• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Dutch Oven Daddy
  • Cast Iron Care
  • Store
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Camping Recipes
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Cast Iron Care
  • Store
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Camping Recipes
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Cast Iron Care
    • Store
    • About
    • Recipes
    • Camping Recipes
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ร—
    Home ยป Recipes ยป Side Dish Recipes

    Simple Coleslaw Recipe

    Published: Jul 6, 2022 ยท Modified: Sep 3, 2022 by Ned Adams ยท This post may contain affiliate links ยท 24 Comments

    50 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Flipboard
    Jump to Recipe

    Whether atop pulled pork or alongside fried chicken, everyone needs an easy and Simple Coleslaw Recipe and this one uses less mayonnaise too!

    In a matter of minutes, a few (and mostly on-hand) ingredients become a homemade favorite summer side dish. You'll find a classic coleslaw at every picnic, backyard BBQ, and potluck party. Our bacon baked beans are also perfect for these summertime events.

    Branded image of this simple coleslaw recipe in a black bowl.
    Jump to:
    • What is coleslaw
    • Recipe Ingredients
    • Step by step directions
    • Recipe adjustments
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Other Related Side Dish Recipes
    • Get the Recipe

    What is coleslaw

    Coleslaw, cole slaw, or simply slaw is shredded cabbage in either a creamy dressing or vinaigrette. Green cabbage is the most commonly used in coleslaw recipes. Purple cabbage can also be used to make slaw. Shredded carrots and red cabbage often are tossed with the green cabbage to add both color and texture.

    Making homemade coleslaw is generally a cost-effective recipe to bring to parties and such. However, buying a bag of coleslaw mix is a great way to save time.

    Closer view of the prepared coleslaw.

    What is coleslaw mix made of

    Most grocery stores carry two basic coleslaw bag mixes. One is just shredded green cabbage. The other is a mostly green cabbage with matchstick carrots and shredded red cabbage tossed in for color and contrast. These two generally don't come with dressing.

    However, many markets sell coleslaw kits, which are the dry vegetables along with a packet of sauce to add before serving. There are some super fancy ones with additional items like sunflower seeds, raisins, and other vegetables like onion and bell pepper.

    Recipe Ingredients

    • Shredded cabbage — a 3:1 cup blend of green and purple cabbage.
    • Carrots — 2 grated on the largest shred on a box grater.
    • OR Coleslaw mix — we used the blend with both cabbages and carrots.
    • Apple cider vinegar — this gives the salad it's tang and zing.
    • Extra virgin olive oil — use a high quality or premium olive oil for this recipe. You can taste the difference with a lesser quality oil.
    • Mayonnaise — this provides the creamy texture many love about coleslaw.
    • Seasonings — celery seed, dry mustard, salt, black pepper, and sugar.

    Step by step directions

    The dry seasonings, apple cider vinegar, and olive oil have been added to a small bowl.
    Step 1
    The mayonnaise has been added to the small both with the other dressing ingredients and whisked together.
    Step 2

    Step 1 — Add the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, and dry seasonings to a small bowl.

    Step 2 — Whisk the mayonnaise into the other dressing ingredients until combined, smooth and creamy.

    Half of the cabbage mixture and half of the dressing in a stainless steel bowl.
    Step 3
    The remaining cabbage mixture and dressing has been added and all has been mixed together.
    Step 4

    Step 3 — Add half of the vegetables mixture to a large bowl. Then add half of the dressing. It's not necessary to stir it at this point. Layering the slaw mix and dressing like this makes mixing it easier, ensuring the salad is well combined because this is a lighter (amount) dressing slaw than most.

    Step 4 — Add the remaining slaw mixture and dressing to the bowl and stir well until thoroughly combined. Transfer to an airtight container and chill for 30 minutes before serving.

    Recipe adjustments

    I am in a house divided where coleslaw is concerned. I confess I am not a huge fan of super creamy coleslaw (i.e. lots of mayo) recipes. Nor do I love it super tangy.

    This simple coleslaw recipe uses equal parts mayonnaise and olive oil, and just enough vinegar to give it a slight bite. The vegetables are all coated, but they are not swimming in a sea of dressing. Call me crazy, but I want to taste the cabbage!

    Prepared coleslaw in a black bowl.
    • Creamier — Increase mayo to โ…“ cup and omit the olive oil for super creamy. Or use ยผ cup mayonnaise and 2 tablespoons olive oil.
    • No mayo — Skip the mayo and use plain or plain Greek yogurt if you still want a creamy texture or simple omit the mayo and increase the olive oil to at least ยผ cup. Use high quality olive oil particularly and especially if omitting the mayo.
    • Tangier — Increase the apple cider vinegar to ยผ cup and then by the tablespoon from there until the desired tangy-ness has been reached.
    • Sweeter — Increase the sugar by the teaspoon until it's reached your sweet spot. (See what I did there?)

    Recipe FAQs

    Can I use a different vinegar?

    Yes! This is one of my favorite things to do. Rice vinegar, white balsamic vinegar, and flavored balsamic vinegars are some of my favorite substitutions.

    Can I use Miracle Whip instead of mayo?

    I do all the time. Just depends on my mood. Using Miracle Whip increases the tangy flavor of the slaw too.

    How long will coleslaw keep?

    3-4 days as long as it has been stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Stir it well before serving, as the natural water in the vegetables will have started to leak and the dressing may have begun to separate.

    Branded image of this simple coleslaw recipe in a black bowl with wooden utensils slightly raising a portion.

    Other Related Side Dish Recipes

    • Golden brown potatoes in a cast iron skillet sprinkled with fresh thyme.
      Fondant Potatoes
    • Freshly baked scarpaccia in cast iron garnished with more freshly grated parmesan cheese, basil, and rosemary.
      Scarpaccia Italian Zucchini Tart
    • Dutch Oven Asparagus and Peas
    • Dutch Oven Cranberry Cashew Broccoli

    If you tried this Simple Coleslaw Recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!

    Get the Recipe

    Prepared coleslaw in a black bowl.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 23 votes

    Simple Coleslaw Recipe

    Whether atop pulled pork or alongside fried chicken, everyone needs an easy and Simple Coleslaw Recipe and this one uses less mayonnaise too!
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Chill Time Before Serving30 minutes mins
    Total Time35 minutes mins
    Course: Salad
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 87kcal
    Author: Ned Adams
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • 1 small bowl
    • 1 large bowl
    • various measuring cups and spoons
    • whisk

    Ingredients

    Dressing

    • 3 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
    • 3 tbsp. mayonnaise
    • 3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
    • ¼ tsp. celery seed
    • 1 tsp. dry mustard
    • ½ tsp. salt
    • ⅓ tsp. black pepper
    • 2 tsp. sugar

    Salad

    • 16 oz. coleslaw mix or 4 cups shredded cabbage; 2 grated carrots
    US Standard - Metric

    Instructions

    • In a small bowl, whisk all the dressing ingredients together until smooth.
    • Place half the cabbage mixture to a large bowl then add half the dressing.
    • Add the remaining cabbage mixture and dressing. Stir until well combined.
    • Cover and chill for 30 minutes before serving. Enjoy.

    Notes

    • Creamier — Increase mayo to โ…“ cup and omit the olive oil for super creamy. Or use ยผ cup mayonnaise and 2 tablespoons olive oil.
    • No mayo — Skip the mayo and use plain or plain Greek yogurt if you still want a creamy texture or simple omit the mayo and increase the olive oil to at least ยผ cup. Use high quality olive oil particularly and especially if omitting the mayo.
    • Tangier — Increase the apple cider vinegar to ยผ cup and then by the tablespoon from there until the desired tangy-ness has been reached.
    • Sweeter — Increase the sugar by the teaspoon until it’s reached your sweet spot.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 87kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 176mg | Potassium: 112mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 61IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 1mg

    Dutch Oven Daddy is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.

    Did you try this recipe?Leave me a comment and rating below or Tag @DutchOvenDaddy on Instagram to show us your photos!

    More Cast Iron Side Dish Recipes

    • Hasselback potatoes with two types of cheese in a cast iron skillet.
      Cheesy Hasselback Potatoes
    • A baked potato on a black plate with the camp oven, more cooked potatoes, butter, green onions, cheese, sour cream, and green onions around the table.
      Dutch Oven Baked Potatoes
    • Freshly steamed corn on the cob in a dutch oven with butter and chopped parsley.
      Steamed Corn on theย Cob
    • Cooked asparagus on a white serving platter with metal tongs and lemon slices.
      Skillet Roasted Asparagus

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 23 votes

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Sara Welch

      May 05, 2024 at 1:08 pm

      5 stars
      This was such a cool and crisp slaw that does not disappoint! Turned out quick, easy and delicious; the perfect addition to any barbecue!

      Reply
    2. suja md

      May 05, 2024 at 10:47 am

      5 stars
      This coleslaw was amazing, Thank You for this.

      Reply
    3. Dina and Bruce

      May 05, 2024 at 10:40 am

      5 stars
      The dry mustard gave it a zing that we really love!

      Reply
    4. Fiona Maclean

      May 05, 2024 at 7:58 am

      5 stars
      I'm totally with you on wanting to taste the veggies - and I love how colourful this recipe is when it's made! Delicious

      Reply
    5. Paula

      May 05, 2024 at 7:37 am

      5 stars
      This coleslaw was so good! So flavorful and not too plain. Delish!

      Reply
    6. Heather

      April 24, 2024 at 4:40 am

      5 stars
      I absolutely adore this coleslaw recipe, I don't care for slaw that's heavy with mayonnaise. Your recipe strikes the perfect flavor balance, I'll be making this all summer long! Thank you so much!

      Reply
    7. Ieva

      April 24, 2024 at 3:11 am

      5 stars
      Great recipe! I've never added celery seeds to my slaw before, but we loved it! Thanks for the recipe.

      Reply
    8. Mahy

      April 24, 2024 at 2:35 am

      5 stars
      So simple AND delicious. Just what I have been looking for. Thank you!

      Reply
    9. Kushi Mallya

      April 24, 2024 at 12:27 am

      5 stars
      It is a simple and easy to make, a super delicious recipe. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    « Older Comments

    Primary Sidebar

    picture of dutch oven daddy holding a dutch oven.

    Hi I'm Ned,

    the Dutch Oven Daddy! Iโ€™m a full-time computer nerd and part-time cook. My passion is cast iron cooking with tips, tricks, and delicious recipes. I love using my recipes to bring together family and friends. I believe everything is made better in cast iron!

    More about me

    Popular Recipes

    • Plated pot roast over mashed potatoes with a side of green beans.
      Dutch Oven Mississippi Pot Roast
    • Baked skillet full of bacon cheeseburger casserole.
      Skillet Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole
    • A portion of beef stroganoff served in a white bowl with a fork.
      One Pot Beef Stroganoff
    • Creamed Corn Cornbread still in the skillet ready to be served.
      Skillet Creamed Corn Cornbread
    • Two cheeseburgers in a bun with lettuce, onion, and tomato with french fries between them.
      Cast Iron Skillet Burgers
    • Dutch Oven Pork Roast

    Camping Recipes

    • The camp oven lasagna has cooked, rested, and been garnished with fresh basil and is ready to serve.
      Dutch Oven Lasagna
    • A baked potato on a black plate with the camp oven, more cooked potatoes, butter, green onions, cheese, sour cream, and green onions around the table.
      Dutch Oven Baked Potatoes
    • Speared chicken, carrot, and potato wedge covered in gravy on a fork.
      Dutch Oven Italian Chicken inย Gravy
    • Peach Dump Cake in the cast iron camp oven.
      Camp Oven Peach Dump Cake
    • Moutain Man Breakfast Burrito
      Dutch Oven Mountain Man Breakfast
    • Baked caramel apple cake garnished with scoops of vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce, fresh apple slices and mint along the sides.
      Caramel Apple Dump Cake

    Footer

    โ†‘ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    • YouTube
    • Pinterest
    • Facebook
    • Instagram

    50 shares

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    Let us know what you thought of this recipe:

    This worked exactly as written, thanks!
    My family loved this!
    Thank you for sharing this recipe

    Or write in your own words:

    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.