A quick, tasty, and healthy dinner idea is grilled fish tacos. Add shredded cabbage, a creamy white sauce called “crema,” and avocado slices on top.
And I’m so excited that grilling season is here! I love grilling just about everything. Meat on skewers, like my favorite Greek Lemon Chicken Skewers with Tzatziki Sauce.
Vegetables to go in salads and side dishes. This Grilled Zucchini Corn Tomato Salad and Lemon Parmesan Grilled Asparagus are a must for spring and summer.
It shouldn’t be a surprise that these Grilled Fish Tacos show up just as the weather is getting better. Chili powder, cumin, garlic, and lime juice are mixed with the fish and then it is grilled until it’s flaky.
You won’t be sorry if you make that signature creamy white taco sauce. A good fish taco needs it. In fact you should probably double the recipe. The fish tacos are delicious and should be eaten with a cold beer or a spicy watermelon margarita.
As someone who loves grilling and tacos, I was eager to try making grilled cod fish tacos. Cod works beautifully for fish tacos because it’s a firm, flaky white fish that can hold up to being grilled. The mild flavor also allows the spices and flavors of the taco toppings to shine.
Grilling cod takes a little finesse though. The delicate fillets can easily stick to the grill or fall apart. After researching techniques and testing them out, I’ve dialed in a foolproof method for grilling cod so it turns out perfect every time.
In this article, I’ll share everything I’ve learned about how to grill cod fillets so they get nice grill marks without sticking or falling apart I’ll also cover how long to grill cod, what temperature to use, and tips for flipping the fish safely You’ll also get my recipe for easy homemade taco seasoning you can use to add big flavor to the cod before grilling.
With my step-by-step instructions, you’ll be able to grill cod like a pro and make incredible fish tacos for dinner. Let’s get started!
Choosing the Right Cod for Grilling
The first key to success is choosing the right cod fillets for grilling Here are a few things to look for
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Uniformly Sized Pieces: Buy cod fillets that are about 6 ounces each. Uniform sizing helps them cook evenly. Or if buying one large fillet, cut it into 6-ounce portions yourself.
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Thickness: Cod fillets for grilling should be at least 1/2-inch thick. Thinner pieces will overcook too quickly.
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Firm Texture: Pick cod fillets that are shiny and firm to the touch, avoiding any with brown spots. This indicates the freshest fish.
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Skinless: Skinless cod fillets are easiest to work with on the grill. The skin would just stick.
I like to use fresh wild-caught Pacific cod. But frozen cod works well too since freezing helps break down the fibers, giving it a softer texture that holds together better on the grill. Thaw frozen cod in the refrigerator overnight before grilling.
Prep Steps for Grilling Cod Perfectly
Before we even get to the grill, there are a few easy prep steps I recommend taking to help ensure grilling success:
Pat the cod fillets very dry – Use paper towels to pat both sides of the fillets completely dry. Any excess moisture on the surface will make it stick.
Brush lightly with oil – I coat both sides of the cod fillets very lightly with olive oil or avocado oil. This helps prevent sticking.
Season the cod – For flavorful fish tacos, I like to coat the cod in a homemade taco seasoning (recipe below) before grilling. The spices add lots of flavor that pairs perfectly with the taco toppings.
Let it rest 5-10 minutes – After seasoning the cod, let it rest for 5-10 minutes before grilling. This helps the flavors penetrate into the fish.
Easy Homemade Taco Seasoning
Rather than using store-bought packets, I prefer to make my own quick taco seasoning to add smoky, spicy flavor to the cod.
Here’s my go-to homemade taco seasoning recipe:
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1⁄2 tsp garlic powder
- 1⁄2 tsp onion powder
- 1⁄4 tsp dried oregano
- 1⁄4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1⁄2 tsp salt
Mix all of the spices together in a small bowl. To season the cod, sprinkle and pat the seasoning evenly over both sides of the fillets. Apply roughly 1-2 teaspoons per fillet.
The paprika gives the taco seasoning a wonderful smoky flavor that pairs perfectly with the char of the grill. And seasoning the cod before grilling infuses it with so much more flavor than just sprinkling taco seasoning on at the end.
How to Grill Cod Without Sticking
Grilling delicate fish fillets like cod can seem intimidating. You want to get nice grill marks without it sticking or breaking apart, which takes a little skill.
By following the tips below, you’ll get beautiful, flaky grilled cod that doesn’t stick to the grill:
Use a hot clean grill – Heat your grill to about 450-500°F. The higher heat helps sear the fillets faster so they don’t stick. Before grilling, scrub the grates clean with a grill brush.
Oil the grill grates – I always lightly coat the grill grates with a high smoke point oil like avocado oil. Use a wad of paper towel dipped in the oil to carefully grease the grates right before you put the fish on.
Don’t move the fish too soon – After placing the fillets on the grill, resist the urge to move or lift them for at least 3 minutes. Let them sear and release from the grates before attempting to flip.
Use a thin metal spatula – The best tool for flipping and removing delicate fillets is a thin metal fish spatula. It easily slides under the fish without tearing it.
Spray the spatula – Before using my metal spatula to flip the cod, I spray it lightly with nonstick cooking spray. This prevents the fish from sticking to the spatula as you lift it.
Follow these simple tips and you’ll get gorgeous grill marks on your cod without any sticking or breakage. Grilling fish doesn’t have to be hard!
How Long to Grill Cod Fillet
The cooking time for grilling cod fillets depends on their thickness. Here are general grilling times:
- 1/2-inch thick cod: 3-4 minutes per side
- 3/4 to 1-inch thick cod: 4-5 minutes per side
I like to grill the cod over direct high heat for the full cooking time. You’ll know it’s ready when the cod flakes easily with a fork and is opaque all the way through. The center should reach 140°F on a meat thermometer.
And keep in mind that the cod will continue cooking a bit after you remove it from the grill. So take it off just under your desired degree of doneness.
After grilling, let the cod rest for 3-5 minutes before flaking it with a fork to finish making your tacos. The short rest period allows the juices to redistribute so they don’t run out when you break the fish apart.
Serving Grilled Cod Tacos
There are so many tasty ways to serve up grilled cod tacos! I like to keep the toppings simple and fresh:
- Warmed corn tortillas
- Shredded cabbage
- Chopped tomatoes
- Shredded cheese like pepper jack or cotija
- Chopped cilantro
- Lime wedges
- Mexican crema or creamy cilantro sauce
The soft corn tortillas, creamy sauce, and crisp veggies perfectly complement the hot, flaky grilled cod.
Some other tasty taco topping ideas include:
- Pico de gallo
- Avocado slices
- Pickled red onions
- Chipotle mayo
- Queso fresco or feta crumbles
- Chopped pineapple salsa
- Guacamole
Get creative with your favorite taco toppings! The simplicity of grilled cod makes it perfect for showcasing all those fresh flavors.
For a fun twist, you can turn your grilled cod tacos into fish taco bowls too. Cook up some cilantro lime rice to use as the base. Then pile on the grilled cod, shredded cabbage, pico de gallo, avocado, and drizzle over spicy crema or chipotle mayo.
However you choose to serve them up, these grilled cod fish tacos make for a super fresh, flavorful and fun meal! The step-by-step instructions above will help you grill cod fillets perfectly so they come out tender, flaky and full of flavor. I hope you’ll give this easy grilling recipe a try soon.
How To Make Grilled Fish Tacos
Combine the spices, lime juice, hot sauce, and olive oil in a bowl or freezer bag. Place the cod into the marinade and flip it around a few times to coat it. Let the fish marinate for 30 minutes.
While the fish is marinating shred the cabbage and slice the avocado. I squeeze lime juice over my avocado slices to keep them from browning as quickly.
Mayonnaise, honey, garlic powder, lime juice, salt, and pepper should all be mixed together in a small bowl. Whisk it together until it’s smooth and taste it for seasoning.
Preheat your grill to medium-high heat, or approximately 400° F. Once the grill is hot oil the grates. Remove the cod fillets from the marinade and place them onto the hot grill grates.
After 3–4 minutes on one side, flip the cod over and grill for another 3–4 minutes, or until the middle is easy to flake with a fork. Remove the fish from the grill and let it rest for a few minutes.
Use a fork to flake the cod apart. Warm the corn tortillas and then assemble the tacos. Put some of the cod on the tortillas, then add some avocado slices, cabbage shreds, and crumbled queso fresco. Finally, drizzle the white sauce on top.
What Kind Of Fish Is Best For Fish Tacos?
For fish tacos, you can use cod, halibut, mahi mahi, or tilapia, all of which have mild white meat. You can also make fish tacos with salmon, like I did with these Strawberry Avocado Salsa Grilled Salmon Tacos.
