Cajun Coleslaw

This cajun coleslaw is fresh and crunchy with a creamy dressing. It has lots of flavor with jalapeños and sweet and spicy cajun seasoning. It is so easy to make and is a unique and unexpected side dish to serve with dinner or to bring to a barbecue or pot luck.

Salad recipes are our favorite side dishes especially during the summer. There is something about biting into a crispy, crunchy and cooling veggie dish that I love to make on repeat.

Some main dish salad recipes that you will love are my Julienne Salad, Crab Louie or Tuna Chickpea Pasta Salad.

Why this recipe is just so good....

• Easy, delicious take-along for any party - If you are volunteering to bring a dish, bring this cajun slaw! You can put it together so quickly and it can be made the day before. Actually, I think it tastes even better as it sits in the refrigerator.
• This recipe is very versatile - You can add more paprika and Jalapeños to make the Cajun flavoring stand out more. It makes enough for 6-8 serving. But you can easily serve a crowd if you double the recipe.

Recipe Ingredients

You need the following ingredients to make this Spicy Coleslaw:

Ingredient Notes

• This recipe takes a shortcut and uses a preshredded package of coleslaw mix. If you prefer, you can buy a head of white, red, Napa, Savoy or green cabbage. Slice with a sharp knife or use a Mandolin.
• Instead of white wine vinegar, you can use apple cider vinegar.

How to make Cajun Coleslaw

• In a small bowl or measuring cup, stir together the dressing ingredients. Taste for flavoring. Add more spice, sugar or vinegar as you prefer. Whisk them well until smooth.

Place the coleslaw cabbage mix into a large glass, ceramic or plastic salad bowl and pour half of the dressing over it. Mix well. Cover with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour.

• Before serving, add more dressing and stir well. Coleslaw is best served cold.

Additions and Substitutions

• If you want it even creamier, you can stir in 2 tablespoons of milk or 1-2 additional tablespoons of mayonnaise.
• If you want the cole slaw to be less spicy, leave out the jalapeños.
• If you want more crunch and to up the nutrition, add more vegetables. Try adding more carrots, red onion, or some red, orange or green bell pepper. Make sure to slice them very thin.
• Also for another shortcut, any grocery store have packages of broccoli slaw. It is shaved stalks of broccoli super thin and would be an easy and delicious addition to the coleslaw.

Recipe Tips

• Don't use a metal bowl to mix the coleslaw. The vinegar in the coleslaw dressing will react with the metal and could give it a metallic taste.
• Taste the coleslaw dressing before you add it. This is cajun after all, so it should have a bit of a kick. But it is very adaptable to your taste so add more seasonings as you like.
• Coleslaw tastes better as it sits and the flavors marinate throughout. One hour is the recommended amount of time to sit in the refrigerator before serving.
• You can use a whole cabbage instead of coleslaw mix. Remove the outer leaves, rinse well under running water. Cut out the hard center core. Use a sharp knife or a mandolin to carefully shred the cabbage. The photo below of cutting a red cabbage shows how to do this.

What can I serve with Spicy Coleslaw?

Grilled foods just seem to go really well with salads and coleslaws. Try some of these recipes that are delicious year round, but especially during the summer.

Grilled Chicken Leg Quarters, Grilled Brats, Buffalo chicken thighs or Lemon Pepper Pork Chops.

FAQ

If you tried this recipe and enjoyed it, I'd appreciate you giving it a 5 star rating. This tells me what you like and want to see more of. Thank you!