21 Coleslaw Recipes That Will Instantly Become Stars of the Picnic
There are few things less appetizing than a bowl of gloppy, store-bought coleslaw languishing at the end of a picnic table (roasting in the summer sun, no less). But when done right, coleslaw can be one of the tastiest sides of all time, adding cool crunch and refreshing brightness to everything from tacos to pulled pork to burgers. Here are 21 of our favorite coleslaw recipes to serve this summer.
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1. Light and Tangy Coleslaw
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, make ahead
This better-for-you coleslaw trades mayo for Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard and plenty of vinegar. Not only does this combo provide extra protein, but it also makes the slaw irresistibly tangy.
2. Swedish ‘Pizzasallad’ Cabbage Slaw
Yuki Sugiura/Lagom
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: vegan, make ahead, no cook
Fun fact: In Sweden, coleslaw is a standard pizza side, since the vinegar cuts the richness of the cheese and tomato sauce. Who are we to argue?
3. Kale and Brussels Sprout Caesar Slaw
Ana Cuba/The Modern Cook's Table
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, make ahead
There's no anchovy in the Caesar-inspired dressing, so vegetarians can dig in without issue. Instead, soaked almonds and sunflower seeds are the keys to its creaminess.
4. Easy Sesame Quinoa Slaw
Gimme Some Oven
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes, make ahead
Adding protein-packed quinoa means that the leftovers can easily double as a main—or at least as tomorrow’s lunch. Oh, and you’ll want to make a double batch of the sesame-honey vinaigrette—put it on grains and green salads alike.
5. Brussels Sprouts, Apple and Pomegranate Slaw
The Mom 100
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, no cook
So much texture, so little time. Sure, you can serve this mix of earthy Brussels, sweet-tart apples, juicy pomegranate arils and Dijon dressing for any fall or winter holiday, but it also holds up well at a summer picnic.
6. Turmeric Slaw
The Full Helping
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, vegan, no cook
Turmeric is said to have anti-inflammatory properties, and it tastes great to boot—especially in this crunchy, citrusy slaw that happens to be vegan and gluten free.
7. Braised Red Cabbage Slaw with Black Rice, Arugula and Avocado
Feed Me Phoebe
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly, vegan
Braising the cabbage before mixing the slaw is a total revelation. It gets soft and caramelized, creating an epic contrast to the tender black rice and peppery arugula.
8. Jicama Mango Slaw with Cilantro and Lime
Feasting at Home
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, vegan, no cook
Sweet, crunchy and totally refreshing, this side is ideal summer fare (though we’ve been known to eat it all year round). Be sure to use a firm mango so it doesn’t turn mushy or bog down the slaw with liquid.
9. Mediterranean Cabbage Salad
The Mediterranean Dish
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes, vegan
Red bell peppers and radishes add color to this zippy side, while toasted slivered almonds offer bonus crunch to every bite. Add a touch of honey to the mustard vinaigrette to curb its acidity.
10. Quick Korean-Inspired Spicy Slaw
Foodie Crush
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: vegan, no cook, beginner-friendly
This slaw is all about the gochujang, a sweet, umami-rich fermented chile paste used in Korean cuisine that we’d follow to the ends of the earth.
11. Quinoa Broccoli Slaw with Honey-Mustard Dressing
Cookie and Kate
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: make-ahead, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
File this under Ingenious Ways to Use Leftover Quinoa. Shred the broccoli in your food processor, or buy the pre-shredded stuff at the store to save time.
12. Apple and Poppy Seed Coleslaw
Damn Delicious
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
Don't let the time commitment deter you: Most of it is hands-off chilling. The slaw sits in the fridge for an hour to maintain its crispness and soak up as much flavor from the creamy dressing as possible.
13. Asian-Inspired Chicken Slaw
What’s Gaby Cooking
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, high protein
Why have slaw as a side when you can eat the whole damn bowl for dinner? Savory peanut butter dressing and shredded chicken make this one a bonafide main. Might we suggest starting with store-bought rotisserie chicken?
14. Mexican-Inspired Slaw
Feasting at Home
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, vegan, make ahead
Serving fish tacos at the barbecue? This lime-kissed mix of cabbage, red onion, jalapeño and cilantro is the ultimate finishing touch. We'll bring the cerveza.
15. Warm Brussels Sprout Slaw with Coconut Bacon
Minimalist Baker
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: vegan, gluten-free, special occasion-worthy
Did someone say coconut bacon? We’re intrigued. It’s as easy as marinating large flake coconut in a smoky marinade and baking until crispy.
16. Easy Southern Coleslaw
Stay Snatched
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 10 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, make ahead
Equal parts sweet and tangy, this slaw is ideal for pairing with Southern-style barbecue. Be sure to chill it for an hour before serving it to your guests.
17. Asian-Inspired Coleslaw with Orange-Sesame Dressing
The Endless Meal
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: no cook, <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser
Not only is the salad crowned with slices of mandarin orange, but the fruit's juice is also the star ingredient in the dressing, along with tahini. And those roasted cashews? *Chef's kiss.*
18. Apple Slaw
Two Peas and Their Pod
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
Chickpeas, apples, pepitas and dried cranberries infuse this summer staple with autumnal flair. Feel free to substitute white beans, pears, sunflower seeds or raisins respectively.
19. Easy Pineapple Coleslaw
Noble Pig
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
The recipe calls for canned pineapple, so you won't have to fuss with slicing one unless you'd prefer to. Either way, might we suggest grilling the fruit?
20. Citrus Slaw
Wendy Polisi
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
This coleslaw recipe gets its name from fresh lemon and orange juices in the vinegary dressing. But adding a few pieces of grapefruit, clementine or tangerine to the mix couldn't hurt.
21. The Best Coleslaw
Spend with Pennies
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, beginner-friendly
If you're a sucker for classic mayo-based coleslaw, we don't blame you. And if you're looking for an O.G. recipe, we'd suggest this sweet-and-tangy version finished with celery seed.
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Taryn Pire is PureWow’s associate food editor. A former bartender and barista, she’s been writing about all things delicious since 2016, developing recipes, reviewing restaurants and investigating food trends at Food52, New Jersey Family Magazine and Taste Talks. When she isn’t testing TikTok’s latest viral recipe, she’s having popcorn for dinner and posting about it on Instagram @cookingwithpire.
