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

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.

What is KFC coleslaw made of? ›

There are only 3 vegetables: You can buy a bag of pre-shredded coleslaw and finely chop that, if you prefer. But keep in mind that true KFC Coleslaw only contains green cabbage, carrots, and onions, so don't use the packaged cabbage that has red cabbage or any herbs.

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 make coleslaw not soggy? ›

Salting the cabbage, carrot, and onion purges excess moisture that would otherwise turn the slaw into a soupy mess. Including sugar (another osmosis-inducing ingredient) balances the flavor. Limiting the purge to five minutes keeps the cabbage crunchy.

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.

Why is cole slaw not cold slaw? ›

'Cold slaw': A Food Name Review. 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.

What is Popeyes coleslaw made of? ›

Made with cabbage, red pepper, carrot and onion, this awesome recipe for coleslaw has all of the ingredients you love about traditional coleslaw and is topped with a slightly sweet dressing that sets it apart from many other coleslaw recipes…

What is Zaxby's coleslaw made of? ›

Fresh diced green cabbage and carrots with specialty dressing, made in-house daily. Small (8 oz.) serves 2.

What is traditional coleslaw made of? ›

What is traditional coleslaw made of? Traditional coleslaw is little more than shredded cabbage and a creamy dressing. This recipe adds a bit more flavor with shredded carrots and onion. The creamy dressing is made with mayonnaise, sugar, cider vinegar, salt, and pepper, for a just right tangy-sweet flavor.

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.

Is coleslaw even healthy? ›

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 shreds cabbage to make coleslaw? ›

Shred cabbage with a box grater

(We like these flexible chopping mats that make pouring cabbage into a pot or bowl easy.) Then, hold the flat side of the cabbage head against the largest holes on the box grater and slide the cabbage down over the holes.

What can I add to store bought coleslaw to make it taste better? ›

<br/><br/>Adding horse radish or onion or celery seeds or bacon bits or some other tasty flavors to make it your own is a really good idea.

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 does coleslaw go bad so quickly? ›

Like the cabbage, these veggie add-ins can also become breeding grounds for bacteria when left unrefrigerated. Coleslaw dressing often includes vinegar that acidulates the mixture, making it a less hospitable environment for those pesky bacteria. But unfortunately, it's not enough to halt bacterial growth completely.

Why is coleslaw now called slaw? ›

According to the OED, they said “slaw” slightly before they said “coleslaw”, but “cold slaw” was first (by folk etymology of Dutch koolsla).

What does "slaw" mean? ›

Slaw is a cold salad commonly made from sliced or chopped raw vegetables, especially cabbage or carrots, mixed with a dressing made with mayonnaise or vinegar.

Is slaw a southern thing? ›

If you come down South, you'll likely hear it referred to simply as “slaw,” though there are a handful of folks who will never stop calling it “cold slaw.” When mayonnaise was invented in the 1800s, Southerners were impressed with its versatility and started making it for all kinds of dishes, including coleslaw.

What is a coleslaw slang? ›

In a bizarre new trend sweeping online forums and apps, cheaters have taken to calling their affair partners 'coleslaw' because they are a 'side dish'. While most people are familiar with the terms 'ghosting' and 'love bombing', the little-known new term has left many in the dark.

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