We’re getting a little nostalgic today, Seafoodies!
There are certain meals that instantly transport us back to a specific time, feeling or place. Walking tacos are definitely one of those foods—maybe they remind you of Friday night football games in high school, weekend tournaments with your kids or those casual backyard tailgate parties where everyone’s laughing, mingling and eating at the same time. Recently, we stumbled across some popular walking taco inspiration online and immediately got hit with a craving! Of course, since this is Dish on Fish, we couldn’t just make the standard version. We had to create our own heartier, seafood-powered take that’s healthier, more colorful and just as fun to eat!
Our Air-Fried Fish Walking Tacos are essentially a deconstructed fish taco salad that you can customize to your heart’s content. First, we start with perfectly seasoned white fish (cod, mahi mahi or halibut—take your pick!) that gets wonderfully flaky in the air fryer with just a light misting of olive oil. While your fish cooks to flaky perfection (just 10 minutes at 400°F!), build a vibrant salad base with spring greens, crunchy cabbage, fresh cilantro, crisp radishes, juicy tomatoes and creamy avocado. The whole thing gets topped with that seasoned fish, crushed tortilla chips for crunch and a zesty lime-cumin dressing that ties everything together beautifully. Total time spent from the first step to serving everything up? Just 25 minutes (did we mention that we LOVE our air fryer?!). Yet another reason we’re obsessed with this new recipe—all the nostalgia, none of the stress.
Aside from being quick-cooking, fish also adds some impressive nutrition to the mix—roughly 20+ grams of lean protein per serving, along with B vitamins and iron. All those colorful vegetables add fiber, vitamins C and K and antioxidants, while avocado is an excellent source of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and potassium. The result? A recipe that is less “occasional junk food” and more “complete meal”—one that actually nourishes instead of just loading up on empty calories.
Serve them in individual bowls for a sit-down meal, pack them in mason jars for portable lunches, or yes—go full walking taco style and build them right in large cups for parties, gatherings or to simply make dinner time extra fun for little Seafoodies! Everyone can create their own with optional toppings like crumbled cotija cheese, pickled jalapeños and chopped onions.
However you throw them together, these Air-Fried Fish Walking Tacos prove that old favorites can still be fresh, fun and nourishing. Why not spark a little nostalgia while creating new memories around the table—one crunchy, customizable bite at a time!
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Air Fried Fish Walking Tacos
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6–8 servings 1x
Ingredients
Fish
- 2 pounds cod, mahi mahi, halibut or other white fish (defrosted if using frozen)
- ½ lime, juiced (about 1 tablespoon)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus some for misting
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon paprika
Salad
- 2 cups bagged spring salad mix
- 2 cups pre-shredded red, purple and/or green cabbage
- ½ cup cilantro, chopped
- 1 cup radishes, thinly sliced
- 2 Roma tomatoes, diced
- 2 avocados,- diced
- 1 lime, cut into wedges
- 1 cup tortilla chips, broken or crushed
- Sliced pickled jalapenos and/or sliced pickled onions(optional)
- Cotija, feta or shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
Dressing
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt (sour cream also works well)
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 lime, juiced (about 2 tablespoons)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Instructions for air fryer (for oven instructions, see below*)
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes.
- Place fish in a large bowl or sealable bag. Squeeze lime juice and pour olive oil into bag over fish. Then add chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt and paprika. Massage fish until well coated with oil and seasoning.
- Once air fryer is preheated, place fish in air fryer basket. Spray top of fish with olive oil and cook at 400°F for 10 minutes, or until fish is cooked through and flakes easily. Then cut cooked fish into bite-sized pieces.
- While fish is cooking, prepare salad. Combine spring mix, cabbage and cilantro in a large bowl. Top with radishes, tomatoes and avocados. Toss well with any other desired toppings (such as pickled jalapenos, pickled onions or cheese).
- Next, prepare salad dressing by combining all dressing ingredients in a separate bowl and whisk until well combined.
- Divide salad between bowls, jars or large cups. Top with cooked fish and crushed tortilla chips. Drizzle with salad dressing. Enjoy immediately.
*If cooking fish in the oven: Preheat oven to 400°F. Prepare fish the same as in Step 2. Then, place fish on baking sheet covered with aluminum foil. Bake at 400°F for 12-15 minutes or until cooked through and flakes easily with a fork. Follow all other steps above.
Notes
Recommended Equipment: air fryer or oven, large bowl or baggie for fish, large bowl for salad, medium bowl for dressing, whisk, baking sheet if cooking fish in oven, fork, cutting board, knife
- Category: White Fish
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