Easy Spicy Salmon Tacos with Slaw

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Spicy salmon tacos with a creamy, tangy cilantro slaw, all ready in 10 minutes? Yes, please! This quick and easy salmon tacos recipe is sure to be a family favorite – it’s mouthwateringly delicious with just enough of a kick!

Spicy salmon tacos on a plate. Text overlay reads, "Spicy Salmon Tacos".

My whole family loves taco night…whether it’s Slow Cooker Carnitas or Black Bean and Corn Salsa Tacos or Spinach and Chicken Enchiladas – all taco nights are winners in my book, and I love that we have so many yummy choices!

I personally LOVE fish tacos. It’s usually what I order if we go out to eat, simply because my family isn’t a huge fan of fish (except for Blackened Salmon and Fish Sticks on occasion).

But who said we had to make traditional white fish tacos? Why not combine our favorite salmon recipe with taco night and make spicy salmon tacos with slaw?! That’s a taco night everybody’s excited about.

So that’s exactly what we’re doing. This super easy salmon tacos with slaw recipe is how I’m taking our desire for healthy food (hello omega 3s!) and our love for tacos and turning it into something delicious. Beyond that, these spicy salmon tacos are…

Ridiculously easy – no expert cooking skills required.
Ready in 10 minutes – perfect for a busy weeknight!
Flexible with toppings – add what you love, skip what you don’t!
Adaptable – kick the spice up a notch or tone it down…you do you!
Made with what I have on hand – because these salmon tacos don’t require any fancy ingredients, I can make them anytime!

Spicy salmon tacos are on a white plate.

SALMON TACO INGREDIENTS

I always have the simple ingredients for salmon fish tacos in my kitchen, and they’re what you can typically expect from a taco:

Salmon fillets – make sure they’re completely thawed if you are using frozen salmon
Spices: chili powder, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt
Tortillas (Corn Tortillas or Flour Tortillas)
Additional toppings: avocado, diced tomatoes, red onion or Pickled Onions, cheese, etc.

Psst! Not all salts are made the same! I love Ava Jane’s Kitchen because it doesn’t have microplastics (gross, right?) and it’s SO GOOD! Plus, you can get a free 8oz. bag of sea salt (just pay shipping and handling!).

I like to serve these salmon fish tacos with my Cilantro Lime Coleslaw, and you’ll need a few additional ingredients to make that:

Olive oil
Water
Fresh cilantro
Green onions
Garlic cloves
Salt
Lime juice
Greek yogurt (or mayo or sour cream)
Cabbage (or bagged shredded coleslaw)

One batch of cilantro lime coleslaw doesn’t last long in my house, so I like to make a double batch and serve it as a side dish the next day with Slow Cooker Balsamic Roast or Instant Pot BBQ Chicken. Both are totally different flavors than salmon fish tacos, but since the slow cooker does the work for you, you have a nearly completely hands-off dinner!

Note: If you don’t have access to high-quality salmon locally, I recommend Butcher Box. You can read my honest review of their products here, and my post on how to make Butcher Box worth the cost!

HOW TO MAKE HEALTHY SALMON TACOS RECIPE

I mentioned that these healthy salmon tacos come together in about 10 minutes. I love quick dinners like that! Here’s how to make fish tacos with salmon.

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, spray it with cooking spray, and place your salmon filets on the aluminum foil skin-side down. Season the fish liberally with the spice mix.

Step 2: Prepare the slaw while you wait for the oven. Whisk together the sauce ingredients in a large mixing bowl (one size bigger than you think you need). Add the cabbage, cilantro, and green onions and toss. Set aside.

Step 3: Bake the salmon in the oven for 10 minutes on the dot. Set the timer!

Step 4: Prepare the toppings – toast the tortillas on a griddle (or over the flame of a gas stove), dice tomatoes, shred cheese, dice avocado, and chop cilantro…you can even make Lime Crema (so, SO good!).

Step 5: When the salmon is done, flake off bits of the salmon filet with a fork and tuck them inside a tortilla. Top with slaw and toppings as desired. You can do this individually, or let the family assemble their own salmon tacos!

TIPS FOR THIS RECIPE FOR SALMON TACOS

Salmon isn’t the best leftover… so I recommend making it fresh for dinner.
All the other ingredients make GREAT leftovers! I almost always make a double batch of coleslaw and prep extra toppings so we can have tacos (or quesadillas) another night of the week. Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas are a great option as well.
Adjust the level of heat in this recipe for salmon tacos by increasing or decreasing the cayenne pepper. You can also add a smoky flavor by adding smoked paprika to the seasoning mix.
Swap Taco Seasoning or Fajita Seasoning for the spice blend mix below. If you do this, I still recommend adding the regular chili powder for extra flavor and kick.
If you don’t have salmon, try Spicy Shrimp Tacos!

Up close view of spicy salmon tacos on a white plate.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH SALMON FISH TACOS

RECIPE SALMON TACOS FAQS

What fish is best for tacos?

Any fish works well in tacos, so long as you like the fish! If you don’t eat fish often and aren’t sure where to start, tilapia and salmon are both excellent in fish tacos.

What fish is most common in fish tacos?

Tilapia is the most common fish in fish tacos, but all tilapia is farmed. Because wild-caught fish is better for you, I suggest using Pacific Whiting or Flounder instead for more traditional fish tacos. Salmon isn’t white, but it’s SO good for you and it’s excellent in fish tacos!

Is this recipe for salmon tacos healthy for you?

Yes! Fish tacos are only as healthy as the ingredients in them, so I recommend choosing fish that isn’t breaded or fried. I’d also choose homemade coleslaw to avoid additives in the dressing. The rest of the toppings – chopped avocado, finely diced cilantro, diced tomatoes, etc. – are all excellent and healthy!

MORE YUMMY TACO NIGHT RECIPES

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