tacos – literally mind-blowing

Enjoy these easy Fish Tacos for a healthy, flavorful meal any busy night of the week! The printable recipe card is below! Have a great day, friends!

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you wouldgive it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.

Amazing Baked Fish Tacos Recipe - Lauren's Latest (15)

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3.34 from 3 votes

Baked Fish Taco Recipe

Healthy and super delicious Fish Tacos that requires zero frying because we bake the fish! Make a slaw to go on top for a dinner made in less than 30 minutes.

servings 4 servings

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 12 minutes mins

Total Time 27 minutes mins

Ingredients

For the fish:

  • 12 oz tilapia fresh or defrosted + patted very dry
  • 2 tbsp avocado oil
  • salt to taste
  • black pepper to taste
  • 1 tbsp lime zest

For the slaw:

  • 16 oz coleslaw mix
  • 1/2 cup cilantro fresh, chopped
  • 1/4 large red onion diced, about 1/3 cup
  • 3/4 cup sour cream
  • salt to taste
  • 1 tbsp taco seasoning
  • 1 tbsp lime zest
  • 2 1/2 tbsp fresh lime juice
  • 1 clove garlic grated

For the tacos:

  • 4 flour tortillas or corn
  • 1 ripe avocado or guacamole
  • cilantro freshy, chopped, for garnish

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

  • Place dry fish filets onto parchment paper and rub lightly with oil on both sides. Sprinkle with salt and mojito lime seasoning and bake for 10-12 minutes or until opaque and can flake easily.

    Amazing Baked Fish Tacos Recipe - Lauren's Latest (16)

  • While fish is baking, place coleslaw mix, cilantro and red onion into a large bowl.

    Amazing Baked Fish Tacos Recipe - Lauren's Latest (17)

  • In a small bowl, whisk sour cream, salt, taco seasoning, lime zest, lime juice and garlic together until smooth. Pour dressing over coleslaw and toss until everything is well coated.

    Amazing Baked Fish Tacos Recipe - Lauren's Latest (18)

  • To serve, warm tortillas and top each tortilla with a small piece of fish, prepared slaw, avocado slices (or guacamole) and more cilantro, if desired.

    Amazing Baked Fish Tacos Recipe - Lauren's Latest (19)

Nutrition

Calories: 299kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 353mg | Potassium: 618mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 445IU | Vitamin C: 46.7mg | Calcium: 146mg | Iron: 2mg

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: fish taco recipe, Fish Tacos, how to make fish tacos

Amazing Baked Fish Tacos Recipe - Lauren's Latest (2024)

FAQs

What is best tasting fish for fish tacos? ›

White-fleshed, mild, saltwater fish

Whether snapper, mahi-mahi, grouper, flounder, halibut, or cod, wild, local fish are the tastiest choice for Baja-style tacos.

What is the best fish to fry for tacos? ›

Best Fish for Fish Tacos

We love cod filets for fish tacos because it's mild and is unlikely to fall apart during the frying process. Other great options include tilapia, halibut, grouper, mahi mahi, or sea bass. Any white fish will work well for this recipe.

What fish is good for tacos? ›

Any firm white fish fillets will work fine here, especially if they are fleshy. My favourites are snapper and barramundi. They have “meaty” flesh which I particularly enjoy in tacos. Other common fish that are ideal include: tilapia, basa, cod, John Dory and Silver Dory, ling, bream, haddock, pollack, monkfish.

What is the white sauce on fish tacos made of? ›

Pete Scherer is a cook and baker with a decade of experience across many facets of the Southern California food scene. That tangy, slightly spicy white sauce that often accompanies Baja style fish tacos is usually made with sour cream, mayonnaise, and lime juice.

What alcohol goes with fish tacos? ›

California or Oregon Pinot Noir

White wines are best with most fish tacos, but if you're eating a taco made with grilled fish, especially salmon, the red cherry fruit you find in Oregon Pinot Noir and lighter styles from California works well.

How healthy are fish tacos? ›

Fish is an excellent source of protein. Any fat that it contains is polyunsaturated and beneficial, including heart-healthy omega-3 fat. Other vital nutrients in fish include iron, iodine, selenium, zinc and vitamin B12. Tilapia, which is called for in today's recipe for fish tacos, also provides choline.

What do Mexicans eat with fish? ›

A classic fish dish is the Mojarra Frita, served with rice and a greed salad, and spices of choice. Other popular fish dishes in Mexico include Colima-style ceviche, ceviche de Sierra, and the Pescado zarandeado with its distinct smoke flavor and salt.

What is the least fishy fish for fish tacos? ›

Tilapia – tilapia is arguably the mildest tasting fish there is. It's not fishy at all and has a mild sweetness. Tilapia is easy to prepare and goes well with a variety of different flavor profiles. Cod – cod has a mild flavor that's slightly sweet like tilapia.

Is it better to fry fish in flour or fish fry? ›

Don't skip the flour coating since it provides a delicious crispy texture, protects the fish from soaking up too much oil, and also keeps the fillet in one piece. For best results, use a heavy-bottomed pan, as it distributes the heat evenly.

Do you heat tortillas for fish tacos? ›

Heating up the tortillas before you fill them makes every taco recipe that much more savory and delicious, so don't skip this step!

Do Mexicans eat fish tacos? ›

People have been eating fish tacos in the coastal areas of Mexico for as long as fisherman have worked the seas and have had stone-ground tortillas to wrap their fire-roasted bounty in—we're talking hundreds of years.

What is the healthiest white fish? ›

Cod. It's a British classic in meals such as fish & chips, but cod is also one of the healthiest white fish around. Cod is high in protein, low in fat and a good source of vitamin B12, which is needed for energy and nervous system support and may be important in helping prevent depression.

What's better for fish tacos cod or tilapia? ›

The best fish for fish tacos:

We use cod in this recipe, but any flaky variety (like tilapia) will work just fine. Whatever fish you choose, we highly recommend marinating it in our simple mixture of lime juice, chili powder, and cumin.

What is the tastiest fish in the Gulf of Mexico? ›

Tuna, hogfish, amberjack, snapper, and grouper are some of the most popular and the best-tasting fish you can find in the Gulf.

What's the difference between tilapia and cod? ›

Tilapia is slightly sweeter and firmer and can be substituted for cod in a variety of dishes like fish and chips or fish tacos. Tilapia is more sustainably sourced than cod since it's a freshwater fish that can be farmed in a variety of habitats and feeds on plant-based food.

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