Crispy Fish Tacos

🌮 Crispy Fish Tacos

Servings: Makes 8–10 tacos
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Category: Main Course / Street-Style Tacos

Keywords: crispy fish tacos, fish taco recipe, Baja-style tacos, easy seafood tacos, cod fish tacos, fried white fish tacos, fish tacos with lime slaw

These crispy fish tacos are crunchy, flavorful, and topped with a zesty lime slaw and creamy taco sauce. Flaky white fish is seasoned and pan-fried until golden, then wrapped in warm tortillas and finished with fresh toppings. Whether it's Taco Tuesday, a summer BBQ, or a casual weeknight dinner, this quick seafood taco recipe is always a hit.

Perfectly balanced in texture and flavor, they’re restaurant-quality tacos made simple—ready in under 40 minutes.

🛒 Ingredients

For the Fish:

• 1 lb white fish (cod, halibut, or tilapia), cut into strips
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp paprika
• ¼ tsp garlic powder
• Salt & black pepper, to taste
• 1 egg
• ¼ cup milk
• Neutral oil (vegetable or canola) for frying

For the Slaw:

• 2 cups shredded red cabbage
• ¼ cup shredded carrot
• 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
• 2 tbsp chopped cilantro
• Salt, to taste

For the Taco Sauce:

• ⅓ cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
• 1 tbsp mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• 1 tsp hot sauce (adjust to taste)

Additional:

• 8–10 small corn or flour tortillas
• Lime wedges, for serving
• Optional toppings: avocado, pickled onions, jalapeños

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Prep the fish:
   Cut the fish into even strips. In a shallow bowl, whisk the egg and milk. In another bowl, mix flour, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
2. Dredge and fry:
   Dip fish in egg mixture, then dredge in flour mixture until fully coated. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and fry fish until golden and crispy, about 2–3 minutes per side. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
3. Make slaw & sauce:
   In a bowl, toss cabbage and carrot with lime juice, cilantro, and salt. In another bowl, stir together all taco sauce ingredients until smooth.
4. Assemble tacos:
   Warm tortillas. Layer with slaw, crispy fish, a drizzle of taco sauce, and your favorite toppings.

💡 Tips & Variations

• For extra crunch: Try using a beer batter or panko breadcrumb coating.
• Low-carb option: Serve over lettuce wraps instead of tortillas.
• Add flavor: Top with pickled jalapeños, avocado slices, or mango salsa.
• Fish substitutions: Use shrimp, mahi-mahi, or even salmon chunks.

📦 Storage

• Fried fish: Store in an airtight container and reheat in an oven or air fryer for crispiness.
• Slaw & sauce: Can be prepped a day ahead. Store refrigerated in separate containers.
• Assemble fresh: For best texture, assemble tacos just before serving.