This easy blackened seared tuna tacos recipe is loaded with delicious blackened spice flavor that is seared onto the tuna steaks until blackened to perfection. We love slicing up this blackened tuna for tacos but you can serve it just as is. This makes juicy and delicious blackened ahi tuna steaks and the best fish tacos around.
In our house, we love any type of blackened fish. The flavor that blackened seasoning adds to fish is so delicious and it really creates a meaty bite.
Once I realized how simple it is to make blackened tuna at home, this recipe has become a repeat in our house. We also add the blackened seasoning for these tuna steaks to other fish as well because it is so good!
To make this blackened tuna recipe, it all starts off with an amazing blackened seasoning that is seared onto the ahi tuna steaks in a nice hot pan making it taste so amazing. The best part is it only takes minutes to make.
We love slicing up our seared tuna steaks and making them into tacos because we love tacos AND it is a great way to stretch the budget when buying a premium cut of fish when you are feeding a family.
Once cooked, the blackened ahi tuna is placed into tortillas and topped with the easiest cumin lime coleslaw that is out of this world delicious. The recipe for this coleslaw is included below.
Ingredients you will need
- Fresh Ahi tuna steaks. Make sure it is fresh and a nice pink color.
- Flour tortillas. If you are making tacos.
- Cumin and lime slaw (shredded cabbage, mayonnaise, sour cream, cumin, lime, kosher salt).
- Blackened spice seasoning (this is a seasoning blend of chili powder, paprika, kosher salt, and cayenne pepper).
- Limes or lemons for serving. I love a fresh squeeze of lemon or lime on my fish tacos. This is optional.
The ingredients are so simple and the spices you probably already have in your pantry.
How to make blackened seared tuna tacos
Making these blackened tuna steaks takes no time at all. Tuna does not need long to cook.
First, make the coleslaw for the tacos so it has time to set up and get really tasty.
To make the delicious seared tuna steaks, you want to make sure you have a nice hot pan that is pre-heated and waiting for you. You can use stainless steel or cast iron for this.
Once the tuna is placed in the pre-heated pan it will sear, forming a delicious blackened crust on the outside. The inside will stay nice and pink and juicy. This is what you want when working with ahi tuna.
The last thing you need to do is slice up that tuna and assemble those tacos!
Variations
Here are some variation ideas for this blackened tuna:
- Blackened tuna steaks- skip the tacos and eat the tuna as a tuna steak.
- Blackened tuna bites. You only need to cut the tuna into large cubes and then roll it into the blackened seasoning before searing.
Sauces To Go With Blackened Tuna
This blackened tuna recipe uses creamy coleslaw in place of a sauce with the tuna. If you prefer a sauce, here are some suggestions:
- Creamy sriracha sauce. This sauce will add a little more heat to the blackened tuna but it is really delicious and creamy.
- Italian basil mayonnaise. This sauce is a creamy garlicky sauce made with. mayonnaise, basil, lemon and garlic.
- Creamy cilantro dressing. Cilantro and blackened seasoning are delicious together. This cilantro sauce is creamy and the perfect pair with the tuna.
- Poblano cream sauce. This is a roasted poblano sauce that is creamy and does not add any heat to the recipe.
- You can also use a gochujang mayo. It adds a nice light heat much like the sriracha sauce.
Storing and Reheating
If you have extra tuna left over, it does store amazingly in the fridge. I like to place it in an air-tight container and store it for up to 2 days.
To reheat the tuna, place it in aluminum foil and into a preheated 350-degree oven for 10 minutes. The tuna will not stay pink in the center but it will still be delicious reheated.
Recipe Faqs
To make blackened tuna bites, you just need to cut the tuna into large cubes and roll them in the blackened seasoning. From there you sear them until blackened.
Blackened seasoning is neither healthy nor unhealthy. It is a spice blend that when cooked, darkens in color.
If you would like to make this blackened tuna on the grill, just follow the recipe up to the searing portion. From there, instead of searing, cook the tuna on a medium-high heat grill for about 2-3 minutes per side.
Ahi tuna is the best tuna for searing because it is firm and holds up to a nice sear, making it a fast-cooking fish, and because it can be eaten with a pink center. Ahi tuna is also called yellowfin or bigeye tuna.
More tuna recipes
Blackened Seared Tuna Tacos Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Ahi tuna steaks
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil for pan
- 6 flour tortillas warmed
Blackened Spice
- 2 tablespoon Sweet paprika
- 1 tablespoon Chili powder
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon Cayenne pepper use ¼ teaspoon if you like really spicy
Cumin Lime Coleslaw
- 8-10 oz of green and purple cabbage mixed Bagged shredded cabbage works great.
- 1 lime
- 1 teaspoon of cumin plus more to taste
- 2 tablespoon of chopped fresh cilantro
- ¼ cup green onions thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoon of sour cream for a healthier coleslaw you can use greek yogurt.
- 2 tablespoon of mayonnaise
- kosher salt and pepper to taste I use about ½ teaspoon of each
Instructions
Warming tortillas (if making tacos)
- Place tortillas in aluminum foil and wrap tightly then place in a pre-heated oven at 270 degrees.6 flour tortillas
Cumin Lime Coleslaw
- In a large bowl add your mayonnaise, sour cream, cumin, cilantro and shallot if your are using it. .1 teaspoon of cumin, 2 tablespoon of chopped fresh cilantro, 2 tablespoon of sour cream, 2 tablespoon of mayonnaise, ¼ cup green onions
- Next add your cabbage mix8-10 oz of green and purple cabbage mixed
- Now squeeze the fresh lime over top and add your salt and pepper. Mix well so all of the ingredients come together. It may look a little dry but once it sits it will come together and moisten.1 lime, kosher salt and pepper to taste
- Taste for any additional cumin. I like lots so I usually add a little more at this point.
- Let sit while you prepare the tuna.
Making the blackened seasoning
- Mix together all the spices in a small bowl.2 tablespoon Sweet paprika, 1 tablespoon Chili powder, 1 teaspoon Kosher salt, ⅛ teaspoon Cayenne pepper
Searing the blackened tuna
- Pre-heat a large flat bottom pan over medium high heat then add oil.
- Pour blackened seasoning on to a plate.1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- Pat tuna steaks with a paper towel to dry them off.
- Press tuna steaks into seasoning making sure to coat all sides (even the edges).2 Ahi tuna steaks
- Place tuna steaks in the pre-heated pan and cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Flip the tuna steaks and cook for another 1 minute. This will yield a rare to medium rare tuna steak.
- Remove from the pan and serve as is or slice into thin strips and place into warmed tortillas and top with cumin and lime slaw.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition Values are estimates only.
See full nutrition disclaimer hereTried the Recipe? We Would Love To Hear From You In The Comments Below!
Holly says
Delicious! Was expecting this to be lore difficult than it was. Family loved it, especially the flavors in the coleslaw.
Melissa says
I am so glad you enjoyed it! It is really easy
Mark R says
These were AMAZING! Super easy and so much flavor. Great recipe
Melissa says
Thanks Mark 🙂 I am glad you enjoyed it.
Melissa says
Love hearing that!
Mike says
Made this last night and it was amazing!
Melissa says
Hi Mike. I am glad you enjoyed it 🙂