We’ve all been there – looking for a meal in a hurry with no time to shop! This one-hit-wonder will buy you your fifteen minutes of fame. It’s based around an ingredient that pretty much everyone has in their pantry – canned tuna.

Combine that with tortillas, some mayo, cream, onion, and cilantro and you’re good to go with this healthy meal.

Tuna Tacos: A Quick and Easy Recipe

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Servings

4

Prep Time

5 minutes

Cook Time

5 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp sour cream
• 2 tbsp cream
• 1 tsp lemon juice (or lime)
• 1/4 cup of onion, chopped
• 1/4 cup of cilantro, finely chopped
• 1 tsp vegetable oil
• 1 can of tuna, drained (8 oz)
• 4 flour tortillas (make them yourself for best results!)​

Directions

1. In a mixing bowl, combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, and a squeeze of lime or lemon juice. Whisk until you have a smooth, creamy sauce. Set the sauce aside or store in the refrigerator if you're making it more than 15 min ahead of time.
2. In another bowl, stir together your chopped onions and finely chopped cilantro until evenly mixed. If you don't have white or yellow onions, you can use an equivalent amount of scallions.
3. Heat a teaspoon of vegetable oil in a cast iron skillet. Once it's hot, sauté the tuna fish. You're aiming to slightly brown it, not blacken it.
4. If you're adding vegetables as suggested in the upgrades below, add them to the skillet before the tuna.
5. Prepare your tortillas by warming them in an oven at 175°F or toast them briefly on both sides in a clean pan or skillet – no oil required.

6. To assemble your tacos, lay them flat on a clean work surface or individual plates. Add a quarter of the tuna fish filling onto each one. On top of that, add a portion of the onion and cilantro mixture. Finally, top with your sour cream and mayonnaise dressing. Use a taco holder for them to stay put. 

7. Serve with a side salad, salt and pepper, and a bottle of your favorite hot sauce.

Tuna Tacos FAQs

Can I use another type of fish?

Sure! Other canned fish like sardines, salmon, or mackerel would work great in this recipe. Just toss them around a bit in a cast iron skillet and follow the direction above.

These tacos are very customizable and will rival any other canned fish recipes you are able to find.

Would a canned tuna taco recipe work with fresh vegetables?

Yes! You can really liven up your fish filling, by adding some shredded salad leaves like cabbage, lettuce, or even homemade coleslaw.

How could I used cooked vegetables in a tuna taco recipe?

If you are looking to up the veggie content in your tuna tacos, adding cooked vegetables to the filling is great idea.

To bulk up the fish filling, sauté some diced bell peppers, celery, thinly sliced carrots, or diced asparagus. Then add the fish.

Can I use something other than Mayo for tuna fish tacos?

If you are looking to keep it as close to the recipe as possible you could swap out the mayo for Greek yogurt, or if you are a little more open to variation try leaving it out entirely and using guacamole as a topping. If you wanted to go with an Asian fish tacos vibe, try whisking up a dressing made of soy, ginger, and chopped scallions.

How can I make canned tuna tacos spicier?

Unleash the chili peppers! Pickled jalapenos work really well with canned fish; or, sauté a finely chopped fresh habanero in the oil before you add the fish.

Tuna Taco Takeaways

Whether you decide to go with the original recipe or spice things up a little by following some of the tips in our FAQ, this recipe is bound to make you love tuna a little more than you did before!

If you enjoyed this recipe and are looking for more ways to improve your taco game check out our recipes for Tofu Tacos, Shrimp Tacos, or even Blackened Salmon Tacos.