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

Published April 15, 2023. Updated September 20, 2023

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.

  • Jump to Recipe
  • Share
  • Comments
  • Print
  • Save

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!

Apple Slaw Recipe - Cooking Classy - Cooking Classy (2)

Apple Slaw Recipe - Cooking Classy - Cooking Classy (3)

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.

Apple Slaw Recipe - Cooking Classy - Cooking Classy (4) Apple Slaw Recipe - Cooking Classy - Cooking Classy (5)

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.

Apple Slaw Recipe - Cooking Classy - Cooking Classy (6) Apple Slaw Recipe - Cooking Classy - Cooking Classy (7) Apple Slaw Recipe - Cooking Classy - Cooking Classy (8)

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

Apple Slaw Recipe - Cooking Classy - Cooking Classy (9)

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)

4.97 from 65 votes

Print Recipe

Apple Slaw

  • Review Recipe
  • Save

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 is apple slaw made of? ›

Combine cabbage, red apple, green apple, carrot, red bell pepper, and green onions in a large bowl. Mix together mayonnaise, brown sugar, and lemon juice in a small bowl. Pour dressing over cabbage mixture; mix until evenly coated.

What's the difference between coleslaw and slaw? ›

Or coleslaws — what's the difference? Really nothing. Technically, coleslaw involves cabbage, whether green, red or napa, while the category of slaws can include all kinds of chopped or shredded crunchy vegetables. The two words are used interchangeably for the most part however.

How do you make coleslaw not soggy? ›

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. After letting it sit for an hour or two, rinse it with water to remove the salt.

How to make Jamie Oliver's coleslaw? ›

Peel the onion and shallot, and slice as finely as you can, along with the cabbage, if using. Add these to the bowl of veg. In a separate bowl, mix half the lemon juice, a lug of extra virgin olive oil, yoghurt and mustard. Pick the herb leaves and chop, then stir into the dressing.

What is KFC coleslaw made of? ›

KFC coleslaw is a sweet and tangy side dish made with shredded cabbage and carrots, coated in a creamy dressing. The dressing is made with a blend of mayonnaise, buttermilk, vinegar, sugar, and spices, which gives it its distinctive flavor. The cabbage is finely chopped, so it has a crisp and refreshing texture.

What is in Mary Brown's coleslaw? ›

Mary Brown's shreds fresh cabbage and carrots in house, and tops it with a creamy dressing. The freshly shredded veggies give you a light yet satisfying crunch while the dressing gives you the tanginess you're looking for.

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.

Is coleslaw healthy or unhealthy Why? ›

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.

Why doesn t Chick fil A have coleslaw? ›

"But as our sales volumes grew, it just wasn't feasible to keep adding to the menu without taking anything away." Chick-fil-A cut cole slaw from the menu in January to make room for a new "superfood" side of kale and broccolini in a maple vinaigrette dressing.

Why does my homemade coleslaw taste bitter? ›

Cabbage Core:Issue: The core of the cabbage can be bitter, especially if it's not removed before shredding. Solution: Ensure that you remove the core of the cabbage before shredding it. Cut the cabbage in half, then cut out the triangular core from each half. Old Cabbage:Issue: Older cabbage may develop a bitter taste.

Why does my homemade coleslaw go watery? ›

Cabbage contains lots of water. Alton Brown suggests salting the cabbage and letting the water drain for two hours, then rinsing the cabbage and spinning it dry before dressing it. That purges the excess water out of the cabbage before it is dressed, so it doesn't get watery.

Is it better to make coleslaw the day before? ›

Coleslaw has the best texture and flavor the day it's made, but it still keeps well for several days in the fridge. If you're making this coleslaw more than a day ahead, don't skip the salting step above.

Should you wash bagged coleslaw? ›

Bagged or ready-to-eat, fresh-cut produce

If the product is not labeled "washed," "triple washed," or "ready-to-eat," it must be washed before eating.

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.

How do you reduce the bitterness in coleslaw? ›

You could also add grated apple, finely diced pineapple, or even a sprinkle of sugar. Just be careful not to be too heavy-handed — a little sweetness goes a long way. Bitterness is another common problem with coleslaw. Sweeteners like honey and fresh fruit should also help to counteract even a stubborn bite.

What is the difference between slaw and cabbage? ›

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 the difference between slaw and salad? ›

A salad can contain various things. You know things like lettuce, carrots, celery, cucumbers and usually a dressing such as thousand island or ranch. Coleslaw can actually contain the carrots, celery, and even cucumbers but instead of lettuce it contains cabbage, and no lettuce.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Kerri Lueilwitz

Last Updated:

Views: 6118

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (47 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kerri Lueilwitz

Birthday: 1992-10-31

Address: Suite 878 3699 Chantelle Roads, Colebury, NC 68599

Phone: +6111989609516

Job: Chief Farming Manager

Hobby: Mycology, Stone skipping, Dowsing, Whittling, Taxidermy, Sand art, Roller skating

Introduction: My name is Kerri Lueilwitz, I am a courageous, gentle, quaint, thankful, outstanding, brave, vast person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.