Creamy Fish Taco Slaw
This creamy fish taco slaw recipe is made with bagged coleslaw, cilantro, and a creamy mayo-lime dressing. It comes together in about 10 minutes and is perfect for any kind of fish tacos.
If you’re anything like me, you want a fish taco with a soft flour tortilla, a creamy Baja-style sauce, and a crunchy slaw on top.
After one too many takeout tacos topped with dry, undressed cabbage, I started making mahi mahi tacos at home and put together a simple creamy coleslaw to go with them.
I think this fish taco slaw recipe is better than anything you’ll get at a restaurant. It starts with a bag of coleslaw mix, a little cilantro, and sliced green onions, all tossed in a mayo–lime dressing.
It comes together in one mixing bowl in about 10 minutes, and I love serving the extra alongside beer battered cod or a basket of onion rings.
How to Make My Fish Taco Slaw Recipe
If you’re looking for a super fast dish to pair with this slaw recipe, I recommend a batch of fish stick tacos. They only take a few minutes to make and are kid-friendly, too!
Can you omit the sugar?
Yes, for sure! If you don’t want the slight sweetness from the sugar, simply leave it out. The slaw will have more of an acidic, tart taste from the lime juice.
I haven’t tested the recipe with sugar substitutes, so my best recommendation is to leave it out all together.
Can you make this coleslaw without cilantro?
Absolutely! Some people have an aversion to cilantro, so it’s perfectly fine to leave it out. If you want to add something in its place, fresh parsley is a great option.
How do you make this slaw spicy?
Actually, I have an entirely different recipe for spicy coleslaw, and it is fantastic on fish tacos! That way, we don’t have to change this recipe at all, we just use the other recipe when we want spicy coleslaw.
If you decide to tweak this recipe, try adding some sliced jalapeños, chili powder, or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
How to Video
Ingredients
Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup lime juice, freshly squeezed; about 6-8 limes
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Slaw
- 16 ounce coleslaw mix, bagged; pre-shredded
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
- 2 green onions, chopped
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine the mayonnaise, lime juice, sugar, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Set aside.1 cup mayonnaise¼ cup lime juice2 teaspoons granulated sugar½ teaspoon garlic powder¼ teaspoon salt¼ teaspoon pepper
- In a separate medium bowl, combine the cabbage slaw mix, green onions, and cilantro. Pour in the dressing, and stir to combine.16 ounce coleslaw mix¼ cup fresh cilantro2 green onions
Notes
Nutrition
*2/22/26: Post/text updated. Recipe didn’t change.
Meet Kimberly
Hi, I’m Kimberly Vargo! Comfort food is at the heart of everything I make like easy dinners and sides to desserts, cocktails, and condiments. A lot of my inspiration comes from old family recipes, personal favorites, and vintage cookbooks.
This recipe adds a bright mouthwatering flavor that is irresistible!
Thanks so much, CJ!
This coleslaw is amazing and so easy to make made our shrump taco’s taste yes delicious!
Thanks so much, Lisa! We’re glad you like it. Have a great evening! 🙂
Easy and tasty. A family favorite
Thank you, Kenneth, have a great day!
This is my favorite coleslaw to come to when making fish of any kind. I give it a five out of five thank you for such a great recipe.
Hi Tamara,
Thank you so much for the sweet comment and the star rating. We’re so glad you enjoyed the taco slaw. Have a wonderful evening! 🙂
Excellent! This was my first time making fish tacos and wanted to find a recipe that was easy and tasty. This fit both requirements. The slaw had just enough tart and sweet to complement the fish.
Thank you for sharing your experience Deejae! Kim and I appreciate the kind words and that you rated the recipe. Have a wonderful day 🙂
This slaw recipe was the very best. My husband and I loved it. It has such a robust taste, delicious! I used haddock for the fish.
Thank you Sherry! This is one of our favorite slaw recipes. I’ve never tried it with haddock, I will have to do that soon. Thank you again for commenting and rating the recipe. Have a lovely day 🙂
Made tonight cut fish tacos. Oh my so good! Thank you for sharing recipe.
Thank you Sheri! Kim and I are thrilled you enjoyed the slaw. Have a lovely day 🙂
So glad I found this recipe. It is delicious. Just the right amount of tartness. Tastes super fresh and light. So far I’ve made it to pair with Mahi and Snapper. Pairs beautifully with both.
Thank you Diane! We’re glad you enjoy the slaw. It’s one of our favorites too. It works on fried cod as well. Thank you again for commenting and rating the recipe. Have a lovely day 🙂
This is my go to coleslaw for my fish meals. I have made it several times and my family loves it.
Thank you Tammy, Kim and I are glad everyone likes the slaw. Thank you again for commenting and have a lovely day 🙂
used this on our fish tacos very good!
Thank you Linda! I sometimes use it as a topping on my crab cakes too. 🙂
Phenomenal. So glad we found your page, our fish tacos were a hit and the coleslaw is the reason!
Thank you Holly! We’re thrilled everyone enjoyed the slaw. Have a wonderful day 🙂
Delicious! My husband wants this slaw with every future fish taco 🙂
Thank you Tina, Kim and I are happy you and your husband enjoyed the fish taco slaw. Thank you again for commenting and rating the recipe. Have a lovely day 🙂
Perfect!! Very flavorful and not spicy. For those who like heat, you can adapt this recipe easily.
Thank you Boje! Kim and are glad you the enjoyed the slaw. Thank you again for commenting and rating the recipe. Have a great day 🙂
Needs more salt, otherwise it’s great and I make it all the time!!
Hi Angela!
Thank you so much! We’re glad you enjoy the fish taco slaw. Have a lovely evening. 🙂
This recipe has just the right amount of flavor and tang. It makes great fish tacos!
Thanks Annalisa! We’re glad you liked the slaw. Have a lovely day 🙂
I can’t wait to try this. Can I use miracle whip instead of mayonnaise.
Hi Monica!
We haven’t tried Miracle Whip in place of mayonnaise. I’m not sure how Miracle Whip will taste since it’s tangier than mayonnaise. If you prefer it, give a try and see how you like it. Have a wonderful weekend! 🙂
So delicious and easy! Took our tacos to the next level.
Thanks Kara!
The BEST Coleslaw dressing with broiled talapia on street taco corn tortillas! I sliced half a green cabbage and added green onions and carrots!
Thank you Jenny!
Question, is it 2 bundles of green onions or just 2 individual green onions?
Hi Lori!
It’s two individual green onions not the full bundles.
My husband does 90% of the cooking butttttt I really wanted fish tacos and decided to make this dressing myself! So easy and so tasty!!
Hi Stacy!
Thank you so much! We’re glad you and your husband enjoyed the slaw. Have a fantastic evening! 🙂
Really yummy and easy! Delicious with blackened cod fish tacos.
Thank you Grace, we’re thrilled you like the slaw. Have a lovely day 🙂
EXCELLENT! Thanks so much for taking the time to post!
Was really good, just added a little dijon.