Blackened Salmon Tacos with Cilantro Lime Sauce

Blackened salmon tacos are a fast 20-minute dinner with flaky salmon, warm tortillas, crunchy cabbage, pickled red onion, and a creamy cilantro lime sauce. The salmon is seasoned with smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic, lime zest, and black pepper for bold flavor without a long marinade.

These tacos are an easy way to add more seafood to weeknight dinners. For another quick seafood option, try our homemade crab cakes.

Why You’ll Love These Salmon Tacos

• Ready in about 20 minutes
• No complicated marinade
• Fresh crunchy toppings balance the rich salmon
• Broiler, oven, or air-fryer options

Ingredient Notes

Center-cut salmon cooks evenly and flakes into taco-size pieces. Corn tortillas add classic flavor, while finely shredded cabbage brings crunch. Greek yogurt makes the cilantro lime sauce creamy without feeling heavy.

How to Make Salmon Tacos

Pat the salmon dry, rub it with oil, then coat the flesh with the spice mixture and lime zest. Broil until the center is just cooked and flakes easily. Blend the cilantro lime sauce until smooth, warm the tortillas in a dry skillet, then assemble with cabbage, pickled onion, salmon, and sauce.

Tips for the Best Texture

Do not overcook the salmon; it will continue cooking slightly while it rests. Warm tortillas just before serving so they stay flexible. Keep the sauce cold until assembly for better contrast with the hot salmon.

What to Serve With Salmon Tacos

Serve with avocado, pico de gallo, lime wedges, black beans, or air fryer sweet potato fries.

Salmon Tacos Recipe Card

Blackened Salmon Tacos with Cilantro Lime Sauce

Smoky salmon tacos with cabbage, pickled onion, and creamy cilantro lime sauce.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Salmon

• 1 lb center-cut salmon skin-on or skinless
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 3/4 tsp kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1 lime zested and juiced

Tacos

• 8 corn tortillas warmed
• 1 cup green cabbage finely shredded
• 1/2 cup pickled red onion
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro chopped

Cilantro Lime Sauce

• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro
• 1 small garlic clove
• 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
• 1 green onion chopped
• salt to taste

Method

 

1. Heat broiler to high. Pat salmon dry and rub with oil.
2. Mix paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and lime zest; rub over salmon.
3. Broil 8 to 10 minutes, until salmon flakes easily and reaches about 140°F in the center. Rest briefly.
4. Blend yogurt, cilantro, garlic, lime juice, green onion, and salt until smooth.
5. Fill warm tortillas with salmon, cabbage, pickled onion, cilantro, and cilantro lime sauce.

Notes

Air fryer option: cook salmon at 400°F for about 7 to 10 minutes.

Adapted from Tastes Better From Scratch. Seasoning and sauce quantities have been adjusted for Wasfat Ummi.

Recipe image used with permission from Tastes Better From Scratch.