Vinegar Coleslaw (No Mayo)

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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.

Vinegar based coleslaw in a white bowl.

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 in a mixing bowl with dressing on the side.

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

Vinegar coleslaw in a white bowl.

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.

Vinegar coleslaw piled on a spoon.

More Healthy Sides for a BBQ or Picnic

Vinegar coleslaw in a white bowl.

Vinegar Coleslaw Recipe (No Mayo Coleslaw)

4.91 from 182 votes
Prep: 20 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Author: Lisa Bryan

Description

Vinegar based coleslaw is an excellent no mayo coleslaw recipe for those who love coleslaw but don't love mayonnaise. It's an easy combination of cabbage, carrots and onion mixed with an apple cider vinegar dressing.

Video

Ingredients 
 

  • 1 head of green cabbage, finely shredded
  • 1 large carrot, grated
  • 1/2 yellow or red onion, finely sliced

Dressing

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

Calories: 62kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 74mg | Potassium: 156mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 925IU | Vitamin C: 28.3mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 0.5mg
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: No Mayo Coleslaw, No Mayonnaise Coleslaw, Vinegar Based Coleslaw Recipe, Vinegar Coleslaw
Did you make this recipe?Mention @downshiftology or tag #downshiftology!

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About the author

Lisa Bryan

Lisa is a bestselling cookbook author, recipe developer, and YouTuber (with over 2.5 million subscribers) living in sunny Southern California. She started Downshiftology in 2014, and is passionate about making healthy food with fresh, simple and seasonal ingredients.

4.91 from 182 votes (39 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




333 Comments

  1. Great basic recipe! I happened to have both red and green cabbage, used red onion, added diced serrano chili, cilantro, probably doubled the vinegar(combo red wine, rice and apple cider vinegar), more salt. It turned out to be very colorful! Thanks!5 stars

  2. I just tried making a batch with a cabbage that was sitting in the back of my fridge! It’s my go to salad to have before a meal. Thank you Lisa!5 stars

  3. I made this coleslaw recipe last and it is exactly what I was looking for. Loved it and so did my husband. I know I will be making it again. I served it with barbecue brisket, perfect!

  4. 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 ❤️5 stars

  5. 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!

  6. 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.5 stars

  7. 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.5 stars

  8. 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.4 stars

  9. 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.5 stars

    1. So happy you loved this coleslaw recipe, James! And definitely tweak that sweetness to your liking. :)

  10. 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).5 stars

    1. 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!

  11. Hello,

    How much cups should i take the green cabbage and carrots?

    Note: one head green cabbage it could be any size!

  12. 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.5 stars

    1. Hi Vivian – Happy to hear this vinegar coleslaw worked out great with your BBQ pork sandwiches!

  13. 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!5 stars

  14. 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! 😀5 stars

  15. 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.5 stars

    1. Hi Jeanne – I’m happy you love this recipe! And yes, it’s great with all colors of cabbage. :)

  16. 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!5 stars

  17. 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!5 stars

  18. I have just made this, and it’s delicious. Recipes like this are the reason why I keep returning to your excellent site!5 stars

  19. 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!!!!5 stars