5-Ingredient Coleslaw
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Looking for a go-to, easy coleslaw recipe for pulled pork or enjoy as a side with any BBQ recipes? This is it! It’s creamy, slightly sweet and tangy, and has a little punch from green onion and black pepper. You’ll make this dairy-free, healthier coleslaw again and again!
“This recipe is quick, easy, good, and I usually have all the ingredients on hand. Serving this with bbq pulled pork sandwiches tonight and some quick pickled red onions. This has been my go to recipe for coleslaw.”
– Kera ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s simple – Only 5 main ingredients, but it’s healthier than most creamy coleslaw recipes.
- It’s dairy-free – We didn’t use buttermilk or sour cream.
- Less mayo than most recipes, resulting in a lighter tasting coleslaw.
- We opted for honey instead of white sugar.
- Great with leftover rotisserie chicken, Instant Pot Drumsticks, or Asian Chicken.
Ingredients
You’ll just need these five simple ingredients:
- A (16 ounce bag) of coleslaw – I like the kind with shredded carrots and multi-colored cabbage.
- Mayo – You’ll use just a little bit to add creaminess. I prefer to use Avocado Mayo because it’s got all real food ingredients and no additives or preservatives.
- Apple Cider Vinegar – Adds a little acidity to brighten and lighten up the flavor.
- Honey – Replaces processed white sugar that’s in most recipes and adds a hint of natural sweetness.
- Green onions – Sliced thinly. Chives also work.
You’ll also need salt and pepper from the pantry.
How to Make This Easy Coleslaw
This recipe is SO easy peasy. Find the full, printable recipe at the bottom.
Simply whip together the coleslaw dressing in a large mixing bowl. Keep in mind, if you like yours a bit creamier, add a bit more mayonnaise in this step.
After that is ready, toss it with a bag of coleslaw mix and some diced green onions. THAT. IS. IT.
What to Serve It With
Because this coleslaw is on the lighter side (less mayo than a typical store-bought recipe), it doesn’t drown out the delicious flavors of the recipe you might be putting it on. This is why we really like this coleslaw for pulled pork recipes.
It would also go well with our Roasted Pork Tenderloin or Crock Pot BBQ Beef Sandwiches and Baby Boiled Potatoes on the side. Yum!
FAQs
While we recommend letting this recipe hang out in the fridge for a bit (the flavors get better over time), you will want to eat it all up in 3-5 days. After that, the veggies might start to deteriorate.
Pulling from over a decade of freezer cooking experience, I’d advise you to not freeze coleslaw. After it thaws, it would be soggy and lack the crunchy texture that people love about it.
Pulled Pork
BBQ Chicken Sliders
BBQ Beef Sandwiches
Fried Catfish
Other Side Dishes You’ll Love
If you like this coleslaw, here are some other faves that go with pulled pork or any other BBQ, roasted, or grilled meat:
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5-Ingredient Coleslaw (for Pulled Pork)
Looking for an easy, creamy coleslaw that goes well with pulled pork or any other BBQ? This is it! It’s creamy, slightly sweet and tangy, and has a little punch from green onion and black pepper. You’ll make this healthier (and dairy-free) coleslaw again and again!
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup real mayonnaise (my favorite is Avocado Mayonnaise)
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey (sub: sugar)
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped green onions (or chives)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, plus more to taste
- 1 (16-ounce) bag of coleslaw mix (cabbage with carrots)
Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.
Instructions
- In a large serving bowl, whisk together the mayo, vinegar, honey, green onions, salt, and pepper.
- Add the coleslaw mix and stir until well combined.
- Let sit in the fridge for 2-4 hours before serving (the flavors get better!). Be sure to taste and adjust the salt and pepper to your preference before serving.
Notes/Tips
- Want it creamier? Try using 1/2 cup of mayo instead.
- You can also add in 1 teaspoon of celery seed if you want a more traditional southern style coleslaw.
Paired with bbq pulled chicken sandwiches and a pickle…Everyone Loved the coleslaw!
Yummy! Thanks for the review.
Very good, really easy. I used red onion thinly sliced instead of green onion.
Yum! Thanks, Pat.
Easy and Delicious
Thanks for taking the time to leave a review!
Little sweeter than I like it normally. I used a processor to shred so I might have had too much cabbage but all in all good.
Feel free to cut back on the honey to your liking. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review.
perfect for pulled pork, not too sweet, perfect crunch. I added celery seed
Awesome. Thanks for the feedback, Linda.
The dressing is perfect, nice and light. I added some celery seed, great with the pulled pork!
Great to hear that. Good idea to add celery seed for a more traditional type of dressing, too.
I never ventured into the creamy coleslaw realm until this recipe. Not sure what intimidated me, but when I saw 5 ingredients, I was like, I have to try it. Now I make it every time we have BBQ!
Everyone loved the coleslaw
Great to hear that, Tim. Thanks!
Made it for the first time with pulled pork we made for a big summer BBQ we had and everyone loved it! This will be our forever recipe 😋
What a high compliment to be your “forever recipe”. Thanks so much, Lauryn.
Quick, easy and Delicious!
#recipegoals! haha
I make this often. Easy and tasty
Thanks for the review, Sarah!
looks easy and yummy
I am fairly fussy about coleslaw, and this is a very good recipe.Tangy and you can prepare it a bit creamier by adding a little more mayo. My family likes to use coleslaw as a topping for pulled pork and this is going to complement the pork well. It is chilling in the fridge for Memorial Day. I echo a previous comment . . . it is a very easy and tasty recipe
Christie, thanks so much for taking the time to leave this feedback. I’ve got all the supplies for this in my own fridge right now to make to top pulled pork for Memorial Day, too. I’m really glad you like it!
Love this dressing, so so easy and all ingredients I had in cupboard except the slaw. Made pulled pork sliders and my kids just devoured the coleslaw even my youngest fussiest eater! Will defo make a double batch next time! Thank you so much for the recipe 🤩
Thanks for the feedback and review, Nic. Love hearing that it worked well for your family!
I just made this and thought I would chime in. I had a 2lb bag of mix so I had to double everything which was very easy to do with these measurements. I didn’t have avocado mayo so I used half mayo and half home made guacamole. The apple cider vinegar and the honey are spot on. This may be the best coleslaw I’ve made in a long time. Did not use the green onions but that’s just a preference. All my future coleslaws will be made with this dressing.
I would have never thought to try adding guacamole, but what a cool idea. I love it…and adds in some nutrition. Thanks for sharing!
Hi, what would typically be in the bag of coleslaw mix?
There are different versions at the store oftentimes, but I like the one that has green cabbage, purple cabbage, and carrots. (I don’t like broccoli slaw personally, but that’s an option too.)