Switch things up this week and make these Blackened Tilapia Tacos for an irresistible dinner! Light and flavorful, this is the perfect way to instantly upgrade your taco Tuesday.
Featuring a creamy avocado cilantro sauce, this seafood classic is a mouthwatering and easy dinner any night of the week. Thanks to easy steps and fresh, zesty ingredients, you can have these tacos ready in under 30 minutes!
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🩵 About This Recipe
Looking for a refreshing and zesty option for your next taco night? These incredible blackened fish tacos feature bold and tender fish with a homemade avocado cilantro sauce and all your favorite toppings!
Ready in under 30 minutes, this is a great option for Taco Tuesday dinners or any time you're craving something satisfying and packed with exciting flavors!
And if you can't get enough tacos, try this Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos recipe, or learn how to make your very own Homemade Taco Seasoning!
🧂 Gather Your Ingredients
- tilapia - this light and affordable white fish is an excellent option to doctor up into a mouthwatering meal.
- blackened seasoning - check out this recipe for Homemade Blackening Seasoning, or simply combine smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, and cayenne pepper with salt and black pepper to taste.
- olive oil - for making the sauce as well as cooking the fish.
- avocado - acts as the base of the creamy sauce that pairs perfectly with the blackened fish.
- sour cream - adds creaminess to the sauce.
- lime juice - I prefer to use fresh lime juice for the best flavor, but bottled can be used for a shortcut.
- garlic - adds depth of flavor to the sauce.
- fresh cilantro - the fresh herbs contrast beautifully with the smoky, spicy fish and creamy elements.
- taco fix-ins - I like to serve my blackened fish tacos on flour tortillas with red cabbage, onion, and some cilantro for toppings.
🔪 Let's Make Blacked Tilapia Tacos!
(Or click here to jump right to the recipe card with measurements!)
Combine Spices
In a small bowl, mix together all of the seasonings.
Season Fish
Pat the fish fillets dry and cover on both sides with the blackening seasoning.
Start Sauce
To a blender or food processor, add avocado, olive oil, sour cream, garlic, lime juice, and cilantro.
Blend
Blend up the sauce, adding water a tablespoon at a time until it reaches your desired consistency. Taste and adjust salt and pepper to taste.
Cook Fish
Heat olive oil in a large skillet and cook fish 3 to 4 minutes per side, then set aside and cool.
Assemble Tacos
Once slightly cooled, break the fish into smaller chunks and add to tortillas.
Add Toppings
Top blackened tilapia tacos with cabbage, cilantro, and your homemade avocado cilantro sauce.
If you love tacos with tons of flavor, you'll want to try making tacos with roasted Yucatan style pork, known as Cochinita Pibil. Your taste buds will thank you! Or check out these Mexican Garlic Shrimp Tacos. They're easy to make and delicious!
💡 Expert Tips and Tricks
- If your tortillas fall apart when you try to bend them, wrap them gently with a damp paper towel and microwave for 30 seconds to soften them up.
- For a crispier option, you can also pan fry the tortillas for a minute or so on each side.
- Place the fish in each tortilla, then serve bare with bowls of toppings to let everybody build their own tacos!
- Other great topping ideas include tortilla strips or crushed tortilla chips, radish slices, or pickled onions.
❔ FAQs
The technique of "blackening" a fish or other kind of meat comes from Cajun cuisine, and refers to a specific blend of spices that take on a dark and deeply flavorful quality when grilled or cooked otherwise.
I like to serve mine with soft flour tortillas, but you could also use hard shell tacos or soft corn tortillas depending on your preference.
I've made this dish as blackened tilapia tacos since tilapia is common and affordable, but any kind of light fish like cod or halibut also works great.
📝 Substitutions and Variations
- Change up the protein by using shrimp, salmon, or even chicken instead of tilapia!
- Other light fish options include cod, haddock, pollock, halibut, or flounder.
- Make these blackened tilapia tacos a bit lighter by using whole wheat tortillas, or sub the tortillas out for lettuce wraps.
- Another option is to serve over rice instead of in a tortilla for a delicious baja rice bowl!
- If you like things extra spicy, use more cayenne pepper in the seasoning blend or drizzle your tacos with hot sauce.
- For a dairy-free option, replace the sour cream with avocado or even a dairy-free yogurt.
Kristin's Kitchen Tip
Though fresh ingredients are great, options like jarred minced garlic, a store bought seasoning blend, or a blend of pre-shredded cabbage and lettuce can help cut out precious prep time!
🥡 Storage and Reheating
If you have leftovers, store everything separately in airtight containers in the fridge. Reheat the fish in a skillet or an air fryer, adding a bit of extra oil to prevent drying out. Then simply reassemble the tacos and enjoy!
⏳ Make Ahead Instructions
Feel free to make the sauce and the seasoning blend ahead of time for more convenient prep! Store the avocado cilantro sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for a day or so, and keep the blend of seasonings in a mason jar or other container.
Keep It Handy
Don't have time for this blackened tilapia tacos recipe right now? Click on or tap the heart icon on the BOTTOM RIGHT of the screen to save it for later!
🍴 What To Serve With This Dish
As a side dish, serve your blackened fish tacos with Mexican street corn, black beans, or a big bowl of Cilantro Lime Rice!
😋 More Taco Recipes You'll Love
- Chipotle Shrimp Tacos with Asparagus - Another refreshing and flavorful seafood taco option with healthy veggies built in!
- One Pot Cheesy Taco Skillet - A convenient and delicious dinner that comes together in a single pot for easy prep and cleanup.
- Shrimp Tostadas - Perfectly seasoned shrimp served on a crunchy corn tortilla with all the fixings.
- Crock Pot Chicken Taco Soup - Great for the colder months, this hearty soup translates the flavors of tacos into a comforting dish.
- Homemade Baja Sauce - This recipe from JZ Eats is the easiest way to whip up a quick and delicious baja sauce for all your taco needs. It would pair perfectly with these blackened tilapia tacos!
get your copy now!
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Blackened Baja Fish Tacos
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📋 Recipe Card
Blackened Tilapia Tacos
Ingredients
For the Tilapia:
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 4 tilapia fillets
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
For the Avocado Cilantro Sauce:
- 1 ripe avocado
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons lime juice (about 1 lime)
- 1 small garlic clove
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro leaves
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt
For the Tacos:
- 8 small corn or flour tortillas
- 2 cups shredded red cabbage
- ¼ cup diced white or yellow onion
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- Lime wedges and jalapeno slices, for serving (optional)
Instructions
Prepare the tilapia:
- In a small bowl, combine smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, cayenne (if using), salt, and black pepper.1 tablespoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Pat the tilapia fillets dry with a paper towel and coat both sides with olive oil. Rub the spice mixture evenly over both sides of each fillet.4 tilapia fillets, 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add a little olive oil if needed. Cook the fillets for 3-4 minutes per side, or until the fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork. Remove from heat and let rest for a few minutes before breaking into large chunks.
Make the avocado cilantro sauce:
- In a blender or food processor, combine avocado, sour cream, lime juice, garlic, cilantro, olive oil, and salt. Blend until smooth. Add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.1 ripe avocado, ¼ cup sour cream, 2 tablespoons lime juice, 1 small garlic clove, ¼ cup fresh cilantro leaves, 2 tablespoons olive oil, ¼ teaspoon salt
Assemble the Tacos:
- Place a layer of shredded red cabbage on each tortilla. Top with chunks of blackened tilapia, a drizzle of avocado cilantro sauce, diced onion, and chopped cilantro.8 small corn or flour tortillas, 2 cups shredded red cabbage, ¼ cup diced white or yellow onion, ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- Serve with lime wedges for squeezing over the top and jalapeno slices, if desired.Lime wedges and jalapeno slices, for serving
Notes
- Save time by using store-bought shredded red cabbage or coleslaw mix.
- Wrap tortillas in a damp paper towel and microwave in 30-second bursts, or warm them in a dry skillet for a slightly crispy texture.
- Try using shrimp, salmon, or chicken instead of tilapia.
- Use whole wheat, low-carb, or even lettuce wraps for a lighter option.
- Add thinly sliced radishes, crispy tortilla strips, or pickled onions for more texture.
- Adjust the cayenne pepper in the spice blend or add a dash of hot sauce for more spice.
- Replace sour cream in the sauce with dairy-free yogurt or more avocado to make this dairy-free.
- Serve with a side of Mexican street corn, black beans, or cilantro-lime rice.
- Create a taco bar and let everyone assemble their own tacos. Provide extra toppings like diced tomatoes, cheese, or pickled jalapenos.
- The best way to store leftovers is to keep all the components separate, so only assemble the tacos that will be eaten.
- Store cooked tilapia in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat gently in a skillet over low heat or in the microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
- Store the sauce in an airtight container with plastic wrap pressed against the surface to minimize browning. It's recommended to use it within 24 hours.
- Keep the tortillas in a sealed bag at room temperature for up to a week, or refrigerate for longer freshness.
- Store the cabbage and any additional toppings separately in sealed containers.
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Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.
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Kristin King says
My kids can be picky about fish but they always devour this recipe with no complaining whatsoever!