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

Apple Slaw Recipe - Cooking Classy - Cooking Classy? ›

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.

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.

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? ›

Store bought coleslaw usually has too much dressing for my taste. The first thing I would do is put it i a fine mesh strainer over a bowl and let all the juice drip out. then I would add some fresh herbs, parsley, thyme, basil, oregano are some that come to mind. Perhaps a grated carrot as well.

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.

Why does homemade coleslaw go runny? ›

It is the acidity in the dressing that pulls moisture out of the cabbage. So the smart thing to do is to dress the slaw as close to serving time as is practical. What are some good tips for making a store bought coleslaw taste better?

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 is KFC coleslaw so good? ›

Fresh ingredients are key to a good slaw, and KFC does alright for a fast food restaurant. You won't find any wilted cabbage pieces, and the carrots are nice and hard as well. What's more, KFC finely dices everything so you don't have to chew that much, and all the flavors and textures blend perfectly.

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.

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.

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 my coleslaw bland? ›

Neglecting to add enough spices or seasoning

Perhaps the recipe you followed is just inherently bland. If your dressing is already applied, you only have one choice left to turn your coleslaw around. You've got to add some seasoning or spice. Start by adding salt and pepper to taste.

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.

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.

Is coleslaw healthy or unhealthy Why? ›

Improves Gut Health

Coleslaw salad is rich in fiber because of the presence of raw cabbage. The RDA of fiber for an adult is 30g per day. It can become challenging to consume this much amount of fiber per day. However, 120 g portion of cabbage is sufficient to meet 10% of daily fiber needs.

What happens when you put salt in cabbage? ›

Cabbage. Make your slaw with salted cabbage and it'll be noticeably less watery and stay crisp and fresh for days longer. Put sliced cabbage in a colander, sprinkle with salt (about a tablespoon for 6 cups cabbage), toss, let sit.

Should cabbage be washed before making coleslaw? ›

Cabbage. The outer layer isn't going to be eaten—the leaves are tougher and undesirable to many—so why wash cabbage? There's a good reason: Worms or other insects could be inside the cabbage, so to be safe, follow these steps for cleaning and washing it.

Why do you soak cabbage before cooking? ›

Crisp it up: Shredded cabbage stays perky if it's soaked in cold water. This also helps cut the pungent edge. Drain well before combining with other ingredients.

How do you fix coleslaw with too much vinegar? ›

If you have added too much vinegar to a recipe, you can try adding a bit of sugar or honey to help balance the acidity. You could also try diluting the vinegar by adding more of the other ingredients in the recipe.

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