25 Coleslaw Recipes You Need for Your Next Backyard Barbecue

Slaw has come a long way as a side dish. The former mayonnaise-based favorite now boasts lighter ingredients with hearty greens, crunchy vegetables like jicama or carrots, and tantalizing sauce combinations like Thai peanut or tangy mustard.

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Creamy Black Pepper Coleslaw

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Creamy Black Pepper Coleslaw

Cutting the cabbage coarsely gives the dish a different look from shredded-cabbage slaws. A full teaspoon of black pepper lends pleasant warm heat without overpowering. Make the dish up to a day ahead if you like—the veggies will stay crisp and the flavors will meld as the slaw chills.

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Smoky-Spiced Slaw

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Smoky-Spiced Slaw

A little chipotle pepper in the dressing lends smoky heat to the dish. A touch of sugar and tangy lime juice balance the pleasant bitterness of radicchio. You can make this slaw up to a day ahead. The radicchio will soften a little as it chills, but the broccoli and cabbage stay crunchy.

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Broccoli-and-Kraut Slaw

Greg DuPree

View Recipe: Broccoli-and-Kraut Slaw

Using fresh broccoli instead of bagged broccoli slaw makes for a sweeter, more flavorful end product. Look for refrigerated sauerkraut either in the deli or by the tofu in your local grocery store (canned lacks probiotics).

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Tequila Slaw with Lime and Cilantro

Photo: Iain Bagwell

View Recipe: Tequila Slaw with Lime and Cilantro

Grab a bag of packaged coleslaw mix, and you've saved yourself the time of slicing cabbage and shredding carrots. A splash of tequila adds spirit and complexity (we urge you not to leave it out), while lime juice perks up earthy cabbage. We're not kidding. This bold, interesting side dish is ready in just five minutes—what's not to love?

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BBQ Chicken with Peach and Feta Slaw

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: BBQ Chicken with Peach and Feta Slaw

This summery crunch-tastic slaw is guaranteed to find its way into your recipe rotation for the rest of the season. Using ripe, juicy peaches, it's the perfect sweet-salty side dish for any number of grilled or smoked proteins.

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Jalapeño-Lime Slaw

Photo: Quentin Bacon

View Recipe: Jalapeño-Lime Slaw

This citrusy take on coleslaw is fresh and pleasantly spicy, an ideal side dish or burger or brat topping. Leave the seeds in more peppers for added fire, or seed all of them for a milder dish.

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Broccoli-Apple Slaw

Photo: Rob Culpepper

View Recipe: Broccoli-Apple Slaw

The creamy-tangy combo of vinegar and mayo gets an added boost of zing from prepared horseradish. For longer shelf life, broccoli slaw is a heartier option than traditional shredded cabbage. It will sit and absorb flavors without turning into a soggy mess. Tart honeycrisp is a juicy addition to traditional slaw, but you could substitute with sweeter Honeycrisp or Gala.

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Buttermilk and Blue Cheese Slaw

Photo: Stephen Devries

View Recipe: Buttermilk and Blue Cheese Slaw

This tangy, slightly spicy slaw comes together quickly for a last-minute side.

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Pickled Onion Slaw

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Pickled Onion Slaw

A quick slaw makes a tangy side that pairs with an assortment of main dishes. Our homemade version keeps the cabbage crisp. We use honey to sweeten ours.

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Broccolini Slaw

Caitlin Bensel

View Recipe: Broccolini Slaw

Instead of cabbage, this quick slaw gets its crunch from fresh carrots, beets, and Broccolini. Serve with simply baked fish or as an alternative to coleslaw with hamburgers or barb

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Bacon and Brussels Sprout Slaw

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Bacon and Brussels Sprout Slaw

Slaws aren’t just for summer; their crunch and creamy, tangy dressing is a welcome contrast to the heartier dishes of fall. You can make it ahead or at the last minute, and it won’t take up valuable oven space. If using a mandoline to shred the Brussels sprouts, hold each by the stem end and slice whole, being careful not to get your fingers too close to the blade (you can also use a sharp knife). Try shredded Brussels sprouts as your salad base all season long, dressing at least 10 minutes before you plan to serve to soften the leaves.

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Celery Root Slaw

Photo: Romulo Yanes

View Recipe: Celery Root Slaw

So long, cranberry sauce! A bistro classic, slaw is among the most widely embraced applications for this peppery root. Like many greats, the dish's appeal is in its simplicity—a tangy dressing matched with crisp veggie, polished with parsley.

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Mardi Gras Slaw

Photo: Iain Bagwell

View Recipe: Mardi Gras Slaw

The traditional colors of Fat Tuesday celebrations are purple, green, and yellow, and this vibrant slaw mimics that combo. Use a mandoline or very sharp knife to cut the cabbage, and you'll avoid the rather strong smell that often comes when you shred it.

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Crunchy, Creamy Coleslaw

Cooking Light

View Recipe: Crunchy, Creamy Coleslaw

Kids can be skeptical toward cabbage because it’s not sweet or buttery. It does have a color and crunch factor, though. Try using a combo of red and green cabbage.

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Cabbage Slaw

Oxmoor House

View Recipe: Cabbage Slaw

Get back to the basics with this easy slaw featuring thinly sliced radishes and fresh mint. Instead of a creamy dressing, it’s tossed with a citrusy vinaigrette. This easy slaw is just the side to serve with hamburgers, fish, sandwiches, hot dogs, or pulled barbecue.

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Cabbage with Mango Slaw Vinaigrette

Photo: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Cindy Barr

View Recipe: Cabbage with mango Slaw Vinaigrette

Use the slicing blade of your food processor to shorten cabbage prep time.

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Kohlrabi Slaw

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Kohlrabi Slaw

Crunchy kohlrabi is ideal for simple slaws because it stays crisp long after it's dressed. Fennel seeds add a lovely licorice note to the dish. A tablespoon of chopped fresh tarragon would be a good substitute.

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Broccoli Slaw with Oranges and Crunchy Noodles

Photo: Johnny Autry

View Recipe: Broccoli Slaw with Oranges and Crunchy Noodles

Although this recipe yields a large amount, leftovers keep well for a couple of days; top with noodles just before serving so they stay crisp.

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Shredded Cabbage Slaw

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Shredded Cabbage Slaw

Our staff loves this simple cabbage slaw, which blends two types of leafy greens tossed in an easy homemade dressing.

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Tangy Mustard Coleslaw

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Tangy Mustard Coleslaw

This crisp salad is good with burgers or fish sandwiches for a hearty meal. Add a dash of hot sauce to the mustard mixture for extra spiciness.

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Jicama Slaw

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Jicama Slaw

Try our south-of-the-border-style coleslaw. The minced jalapeño pepper gives this side dish just enough heat.

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Radish Slaw with New York Deli Dressing

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Radish Slaw with New York Deli Dressing

In this colorful slaw, peppery radishes stand in for cabbage. The vinegar-based dressing gets a big flavor boost from mustard oil; its pungent bite enhances the radish flavor. It's worth seeking out–look for it with other specialty oils.

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Thai Summer Slaw

The cornucopia of vegetables in this slaw give it a rainbow of colors and an array of textures and flavors.

Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Thai Summer Slaw

The cornucopia of vegetables in this slaw give it a rainbow of colors and an array of textures and flavors, while the Asian-tinged dressing that brings it all together is bright and fresh with a kick of hot chile paste to keep things interesting. Pair with burgers or barbecue to tweak a traditional summer dinner.

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New-Fashioned Apple and Raisin Slaw

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: New-Fashioned Apple and Raisin Slaw

"This slaw is a healthier version of an original family recipe. It is creamy and delicious, and takes about five minutes to make." -Kelly McWherter, Houston, TX

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Carrot-Pineapple Slaw

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Carrot-Pineapple Slaw

The mayonnaise-laden (and usually store-bought) version of this slaw is a popular picnic food. Our healthier version uses a lemon-maple vinaigrette and adds juicy pineapple for extra interest to make this recipe fit for your celebration.

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25 Coleslaw Recipes You Need for Your Next Backyard Barbecue

1 of 26

Creamy Black Pepper Coleslaw

2 of 26

Smoky-Spiced Slaw

3 of 26

Broccoli-and-Kraut Slaw

4 of 26

Tequila Slaw with Lime and Cilantro

5 of 26

BBQ Chicken with Peach and Feta Slaw

6 of 26

Jalapeño-Lime Slaw

7 of 26

Broccoli-Apple Slaw

8 of 26

Buttermilk and Blue Cheese Slaw

9 of 26

Pickled Onion Slaw

10 of 26

Broccolini Slaw

11 of 26

Bacon and Brussels Sprout Slaw

12 of 26

Celery Root Slaw

13 of 26

Mardi Gras Slaw

14 of 26

Crunchy, Creamy Coleslaw

15 of 26

Cabbage Slaw

16 of 26

Cabbage with Mango Slaw Vinaigrette

17 of 26

Kohlrabi Slaw

18 of 26

Broccoli Slaw with Oranges and Crunchy Noodles

19 of 26

Shredded Cabbage Slaw

20 of 26

Tangy Mustard Coleslaw

21 of 26

Jicama Slaw

22 of 26

Radish Slaw with New York Deli Dressing

23 of 26

Thai Summer Slaw

24 of 26

New-Fashioned Apple and Raisin Slaw

25 of 26

Carrot-Pineapple Slaw

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