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.
Delicious! I added tsp of celery salt, tsp extra of salt (Jacobsen Salt Co. Sea Salt), Tbs lemon juice, and one less Tbs of sugar. My husband like a not so sweet slaw. This was a perfect base to start with. Thank you!
Hi Taylor. Thanks for detailing your changes for others who may want a more salty/less sweet coleslaw. We appreciate you taking the time to leave a review.
I made this to take to a bbq I was attending. It was delicious and such a hit. Everyone loved it. I doubled the recipe and still had very little left to bring home. Thanks for a great recipe!
Hi Terri! Glad this recipe was a hit, thanks for leaving a review.
I like your dishes guys
Thanks! So glad you are here and enjoying our recipes.
I try to think of something I can make so that we can have this as a side every week. All 3 kids and my husband and I love it. Perfect balance of everything.
Love to hear this Sarah! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review!
Love it, mostly cause I love vineager and honey. Also because I had everything needed except the cabbage Cole slaw mix.
Hi Judy! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. So glad you enjoyed it!
Great recipe. Really easy. I make my own mayo so used that and I added in some Bloody Caesar Rimmer spice in place of salt and pepper(it has both in it) Also diced up a jalapeno really fine and added that in for a kick. It’s delicious. Thanks!
Oooh, those changes sound delicious Tara! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a detailed review.
I am making this slaw for the second time this weekend when my kids are here. The first time was for a large family gathering so I doubled the recipe. Not a bite was left! Perfect for pulled pork. My husband loved the vinegar!
Wonderful Deb! So glad it was a hit. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review!
These were great for our pulled pork sandwiches. Added bonus that ingredients are ones that I had one hand. Only change I made was the honey I had was a serrano infused honey. Loved the little bit of heat the honey added to the slaw. Will be making again.
I love the idea of adding hot honey to this. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review and share your tip!
This is a great coleslaw. I shredded my own veggies and use half sugar half honey. I also threw in a little crushed pineapple.
Hi Althea. Thank you for taking the time to leave a detailed review with the changes you made.
Best Cole slaw I ever made – probably because less mayo and some honey
That’s awesome. Really glad you liked it! I’m with you on the less mayo and a little sweetness.
Came back to this recipe to make it for the 2nd time. It’s so good! Very light yet also very flavorful!
So glad you enjoyed it Kara. Thank you for taking time to leave a review!
Tasted amazing, put it on some bbq chicken sliders and it paired very well
Hi Jaimie. So glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for leaving a review!
I also added Keen’s mustard powder to spice it up. The apple cider vinegar is essential!!!!
That sounds like a delicious addition Louise! Thanks for taking the time to share your experience and leave a review.
Yum, mustard powder makes me sneeze from the bite.
Perfect blend of tangy/sweet for pulled pork sandwiches. I used the avocado oil mayo also.
My favorite way to eat it is on pulled pork sandwiches! So glad you enjoy it. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review.
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.
Glad to hear it Jodi! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review.
So glad I found this recipe! Only 5 ingredients for this refreshing side. I made it to put into my pulled pork sandwiches but found myself loading my plate with this coleslaw as a side too. I’m not one for mayo so I didn’t add quite 1/3 cup (which isn’t a lot anyway) and added a bit more vinegar to taste. I’m making my second batch in 5 days! Thank you!!
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for leaving a review and taking the time to let others know of your changes as well.