A classic side dish with a spicy kick
This Spicy Cabbage Slaw is our go-to for topping tacos, pairing with pulled pork sandwiches and other bbq, and is a tremendous side for nearly everything hitting the grill when the sun comes out. The components are simple but tasty, with a classic mix of shredded cabbage and carrots tossed in a creamy, sweet, and lightly spicy dressing and fresh jalapeno. This recipe requires minimal prep, no cooking, few ingredients, and can be ready in about 5 minutes.
The magic is in the sauce
This recipe calls for a traditional mayo base enhanced with sriracha, apple cider vinegar, lime juice, and honey. The tanginess of the apple cider vinegar and lime combined with the sweetness of the honey balances out the heat in the jalapeños and sriracha, with mayo acting as the saucy vessel to carry all these flavors into the slaw. I prefer to use a mild, raw clover honey and Bragg Organic Raw Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar with the "Mother."
What should I serve this Spicy Cabbage Slaw with?
- Pressure Cooker Boneless Beef Ribs
- Grilled Chicken Wings with Chipotle Peach BBQ Sauce
- Grilled Skirt Steak with Avocado Chimichurri Sauce
- Pressure Cooker Barbacoa Beef
- Salmon Tacos with Lime Crema
- Chicken Quesadillas with Creamy Jalapeno Sauce
- Un-Sloppy Joe Bowls
What tools do I need to make this recipe?
- A large bowl
- A kitchen scale - OR - measuring cups (for less precise measurements)
- Measuring spoons
- A citrus juicer
- A mixing spoon or silicone spatula
Are you looking to upgrade to your cooking tools or replenish your pantry? Check out my kitchen tools shop page and pantry staples shop page to find my must-have kitchen tools, pantry items, and other Whip & Wander favorites.
LOOKING FOR MORE DINNER INSPIRATION?
Love this Spicy Cabbage Slaw recipe? Here are some additional side dishes that you might enjoy!
- Horseradish Dill Slaw
- Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Blue Cheese, Cranberries, and Pecans
- Crunchy Greek Salad with Avocado and Feta
- Creamy Cucumber Radish Salad
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Honey Sriracha Sauce
A note for special diets
This Spicy Cabbage Slaw is friendly for grain-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, and low-carb diets. It can easily be made friendly for Paleo and low-FODMAP diets with a few small adjustments.
If you are strictly Paleo, there are a few options that might fit your needs, including this PaleoChef option which is sweetened with honey, and this Yellowbird option which is sweetened with dates -- however, I personally prefer to substitute the sriracha for classic Tabasco sauce when making this dish for Paleo friends, which I think gives a better kick of heat than the Paleo sriracha. For the mayo, there are several Paleo varieties including this Primal Kitchen option, but I personally prefer the flavor of homemade mayo when I need to make this dish strictly Paleo.
For low-FODMAP diets, the Monash app notes that 1 teaspoon of sriracha is considered low-FODMAP, however, it doesn't specify the brand so if you are especially sensitive to garlic (as most who follow low-FODMAP are) you can swap for classic Tabasco. The Monash app also notes that ¾ cup of cabbage is considered low-FODMAP so keep that in mind when serving.
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Spicy Cabbage Slaw
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 6 portions 1x
- Category: Sides, Salads & Dressings
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This 5-minute Spicy Cabbage Slaw includes a classic mix of shredded cabbage and carrots tossed in a creamy, sweet, and spicy dressing with fresh jalapenos.
Ingredients
- 104 g (about ½ cup) mayo
- 2 tsp sriracha (see notes above for Paleo and low-FODMAP options)
- 4 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 2 tsp raw honey
- 1 large jalapeno, seeded and finely sliced into half-moons
- 17 ½ oz coleslaw mix (shredded white cabbage, red cabbage, carrots)
- ½ tsp Kosher salt, plus more to taste
- ¼ tsp cracked black pepper, plus more to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine mayo, sriracha, apple cider vinegar, lime juice, and honey, mixing with a spoon or spatula until smooth.
- Add the chopped jalapenos and coleslaw mix to the bowl, tossing with the sauce until well combined. If you prefer your coleslaw saucier, you can add additional mayo at this time.
- Season with salt and pepper, adjusting to taste as desired.
Notes
Nutritional information on Whip & Wander is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.
Too spicy? The acidity of the lime juice and sweetness of the honey will tone down the burn from the jalapenos and sriracha so keep this in mind when adjusting the heat to your preference.
Like it spicier? Add an extra measure of sriracha or an additional jalapeno, as desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 154
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 256 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
Keywords: slaw, coleslaw, cabbage, sriracha, jalapeno
Yum! It looks like the perfect side dish for our Memorial Day dinner!
gotta love a good cabbage slaw! Such a great dish to add as a side or on top of other main dishes for the summer. Yum!
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I loooove cabbage slaw, especially during summer time! Will definitely try your recipe)
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Spicy did it for me. We like our heat and cole slaw is so versatile. Not only can you have it as a side, but it also tastes great on top of sandwiches. Jalapeños add just the right amount of kick to a dish.
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I'm intrigued by the jalapeno and the sriracha in the slaw! It looks amazing and we love a good slaw, the perfect side to so many dishes!
I was thinking the same as Analida - this would be SO good on top of pulled pork or a grilled fish sandwich / taco! Yum! I love spicy foods, so the jalapeño is an awesome idea. So glad you shared!
This looks like a great slaw to drop on top of a nice pulled pork sandwich or some fish tacos! Thanks for sharing!
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This slaw looks so amazing. Sriracha and the honey make for the perfect setting for the crunchy coleslaw.
Your coleslaw dressing is almost identical to the one I make all the time, so I know this will be delicious, but I never considered adding jalapenos to my coleslaw which is pretty dumb of me since my husband loves spicy. This is a great idea. I'm already looking at the meals I have planned for the week to figure out which night would go well with this coleslaw. I've also printed out your recipe and added it to my "cookbook". You're a genius!
I am obsessed with slaw and I cannot tell you how badly I want to eat this one right now. The flavors are what is catching my tastebuds, can't wait to try!
I love a tasty coleslaw recipe! I will definitely have to try this one out!
I can never say no to slaw! I love the jalapeno and apple cider combo!
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I love coleslaw and definitely am a fan of a little spice in my slaw! Your recipe looks delicious and you have beautiful photos! I love that you use a packaged cabbage mix. It certainly cuts down in time. I can't wait to try your recipe!
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I'm loving the flavors in this dressing! The sriracha, lime, honey, and mayo sound like the perfect combination for a slaw. Will definitely be adding this to my picnic menus this summer!
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I love a good slaw, it's so simple yet so good! I'm digging the addition of sriracha for a little kick!
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I'm all about the spice and love coleslaw. Sounds like a fabulous recipe that I need to try soon!
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Oh I love cabbage slaw...and the spicier the better! Looooove anything sriracha...thanks for sharing 🙂
Looks delicious! I love the idea of giving it a spicy kick, especially with the creaminess to balance it all out.
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I love a good cabbage slaw. It's that perfect blend of crunchy and creamy. Yum!
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This cabbage slaw looks like the perfect side for any barbecue! YUM!
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