Chipotle Fish Tacos are a delicious and flavorful Mexican-style dish perfect for a quick and easy weeknight meal. Featuring grilled fish that is wrapped in a warm corn tortilla and topped with a tangy chipotle sauce.
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Check out my Air Fryer Mahi Mahi and my Shrimp Tacos with Cilantro Lime Sauce for more delicious seafood recipes!
Chipotle fish tacos is made with grilled fish in a corn tortilla and topped with fresh ingredients and a chipotle sauce. The sauce provides a bold, smoky flavor that pairs well with the mild taste of the fish.
This recipe is a great option for a quick and flavorful weeknight meal and can easily be customized to your taste preferences by adjusting the amount of chipotles in the sauce or adding additional toppings such as shredded cabbage, salsa, or cheese.
Serve these tacos with air fryer plátanos maduros (yellow plantains) for a delicious meal!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Flavorful. The combination of fish and chipotle sauce provides a perfect balance of flavors that is sure to satisfy your taste buds. The smoky and spicy chipotle sauce perfectly complements the mild taste of the fish.
- Quick and easy. This recipe is quick and easy to make, making it a great option for a busy weeknight meal.
- Healthy. Fish is a nutritious and healthy ingredient that is high in protein and omega-3 fatty acids. These tacos are also made with fresh ingredients like avocado and cilantro, which provide additional nutrients and flavor.
- Versatile. Fish tacos are a versatile dish that can be enjoyed for lunch or dinner, and they are perfect for entertaining. Serve them at a summer barbecue or a casual dinner party and your guests are sure to be impressed.
Ingredients You'll Need
- Olive Oil: Used in this recipe to cook the tilapia fillets.
- Tilapia: A mild-tasting, white-fleshed fish that is a popular choice for fish tacos.
- Salt: Used to season the tilapia, enhancing their natural flavor.
- Ground Pepper: Used to season the tilapia fillets and add a touch of spiciness to the dish.
- Corn Tortillas: Used as the base for the tacos.
- Red Onion: Used as a topping for the tacos.
- Avocado: Diced and used as a topping for the tacos.
- Cilantro: Chopped and used as a topping for the tacos.
- Limes: Cut into wedges and used as a garnish for the tacos.
- Greek Yogurt: Used in the chipotle sauce to provide a creamy texture and a tangy flavor.
- Chipotles In Adobo Sauce: Used to make the chipotle sauce for the tacos and provide a smoky and spicy flavor.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: In a small blender, add the Greek yogurt, chipotle peppers, lime and cilantro. Blend until smooth.
Step 2: Season the tilapia fillets with salt and pepper.
Step 3: Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add olive oil.
Step 4: Once the oil is hot, add the tilapia fillets to the pan and cook until they are golden brown and flaky, about 3-4 minutes per side.
Step 5: Warm the corn tortillas in a dry skillet or on a griddle.
Step 6: To assemble the tacos, place a tilapia fillet on a tortilla, top with avocado, red onion, cilantro, and a drizzle of the chipotle sauce.
Step 7: Squeeze a lime wedge over the top and serve with additional chipotle sauce on the side.
NOTE: You can print the FULL recipe with all ingredients & detailed instructions below!
Expert Tips
- Season the fish well. Make sure to season the tilapia fillets with salt and pepper before cooking them. This will help to enhance their natural flavor and ensure that they are not bland.
- Cook the fish properly. To ensure that the fish is crispy and flavorful, cook it in a hot skillet with a little bit of oil until it is golden brown and flakes easily with a fork.
- Make the chipotle sauce ahead of time. The chipotle sauce can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. This will save you time when you're ready to assemble the tacos.
- Warm the tortillas. To make the best tacos, make sure to warm the corn tortillas in a dry skillet or on a griddle for a minute or two on each side. This will make them soft and pliable and will prevent them from breaking when you're assembling the tacos.
Variations
- Spicy chipotle sauce: To make the chipotle sauce even spicier, add more chipotles in adobo sauce or use a hotter variety of jalapeno pepper.
- Different toppings: Instead of using red onion, avocado, cilantro, and lime wedges, try using other toppings like shredded cabbage, pico de gallo, salsa, or pickled jalapenos.
- Different sauce: If you're not a fan of chipotle sauce, try using a different sauce, like a creamy cilantro sauce or a spicy sriracha mayo.
- Different fish: Instead of tilapia, try using a different type of fish, like salmon, shrimp, or scallops.
- Soft tacos: Instead of using corn tortillas, try using soft flour tortillas for a different texture.
- Baked fish: Instead of pan-frying the fish, try baking it in the oven for a healthier option.
Storing
Chipotle Sauce: The chipotle sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Before using it, give it a good stir and adjust the seasoning as needed.
Cooked Fish: If you have any leftover cooked fish, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat it in a skillet over medium heat until it is warm and crispy.
Recipe FAQ's
Yes, you can use a different type of white-fleshed fish, like cod, haddock, or mahi-mahi.
Yes, you can use store-bought chipotle sauce, but be aware that the flavor may be different than the homemade version.
Assembled tacos are best eaten immediately, but they can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 hours.
Other Seafood Recipes You'll Love
Chipotle Fish Tacos
Ingredients
For Chipotle Sauce
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- ½ chipotle chili, diced from can of chipotles in adobo sauce
- 1 teaspoon sauce from can of chipotles in adobo sauce
- ¼ cup packed cilantro
- 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
- ¼ teaspoon salt
For Tacos
- 1 pound tilapia fish
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 8 corn tortillas
- 1 medium avocado sliced
- ¼ cup red onion chopped
- ¼ cup cilantro chopped
- 2 small limes sliced in wedges
Instructions
For Chipotle Sauce
- In a small blender, add the Greek yogurt, chipotle chili and sauce, cilantro, lime and salt. Blend until smooth.
For Tacos
- Season the tilapia fillets with salt and pepper.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add olive oil.
- Once the oil is hot, add the tilapia fillets to the pan and cook until they are golden brown and flaky, about 3-4 minutes per side.
- Warm the corn tortillas in a dry skillet or on a griddle.
- To assemble the tacos, place a tilapia fillet on a tortilla, top with avocado, red onion, cilantro, and a drizzle of the chipotle sauce.
- Squeeze a lime wedge over the top and serve with additional chipotle sauce on the side.
Notes
- Make sure to season the tilapia fillets with salt and pepper before cooking them. This will help to enhance their natural flavor and ensure that they are not bland.
- To ensure that the fish is crispy and flavorful, cook it in a hot skillet with a little bit of oil until it is golden brown and flakes easily with a fork.
- The chipotle sauce can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. This will save you time when you're ready to assemble the tacos.
- To make the best tacos, make sure to warm the corn tortillas in a dry skillet or on a griddle for a minute or two on each side. This will make them soft and pliable and will prevent them from breaking when you're assembling the tacos.
- Chipotle Sauce: The chipotle sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Before using it, give it a good stir and adjust the seasoning as needed.
- Cooked Fish: If you have any leftover cooked fish, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat it in a skillet over medium heat until it is warm and crispy.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Mahy
I love the section where you talk about tilapia benefits - so insightful! Definitely the tacos everyone would love over a small party. Can't wait to try them!
Genevieve
These tacos look delicious!
Jamie
The chipotle sauce is so delicious! I love how it's made with greek yogurt.
Kelly Anthony
I am currently on a fish taco kick and these look amazing! I love the chipotle sauce is low fat! Need a little more of that in my life 😉
Leanne
It's been such a long time since I had fish tacos! And I have some tilapia in the freezer, so I think I need to make these tacos some time this weekend!
Lathiya
We love chipotle. The fish tacos with chipotle sauce looks delicious and inviting. Will be trying this weekend.
Mikayla
You know I don't make enough fish tacos, and it's a shame because I LOVE them! Using greek yogurt in a chipotle sauce is a great idea, you've inspired me to make some fish tacos soon!
Renu
Chipotle sauce adds the necessary kick to the dish and this fish tacos with the sauce looks absolutely yum. I am sure my kids would love it.
Kelly Anthony
We love fish tacos at our house because they are so light but also filling. I can't wait to try your chipotle sauce for taco Tuesday.
Amanda
That chipotle sauce is the best! It's the perfect complement to these fish tacos. This fish taco recipe is definitely going on my Taco Tuesday rotation. Thanks for sharing!
Jenni LeBaron
I love fish tacos! The skinny chipotle sauce sounds brilliant. I think adobo chilis pack such a great spice and flavor punch so I'm positive I would gobble these up!
Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness
Whenever I go out to eat, I ALWAYS order the fish tacos!! But for some reason, I have never made it myself! This looks too good NOT to make!
GUNJAN C Dudani
What a perfect timing. My daughter wanted tacos for dinner tonight and here I find a fantastic recipe. I am absolutely making this.
Sophie
That skinny chipotle sauce caught my eyes. So making this tonight. Thank you.
Stine Mari
I love how you made the chipotle sauce lighter. Everything here looks like a really simple and delicious weeknight meal!
Ramona
I have made something pretty similar today for lunch but using salmon and will definitely have to make this with tilapia ( I love it) and this chipotle sauce. It looks and sounds delicious.
Jacqui Debono
Shrimp tacos are the biggest hit in our house. I never thought to use Tilapia (which we always have in!) I love the chipotle sauce in this - I am going to put them in the meal plan for the week!