Who doesn't love tacos? I know I do! And, I especially love this Instant Pot Fish Tacos Recipe. Trust me, you won't be disappointed. Not only are these tilapia fish tacos delicious, but they are the perfect quick and easy dinner option for your Taco Tuesday!
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Why This Recipe Works
- Quick and Easy: These Instant Pot fish tacos are a breeze to make.
- Fresh and Flavorful: The fresh fish taco recipe delivers a burst of zesty, tangy flavors in each bite.
- Healthy Choice: A delicious dinner and easy way to incorporate more seafood into your diet.
🥘 Ingredients
It's time to get out that shopping list! You won't need much for these quick and easy Tilapia fish tacos. Here's what you need:
- Tilapia Fillets: A great choice for fish tacos as it readily absorbs the flavors of the seasonings.
- Taco Seasoning: Gives the fish its bold, Mexican-inspired flavor.
- Mayonnaise: Creates a creamy base for the aioli sauce, adding a rich and tangy element to the tacos.
- Lemon Juice and Zest: Add a burst of citrusy freshness to the aioli sauce, enhancing its flavor and helping to balance the richness of the mayonnaise.
- Minced Garlic: Infuses the aioli sauce with a savory depth, complementing the other flavors and adding a kick to the tacos.
- Salt and Pepper: Enhance the natural flavors of the fish and the aioli sauce.
- Flour Tortillas or Taco Shells: Hold all the ingredients together, providing a satisfying texture and making the dish easy to eat.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
📖 Substitutions & Variations
White fleshed fish works best for these tacos. You want a freshwater fish if you choose to use something other than Tilapia.
Here are some other fish options for Pressure Cooker Fish Tacos:
- Salmon
- Cod
- Halibut
- Snapper
- Sea Bass
- Red Snapper
- Mahi Mahi - You can try using this Baked Mahi Mahi recipe!
- Tuna
- Grouper
📖 Optional Toppings
- Some delicious and easy fish taco toppings include sliced avocado, shredded cabbage or slaw, diced tomatoes, cilantro, sour cream or greek yogurt, and hot sauce. We also love to add aioli sauce to our seasoned fish tacos.
- Feel free to get creative with your Instant Pot fish tacos and try different combinations!
- Finally, be sure to add plenty of lime juice for a burst of fresh flavor and a bright, tangy finish. Enjoy!
You can also make a specialised Pico De Gallo. Check out our recipe for Pico De Gallo Here!
🔪 How To Make Instant Pot Fish Tacos?
Here is a step-by-step guide for your Instant Pot Tilapia Fish Taco recipe.
Step One: First, place your frozen tilapia fillets on top of a sheet of aluminum. Sprinkle each fish fillet with taco seasoning. Seal your foil packet from each side.
Step Two: Place 1 & ½ cups of water in the bottom of your Inner pot. Place the trivet inside your Instant Pot. Place your tilapia fillets on top of the trivet. Pressure cook your frozen Tilapia fish on high pressure for 18 minutes.
Step Three: While your fish is cooking, make your aïoli sauce. Combine the mayonnaise, minced garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, and a dash of salt and pepper. Set aside and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Step Four: Once cooked, do a quick pressure release and remove the tilapia fish from the inner pot.
Step Five: Shred your tilapia fillets, and place tilapia pieces (taco filling) on your favorite taco shell whether it be a low-carb tortilla, lettuce wrap, flour tortilla, or corn!
Step Six: Top it with the aïoli sauce, cilantro, and any other toppings you would enjoy on your fish taco such as tomatoes, cabbage slaw, avocado etc!
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Fishy Taste: If you are worried about your fish tasting too fishy, you can use a little lemon juice for your fish. Simply sprinkle a few drops over each fillet before adding taco seasoning.
- Using A Basket: If you prefer using a steamer basket for tacos, you can simply place your frozen fish foil packet on top of the steamer basket and cook as usual. The result should be just as flavorful and delicious!
💭 FAQs
Tilapia is the perfect fish for Instant Pot tacos because it is mild in flavor and cooks quickly. Plus, tilapia is very affordable, making it a great option if you are looking to save money on groceries.
With this Instant Pot fish taco recipe, you can have tasty and healthy tacos on the table in no time. You can cook the Tilapia in Instant Pot from fresh or frozen! This is sure to become one of your favorite fish taco recipes.
If you have never tried homemade aioli sauce, you are in for a treat! This creamy and flavorful topping adds the perfect finishing touch to these easy fish tacos.
Plus, making Aioli sauce from scratch allows you to control the amount of fat and flavor that goes into your sauce.
Cooking Instant Pot Tilapia depends on whether you use fresh fish or frozen fish. For fresh Tilapia, you will need to pressure cook your Instant Pot Tilapia for 8 minutes.
Instant Pot Frozen Tilapia: For Frozen fish / frozen Tilapia fillets, you will need to cook your Instant Pot Tilapia for about 18 minutes.
So, add an extra 10 minutes of cooking time if frozen Tilapia fillets are used to ensure the fish cooks through.
Yes, you can use lime juice in place of lemon juice if you prefer. Simply squeeze lime juice, and adjust your seasonings as necessary.
Whether you choose to use lemon or lime, these Instant Pot fish tacos are the perfect easy weeknight dinner option! Enjoy them topped with plenty of fresh cilantro and your favorite taco toppings for a delicious and healthy meal.
Yes you can absolutely make Tilapia fish tacos with fried fish! Simply use your favourite frying method, such as pan-frying or deep-frying.
Be sure to prepare the fish according to your preferred cooking method and seasonings and use a little canola oil for best results. We prefer steamed fish in the Instant Pot as it is a healthy way to cook this firm white fish!
While Instant Pot fish tacos are typically made using a quick-release method, you can also opt to natural release your Tilapia fish. Simply allow for about 5 minutes of natural release before switching the valve to quick release.
However, be aware that if you choose this method, the cooking time may need to be adjusted slightly. You would need to cut 4 minutes from your cooking time to ensure the fish does not dry out. Whichever method you use to cook the Tilapia fillets, this recipe works if you follow the instructions to a tee!
Cool the fish tacos mixture to room temperature before storing. Place it in an airtight container in the refrigerator within 2 hours of preparation. Enjoy within 1-2 days for optimal freshness.
If you've made an extra batch, freeze just the fish mixture in a freezer-safe bag or container. Label with the freezing date, and store for up to 1-2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
🧂Serving Suggestions
These are my favorite dishes to serve with fish tacos:
- Cilantro Lime Rice: Light and zesty rice that balances the flavors of fish tacos.
- Black Beans: Simple and savory, they add a filling component to the meal.
- Guacamole and Chips: Creamy avocado dip with tortilla chips for a fresh, crunchy side.
- Mango Salsa: Sweet and spicy, mango salsa adds a bright, fruity touch.
- Cabbage Slaw: Crisp, tangy slaw with a vinegar or lime dressing enhances the texture of tacos.
- Refried Beans: Creamy beans with a hint of spice are a classic pairing.
🍽 Related Recipes
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Instant Pot Fish Tacos Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Pound Tilapia Fillets
- 2 Tablespoon Taco seasoning
- 1 Cup Mayonaise.
- 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
- 1 Tablespoon Lemon Zest
- 1 Tablespoon Minced Garlic
- Pinch Salt And Pepper Seasonings.
- 4 Flour Tortillas
Instructions
- First, place your frozen tilapia fillets on top of a sheet of aluminium. Sprinkle each fish fillet with taco seasoning.
- Seal your foil packet from each side.
- Place 1 & ½ cups of water in the bottom of your Inner pot. Place the trivet inside your Instant Pot.
- Place your aluminium foil packet tilapia fillets on top of the trivet.
- Next, close the Instant Pot Lid. Close the seal by pushing it away from you. Pressure cook your frozen Tilapia fish on high pressure for 18 minutes.
- While your fish is cooking, make your aïoli sauce. Combine the mayonnaise, minced garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, and a dash of salt and pepper.
- Set aside and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Once the time is completed, do a quick pressure release by bringing the valve toward you.
- Once all the pressure is released remove the lid from your pressure cooker.
- Shred your tilapia fillets, and place tilapia pieces (taco filling) on your favorite taco shell whether it be a low-carb tortilla, lettuce wrap, flour tortilla, or corn!
- Top it with the aïoli sauce, cilantro, and any other toppings you would enjoy on your fish taco such as tomatoes, cabbage slaw, avocado etc!
Notes
Nutrition
More Instant Pot Recipes
Looking for more delicious Instant Pot recipes that the whole family can enjoy? Try these! Also be sure to check out this article on Haddock Vs Cod to learn about best fish options for tacos.
