Easy 15-Minute Fish Tacos with Avocado Corn Salsa

15-Minute Tilapia Fish Tacos with Corn Salsa — Tons of big flavors in a fast, fresh, and healthy meal!! A clean-eating taco recipe that tastes like comfort food!

Quick Fish Tacos with Corn and Cabbage Salsa

This is an easy, family-friendly tilapia fish taco recipe that’s ready in 15 minutes. You may even change the mind’s of those who say they, ‘don’t like fish’ with these tacos.

The fish is lightly floured and pan-seared for a barely-there crispy crust while retaining a moist, flaky, and tender interior.

Add the fish to the fajita or taco shells, top with cheese right away so it melts a bit, and then add the salsa. It’s a refreshing salsa that’s both creamy from the avocado with lots of crunch from the corn, cabbage, and cucumbers.

It’s a satisfying and healthy dinner at home faster than you can call for take-out!

Tilapia Fish Taco Ingredients

This is a simple, no-frills taco recipe with the best ever cabbage and corn salsa (or slaw, call it whatever you want — it’s delicious!).

For the fish tacos:

• Butter
• Olive oil
• Flour
• Tilapia filets
• Salt and pepper
• Taco shells
• Shredded Mexican cheese blend

For the corn and cabbage fish taco slaw:

• Red cabbage
• Corn
• Cucumber
• Avocado
• Fresh cilantro
• Salt, pepper, cayenne pepper
• Lime juice
• Apple cider vinegar
• Agave (or honey)

Can Another Type of Fish Be Used?

I used tilapia because it’s sustainable, neutral-tasting, and oh yes, cheaper than most. But you may try another white fish, including halibut, catfish, or cod.

How to Make Tilapia Fish Tacos

Making tilapia fish tacos with corn salsa is super easy! Here’s an overview of the recipe:

1. Make the salsa: Add all the salsa ingredients to a mixing bowl and toss to combine.
2. Dredge the tilapia in flour, season to taste, then cook in a greased skillet until golden brown on both sides.
3. Remove the fish from the skillet and warm the taco shells one by one, if desired.
4. Slice fish, add to fajita shells, top with cheese, salsa, and serve immediately.

Tips for Making Fish Tacos with Tilapia

I’m a cilantro fiend and use plenty because I love the flavor it adds, but play with the ingredient ratios based on your preferences.

You can make a double batch of salsa and eat it with chips, which is what I do. The vegetables soften as time passes from the apple cider vinegar and lime juice and the flavors marry and it tastes even better. 

I love the flavor of tilapia and don’t think it needs much more than salt and pepper, but you’re welcome to use your favorite taco or fajita seasonings on the fish if desired.

What to Serve with Fish Tacos

Serve the tilapia fish tacos with all of your favorite Mexican recipes! Here are some of the fish taco sides that we love:

• Instant Pot Black Beans
• Instant Pot Refried Beans
• Homemade Tortilla Chips
• Salsa (Tomatillo Avocado, Pineapple Chipotle, or Restaurant Style)
• Grilled Mexican Corn
• Black Bean, Corn & Avocado Salad

And make sure to wash them down with a 3-Ingredient Margarita or a Mango Pineapple Frozen Margarita.

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5 from 1 vote

15-Minute Tilapia Fish Tacos with Corn Salsa

By Averie Sunshine

Tons of big flavors in a fast, fresh, and healthy meal!! A clean-eating taco recipe that tastes like comfort food!

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes minutes

Total Time: 18 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

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Ingredients 

Salsa (extra is great with chips or make a double-batch)

• ▢ ¾ cup red cabbage, sliced thin
• ▢ ¾ cup corn, I use frozen that I thaw before adding
• ▢ ¾ cup cucumber, peeled and diced
• ▢ ½ to 1 medium ripe avocado, peeled, pitted, and diced
• ▢ ¼ cup minced cilantro leaves, or to taste
• ▢ ¾ teaspoon salt, or to taste
• ▢ ½ teaspoon pepper, or to taste
• ▢ pinch cayenne pepper, optional and to taste
• ▢ 3 to 4 tablespoons lime juice, lemon juice may be substituted
• ▢ 3 to 4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• ▢ 3 to 4 tablespoons agave, honey may be substituted, or to taste

Fish

• ▢ 1 tablespoon butter
• ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ▢ flour, for lightly dredging fish
• ▢ 2 large tilapia filets, about 1 pound
• ▢ salt and pepper, to taste
• ▢ fajita or taco shells
• ▢ about 1 cup white cheese or a white cheese blend, such as queso quesadilla, oxaca, asadera, Monterrey Jack, etc.

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Instructions 

Salsa

• Add all ingredients to a large bowl in the order listed, toss well to coat evenly, taste, and make any desired flavor adjustments; set aside.

Fish

• To a large skillet, add the butter, oil, and heat over medium-high heat to melt butter.
• Dredge fish through flour, coating both sides.
• Add fish to skillet, season with salt and pepper, and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes on first side.
• Flip, season with salt and pepper, and cook for about 3 minutes on second side, or until fish is lightly golden browned on both sides and cooked through.

Assembly

• If desired, lightly warm each fajita shell momentarily on a dry skillet over medium-high heat before adding fish.
• Slice fish, add to fajita shells, top with cheese, salsa, and serve immediately. Tacos are best warm and fresh. Extra salsa will keep airtight for up to 2 days, noting that avocados will oxidize and vegetables will continue to soften and release water as time passes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1, Calories: 1061kcal, Carbohydrates: 86g, Protein: 76g, Fat: 47g, Saturated Fat: 17g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 25g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 185mg, Sodium: 1460mg, Fiber: 9g, Sugar: 18g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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