Breaded Cod Fish Tacos

I guess I’m pretty lucky in that all members of my family have always loved fish, so it’s been nice to have a protein alternative to chicken, pork and beef. They also love tacos, and since for the time being we’ve made taco Tuesdays a permanent thing, thanks to my new way of meal planning, I decided to combine two of our favorites and make fish tacos for the first time. Of course we’ve all eaten fish tacos before, but surprisingly enough, I had never made them myself. I wanted to replicate the breaded fish tacos we all love from Wahoo’s, so I visited the butcher/fish monger at the market, and he suggested I use fresh cod, which was what I was thinking as well. Nice to have my cooking instincts confirmed 🙂 Many fish taco recipes call for tilapia because it’s affordable and mild in flavor, but I much prefer the denser pieces that you typically get from cod, as well as the fact that wild-caught cod is very easy to come by, as opposed to tilapia, which is almost always farm-raised (in the grocery store that is). It is also very easy to find frozen cod (the bag of frozen cod from Target is actually quite good and affordable). I used panko bread crumbs and added a very basic blend of seasonings, including garlic and onion powder, salt and pepper, and oregano, thyme, smoked paprika and a bit of spice in either the form of cayenne of chili powder (use whichever you have on hand). The thing I love most about cooking fish is how quickly it bake/fries up. Unless your recipe calls for a specific cooking method, most fish is done in 15 minutes or under, which is exactly what these pieces need to bake at — 425ºF for 15 minutes. See below though for this specific fish tacos recipe, and let me know if you have any questions or give it a try!  

What’s Needed for Baked Fish Tacos?

To make this healthy fish taco recipe, all you’ll need is:

• Cod (fresh or frozen)
• Panko breadcrumbs
• Dried herbs and spices
• Salt and pepper
• Egg
• Corn tortillas
• Toppings of choice (I’ve shared my faves in the recipe card below)

How to Make Baked Cod Fish Tacos

To make these easy baked fish tacos, you’ll first need to cut the cod into 1- to 2-inch chunks. Dip each piece into some lightly beaten egg, followed by a mixture of Panko breadcrumbs and spices. Place the breaded cod onto a foil-lined baking tray and bake for roughly 15 minutes. Once the cod is finished baking, it’s just a matter of assembling your healthy fish tacos and diving in! I like using the Tortilla Land partially cooked corn tortillas, and of course you could wrap these in lettuce of just top the pieces on a bed of salad, if you’re going for a grain-free or low carb meal.

Our Go-To Fish Taco Toppings

Of course, toppings are almost the best part about any type of taco, and I love the usual way of adding cabbage, lime and pico to fish tacos, as opposed to the standard fare of lettuce, tomatoes and cheddar cheese. Queso fresca and a bit of guacamole or a cream based dressing also make for excellent fish taco toppings. If you need some more inspo, here are some of our favorite fish taco toppings:

• Cabbage
• Salsa or pico de gallo
• Lime juice
• Queso fresco
• Guacamole
• Fresh cilantro
• Sliced avocado

What to Serve with Fish Tacos

We love to serve these baked fish tacos with warm black beans, and maybe a bit of fruit but that’s about it. A really easy and quick way to get dinner on the table, but when you have the fun toppings it makes the meal feel a bit more special. If you need more side dish ideas to serve with these baked cod fish tacos, here are a few more options:

• Rice (or cauliflower rice)
• Warm beans or refried beans
• Chips and salsa
• Cabbage slaw
• Roasted or steamed veggies
• Simple side salad

Tips for Making Baked Cod Fish Tacos

A trick I’ve learned when breading pretty much anything is to divide up your breading into two batches, that way when the first round of breading starts to become a bit too moist from dredging and is having trouble sticking to the piece of fish or meat, you can swap out to the fresh batch and ensure a nice even coat. The nice thing about cod is that it has such a mild flavor that you could realistically adjust the breading seasonings to match a different type of meal. Add some lemon pepper for a basic fish sticks recipe, or add a lot more oregano, sage and thyme for a more Italian flair, and serve alongside a fresh plate of marinara pasta. Doing some sort of a jerk or curry seasoning could even be fun, and serve with red beans and rice or a madras sauce and rice. The possibilities are endless, just stick with the panko bread crumbs and play around with spices if you want to navigate away from the fish taco route.

More Easy Mexican Dinner Recipes:

• Slow-Braised Carnitas Tacos
• Beef and Potato Tacos
• Vegetable Quesadillas
• Easy Cauliflower Tacos

And don’t forget to sign up for my emails so you don’t miss a post!