Fast and Easy Coleslaw Recipe

This Easy Coleslaw Recipe is a pre-requisite to summer dining! Put together in 5 minutes (seriously) and will be a favorite all year long.

Summer just isn’t complete without some great homemade coleslaw. 

Served chilled it’s a refreshing recipe to take the heat out of the day.

The flavors are light and delicious paired with grilled meats, on sandwiches or by itself!

Everyone needs an easy coleslaw recipe in their collection!

What is Coleslaw?

Coleslaw is a classic side dish or salad. Also known as cole slaw or just slaw.

It’s made with finely shredded cabbage, green and/or red, mixed with a creamy mayonnaise-based dressing or a vinaigrette dressing. 

Sometimes shredded cabbage and carrots are mixed together for the slaw.

It’s a refreshing side dish or salad for summer in particular.

Coleslaw can be served on its own or on top of pulled pork sandwiches for a cooling balance to the hot and spicy meat.

Ingredients in Easy Coleslaw

This easy coleslaw recipe has only a handful of ingredients:

• fresh Coleslaw mix (green cabbage, red cabbage or a mix)
• Mayonnaise
• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Granulated Sugar
• Kosher Salt
• Celery Seeds
• Additional Salt and Pepper to taste

Coleslaw Dressing Recipe

Coleslaw dressing can be changed up in many ways.

This coleslaw dressing recipe is a classic.

Creamy, sweet, slightly tangy and full of flavor.

It takes less than 5 minutes to make!

Use Prepared Coleslaw mix

This easy coleslaw recipe takes advantage of prepackaged coleslaw mix.

It’s available fresh in the produce section at the grocery store along with bagged lettuce.

Because it’s pre shredded, using prepared slaw mix is a huge time saver when making coleslaw.

If you prefer to shred your own cabbage, check the notes of the recipe for amounts to substitute.

How to Make this Easy Coleslaw Recipe – Step by Step

It will probably take longer to look at the photos of how to make this easy coleslaw recipe than it will to actually make it!

• Place the coleslaw mix in a large bowl (photo 1).
• Add the granulated sugar (photo 2) mayonnaise (photo 3), apple cider vinegar, salt, celery seeds (photo 4).
• Stir to fully combine and coat the shredded cabbage.

Better the Next Day

The great thing about this coleslaw recipe is that:

1. It takes about 5 minutes to make.
2. It’s better LATER!

Make it in the morning to eat at dinner time. OR make it the day before.

Letting it chill in the refrigerator softens the cabbage slightly and allows the flavors of the creamy coleslaw dressing soak in.

Variations

There are many variations on the classic coleslaw recipe to change it up. Options include:

• Using different shredded greens such as broccoli or radish. Check the produce section in your favorite store for prepared shredded produce to change it up.
• Add fruits to heighten the sweetness: apple chunks, plumped raisins, pear pieces, dried sweetened cranberries
• Add some crunchy texture with chopped nuts or seeds: almonds, sunflower seeds, walnuts, poppyseeds.

Coleslaw Recipes

There are a number of slaw recipes on Boulder Locavore. Some such as the Lazy Girl’s Cole Slaw (even easier than this recipe) and the version on the sandwich, are a spin on classic coleslaw.

Others use different shredded vegetables and even fruit to change it up!

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Radish Slaw (gluten-free)

Slow cooker pulled pork is a simple recipe full of tangy, sweet flavor.  It is a perfect recipe for feeding a crowd or to create a meal with leftovers to freeze (the pulled pork freezes easily).  The light, refreshing radish slaw adds some crunch to the sandwich and a little bite from the spicy radishes.

Check out this recipe

Crunchy Confetti Slaw with Strawberry-Peach Balsamic Dressing

To keep the slaw crunchy, keep the slaw and dressing separate, mixing just before serving. If you have extra undressed slaw it can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for another use and dressed when needed. This ample dressing recipe will produce more dressing than is needed for the slaw recipe. Keep extra dressing sealed in a the refrigerator to use on other salads I used fresh fruit to make the dressing however if you desire to make it out of season it could be made with frozen, thawed fruit since it is pureed into the dressing.

Check out this recipe

Pork Street Tacos with Pickled Broccoli Stem Slaw and Blistered Tomatoes

These simple street tacos are bursting with great flavor and texture. The components of the recipe can be made on their own for separate meals as well.

Check out this recipe

Brooklyn Avenue Sandwich {Pastrami, Cole Slaw, Russian Dressing & Rye}

This delicious sandwich has everything; salty, sweet, tangy and crunch!

Check out this recipe

Spiralized Broccoli Stem Carrot Slaw with Dried Cranberries & Sunflower Seeds

Sweet broccoli stems are the star ingredient in this crunchy, tasty slaw. Combined with carrot spirals, dried cranberries, green onion and sunflower seeds the salad has a sweet, wonderfully textured bite. Truly irresistible! The recipe may be doubled keeping the proportions the same.

Check out this recipe

Spiralized Apple-Pear Pomegranate Slaw with Honey Poppyseed Dressing

When making the slaw it is not necessary to peel the apple or pears. In fact not peeling them leaves a bit of extra color to the spirals. Using the larger 1/4-inch 6mm noodle blade allows the spirals to retain their crunch and form. 

Tossing the slaw is most easily done with one's hands to ensure all the delicious ingredients are well mixed. The dressing recipes makes more than enough for the slaw. I only used a few tablespoons for the slaw. It is a delicious, light dressing perfect for dressing greens or other salads. Store the dressing sealed in the refrigerator.

Check out this recipe

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Homemade Slaw recipe

This easy coleslaw recipe is fast and flavorful. It's a favorite summer side dish and perfect on sandwiches anytime.

5 from 17 votes

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Course: Salad

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 169kcal

Author: Toni Dash

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Ingredients

• ▢ 1 16-ounce bag coleslaw mix
• ▢ ¾ cup mayonnaise
• ▢ 4 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• ▢ ¼ cup granulated sugar
• ▢ Pinch of salt
• ▢ ½ teaspoon celery seeds
• ▢ Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

• Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix until combined.
• *This slaw is best prepared early and allowed to sit in the fridge for a few hours. *

Notes

To make the shredded cabbage mix at home:

Use the shredding blade of a food processor (easiest method) and shred green and/or red cabbage to make 6 1/2 cups. Combine with 1 cup shredded carrots. Proceed with the recipe as written.

Nutrition

Calories: 169kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 134mg | Potassium: 5mg | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 15IU | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 0.1mg

Did you make this recipe?Mention @boulderlocavore or tag #boulderlocavore!