Apple Slaw Recipe - Cooking Classy - Cooking Classy (2024)

Published April 15, 2023. Updated September 20, 2023

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Apple Slaw – An upgraded coleslaw that’s crunchy, fresh and delicious. Made with cabbage, apples, cranberries and almonds and it’s all coated in sweet and tangy dressing. It’s the perfect side for BBQ’s, parties or picnics!Apple Slaw Recipe - Cooking Classy - Cooking Classy (1)

Apple Slaw Recipe

Who doesn’t love coleslaw? It’s crunchy, it’s creamy, it has just enough sweetness, and it goes with just about anything. It’s always quick to be polished off.

Here you get the perfect blend of textures and flavors with the mix-in additions of apples, cranberries, almonds and optional cheese. And it’s covered in a more wholesome, lighter Greek yogurt dressing (versus a classic coleslaw dressing that has as much as a cup of mayonnaise in it).

This apple slaw recipe has a pleasant mild flavor to it, but if you’d like a more pronounced flavor you can add in a tablespoon of dijon mustard to the dressing.

And if you want to skip a step and go with a shortcut, you can use a coleslaw mix in place of the shredded cabbage and carrots. Also just chop the apples instead of getting paticular and cutting into matchsticks to save time.

I think it’s time for pulled pork or pulled chicken sandwiches this week for dinner, don’t you? And then of course this homemade coleslaw to go with it!

Watch the Video!

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Apple Slaw Recipe Ingredients and Substitutes

  • Greek Yogurt: I recommend using fa*ge, other brands may will be too thin.
  • Mayonnaise: Full fat mayo is best here.
  • Honey: You can try another sweetener like granulated sugar.
  • Apple cider vinegar: In a pinch rice vinegar or red wine vinegar will work as well.
  • Salt and black pepper
  • Green cabbage: If preferred you can use a pre-cut coleslaw mix in place of cabbage and carrots.
  • Matchstick carrots: 1 1/2 cups matchstick carrots
  • Gala apples: Another sweet, crisp apple will work fine here.
  • Green onions
  • Sliced almonds: Slivered almonds will work as well, if using those increase to 1 cup.
  • Dried cranberries: Another dried fruit like raisins, dried blueberries, or chopped dried apricots would be tasty as well.
  • Optional cheese: blue cheese, feta or sharp cheddar are delicious in this.

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How to Make Apple Slaw

  1. Make dressing: In a mixing bowl whisk together Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, honey and apple cider vinegar until smooth, while seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
  2. Toss slaw ingredients: In a large bowl toss together cabbage, carrots, apples, green onions, almonds and cranberries.
  3. Combine slaw and dressing: Pour dressing over cabbage mixture and toss to evenly coat. Serve immediately for best results.

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How long does it keep?

  • This slaw is best served within a few hours of preparing.
  • Store it in the fridge until ready to serve.

What to Serve with Apple Coleslaw

This apple cabbage slaw pairs well with most meats, which is why I love bringing it to summer potlucks and BBQ’s. A few of my favorite foods to pair with this easy coleslaw are:

  • Burgers
  • Grilled chicken or fish
  • Roast meats
  • Pulled pork
  • Salmon
  • Serve it a sandwich filler with deli meat

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Tips for the Best Apple Coleslaw

  • Use sweet apples for a nice balance of flavor but be sureto use unsweetened Greek yogurt in this recipe.
  • Look for pretty red apples for a nice pop of color.
  • Wait to slice the apples until you are ready to add to the coleslaw so they don’t brown.
  • Shred the cabbage fairly thin when slicing so it’s not overly crunchy.

More Coleslaw Recipes You’ll Love:

  • Strawberry Kale Coleslaw
  • 4-Ingredient Coleslaw Recipe
  • Thai Slaw with Peanut Dressing

More Easy Side Dishes to Try:

  • Asian Ramen Chicken Chopped Salad
  • Potato Salad (The Best!)
  • Mexican Macaroni Salad
  • Three Bean Salad
  • Cheddar Bacon Ranch Potato Salad

16 Quick & Easy 30 Minute Recipes! (plus weekly recipe updates)

Apple Slaw Recipe - Cooking Classy - Cooking Classy (10)

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Apple Slaw

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An upgraded coleslaw that's crunchy, fresh and delicious. Made with cabbage, apples, cranberries and almonds and it's all coated in sweet and tangy dressing. It's the perfect side for BBQ's, parties or picnics!

Watch the video

Servings: 8 people

Prep10 minutes minutes

Ready in: 10 minutes minutes

Ingredients

Dressing

Coleslaw

Instructions

  • In a mixing bowl whisk together Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, honey and apple cider vinegar until smooth, while seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.

  • In a large bowl toss together cabbage, carrots, apples, green onions, almonds and cranberries and cheese if using.

  • Pour dressing over cabbage mixture and toss to evenly coat. Serve within a few hours of preparing for best results.

Notes

  • *Whole, low fat or even fat free Greek yogurt works in this recipe.
  • Recipe makes about 10 cups. Nutrition estimate does not include cheese as it is optional.

Nutrition Facts

Apple Slaw

Amount Per Serving

Calories 236Calories from Fat 99

% Daily Value*

Fat 11g17%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Trans Fat 0.01g

Polyunsaturated Fat 4g

Monounsaturated Fat 4g

Cholesterol 4mg1%

Sodium 81mg4%

Potassium 356mg10%

Carbohydrates 34g11%

Fiber 5g21%

Sugar 26g29%

Protein 4g8%

Vitamin A 4158IU83%

Vitamin C 26mg32%

Calcium 88mg9%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Apple Coleslaw

Author: Jaclyn

Apple Slaw Recipe - Cooking Classy - Cooking Classy (2024)

FAQs

How do you make coleslaw not soggy? ›

Salting the cabbage should be step one of any coleslaw recipe. With the shredded cabbage in a colander, mix in a tablespoon of salt per head of cabbage till it's evenly distributed. The salt will draw out excess water from cabbage while helping preserve the crispiness.

What's the difference between coleslaw and slaw? ›

The real difference is that the raw, chopped vegetables in coleslaw are primarily cabbage: Napa, red, savoy, or bok choy. Slaw without the cole can feature any crunchy veggie in place of cabbage, including chopped or shredded broccoli, carrots, snow peas, jicama, and more.

How do you make store bought coleslaw taste better? ›

It's sweet and sour, so thin the mayo with vinegar, white, apple cider or rice wine are the best choices. Sugar or agave nectar are good choices of sweeteners. Flavor wise, chopped pickle relish, celery seeds, a touch of Dijon mustard, salt, pepper and sour cream are all common. Just mix everything together and go!

What is apple slaw made of? ›

Apple Slaw- a simple slaw made with cabbage, apples, chickpeas, celery, pepitas, dried cranberries, and a creamy tahini dressing. The slaw is crispy, crunchy, sweet and a great side dish to any meal.

How do you reduce the bitterness in coleslaw? ›

For every 2 cups of sliced cabbage, mix it with about a teaspoon of salt. Kenji Lopez- Alt also found it was beneficial to add a teaspoon of sugar too. Both salt and sugar promote osmosis, which draws out any water from the cabbage. And the sugar can balance out some of the bitterness in the cabbage.

Why do you soak cabbage before cooking? ›

If you notice any signs of worms or insects, which sometimes appears in cabbage, soak the head in salt water or vinegar water for 15-20 minutes first. To preserve its vitamin C content, cut and wash the cabbage right before cooking or eating it.

Is coleslaw healthy to eat? ›

Yes, coleslaw can be healthy! The base of coleslaw is shredded vegetables (traditionally cabbage), so inherently coleslaw is vitamin- and fiber-packed and good for you. The issue is the dressing. Most traditional creamy coleslaw dressing is made with high fat ingredients like mayo and has sugar added too.

What was coleslaw originally made of? ›

The roots of coleslaw recipes make their way back to ancient Rome. Roman citizens would often eat a meal featuring cabbage, eggs, vinegar, and other spices. On the other side of the globe, the Dutch founders of New York served a shredded cabbage salad. This is similar to today's 'slaw.

What's the difference between red and white slaw? ›

Red slaw is different from traditional coleslaw in that it does not use mayonnaise as an ingredient, allowing it to be stored for longer periods without refrigeration and making it more suitable for outdoor serving. It is made with green cabbage, vinegar, water and ketchup, and a variety of spices and seasoning.

Why did KFC stop selling coleslaw? ›

The fast food chain was forced to stop selling its coleslaw tubs when a supply issue meant the slaw would have to be served up without the dressing. “We are currently experiencing a supply issue with our KFC coleslaw dressing,” a KFC spokesperson said. The slaw is made up of cabbage and carrots coated in mayonnaise.

Should you wash bagged coleslaw? ›

Even if the bag says "prewashed" or "triple-washed," wash the greens yourself. Rinsing won't remove all bacteria but may remove residual soil. Prevent cross contamination by keeping greens away from raw meat.

What is the dressing made of in coleslaw? ›

What Is Coleslaw Dressing Made Of? This creamy, mayo-based dressing uses ingredients you likely have on hand: sugar, lemon juice, vinegar, salt, pepper, and of course, mayonnaise. The resulting dressing is just the right balance of sweet, tangy, creamy, and peppery!

What is KFC coleslaw made of? ›

KFC coleslaw has a sweet and tangy taste with a creamy texture. The coleslaw is made with shredded cabbage, carrots, and onions, and is dressed with a sweet and tangy dressing that includes vinegar, sugar, and a blend of spices.

What is in Mary Brown's coleslaw? ›

If you're in the mood for something creamy, sweet, and tangy, coleslaw is an excellent option. Mary Brown's shreds fresh cabbage and carrots in house, and tops it with a creamy dressing.

Why is cole slaw not cold slaw? ›

However cold your coleslaw may be, you are wise to spell it coleslaw. The word comes from a Dutch word (koolsla) that combines the Dutch words kool, meaning "cabbage," and sla, meaning "salad." Etymology is the main course.

How do you get the water out of cabbage for coleslaw? ›

Place salted cabbage in a colander over a bowl for 1 to 2 hours. The salt pulls moisture out of the cabbage, seasons it, and leaves you with a super-crunchy texture that isn't raw or tough-tasting. Rinse! Rinse well to purge the salt.

Why is my Cole slaw watery? ›

The reason for this is because the pectin in the cell walls of the cabbage hold onto the water. But when you add dressing to the coleslaw, the salt in the dressing slowly draws out the water by breaking down the pectin in the cell walls.

Why do you soak shredded cabbage in water? ›

Crisp it up: Shredded cabbage stays perky if it's soaked in cold water.

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