Vinegar Coleslaw (No Mayo)
321 Comments
Updated Jan 25, 2023
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Vinegar Coleslaw is an excellent no mayo coleslaw recipe for those who love coleslaw but don’t love mayonnaise. This vinegar based coleslaw is tangy, not overly sweet and provides the perfect crunch with its combination of green cabbage, onion and carrots.
I bring this slaw to BBQs and parties as it pairs great with Carne Asada, Honey Mustard Chicken and BBQ ribs. It’s also a delicious side to my BBQ Chicken Sweet Potatoes.
I love a classic Coleslaw recipe with a creamy, mayo dressing. But I also love this vinegar coleslaw that’s got a stronger bite of flavor (thanks to the apple cider vinegar). It’s always great to have options and you really can’t go wrong with either recipe. So do what I do and alternate them for a little variety!
Vinegar Coleslaw Recipe Video
It’s quick and easy to make this vinegar coleslaw recipe, but it always helps to watch a step-by-step video tutorial. Give it a watch below!
Benefits of Eating Cabbage
One reason you should eat more coleslaw is the amazing health benefits of cabbage! You can boil cabbage, sauté it, ferment it or enjoy it raw, like in this tasty coleslaw recipe. However you eat it, you’ll be absorbing plenty of necessary nutrients from cabbage.
Cabbage comes from the same plant family as kale, cauliflower and broccoli. And like broccoli, cabbage has a similar anti-inflammatory profile. Chronic inflammation over time is associated with heart disease, inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS), cancer and diabetes. In other words, eat more cabbage and other veggies!
Cabbage has a ton of Vitamin C which is an antioxidant that protects cells from harmful free radicals. In turn, Vitamin C has been linked to lowering high blood pressure and boosting your immunity (and you know I’m all about boosting the immune system).
This crunchy vegetable is also high in Vitamin K. Just one cup of cabbage is 85% of your recommended daily intake of Vitamin K, which is essential to help with blood clotting. So much goodness from one simple vegetable.
Vinegar Coleslaw Ingredients
One of the things I love about coleslaw recipes are how easy they are to whip up. It’s just a handful of ingredients. Here’s what’s in this oil and vinegar based coleslaw recipe:
- Green Cabbage
- Carrot
- Onion
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Olive Oil
- Honey
- Dijon Mustard
- Celery Seed
- Salt and Pepper
Why Does Everyone Say Coleslaw is So Bad for You?
There’s a lot of dairy and sugar in store-bought coleslaw and restaurant versions. But this recipe is dairy-free, paleo, low carb and can easily be made vegan by simply swapping the honey for maple syrup.
I’ve also limited the honey to one tablespoon for this big batch of coleslaw. So that’s very little sugar per serving. And trust me, you won’t be missing it in this easy, ultra-flavorful recipe.
More Healthy Sides for a BBQ or Picnic
Vinegar Coleslaw Recipe (No Mayo Coleslaw)
Description
Video
Ingredients
- 1 head of green cabbage, finely shredded
- 1 large carrot, grated
- 1/2 yellow or red onion, finely sliced
Dressing
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp honey, (or more, depending on sweetness)
- 1/2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp celery seed
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Add the shredded green cabbage, carrot and onion to a large bowl.
- In a smaller bowl, whisk together the apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, olive oil, celery seed, salt and pepper to create the dressing. Taste the dressing and decide if you'd like to add more honey.
- Add about half of the dressing to the cabbage, onions and carrots and gently toss. Slowly add more dressing until you’ve reached your desired consistency.
- Serve and enjoy!
Lisa's Tips
- This recipe makes approximately 12 cups of vinegar coleslaw.
- You can also store it in the fridge for 3-5 days.
Nutrition
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Can you substitute avocado oil instead of olive oil?
That’s fine!
I’m going to try this recipe and I think I’m really going to enjoy it!!
Great recipe I also add Everything but the bagel” seasoning (Sam’s Club). The sesame seeds and little pieces of dried garlic and salt etc is a delicious addition ❤️
Great idea to add everything bagel seasoning. It enhances so many different recipes!
Good recipe for my mayonnaise hating hubby. I love it, too. I left out the celery seeds but followed the rest of the recipe. It’s a keeper!
Glad this vinegar coleslaw was a hit, Cyndee!
Great balance of flavors! This is a keeper. Thank you.
Happy to hear you’re loving this vinegar coleslaw, Rachel!
OMG! Love this clean, bright dressing. Passed the hubby test. I did a couple of things differently: 1) used half seasoned rice vinegar and half apple cider vinegar; and 2) substituted maple syrup (doubled the amount) for the honey.
Glad this vinegar coleslaw turned out perfectly (with a few tweaks), Louise.
Great recipe. I used less vinegar and more mustard just my personal taste. We loved it. Added the red onion for additional color. Served with barbecued ribs, potato salad and a slice of tomato with fresh basil. Summer on a plate.
Thrilled to hear you enjoyed this vinegar coleslaw Bari!
Enjoyed this on our fish tacos. Great to have a low sugar coleslaw recipe that is so flavorful.
Happy to hear you’re loving this coleslaw recipe!
It’s easy to make and great for a party. One thing I found was it needed more vinegar. I tasted the dressing first and it tasted tangy. Then, I tasted the slaw. I splashed some extra on but found it could use even more. It’s a good recipe, just adjust to your taste.
Absolutely awesome recipe! I like it sweeter so I added 50% more honey to the mix. Kept everything else the same. Much healthier than mayo based recipes.
So happy you loved this coleslaw recipe, James! And definitely tweak that sweetness to your liking. :)
Simple and great. Goes well with fatty main dish, like oxtail.
Hi Hibber – Happy to hear you love this vinegar coleslaw! Sounds great with oxtail.
Very Good! I agree with other commenters that this would be great with pulled pork and a mop sauce. I watched your video and am now shockingly dismayed at my cabbage chopping skills. How come 10% of your cabbage did not land on the kitchen floor, as mine did? I used this recipe as a side for tonight’s Sunday Supper with seared tuna steak (fennel, coriander rub) and light brown rice (sautéed red pepper and feta cheese).
Hi Ray – I love how you served this vinegar coleslaw, sounds delicious! And don’t worry, my chopping skills aren’t all the best, ha!
Delicious!!!
Hi Anita – Happy to hear you love this coleslaw recipe!
Hello,
How much cups should i take the green cabbage and carrots?
Note: one head green cabbage it could be any size!
Basic, but good. Used for Carolina pulled pork.
Good mayo free slaw. I used maple syrup instead of Honey.
Hi Lou – Happy to hear you enjoyed this vinegar coleslaw!
Really liked this recipe! Was easy to make, easy to make minor adjustments to meet desired taste, and tasted really good. Serving it with BBQ pork sandwiches today but will be great as a side next time. A recommend.
Hi Vivian – Happy to hear this vinegar coleslaw worked out great with your BBQ pork sandwiches!
Love 💗 it, planning to make it again for the barbecue
Hi Rachel – Happy to hear you’re loving this vinegar coleslaw!
Wow! This recipe came together very quickly. And it is delicious. Our family no Mayo Cole slaw contained too much sugar. I’m so glad I found this version. Paired it with your turkey burgers for a lovely spring lunch!
That sounds like a great combination. I’m glad you enjoyed both recipes, Michele!
Does it keep for next day ??
Yes, absolutely!
Delicious healthier coleslaw recipe. The celery seeds add a nice touch. I added purple cabbage, cinnamon and raisins which balanced the apple cider vinegar’s tartness nicely. Another home run Lisa! 😀
Love those extra additions! Enjoy!
We love this recipe and make it regularly! I replace some green cabbage with red/purple and my husband adds minced jalapenos and chopped cilantro to his.
Hi Jeanne – I’m happy you love this recipe! And yes, it’s great with all colors of cabbage. :)
Very light and crisp. Perfect! I shredded a head of cabbage, struggled with getting the slices right with my good processor. Didn’t want them too small of shreds. Thank you!
I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe, Theresa!
Killed it! Perfect healthier option coleslaw recipe. If you like sweet coleslaw, add more honey/sugar, if you like a little zazz, add some Cyanne pepper or diced jalapenos – this is perfect as is, but also a great base to customize should you like something sweeter or spicier!
Hi Courtney – Great ideas for tweaking this coleslaw recipe!
This recipe looks great. Would love to see the video, but can’t find it.
Hi Chuck – You can see the video if you disable your ad blocker.
I have just made this, and it’s delicious. Recipes like this are the reason why I keep returning to your excellent site!
Hi Marian – I’m so glad you love the vinegar coleslaw!
Thank you so much for this recipe! We love it! We eat have been eating it almost everyday for a week.
Hi Leanne – I’m glad you love this vinegar coleslaw!
I made this great coleslaw today and love it! Vinegar based coleslaw is my favorite but couldn’t find my usual recipe and yours is similar with honey used instead of white sugar and the addition of the dijon mustard – both great additions! I did add about a tablespoon more honey as was used to the sweeter version. Will definitely use this again – Thanks!!!!
Hi Joyce – I’m glad you enjoyed this vinegar coleslaw!
Very tasty, but not enough for a package of coleslaw. I will definitely double it next time.
Hi Becky – Glad you enjoyed this vinegar coleslaw!
Good but the celery seed was too much! I will try again with about 1/4 of that!