Salmon Tacos with Apple Cabbage Slaw
If you love salmon, then you have to try these Salmon Tacos with Apple Cabbage Slaw and crispy bacon pieces. Perfect for fall, these flavors come together to create the most delicious tacos!
The tender salmon is topped with apple cabbage slaw that has been tossed in my healthy yogurt mustard dressing. Finished with crispy crumbled bacon, this recipe is a flavor bomb! Let me know if you give them a try.
Looking for more salmon recipes? Try my Blackened Salmon with Citrus Salad or my Mediterranean Salmon Wedge Salad.
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- Stuck in a dinner rut? This salmon taco recipe is a fun and flavorful way to switch up your mealtime routine.
- The apple cabbage slaw can be used for a variety of things. Enjoy with a variety of proteins like, pork chops, salmon, or even alongside pot roast. This flavorful combination will have you coming back for more.
Recipe Ingredients
Air Fryer Salmon
- Salmon – You’ll need one pound of salmon for this recipe. Pat it dry and leave the skin on before drizzling it with avocado oil and seasoning it with kosher salt and cracked black pepper.
- Avocado Oil – You’ll need about 1-2 tablespoons avocado oil to drizzle over the salmon before air frying it.
- Seasoning – This recipe calls for kosher salt and cracked black pepper to season the salmon fillets.
Apple Cabbage Slaw
- Cabbage – You’ll need about 2 – 2.5 cups of shaved cabbage for this recipe. Green cabbage works best.
- Apple – You’ll need about ½ cup of julienned apple for this recipe. Option to leave the skin on. A honey crisp apple works great. Once you julienne the apples, let them soak in a bowl of water mixed with fresh squeezed lemon juice to prevent browning.
- Carrots – This recipe calls for ½ cup of grated carrots. Peel the fresh carrots with a peeler before grating them.
- Red Onion – This recipe calls for about ½ cup of thinly shaved red onion. Half-moon cuts work best. Option to use a mandoline for even slices.
- Shaved Almonds – This recipe calls for 1/3 cup of shaved almonds. Toast the almonds in a skillet and allow them to cool completely before adding them to the coleslaw.
- Yogurt Mustard Dressing – Combine 0% Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, stone ground mustard, honey, and kosher salt. Whisk until well combined. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
Other Ingredients
- Bacon – Option to add a pinch of crispy crumbled bacon to the top of each taco. I use center cut bacon.
- Tortillas – Heat your favorite tortillas for this recipe. Corn or flour work fine.
How to Air Fry Salmon
Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees. Pat the salmon dry with a paper towel. Leave the skin on. Drizzle the salmon with avocado oil. Then, dust it with kosher salt and cracked black pepper.
Spray the inside of the air fryer with avocado oil cooking spray. Add the seasoned salmon to the air fryer (skin side down) and cook for 10-12 minutes at 400 degrees. This will give you a medium well temperature on the salmon. Cooking time will slightly vary based on the thickness of the salmon.
Variations
- You can enjoy this recipe in several ways. If you do not feel like tacos, enjoy this air fryer salmon and apple cabbage slaw over a bed of my Lebanese Rice or my Easy Creamy Mashed Potatoes.
- Swap honey crisp apples for green apples or any apple you enjoy most.
- Option to skip the bacon entirely if you prefer.
- If you do not like almonds, try chopped walnuts in the slaw instead.
- If you do not have an air fryer, bake the salmon in the oven. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and bake for 12-14 minutes. Cooking time will vary based on thickness of the salmon.
How to Make Salmon Tacos with Apple Cabbage Slaw
Make the Slaw Dressing
Step 1: Add the dressing ingredients to the bowl.
Step 2: Mix well. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
Fry the Bacon
Step 3: Pan fry the bacon.
Step 4: Once cooked, place the cooked bacon on a paper towel to absorb excess grease. Allow the bacon to cool before crumbling into small pieces.
Air Fry the Salmon
Step 5: Prepare the salmon and place it in the air fryer basket.
Step 6: Air fry until cooked to your liking.
Make the Slaw
Step 7: Add the slaw ingredients to a bowl.
Step 8: Top with dressing and toss until well coated.
Assemble
Step 9: Assemble. Add flaky salmon on top of a warm tortilla. Top with apple cabbage slaw and a pinch of crispy bacon. Serve warm and enjoy.
How to Store
Store leftover salmon in an airtight container in in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. Reheat in the microwave until warmed through.
Dressed slaw is best enjoyed immediately! However, this recipe makes extra slaw so you can store the slaw mixture in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Add the dressing as needed but store it in a separate airtight container in the refrigerator until needed. Will last for 3-4 days. Add the apples as needed.
Expert Tips
- Do not overcrowd your air fryer basket. Adding too much salmon at one time will impact the cooking time and doneness of your salmon. Cook in batches if needed so the air can easily circulate each piece. The size of your air fryer basket will dictate how many pieces you can add at any given time.
- Leave the skin on when air frying the salmon. This will lock in the juices yielding a moister salmon fillet.
- Apples are best used immediately once julienned. However, you can soak the julienned apple slices in a mixture of water and lemon juice to prevent browning. This will work for 1-2 hours before they will begin to brown. Pat the apple slices dry with paper towel before adding them to the coleslaw.
- This recipe makes extra slaw. Option to cut the recipe in half or use the slaw in another dish throughout the week. It’s so good, you’ll be glad you have some extra!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! You can get most of the components ready in advance. Shave the cabbage, toast the almonds, grate the carrots and thinly shave the red onions. However, only add the dressing and julienne the apples right before you’re ready to serve. Option to soak the apples as instructed above to prevent browning.
Yes! This coleslaw goes well with chicken, shredded beef or pork chops.
Try my Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Pecans, Cranberries an Goat Cheese, or my Roasted Butternut Squash and Brussels Sprout Salad.
Other Salmon Recipes to Consider Trying
- Oven Roasted Teriyaki Salmon
- Mediterranean Crispy Salmon Tacos
- Blackened Air Fryer Salmon with Spicy Creamy Sauce
- Oven Roasted Salmon with Shaved Vegetable Salad
If you tried these Salmon Tacos with Apple Cabbage Slaw or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Salmon Tacos with Apple Cabbage Slaw
Equipment
- 1 air fryer for the salmon
- 2 nonstick skillets for the bacon and almonds
- 2 mixing bowls for the slaw and dressing
Ingredients
Salmon
- 1 lb. salmon, skin on, cut into two fillets
- 1-2 tablespoons avocado oil
- pinch kosher salt , to season
- few turns cracked black pepper, to season
Apple Cabbage Slaw
- 2 – 2.5 cups green cabbage, shaved
- ½ cup carrots, grated
- ½ cup honey crisp apple, julienne
- ½ cup red onion, shaved thin
- ⅓ cup shaved almonds, toasted
Yogurt Mustard Dressing for Slaw
- ¼ cup 0% Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon stone ground mustard
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1.5 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- pinch kosher salt, about ¼ teaspoon
Other Ingredients – optional
- 4 tortillas
- 1.5 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled, as garnish
Instructions
How to Make Salmon Tacos with Apple Cabbage Slaw
Make the Slaw Dressing
- Combine 0% Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, stone ground mustard, honey, and kosher salt. Whisk until well combined. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
Fry the Bacon
- Add bacon to a nonstick skillet and cook. Once cooked through, remove from the pan and place it on a paper towel to absorb excess grease. Allow the bacon to cool completely before crumbling or chopping into small pieces. Set aside.
Air Fry the Salmon
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees. Pat the salmon dry with a paper towel. Leave the skin on. Drizzle the salmon with avocado oil. Then, dust with kosher salt and cracked black pepper.
- Spray the inside of the air fryer with avocado oil cooking spray. Add the seasoned salmon to the air fryer (skin side down) and cook for 10-12 minutes at 400 degrees. This will give you a medium – medium well temperature on the salmon. Cooking time will slightly vary based on the thickness of the salmon.Remove from the air fryer and flake into large pieces using a fish spatula or fork.
Make the Slaw
- Combine the shredded cabbage, grated carrots, thinly shaved red onion, toasted almonds and julienned apples in a mixing bowl. Coat with the dressing and toss until well combined.
- Keep in mind this coleslaw recipe makes EXTRA coleslaw. Option to save some undressed coleslaw mixture (without dressing) in the refrigerator for the next day. Store dressing in a separate airtight container in the refrigerator or 3-4 days.
Assemble
- Warm the tortillas and add some of the salmon. (with or without skin) Top with the slaw and a pinch of crumbled bacon. Serve warm and enjoy.
Notes
Store leftover salmon in an airtight container in in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. Reheat in the microwave until warmed through.
2 Comments on “Salmon Tacos with Apple Cabbage Slaw”
These salmon tacos are amazing and the slaw is INCREDIBLE. Was perfect for an easy weeknight dinner and also kid approved! Will definitely be making these again. And again and again and again.
I am so glad you enjoyed! Thank you for the review.