This post may contain affiliate links.
If you’re looking for a VERY low effort, quick and easy but delicious dinner recipe, you have GOT to try these easy Salmon Tacos! This is such a simple salmon recipe. Throw in a speedy creamy avocado and lime dressing for a delicious dinner in under 30 minutes.
Why is it that children (read: ALL OF US) enjoy a meal so much more when we’ve built it with our own hands? Of course, it’s because we can fill each mouthful with exactly what we fancy from the table.
Serving up help-yourself-dinners is a surefire way of getting my children to eat meals that they maybe wouldn’t normally.
These Salmon Tacos are a staple meal in our house. I love them for midweek dinners where I just do not want to be involved in too much mixing, cooking or, in fact, thinking.
Simply bake your salmon in the oven (or in the air fryer), chop your chosen sides, whip up a quick dressing (optional) and make up the tacos when you sit down. It’s that easy!
More favourite taco recipes…
Under 15 minutes
Prawn Tacos {with Zesty Lime Dressing}
Under 15 minutes
Easy Beef Tacos {15 Minute Meal}
Beef
Big Mac Tacos!
Why you’ll love this Salmon Tacos recipe
⭐️ Ready in just 30 minutes
⭐️ Hardly any prep or faff
⭐️ A great way to serve up delicious fish
About this Recipe
I believe Mexican Fish Tacos are often referred to as Baja Tacos, named after the Baja California peninsula where they originate, but they are usually made with white fish and have a batter.
So, while salmon isn’t true to an authentic and original fish taco, believe me when I say it really works for this style of dish.
Salmon is also a perfect fish to use for flavour, cost, availability and goodness. I’m flavouring it with Cajun spice here for a truly delicious and quick family dinner.
What about the taco part?
Tacos themselves are the outer bread-type part, basically a crispy tortilla wrap (I bake them to make them crispy).
You can make these with those very hard taco shells, but (a) they are easier to eat like this and (b) I think they taste better. Feel free to use either for your meal.
Easy Salmon Tacos Ingredients
- Salmon fillets – Boneless, skin on
- Cajun spice – Any good quality shop-bought seasoning is fine
For the dressing:
- Avocado
- Yoghurt – Natural yoghurt works best as it is quite runny. If you only have Greek yoghurt, that’s fine. Just add a splash or two of extra water to the sauce.
- Lime – Juice only
- Mint sauce – This is a favourite cheat of mine to get a really minty flavour to sauces. It’s the mint sauce that you serve with lamb, NOT mint jelly! You can substitute with fresh mint if you have it.
To serve:
- Tortillas – I use the small, soft wraps
- Salad – A good combination is lettuce, red onion, cucumber and sweetcorn, but it’s up to you!
How to make Salmon Tacos
1. To bake in the oven: sprinkle the salmon fillets with cajun seasoning and bake as per the recipe below. For air fryer method: sprinkle as above and add to the pan of the air fryer. (Cut smaller if you prefer).
2. Meanwhile, blend the dressing ingredients together.
3. When the salmon is cooked, peel it from the skin and break into large chunks.
4. Chop your your salad, lay everything out and let everyone help themselves.
leftovers
In the fridge You can keep this recipe in the fridge for 3 days. Reheat fully by before serving or eat cold.
In the freezer You could freeze the salmon part of this dish if you have leftovers. Make sure you defrost it thoroughly before reheating again.
What to serve with Salmon Tacos…
Side Dishes
Classic Coleslaw
Side Dishes
Potato Wedges {Air Fryer or Oven Method}
Under 15 minutes
Mexican Style Salad {with Zesty Lime Dressing}
Under 15 minutes
Veggie Loaded Nachos {10 Minute Meal}
FAQs
For crispy Salmon Tacos, very carefully heat them over an open flame on a gas hob. Alternatively, fold over the tortillas and put into the toaster slots, or you can pop in a hot oven for 3 or 4 minutes instead.
Yes! This recipe uses fresh salmon fillets, a great source of omega-3 fatty acids which have a variety of health benefits. Salmon is also low in fat and a good source of protein.
Yes! If you’re used to only white fish tacos, I urge you to give this recipe a try. It’s honestly so good, and the consistency of salmon is the same as white fish so it’s fine for tacos.
Lay the salmon, skin side down. Cut through the salmon right at the far end so there’s a tiny piece you can use as a ‘handle’ (I then grip this using some kitchen roll so I don’t slip) Run your knife between the salmon meat and its skin, flat to the board, cutting away from you. And voila, it comes right off.
Once you get the knack, it’s super easy and weirdly satisfying. But it’s worth taking 30 seconds to watch how to do it here: How to Remove Salmon Skin (It’s made it SO much easier for me. The part you want starts at 0:59.)
I’ve always bought more expensive skinless salmon but I’m now vowing to do it myself!
For small jobs like this I really like this Mini Chopper. It’s affordable and not a pain to get in and out of the cupboard. You can also mash your sauce ingredients together for this recipe if you don’t have one.
Sure, I have lots. If you’re trying to introduce it a little more to beginners, I would recommend my Easy Fish Pie, Classic Tuna Pasta Salad, Salmon Burgers or my Homemade Fish Fingers.
Let me know how you got on and what you thought of these recipes. Please rate the recipe using the ⭐️ below.
Also I’d LOVE to see your cooking creations. If you’d like to share yours with me, you can tag me on Instagram (@tamingtwins).
Easy Cajun Salmon Tacos {30 minute meal}
Ingredients
- 480 g (1 lb) Salmon fillets, Boneless | See notes
- 3 tsp Cajun spice mix, See notes
For the Avocado and Lime Dressing:
- 1 Avocado, Peeled and stoned
- 100 g (4 oz) Yoghurt, See notes
- 1 Lime, Juice only
- 1 tbsp Mint sauce, See notes
To serve:
- 8 Small, soft tortilla wraps
- 1 Lettuce, Washed and shredded
- 1 Red onion, Peeled and sliced thinly
- 1 Cucumber, Cut into thin strips (I use a vegetable peeler)
- 165 g (6 oz) Sweetcorn, Tinned, drained or frozen, cooked
Instructions
To cook in the oven:
- Preheat the oven to 200C/400F.
- Pop the salmon fillets onto a baking sheet lined with baking paper and sprinkle over the cajun seasoning. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until just cooked through.
To cook in the air fryer:
- Sprinkle the salmon fillets with the cajun seasoning (OR cut them into small cubes and toss with the seasoning). Place in the air fryer basket and cook for 6-8 minutes for cubes or 8-10 minutes for whole fillets. (Always check the fish is cooked through as it can vary depending on thickness.
- Meanwhile prepare the tacos and other toppings.
To make the Avocado and Lime Dressing:
- Blend all of the ingredients together until smooth. Add a little water to make a thin, runny sauce if you like.
To serve:
- Toast the wraps so they are crunchy and brown. You can do this by folding over and popping into the toasted slots, or for 3-4 minutes in the oven while the salmon is finishing cooking. (See notes)
- When the salmon is cooked, peel it from the skin and break into large chunks.
- Lay everything out and let everyone help themselves.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This post was originally published on October 2, 2019 and updated later to make improvements.
Our absolute favourite of yours and everyone who comes and I do this for devour it too.
Quick, flavourful and fresh 🥳
I loved these so nice on a hot day, I totally forgot to buy yoghurt so was worried how the dressing would be , but it was still lovely
30 minute meal? More like 3 minute meal!
A great idea for a very quick and easy tea, which my children really enjoyed! For those who haven’t tried it yet, the “make-your-,own” option is a life saver
Easy and delicious! The dressing is super yummy!
Lovely easy dinner 🙂
I made these on Saturday night and they were fab! Salmon for my OH, halloumi for me as I’m veggie. I used fresh basil, mint and coriander in the yogurt sauce with a drop of honey for sweetness. Plus we served it with skin on fries. It was so good and easy, will definitely make again.
Quick and easy, the dressing is amazing
Amazing and super quick