BBQ Salmon Tacos (15 Minute Meal)
These BBQ salmon tacos are one of my favorite 15-minute dinners when I need something fast that still feels like real food. The salmon gets brushed with barbecue sauce, cooked quickly, and tucked into warm tortillas with a simple Greek yogurt slaw. It’s easy, reliable, and uses ingredients I almost always have on hand. No complicated prep. No extra steps. Just dinner handled.
Over the past year, I’ve been very honest about the fact that I’ve had serious cooking burnout. I still want to feed my family well, but I need recipes to be actually easy, not just “easy-ish.” This is one of the meals I make on repeat because it works. It’s quick, flavorful, and simple enough to pull together even on low-energy nights. When I say this is a go-to in our house, I mean it.
After you try these barbeque salmon tacos, you should also make honey chipotle salmon (it’s sweet and spicy), air fryer blackened salmon tacos or this simple salmon with mango salsa recipe. These recipes are ready in 15 minutes and incredibly simple to make.
Ingredients spotlight
- Salmon – use skin on or skin off salmon. If the salmon has the skin on, cook it that way, then the skin will slide off after cooking.
- BBQ Sauce – be sure to use your favorite bbq sauce, it’s what gives this recipe all the flavor. I personally love the Organicville BBQ Sauce, it’s so sweet and pairs perfectly with the salmon.
- Greek yogurt (or dairy free plain yogurt) – this makes for a tangy, creamy slaw dressing. If you don’t love the idea of using Greek yogurt, you could also use mayo.
How to make salmon bbq tacos
Preheat the oven to 425F. Sprinkle the salmon with salt and garlic powder and add the bbq sauce. Cook at 425F for 12 minutes. While the salmon is cooking, combine the greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar, salt and garlic powder in a large bowl. Toss the cabbage with the dressing. When the salmon is done cooking, flake it into pieces to make filling tacos easier. Add extra bbq sauce as needed. 
Assemble the tacos, Add slaw, bbq salmon, thinly sliced avocado and more bbq sauce as needed.
Tips for success
These make things easier but aren’t required.
- Warm your tortillas – Heating them for 1–2 minutes in the oven (while it’s already on) makes them more pliable and less likely to crack. You can also warm them in a skillet or air fryer.
- Air fryer option – If you don’t want to turn on the oven, salmon cooks beautifully in the air fryer at 400°F for about 9 minutes.
- Not into Greek yogurt? Use mayo instead, or skip mixing and just toss the slaw with ranch dressing.
BQ Salmon Tacos (15-Minute Dinner)
Ingredients
- 1.25 pounds salmon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ cup bbq sauce - divided
- 2 medium avocado
- 8-12 small tortillas - I used almond flour tortillas
Greek Yogurt Slaw
- 1/2 cup greek yogurt - or dairy free yogurt
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 small head cabbage - about 3-4 cups shredded cabbage
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425F.
- Place salmon (skin side down) on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle salmon with salt and garlic powder then pour 2 tablespoons of bbq sauce over. Use the back of a spoon to push the bbq sauce around, fully coating the salmon.1.25 pounds salmon, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ cup bbq sauce
- Bake salmon in 425F oven for 12 minutes.
- While salmon is baking, make the slaw. Combine greek yogurt, salt, garlic powder in a large bowl. Whisk well to combine.1/2 cup greek yogurt, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Thinly shred the cabbage (or take a shortcut and use bagged slaw mix). Add cabbage to bowl with yogurt dressing and toss well with tongs until fully coated.1 small head cabbage
- When salmon is done baking, take out of the oven and pour 1/4 cup of bbq over top. Flake salmon with fork.½ cup bbq sauce
- Assemble the tacos adding slaw, bbq salmon, and avocado to tacos. Drizzle remaining bbq sauce over the top.8-12 small tortillas, 2 medium avocado
Recipe Notes
- Cook time depends on thickness. If you find the salmon to be on the thinner side, start checking it at 10 minutes. If it’s thicker, you may need to give it an extra 1-2 minutes.
- The salmon is simply seasoned and coated in BBQ sauce, so the flavor really matters. If you don’t love the sauce, you won’t love the tacos.. I love Organicville BBQ sauce.
Nutrition Information
Other additions
- Sliced jalapeno (add to tacos or add to the slaw)
- Pickled red onions
- Thinly sliced radish
- Sliced green onion
- Mango salsa
- Cilantro
Other ways to enjoy this recipe
- Serve as a taco bowl instead of tacos with some black beans and rice
- Use bbq salmon on salad instead of in tacos
- Serve bbq salmon and slaw with sweet potato fries for a whole new meal
Best way to store leftovers
Store the salmon and slaw separately in airtight containers. Reheat the salmon in the oven, in a toaster oven or in a skillet over medium low heat until warmed through. Assemble the tacos (don’t forget to add some extra bbq sauce) and enjoy!
My family loved these tacos and I loved how easy they were to make! We’ll be making these again and again!
Jill that is so great to hear! I’m so glad your family enjoyed them! I appreciate you coming to leave a review, it means so much! Happy cooking xo
This is the best recipe for a quick weeknight meal! My hubby isn’t the biggest fan of salmon and he loved these BBQ salmon tacos! Bravo!
This review is like music to my ears!! Turning one husband at a time into salmon lovers :) Thanks for coming to leave a review, it means the world to me! Happy cooking xo Sam