It’s finally BBQ season andcoleslawmakes for the perfect side dish. It is colorful, tasty and you can whip it up in a flash. I love coleslaw because it’s only takes a few minutes to make, it has super simple ingredients, and it’s just so good!

crispy deep fried snacks and a lemon with a dish of coleslaw as the center

Everyone needs a classic coleslaw in your recipe arsenal and this is just the one.It is made with red and green cabbage, carrots, green onions and all tossed together with a simple homemade dressing. To make this recipe come together even faster, you can use a coleslaw mix from the store.

Coleslaw is a great side dish withhamburgers,fried fish, andpulled pork sandwiches(I like to put it ON the sandwich!) – the list can go on and on.If you need to stretch a meal for a gathering, then coleslaw is an easy way to do that too.

clear bowl with coleslaw dressing ingredients un-mixed and all of the raw veggies around it including carrot - white and purple cabbage - and green onion

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

It is so easy to make, even with the chopping.
It has a delicious, tangy dressing.
It’s the perfect fresh side dish.

Recipe Ingredients

Mayonnaise
Apple Cider or White vinegar: cider vinegar will add a slightly fruitier flavor while white vinegar will add a little stronger sharpness. Pick the one you like best!
Dijon Mustard
Sugar
Celery Seeds: they add a distinctive flavor to the dressing
Green Cabbage
Red Cabbage
Carrot
Green Onions: use both the green and the white parts

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities

close up of coleslaw ingredients before it is tossed

Popular Substitutions and Variations

I know many folks don’t like mayonnaise (I don’t get it, but hey…)sour cream or plain Greek yogurtwould be good substitutions for it in this recipe.
You can use a14 ounce bag of coleslaw mixin place of chopping your own veggies for this recipe if you’d like.
If you like a little sweet with your coleslaw feel free to add1 grated appleto this recipe, I do that often and we love it.

How to Make Coleslaw

clear bowl with coleslaw dressing and a spoon with all of the raw veggies around it including carrot - white and purple cabbage - and green onion

Step #1.Add the mayo, vinegar, mustard, sugar, celery seeds, salt, and black pepper to a small bowl. Whisk to combine and set aside.

coleslaw ingredients in wedge sections in a white bowl with a POV of a hand pouring in the coleslaw dressing on the top

Step #3.Just before serving add the salad dressing and stir to combine.

Step #2.In a large serving bowl add the green cabbage, red cabbage, grated carrot, and green onions. Toss to combine.

bowl of coleslaw that is dressed with cutlary

Step #4.Adjust the salt and pepper to taste and serve.

Recipe FAQs

How do you store coleslaw?

Make sure that you store coleslaw in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will be best used within 1-3 days. Coleslaw starts to get runny and the cabbage gets soft after a night in the fridge which I don’t prefer. I try to make as much coleslaw we’ll eat and not have too many leftovers.

Do you need to wash cabbage before using it?

I like to remove the outer layer of the cabbage and then give the inside a quick rinse for good measure. Wait to wash the cabbage until you are ready to use it. It has really tight leaves though so you are more washing off the bottom where it’s root used to be attached.

Why is it called coleslaw?

Fun fact: coleslaw originated in the Netherlands was called “koosla” which means cabbage salad.

bowl of coleslaw that is dressed with cutlery

Expert Tips

To cut the cabbage, start by cutting the cabbage in quarters and then cut the core of the cabbage out. Next, slice each quarter into thin shreds. To do this you can use a knife, use a mandolin, or some other type of food shredder. If you are in a rush, just grab a bag ofcoleslaw mixfrom the store and you are good to go.
If you have lots of cabbage to use up, do some quick batch salad making with this coleslaw and a supersimple cabbage salad. You’ll be set for salads for the week!
Coleslaw dressingis a great place to try out different kinds ofvinegar(red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, rice vinegar, etc) and see which one you love best.