Name: Salmon Tacos
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 17 min
Ingredients: 1 pounds salmon; 2 Teaspoons olive oil; 1 Teaspoon Chili powder; 1 Teaspoon garlic, granulated; 1 Teaspoon onion powder; 1 Teaspoon ground cumin; 1 Teaspoon Mexican oregano; ½ Teaspoon coarse kosher salt or sea salt; ½ Teaspoon Black Pepper; 8 corn tortillas; lime wedges; spicy coleslaw (see recipe in notes below)

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Quick and delicious, these salmon tacos are a perfect blend of savory and fresh. They are a fast yet gourmet option for a busy weeknight dinner. Packed with the rich flavors of perfectly cooked salmon and a burst of zesty toppings, they promise to satisfy your taste buds in just minutes.

Two salmon tacos on a gray plate. — Salmon Tacos. Photo Credit: Binky’s Culinary Carnival.

Salmon tacos are one of the easier dinners you can whip up on a busy weeknight. Watch your whole family devour them in mere minutes. The best part is that you didn’t slave over a hot stove for hours.

Why Should You Make Them?

These tacos are incredibly easy. You can have dinner on the table in under 30 minutes.
The whole family will love these tacos, topped with a spicy coleslaw; they are the perfect combination of crunchy with tender salmon.
They are a healthy recipe for your family. Salmon is high in omega-3 fatty acids, which are part of a healthy diet.
They are quite versatile. Choose your favorite toppings and mix and match.

What You Need

Salmon: Choose a Sockeye, King (Chinook) filet, or Atlantic salmon. When choosing the cut, choose one with white marbling. This is fat, and ultimately, the salmon will be more tender.
Oil: We prefer olive oil with this recipe, but you can substitute your favorite oil, as well.
Garlic Powder: If you have it, granulated garlic is great, too.
Onion Powder: You can use dehydrated onion flakes, too.
Chili Powder: You can use a chili powder blend, chipotle chili powder, or cayenne pepper.
Cumin: Probably the most important ingredient.
Oregano: Use Mexican oregano if you have it.
Salt and Pepper: Use kosher salt and coarse ground pepper for the best flavor.
Tortillas: Choose either corn or flour tortillas; we prefer corn.
Fish Slaw: A creamy, slaw that is a bit spicy pairs perfectly with these tacos.

Ingredients for salmon tacos. — Photo Credit: Binky’s Culinary Carnival.

How to Make Them

Make the Spicy Coleslaw first. Then refrigerate.

Step One:

Add spices to a small bowl.

Spices added to a small bowl. — Add spices to a small bowl. Photo Credit: Binky’s Culinary Carnival.

Step Two:

Mix well.

Spices mixed up. — Mix well. Photo Credit: Binky’s Culinary Carnival.

Step Three:

Coat the salmon on both sides with the spice mix.

Salmon coated with spices. — Coat salmon with spice mix. Photo Credit: Binky’s Culinary Carnival.

Step Four:

Add olive oil to a cast iron pan and preheat it over medium-high heat.

Place the filet in when the pan is hot.

Coated Salmon in a cast iron pan. — Sear over high heat. Photo Credit: Binky’s Culinary Carnival.

Step Five:

Flip the salmon and sear it on the second side until the internal temperature reaches 130°F, measured in the thickest part of the filet with an instant-read thermometer.

Salmon flipped over. — Flip and sear the second side. Photo Credit: Binky’s Culinary Carnival.

Step Six:

Let the fish rest for about five minutes. Flake it up into bite-sized pieces with a fork.

Salmon broken into pieces with a fork. — Break the meat with a fork. Photo Credit: Binky’s Culinary Carnival.

Heat your flour or corn tortillas. Build your tacos with the coleslaw and fish. Garnish with chopped cilantro, hot sauce, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice, if desired.

Need help warming your tortillas? See our comprehensive post for many ways to heat both flour and corn tortillas.

Variations

You can use this recipe to make fish tacos with tilapia, cod, or halibut, or choose your favorite fish.
Instead of using the spicy slaw, you can garnish the tacos with lettuce, tomatoes, avocados, and cheese.
Make an Asian-inspired taco by marinating the salmon in soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and honey. Top it with a cabbage slaw made with an oil-based vinaigrette. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and garnish with sliced cucumbers.
BBQ salmon tacos are great, just basted with your favorite BBQ sauce. Serve these with slaw and crispy fried onions.
Top these salmon tacos with mango or ci trus-pineapple salsa for a different twist.
Mix smoked salmon with cream cheese, dill, and a touch of mustard. Serve these with sliced cucumber and red onion.

What to Serve with Them

Serve these delicious tacos with cotija or queso fresco cheese. Black beans or refried beans make a healthy side. They can even be served with Mexican rice.

Three salmon tacos served in a white bowl with a lime wedge. — Photo Credit: Binky’s Culinary Carnival.

How to Store Leftovers

Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Reheat the salmon in the microwave for 30 seconds, air fry the leftovers for about 2 minutes, or eat the salmon cold. It is still delicious cold. Leftover cold, the salmon is great in a salad or in a power bowl.

Freezing: Although the salmon can be frozen, it is not recommended. The texture of the fish will suffer.

If you love salmon, try these Smoked Salmon Deviled Eggs or this delectable Caramelized Peach Bourbon Salmon