Slaw for Fish Tacos
This Fish Taco Slaw is a quick and easy way to add fresh crunch and bold flavor to your favorite fish tacos. Ready in just 5 minutes with only 5 ingredients, it’s light, bright, and just as delicious on burgers, sandwiches, or served as a simple side.
Fish taco slaw is something I almost always throw together when tacos are on the menu. Air fryer fish tacos are one of my go-to dinners on busy nights, and a cool, crunchy topping gives them that wow factor.. You’ve got flaky fish with a crisp, refreshing bite on top that’s just SO delicious, and I love that this slaw works just as well as an easy side for BBQs too.
Round out your fish taco meal with a drizzle of creamy fish taco sauce and a spoonful of chunky salsa to really take things up a notch. Add some warm tortillas or a simple side, and dinner is done.
Why This Recipe Works
- Make-Ahead Friendly: Prep this easy fish taco slaw ahead of time and let the flavors meld. It actually tastes even better and makes taco night come together fast.
- Leftovers You’ll Love: It’s just as good the next day! Add it to salads for extra crunch, pile it onto tostadas, or use it as a fresh topping for salmon patties.
- Quick & Simple: Ready in just 5 minutes using a short list of ingredients, including a store-bought coleslaw mix to keep things easy.
- Super Versatile: Serve it as a side or use it to top all kinds of tacos (blackened salmon tacos, shrimp cilantro lime tacos, ahi tuna tacos, oven roasted chicken tacos), plus turkey burgers, buffalo chicken sliders, and bowls like burrito, poke or burger bowls.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Sour Cream: Adds a creamy texture and a tangy flavor that balances the heat of the jalapeños.
- Mayonnaise: Provides a rich, smooth base for the slaw dressing, enhancing its luxurious mouthfeel.
- Lime Juice: Infuses the slaw with bright, citrusy notes that elevate the freshness of the dish.
- Coleslaw Mix: A convenient blend of shredded cabbage and carrots, giving a nice crunchy texture and color to the slaw. You can also use broccoli slaw here!
- Jalapeños: Give the slaw a little bit of heat. Add a few of the seeds if you like it spicy!
- Fresh Cilantro: For me, this is the best part! I love adding fresh herbs to just about anything, but especially to this taco slaw.
*For a detailed list of instructions, ingredients and measurements, please reference the recipe card down below.
Substitutions/Additions
- Romaine Lettuce: If cabbage isn’t your style or if you need a substitute in a pinch, I recommend shredding romaine lettuce leaves because it holds up well and is super crunchy. Grated broccoli stems also make a good substitute.
- Greek Yogurt: Makes an ideal substitution for sour cream or mayonnaise if you’re looking to lighten up the dressing. You can also use it as a substitute for the entire base of the coleslaw dressing. Mexican crema is another one of my favorite substitutes!
- Vinegar Based: For a lighter, vinegar-based fish taco slaw skip the mayo and sour cream, and toss the cabbage with 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste and ¼ teaspoon black pepper.
- Lemon Juice: For a slightly different but equally refreshing acidity.
- Peppers: Instead of jalapeños, try milder green chilies if you prefer less heat or red chilis for more heat.
- Fresh Herbs: Use fresh parsley or mint for a different kind of freshness if cilantro isn’t preferred.
How to make Fish Taco Slaw
- Make the dressing: In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, lime juice, and a pinch of salt.
- Toss the slaw: Add the coleslaw mix, jalapeño, and cilantro. Toss to combine, until cabbage is fully coated with sour cream mixture.
How to Store Leftover Slaw
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Give it a quick toss before serving to redistribute the dressing and freshen it up. For the best texture and flavor, enjoy it sooner rather than later.
Recipe FAQs
To make this slaw dairy-free, simply use all mayonnaise instead of sour cream. It will still be creamy, tangy, and full of flavor without any dairy.
Yes! Fish taco slaw can be made ahead, and it actually tastes even better after it has had time to chill. Making it 30 minutes to a few hours in advance allows the flavors to meld while keeping the slaw crisp and fresh.
Store shredded cabbage in an airtight container or a resealable plastic bag in the refrigerator with a paper towel inside to help absorb any excess moisture.
If you’re not using a pre-shredded coleslaw mix, start by removing the outer leaves and cutting the cabbage into quarters. Slice out the core, then use a sharp knife, mandoline, or food processor to shred the cabbage into thin strips. The thinner the cabbage, the more tender and scoopable your slaw will be, perfect for tacos.
The Best Taco Pairings for This Slaw
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Slaw for Fish Tacos
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Ingredients
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 lime juice
- pinch salt
- 2 cups coleslaw mix
- 1 large jalapeño, seeded and diced
- 1/4 cup cilantro, roughly chopped
Instructions
- In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, lime juice, and a pinch of salt.1/4 cup sour cream, 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 1 lime, pinch salt
- Add the coleslaw mix, jalapeño, and cilantro. Toss to combine, until cabbage is fully coated with sour cream mixture.2 cups coleslaw mix, 1 large jalapeño,, 1/4 cup cilantro,
Notes
Nutrition
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Very good. Made shrimp tacos and it was delicious with them.
made this tonight for fried fish tacos. Added a little dice red onion in it. My daughter is now begging to bring this as a school snack lol.
that’s adorable, I like the way she thinks. Snacky tacos 😉
It says sour cream in the recipe but doesn’t specify how much. ??
Thank you for catching that! I just updated the recipe card – it should be 1/4 cup!
Great recipe. I subbed spinach, no lime juice (too lazy to go to store), but added cubed avocado, smoked paprika, garlic salt, and onion powder. Wonderful recipe!
delicious substitutions!
Simple yet so delicious taco slaw. Love the flavors here. Thanks for sharing.
I made fish tacos for my family the other day and they were missing something. We topped them with lettuce, but it didn’t have the crunch that this delicious slaw would. This was a perfect topping for Yummy fish tacos!
So simple yet delicious! I love the flavours that the lime and jalapeno add.
I just love fish tacos, and the slaw topping is everything! This was so good. 🙂
This was SO easy to make. I love how fast it whips up and is a a great addition for our taco Tuesdays!
I’m so glad you loved it!