Easy Coleslaw Recipe: How to Make Coleslaw in 15 Minutes

Coleslaw is a side dish of shredded cabbage and some type of dressing. Common additional ingredients include shredded carrots, onions, broccoli, and cauliflower, but there are countless types of coleslaw, depending on the veggies you use and the style of vinaigrette. Classic coleslaw is a creamy coleslaw, with a mayonnaise-based dressing, but Asian slaws have a sweet, spicy, and even tangy dressing.

An easy slaw recipe requires only a few basic ingredients, but there are so many ways you can adjust the flavors of the dressing recipe or the cabbage mixture itself. Here are a few tips for making coleslaw to your preferences:

1. 1. Add salt first. Coleslaw uses raw cabbage and should be crunchy; however, to draw some moisture out of the cabbage and make it easier to chew, salt the cabbage first. Then scrunch the shredded cabbage with your hands to break up the fibers.
2. 2. Buy coleslaw mix. It might be possible to find a prepackaged coleslaw mix at your local grocery store. This can be a timesaver if your kitchen tools don’t include a mandoline or a food processor or you’re uncomfortable shredding coleslaw with a knife. These mixes usually contain pre-shredded red cabbage, green cabbage, and carrots in addition to other ingredients. You can still fully customize the coleslaw when you select your dressing.
3. 3. Shred veggies in the food processor. If you forgo the prepackaged slaw route and want to shred your own vegetables, a food processor makes the job easy. Most food processors come with attachments for grating cheese or veggies. Choose an attachment with large holes and be sure to cut the cabbage into thin wedges so the pieces fit through the feed tube of the processor.
4. 4. Try different flavorings. Classic seasonings for an easy coleslaw recipe include celery seed or celery salt, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, and mayonnaise, but there are many more options available to you. Experiment with soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and rice vinegar for an Asian-style slaw, or try paprika, chili powder, sour cream, and a pinch of cayenne pepper for a Southwest-style slaw. You can even add cranberries, chopped apples, or sunflower seeds for a fall-style slaw.

Coleslaw is a popular side dish at cookouts, picnics, potlucks, and barbecues. Here are a handful of dishes in which you can add coleslaw:

1. 1. Corned beef sandwich: A Reuben is a warm corned beef sandwich with sauerkraut, but a cold corned beef sandwich, also known as a Rachel, uses a creamy coleslaw recipe. The corned beef is soft and salty and the slaw is creamy and crunchy.
2. 2. Fish tacos: Whether you’re enjoying grilled shrimp tacos or fried cod tacos, you can top the tacos with coleslaw. Fish tacos have a savory taste that pairs well with the smooth flavor of a traditional creamy coleslaw.
3. 3. Fried chicken sandwich: Make a savory buttermilk fried chicken sandwich using fried chicken, pickles, and a creamy slaw.
4. 4. Pulled pork sandwich: Top a sauce-laden pulled pork sandwich with a creamy coleslaw for a classic pairing. The creamy slaw is a cool complement to the heat in the pork rub or barbecue sauce and will add a crunchy component alongside the soft meat and bread.
5. 5. Side dish: You can eat coleslaw on its own as a side dish, similar to how you might enjoy potato salad. It pairs well with hamburgers, hot dogs, barbecue chicken, grilled fish, and other foods.