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This easy coleslaw recipe really is the best! The creamy, savory dressing and crunchy veggies make it totally irresistible.
This coleslaw recipe is so good, it will top your “foods I love” list. It’s crunchy, it’s savory, it’s creamy, and it’s tangy and sweet. When we first made it, I realized: I don’t just like coleslaw, I love coleslaw. This recipe is totally balanced in sweet and savory flavors, with the cool crunch of cabbage and carrot. It’s also got a healthy spin: there’s no refined sugar and less mayo than most coleslaw recipes. We found ourselves going back to the fridge for seconds and thirds. Here’s the recipe: and bonus, we’ve got a video showing you how to shred cabbage: the right way.
Related: 15 Summer Side Dishes You Need
What’s the definition of coleslaw?
Coleslaw is simply a salad of shredded cabbage tossed with a dressing. It can be either a vinaigrette (like in our Vinegar Coleslaw) or mayonnaise-based dressing. Here in the Midwestern US, it seems like every family has their own coleslaw recipe! So making the “best” or “correct” coleslaw is pretty subjective.
Funny enough, my family didn’t make a ton of coleslaw when I was growing up. But it was always present at picnics and potlucks throughout my childhood. There are lots of takes on a coleslaw recipe: from the vinaigrette version to the super sweet kind that’s so creamy it’s hard to even eat a few bites.
Why this one is the best coleslaw recipe
What about this easy coleslaw recipe makes it “the best”? Well, Alex and my favorite type of coleslaw is a creamy coleslaw. So we came up with this Best Coleslaw Dressing: it’s got tons of flavor and a healthy spin too. Here’s what makes it “the best”:
- It’s got less mayo than the standard coleslaw. We love the nostalgia of creamy coleslaw so we’ve used mayo here. But it’s less mayo than the standard recipe! It’s just enough to get that savory salty flavor.
- The sweetness is balanced. A good coleslaw recipe has a balance of savory and sweet–but it can’t be too sweet! Some coleslaw recipes are loaded with sugar. This one’s got just the right amount.
- It’s got secret spices for the win: chili powder and dill! Using these two ingredients in a coleslaw recipe isn’t standard. But while they’re not part of the typical coleslaw, using them here adds a unique savory undertone that really makes it the best ever.
What else to do with cabbage? Go to our Top Cabbage Recipes.
How to make coleslaw
This homemade coleslaw recipe has just a few simple steps to make it! This coleslaw is great fresh, but you can also store it 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator (the cabbage will become less crunchy over time.) Here are the basic steps:
- Step 1: You’ll first need to shred the cabbage and carrots (you can purchase a pre-shredded coleslaw mix, if desired).
- Step 2: Whisk together the creamy coleslaw dressing, made with mayo, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, chili powder, and dill.
- Step 3: Toss everything together in a large bowl.
Video: How to cut cabbage
The only challenging part about making a coleslaw recipe is how to cut the cabbage! Alex and I have recently learned a trick to cutting cabbage that makes it much easier to cut. Before I knew this trick, I would hack at a cabbage until I got some “shreds.” Sometimes my knife would slip and they’d be super uneven. This trick makes this coleslaw recipe or a cabbage salad a breeze:
- Remove any outer layers of the cabbage that seem tough or are not fresh, and discard them. With a large chef’s knife, slice off the root of the cabbage.
- Cut the cabbagein half through the stem. Then cut it into quarters.
- Remove the root of the cabbage by cutting it out with two diagonal slices.
- Thinlyslice the cabbagein the short direction, using a circular motion with the knife.
Coleslaw variations
Love coleslaw but want something other than the classic? Once you’ve made this coleslaw recipe, make all these tasty variations:
- Red Cabbage Slaw This side dish has a short ingredient list and comes together in a flash.
- Easy Vinegar ColeslawThis one’s got no mayo! This tangy vinegar dressing is a perfect pair for crunchy cabbage.
- Mexican ColeslawGo Mexican-style with this slaw that features lime, cilantro and cumin. (It’s perfect intacos!)
- Easy Cabbage Salad All you need is 6 ingredients, and the tangy flavor makes it a total crowd pleaser.
- Broccoli SlawWhy not make coleslaw…with broccoli stems? This variation is irresistibly fresh and crunchy.
Are you convinced to try our easy coleslaw recipe? Want to try your hand at our method for how to cut cabbage? Let us know if you try it, and what you think in the comments below!
This coleslaw recipe is…
Vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free. For vegan and plant-based, use vegan mayo.
*Best* Coleslaw Recipe
- Author: Sonja Overhiser
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
Description
This easy coleslaw recipe really is the best! The creamy, savory dressing and crunchy veggies make it totally irresistible.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/2 head green cabbage, enough for 4 cups shredded*
- 1/2 head red cabbage, enough for 4 cups shredded
- 1 carrot, enough for 1 cup shredded
- ½ cup mayonnaise (or vegan mayo)
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon dried dill
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Fresh ground pepper
Instructions
- Shred the cabbage.
- Shred the carrot, using a grater or a handheld julienne shredder.
- Make the coleslaw dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, dill, chili powder, and salt. Keep whisking after the mayo gets lumpy, until the mixture comes to a creamy consistency.
- Mix the cabbage, carrots and coleslaw dressing together and serve immediately, or refrigerate until serving. (The coleslaw is best fresh, but can be stored refrigerated for up to 1 day.)
Notes
*Note: this equates to about 20 ounces of vegetables or about 1.5 pounds of bagged coleslaw mix
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Raw
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Coleslaw recipe, Easy coleslaw recipe, Simple coleslaw recipe, What is coleslaw, Side Dish Recipes, Gluten-Free Side Dish Recipes, Dairy-Free Side Dish Recipes
Looking for side dish recipes?
Outside of this coleslaw recipe, here are a few more side dish recipes we love:
- Go To Quinoa Salad
- Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
- Incredible No Mayo Potato Salad
- Mexican Coleslaw Recipe
- Perfectly Creamy Polenta (or Vegan Polenta)
- Grilled Caesar Salad
- Seriously Simple Three Bean Salad
- Seasoned Baked Potato Wedges
- Caribbean Black Bean Salad
- Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with Pomegranate
- Strawberry Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Sweet Potato Hash Browns
- 10 Summer Salads You Need Now
- Related: Jackfruit BBQ Sandwich with Coleslaw
Last updated: June 2020
vegan vegetarian gluten free
Published on / Last updated on
Categorized In:
- Recipes
Tagged with:
- Cabbage
- Coleslaw
- Dairy-Free
- Dressing
- Gluten-Free Recipes
- Plant-Based
- Salad
- Summer
- Vegan Recipes
- Vegetarian Recipes
About the authors
Sonja & Alex
Hi, we’re Alex and Sonja Overhiser, married cookbook authors, food bloggers, and recipe developers. We founded A Couple Cooks to share fresh, seasonal recipes for memorable kitchen moments! Our recipes are made by two real people and work every time.
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