Best Fish Tacos

It seems when I order fish tacos there is always something missing, something that would make them just a tad more interesting.

overhead shot of fish tacos on a plate with text overlay for facebook


 

I finally started to put together my own recipe after ordering some very disappointing, extremely expensive poolside soft tacos from a very famous restaurant in Las Vegas.

These easy fish tacos are what I believe to be the best fish tacos. Fresh ingredients, tons of flavor and let’s face it- they are pretty to look at!

The two factors that set these apart from the rest are a vinegar based hot sauce and unique citrus fish marinade. Most fish tacos don’t use a marinade at all for the fish. I see that as just another way to add another layer of sophistication and flavor.

Citrus For Fish

In fact, in Mexico, seafood marinades are made using sour oranges instead of any vinegar. Both acidic, sour orange is hard to find in the states, so vinegar is a nice substitute.

Citrus can tenderize fish, but it can also make it tough if left too long, which is why this quick marinade is perfect!

Traditional fish tacos (any soft taco really) are made with corn tortillas, which can be chewy. Heating them in the oven or charring them on the grill will make them softer.

You can also opt for a flour tortilla and no one will judge, I promise. If you do use corn tortillas, use any leftovers to make homemade tortilla chips.

I’m also going to share a little tortilla secret. Mix spices with extra virgin olive oil or canola oil and baste directly onto the tortilla before assembling your soft taco.

angled shot of close up of fish tacos

Why You’ll Love These Fish Tacos

Flaky white fish on a tortilla with all of your favorite taco toppings- what’s not to love!

  • Easy to make – Despite the long ingredient list, these tacos are surprisingly easy to make and are ready to enjoy in less than an hour.
  • Fresh ingredients – With ingredients like pico de gallo, limes and red cabbage, the flavor of these tacos is out of this world.
  • Easily customizable – You can easily switch up the toppings to suit your family’s taste buds. The options are endless!
fish tacos on a platter

Fish Tacos Ingredients

The list is long, but these are all actually simple ingredients. Easily found at your local grocery store, this is a great recipe for

Fish Taco Marinade

  • Cod fillets – I prefer cod, but you can really use any white fish fillets that you prefer. Different types of fish include tilapia, bass, grouper mahi mahi or snapper. Some can be found at local grocery stores, others are more regional.
  • Canola oil – A little oil is need to make the marinade. You can use any type of neutral oil here. Canola is my personal favorite, but you can also use vegetable oil or even avocado oil if you’d like to.
  • Lime juice – To add some acidity to our marinade, I like to add lime juice. Fresh lime juice is always preferred over the bottled variety, as the flavor of more pungent.
  • Ancho chili powder – No need for a fancy seasoning mix. We want the flavors of the fish to shine, so this and maybe a little garlic powder are all you really need.
  • Honey – To add just a touch of sweetness to our baja fish tacos, I use a bit of honey. You can also you agave if that’s what you have on hand.
close up of sauce drizzled on tacos

Toppings

  • Pico de gallo – A blend of red onion, tomatoes and fresh cilantro, this is one of the most popular taco toppings. I recommend making your own because fresh pico de gallo just can’t be beat.
  • Limes – A squeeze of fresh lime juice on flaky white fish is a great way to brighten up any kind of fish taco. The acidity helps balance out the flavor of the fish.
  • Queso fresco – You can really use any type of cheese that you prefer, but I think queso fresco really sends these tacos over the top. Cotija cheese is another great option.
  • Sour cream – In addition to the cream sauce to top your tacos, sour cream brings a nice tang and coolness to these baja-style fish tacos. You can also go more authentic with a crema Mexicana sauce.
  • Red cabbage – Crunchy cabbage is a nice way to add some color, flavor and crunch to these homemade fish tacos. You can also use purple cabbage too.
  • Avocados – pitted and thinly sliced.
  • Creamy fish taco sauceThis creamy sauce is made with a blend of hot pepper sauce, white vinegar, cider vinegar, brown sugar, cayenne pepper, ancho chili powder, sea salt and black pepper.
  • Avocado Crema- If you are still thinking cool and creamy, this avocado crema sauce is also delightful!
straight on shot of fish tacos with lime

Spiced Tortillas

  • Tortillas – You can use either fresh corn tortillas or flour tortillas for these tacos. Warm tortillas are key to bringing this whole taco recipe together.
  • Extra virgin olive oil – We need these to get the seasoning to stick to our tortillas. Just enough to baste on the flavor.
  • Cumin – To season these warm corn tortillas, we just need a little bit of cumin and a dash of salt. Simple and easy but definitely effective.
tortillas brushed with olive oil

How to Make Fish Tacos

You’re going to love how easy it is to make these delicious tacos.

  1. Prepare fish. Wash and pat dry fish.
  2. Make marinade. Combine the canola oil, lime juice, ancho chili powder, water and honey in a shallow baking dish or pie plate. Add cod, place in refrigerator. Flip to other side and return to refrigerate again.
  3. Make taco sauce. Make the signature fish taco sauce by combining the hot sauce, white vinegar, cider vinegar, brown sugar, cayenne peppers, ancho chili powder, salt and pepper. Whisk well. 
  4. Warm tortillas. Wrap tortillas in aluminum foil and place in oven on low heat to warm.
  5. Cook fish. In medium frying pan, spray cooking spray and heat over medium heat. Place cod fillets in the pan until they flake easily with a spoon. Remove from pan and slice into thin strips.
  6. Add seasoning to tortillas. Combine extra virgin olive oil in a small bowl and whisk with cumin and fine sea salt. Baste onto corn or flour tortillas before assembling.
  7. Serve. To serve you can place in an assembly line along a counter for guests to make their own or you can place a strip or two of fish, shredded cabbage and a slice of avocado in each tortilla and then place the other fixings on the side. Enjoy!

What to Serve with Fish Tacos

Anything that you normally serve with tacos, you can serve with these. Try serving with some homemade guacamole, pico de gallo or queso dip.

As far as side dishes go, the options are really endless. I like to serve mine with Spanish rice, or even a side of vinegar coleslaw.

For dessert, why not try some air fyrer churros!

close up of fish taco

Variations

We love these fish tacos exactly the way the recipe is written, however there are plenty of ways you can make this recipe your own.

  • Fish – I prefer cod, but you can really use any white fish fillets that you prefer. Different types of fish include tilapia, bass, grouper mahi mahi or snapper. Some can be found at local grocery stores, others are more regional.
  • Toppings – Instead of queso fresco, you could use a Mexican cheese blend, shredded cheddar or any other cheese you’d like. Add any of your other favorite taco toppings.
  • Tortillas – I used flour tortillas the last time I made these tacos, but I’ve used corn too and they’re both delicious!

Storage and Freezing

Storage: You can store leftover fish in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. The other elements of these tacos, besides the sauce, will not hold up well and are better served fresh.

Freezing: Cooked fish can be stored in the freezer for up to three months. However, I do no recommend freezing the other elements of these fish tacos.

close up of fish tacos on a plate

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish is best for fish tacos?

I prefer cod, but you can really use any white fish fillets that you prefer. Different types of fish include tilapia, bass, grouper mahi mahi or snapper. Some can be found at local grocery stores, others are more regional.

What is the white sauce on fish tacos made of?

This creamy sauce is made with a blend of hot pepper sauce, white vinegar, cider vinegar, brown sugar, cayenne pepper, ancho chili powder, sea salt and black pepper.

What is usually served with fish tacos?

Check the section above for specific suggestions, but you can really serve these tacos with just about anything! I like to serve mine with some sort of starch like rice.

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straight on shot of queso fundido in a skillet

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three fish tacos on a plate with text overlay for pinterest
fish tacos on a platter

Fish Taco Recipe

5 from 42 votes
Easy fish tacos full of flavor with pico de gallo, shredded cabbage, avocado, queso fresco and a special homemade hot sauce.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

Fish Taco Marinade

Fixings

Fish Taco Sauce

Spiced Tortillas

Instructions

Fish:

  • Wash and pat dry the fish.
  • Combine the canola oil, lime juice, ancho chili powder, water and honey in a shallow baking dish or pie plate. Add the cod and place in refrigerator for 15 minutes. Flip to other side and return to refrigerate for additional 15 minutes.
  • Coat a frying pan with cooking spray and heat over medium heat. Place the cod fillets in the pan, 3 minutes on each side, or until they flake easily with a fork. Remove from pan and slice in ½ thin strips.

Taco Sauce:

  • Make the signature fish taco sauce by combining hot sauce, white vinegar, cider vinegar, brown sugar, cayenne peppers, ancho chili powder, salt and pepper. Whisk well and set aside.

Tortillas:

  • Wrap the tortillas in aluminum foil and place in oven on low heat to warm. You can also heat up a small amount of oil in a large frying pan and heat them on either side for 20 seconds. Don’t go too long or else they will crisp instead of being flexible.
  • Combine the extra virgin olive oil in a small bowl and whisk with cumin and fine sea salt. Baste onto corn or flour tortillas before assembling.

Assemble:

  • To serve you can place in an assembly line along a counter for guests to make their own or you can place a strip or two of fish, shredded cabbage and a slice of avocado in each tortilla and then place the other fixings on the side. Drizzle hot sauce in the taco or place a small bowl on each plate for dipping. These can get messy- you’ll be tempted, but don’t put too much in one taco! Garnish with lime wedges, squeeze on top of tacos.
  • If you liked this recipe, make sure to come back and let us know in the comments or staring ratings.

Nutrition

Calories: 647 kcal, Carbohydrates: 70 g, Protein: 29 g, Fat: 28 g, Saturated Fat: 7 g, Cholesterol: 57 mg, Sodium: 1915 mg, Potassium: 842 mg, Fiber: 6 g, Sugar: 17 g, Vitamin A: 890 IU, Vitamin C: 22.9 mg, Calcium: 307 mg, Iron: 4.2 mg
Author: Chef Jessica Anne
Calories: 647
Course: Main Course, Main Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: fish tacos, taco recipes
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!
collage of fish tacos for pinterest
Jessica Formicola in her ktichen

About the Author

Chef Jessica Anne Formicola

Jessica the mom, wife and chef behind Savory Experiments. You might see her on the Emmy- nominated TV show Plate It! or on bookshelves as a cookbook author. Jessica is a Le Cordon Bleu certified recipe developer and regularly contributed to Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, The Daily Meal, Mashed and more!

Read More About Jessica

5 from 42 votes (31 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Questions and Reviews

  1. 5 stars
    This fish taco recipe is my go-to. The marinade is what makes these tacos better than any that I order in any restaurant.

  2. 5 stars
    I”m totally on team flour tortilla – I just can’t get past the texture of a soft corn tortilla. I do love your idea of basting the shell before you stuff it. I’ll be trying that next time I have tacos!

  3. 5 stars
    These look sooo tasty! Both fish and tacos always go down well in this hous. I love marinading fish- why do you say to marinade it for less time? I often leave it all day , putting the marinade on in the morning.

    1. 5 stars
      Some fish just don’t need as much time or can become too tough in a acidic marinade. It depends on the fish, flavor you are going for and of course, the marinade.

  4. 5 stars
    I’m a big fan of tacos. These look so fresh & tasty. Love that you made homemade taco sauce for these.