Vinegar Coleslaw (no mayonnaise) Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (2025)

Tangy vinegar coleslaw is crunchy and bursting with color and flavor. With a mayonnaise-free dressing, this coleslaw is a healthy alternative to creamy coleslaw.

Recipe Overview

Why you’ll love it: It’s a refreshing change from classic creamy coleslaw and it keeps well.

How long it takes: 15 minutes to make but allow an extra hour for chilling.
Equipment you’ll need: sharp knife, large bowl, measuring utensils
Servings: 10

Vinegar Coleslaw (no mayonnaise) Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (1)

Table of Contents close

  • 1 Recipe Overview
  • 2 About this vinegar coleslaw
  • 3 What you’ll need to make coleslaw
  • 4 How to make vinegar coleslaw
  • 5 FAQs
  • 6 Make It Your Own
  • 7 Storage tips
  • 8 More Summer salads
  • 9 Get the Recipe: Vinegar Coleslaw Recipe (no mayonnaise)

Isn’t this a beautiful colorful salad? I love the purple, green, and orange explosion of color. It’s like fireworks in a bowl!

The flavors of vinegar coleslaw explode in your mouth, as well. Maybe I’m carrying the “explosion” theme too far, but really, I can’t say enough about this colorful and flavorful coleslaw. I’m getting a bang out of all these adjectives and I’m just bursting to tell you about this recipe. All right, that really is too much, isn’t it? I’ll chill out.

Speaking of chilling out, vinegar coleslaw is a perfect make ahead recipe. This coleslaw actually tastes better if it spends some time chilling in the fridge, at least an hour but up to a week. It’s almost like a quick cabbage pickle. If you haven’t tried quick pickles yet, make sure you don’t miss pickled red onions or refrigerator dill pickles. Pickled asparagus is really tasty, too, and makes an elegant addition to your charcuterie plate.

Coleslaw has been around for eons, back to Roman times. Since mayonnaise is relatively new on the scene, the first coleslaw recipes probably were similar to this vinegar-based one. The ingredients are simple and it keeps well. The Romans probably kept it in stone jugs or something.

While I love creamy coleslaw or yogurt-based healthy coleslaw, there’s definitely a place in my heart for vinegar coleslaw. Lower in calories and fat, with loads of nutrition (all that cabbage and carrots!), it’s a win-win. You’re going to love it!

Vinegar Coleslaw (no mayonnaise) Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (2)

About this vinegar coleslaw

Whether you use a couple bags of coleslaw mix, or shred your own cabbage, this is an easy salad to make. I use my food processor to shred both red and green cabbage for a really colorful salad.

My seven year old son is so impressed by how the food processor annihilates the cabbage. It makes quick work of the carrots, too. Watching his amusement reminds me to enjoy the small things in life.

What you’ll need to make coleslaw

  • Green Cabbage and Red Cabbage (why is it called “red” when it clearly is purple?) You can use a combination or just one kind of cabbage.
  • Carrots: Shred your own or buy convenient pre-shredded carrots.
  • Green Onions (or scallions, whichever name you give them). If you like, add other veggies like bell peppers, onions, pea pods, or celery.
  • Apple Cider Vinegar: White vinegar or rice vinegar work fine, too.
  • Oil: I like grapeseed but any mild tasting oil will do.
  • Sweeten it up a bit with honey, agave, or sugar.
  • Dijon Mustard
  • Dried Celery Seed: Be sure to buy celery seed, not celery salt. The seeds have an intense celery flavor; celery salt isn’t nearly as flavorful and has lots of added salt.
  • Salt and Pepper

How to make vinegar coleslaw

Mix the dressing up in a measuring cup and add it to a big bowl with the cabbage mixture. Stir well, and refrigerate. Isn’t that so easy?

Vinegar coleslaw is perfect for picnics and potlucks. Since it isn’t mayo based, you don’t have to worry as much about it spoiling on a warm day.

Serve vinegar coleslaw as a side dish with pretty much anything. The tangy flavor and crunchy texture go well with grilled entrees, such as salmon, chicken, or steak. It’s great with burgers and hotdogs, too, and makes a delicious fish taco. Try a spoonful right on your burger, hotdog, or pulled pork sandwich.

Vinegar Coleslaw (no mayonnaise) Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (3)

FAQs

Can you freeze vinegar based coleslaw?

While I haven’t tried freezing this coleslaw, according to CopyKat Recipes, you can freeze vinegar-based coleslaw but not mayonnaise-based recipes.

How do you know if coleslaw has gone bad?

If vinegar coleslaw is stored in a covered container in the fridge, it will keep up to a week. If you notice a bad or strong smell, see mold or cloudiness, or if it tastes different, discard the coleslaw. It’s never worth taking a chance.

How do you cut vinegar taste in coleslaw?

If you feel that your coleslaw tastes too much like vinegar, or is too acidic or tart, try adding a bit more sugar or salt. Often that will balance out any sharp flavor.
Plain white vinegar is a bit stronger in flavor than apple cider or rice vinegar. Other sweeter choices are white wine vinegar or white balsamic vinegar.

Make It Your Own

There are plenty of ways you can make this your own special salad. Here’s a few suggestions:

  • If you’re not a fan of red cabbage, replace it with extra green cabbage. Or try a different variety of cabbage.
  • Add more veggies. Try red or green bell peppers or chopped onion.
  • Substitute a different kind of vinegar: plain white vinegar, rice vinegar, white wine vinegar, whatever you like. Each type of vinegar will impart a different flavor.
  • Add herbs. Chopped fresh parsley or cilantro would be good choices.
  • Boiling the dressing: My mom always boiled the vinegar dressing before adding it to the cabbage. The coleslaw will keep longer in the fridge.
  • Make a creamy coleslaw. Try my homemade coleslaw dressing with yogurt.
  • Make an Asian salad, a type of vinegar coleslaw with an Asian influence and lots of crunchy add-ins like ramen noodles, sunflower seeds, and almonds. Another favorite is this cabbage salad with mandarin oranges and honey lime dressing.
  • Don’t let the rest of the cabbage go to waste. Try easy sautéed cabbage (green) or German red cabbage (sweet & sour).
Vinegar Coleslaw (no mayonnaise) Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (4)

Storage tips

Store leftover coleslaw, tightly covered, in the fridge for up to a week.

Just a warning: the red cabbage tends to bleed its color, turning the salad kind of pink. This doesn’t affect the flavor at all and if you have a young daughter, it could be a selling point. If you would rather not experience this, simply make the salad using all green cabbage. Red cabbage does contain 30% more vitamin C than green cabbage.

Vinegar Coleslaw (no mayonnaise) Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (5)

More Summer salads

While salads are appreciated year round, there are some salads that just say summer. Here are a few of my favorites:

  • The Best Potato Salad
  • Southwestern BBQ Chicken Salad (best chopped salad!)
  • Grilled Vegetable Salad with Goat Cheese
  • Taco Salad
  • Curried Chicken Salad
  • Asparagus Panzanella Salad
  • Gazpacho Salad
  • Tortellini Pasta Salad
  • Bruschetta Orzo Pasta Salad or Creamy Southwestern Orzo Salad

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Vinegar Coleslaw (no mayonnaise) Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (6)

Recipe

Get the Recipe: Vinegar Coleslaw Recipe (no mayonnaise)

4.62 from 36 votes

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Additional Time: 1 hour hr

Total Time: 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

10 servings

Print Rate Recipe

Tangy vinegar coleslaw is crunchy and bursting with color and flavor. With a mayonnaise-free dressing, this coleslaw is a healthy alternative to creamy coleslaw.

Ingredients

Salad

  • 6 cups shredded cabbage, approx. ½ head of cabbage (see note)
  • 2 cups shredded red cabbage
  • 1 ½ cups shredded (or matchstick) carrots (about 2 large carrots)
  • cup thinly sliced green onions (about 3 green onions)

Dressing

  • cup apple cider vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons grapeseed oil (olive oil, canola oil, or avocado oil can be substituted)
  • 1 tablespoon agave (or honey or granulated sugar)
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard (we recommend the grainy kind)
  • 1 teaspoon celery seed
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper

Instructions

  • In a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk together dressing ingredients.

  • In large bowl, combine cabbages, carrots, green onions, and dressing. Mix well.

  • Refrigerate for at least one hour before serving. Stir well before serving. Coleslaw will keep for up to one week in the refrigerator.

Notes

  • Use your favorite variety of cabbage or a combination. All green cabbage is fine, too.
  • Substitute two 16 oz. bags of coleslaw mix for the cabbage and carrots.
  • Add more veggies. Try red or green bell peppers or chopped onion.
  • Substitute a different kind of vinegar: plain white vinegar, rice vinegar, or white wine vinegar.
  • Add chopped fresh parsley or cilantro.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 72kcal, Carbohydrates: 8g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 276mg, Potassium: 198mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 3482IU, Vitamin C: 28mg, Calcium: 39mg, Iron: 1mg

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

© Author: Rachel Gurk

Vinegar Coleslaw (no mayonnaise) Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (2025)

FAQs

Can you use white vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar in coleslaw? ›

Distilled white vinegar is a great substitute for apple cider vinegar. Lemon Juice. I don't recommend making a substitution for the lemon juice.

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 to fix too much vinegar in coleslaw? ›

Altering Ingredient Ratios

For example, if you've added too much vinegar to a salad dressing, you can add more olive oil, honey, or Dijon mustard to balance out the acidity. These ingredients not only add their own unique flavors but also help to mellow the vinegar and create a more well-rounded taste.

How do you make Alton Brown coleslaw? ›

Thoroughly rinse the cabbage under cool running water for at least 1 minute. Transfer the cabbage to a salad spinner to dry thoroughly. Whisk together the buttermilk, yogurt, mayonnaise, pickle juice, mustard powder, and black pepper in a large mixing bowl. Add the cabbage, carrot, and chives, and toss to combine.

Which is better to cook with white vinegar or apple cider vinegar? ›

White vinegar excels in cleaning and is more versatile for cooking due to its high acetic acid content, neutral flavor, and clear appearance. In contrast, raw, non-GMO, unfiltered apple cider vinegar is an ideal choice for medicinal purposes as it contains health-promoting antioxidants, probiotics, and enzymes.

What is amish coleslaw made of? ›

Amish Vinegar Slaw or Old Fashioned Coleslaw is lighter and tangier than a classic mayo based slaw. Made with shredded cabbage, onion, apple cider vinegar, and dry mustard. This is the perfect quick Side Dish that you can bring along to BBQs, potlucks, and family gatherings.

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.

What is the difference between cabbage slaw and coleslaw? ›

While cabbage salad often consists only of one vegetable seasoned and dressed, coleslaw can include a few other ingredients like shredded veggies, fruits, or seasonings to give some variety to the dish. While both feature cabbage as the star of the show, the different dressings set the two apart.

What is the best pre made coleslaw? ›

With its nice, thick dressing, Walmart's deli coleslaw is the best creamy coleslaw of the bunch. The dressing is heavy on the mayo, which makes it the best coleslaw to slather on a burger or pulled pork sandwich, and the copious amounts of shredded carrot will contribute some crunch, too.

Why does my homemade coleslaw taste bitter? ›

It's a clever defense mechanism for the cabbage plant to discourage hungry foragers. Of course, slivering or dicing cabbage to make coleslaw also ruptures plant cell walls, so the same reaction is triggered. At first, any bitterness may seem pleasantly tangy as the salad's dressing mellows cabbage flavors.

What flavor cancels out vinegar? ›

Mixing in a sprinkle of common alkaline ingredients, like baking soda or baking powder, can often salvage a dish. If this still hasn't done the trick, adding neutral flavors, like sour cream or yogurt, can also help balance out the flavors.

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 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.

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.

How to stop homemade coleslaw from going watery? ›

Salting the cabbage should be step one of any coleslaw recipe. 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.

Is it OK to use white vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar? ›

According to Burdeos, if you're going to be using it for cooking, white vinegar can be successfully substituted for apple cider vinegar. Just note that it will taste slightly different and obviously won't have that hint of apple flavor if that's also what you're after.

Can I use white vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar in bread? ›

White Vinegar

White vinegar has the most neutral flavor, which is why I find it to be the best substitute for apple cider vinegar in baking.

Can I use white vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar for pickling? ›

Because apple cider vinegar is made from apples rather than barley, corn rice or wine, it gives pickles a mellower taste. Using a white distilled vinegar, for example, will create a harsher flavour. But as well as being gentler on your palate, using apple cider vinegar also adds health benefits to pickles.

How do you make apple cider vinegar with white vinegar? ›

To get the flavor and acidity you're going for with apple cider vinegar, you should add a little bit of citrus juice to the white vinegar. One of the big benefits of apple cider vinegar is the slightly fruity taste, which you'll emulate by adding the citrus in to the mix. Otherwise this substitution will be 1:1.

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