Red Cabbage Slaw

Creamy and crunchy, this red cabbage slaw is easy to make and so delicious! This side dish has a short ingredient list and comes together in a flash.

Coleslaw is one of those things we could eat for every meal (really). Here’s our new favorite spin: Red Cabbage Slaw! With standard coleslaw you typically have to buy two cabbage varieties: both red and green. Often times, the remaining cabbage halves hang out in our fridge with nothing to do. With this red cabbage slaw, the only veggies you need are a red cabbage and an onion! The coleslaw dressing has the perfect combination of savory, tangy, sweet and creamy and takes the crunchy cabbage strands to new heights. All you need is a few ingredients, and it comes together quickly. Here’s how it’s done!

Ingredients for red cabbage slaw

The big plus to red cabbage slaw is: you don’t need to buy two cabbages! You don’t even need a carrot. This monochromatic purple slaw is a beautiful bright shade of purple. You don’t end up with random cabbage halves in your fridge, and it’s a great way to use up a spare red cabbage if you have one on hand. Here’s everything you need for this coleslaw, which uses a riff on our Best Coleslaw Dressing:

• Red cabbage
• Red onion
• Mayonnaise: use vegan mayo for a vegan variation!
• Sugar: use maple syrup for refined sugar free
• Apple cider vinegar
• Dried dill
• Celery seeds
• Salt & pepper

Time saver tip: how to shred cabbage for slaw!

Undeniably the hardest part of making red cabbage slaw is shredding the cabbage. If you’re anything like me, I used to hack at a cabbage and end up with all sorts of weird uneven pieces…until we figured out this trick! Here’s how to shred cabbage so that you end up with bite-sized shreds perfect for slaw:

1. Remove any outer layers of the cabbage that seem tough or are not fresh, and discard them.
2. With a large chef’s knife, slice off the root of the cabbage.
3. Cut the cabbage in half through the stem.
4. Cut the cabbage into quarters.
5. Remove the root of the cabbage by cutting it out diagonally.
6. Thinly slice the cabbage in the short direction, using a circular motion with the knife.

Why it’s the best coleslaw dressing

The dressing for this red cabbage slaw is based on our best coleslaw dressing, which is perfectly balanced: tangy, savory and sweet. Here’s why we think it’s the best:

• It uses less mayo than the standard coleslaw. Some slaw recipes are loaded with mayo. This one has just the right amount to taste nostalgic but not be overly rich.
• The sweetness is balanced with a no refined sugar option. Use sugar if that’s what you have, or pure maple syrup adds a more subtle sweetness.
• It’s got secret spices for the win. The spices here are a slight tweak on our coleslaw dressing: dried dill and celery seed add just the right herbaceous twinge.

More coleslaw variations

There are lots of spins on coleslaw! We love this red cabbage slaw for its simplicity, but here are a few other variations you can use depending on the ingredients you have on hand:

• Creamy Coleslaw The classic! Green and red cabbage, carrots, and a creamy coleslaw dressing.
• Easy Vinegar Coleslaw This one’s got no mayo! This tangy vinegar dressing is a perfect pair for crunchy cabbage.
• Mexican Coleslaw or Cilantro Lime Slaw Go Mexican-style with this slaw that features lime, cilantro and cumin. (It’s perfect in tacos!)
• Broccoli Slaw Why not make coleslaw…with broccoli stems? This variation is irresistibly fresh and crunchy.

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Best Coleslaw Recipe

02

Easy Vinegar Coleslaw Recipe

03

Cilantro Lime Slaw

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Broccoli Slaw

This red cabbage slaw recipe is…

Vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free (using vegan mayo).

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More cabbage recipes

There’s so much to make with cabbage! Here are some favorite cabbage recipes:

• Sauteed Cabbage or Perfect Boiled Cabbage Incredible flavor! The perfect easy side dish to accent any meal.
• Easy Steamed Cabbage A quick and simple way to serve this simple veggie.
• Grilled Cabbage Wedges The grill adds smoky flavor and makes this veggie into a tasty summer side dish!
• Cabbage Salad with Apples & Walnuts This one uses feathery Savoy cabbage with tangy apples and crunchy walnuts.
• How to Make Sauerkraut Make your own sauerkraut! It’s a fun project to bottle up homemade probiotics and zingy flavor.