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    Whip & Wander » Recipes » sides

    Published: Sep 8, 2017 · Modified: May 12, 2022 by Jenni · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Spicy Cabbage Slaw

    This page may contain affiliate links. Please see my full disclosure policy for details.
    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe
    Spicy Cabbage slaw in a white bowl resting on a wooden surface with yellow dipped wooden salad utensils resting next to the bowl
    a white bowl fileld with spicy jalapeno coleslaw on a wooden surface
    spicy coleslaw topped with jalapenos in a white bowl with wooden serving utensils
    spicy coleslaw in a white bowl topped with limes and jalapenos
    spicy cabbage slaw in a white dish topped with jalapeno slices and halves of limes

    Spicy Cabbage slaw in a white bowl resting on a wooden surface with yellow dipped wooden salad utensils resting next to the bowl

    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."

    overhead of spicy cabbage slaw in a white bowl on a neutral background

    close-up of coleslaw made with cabbage and carrots

    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

    wooden salad servers resting in a white dish filled with spicy cabbage slaw, topped with limes and jalepenos

    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.

    a white bowl with spicy cabbage slaw, limes, and jalapeno slices with wooden utensils resting int he bowl

    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 white bowl filled with spicy slaw, jalapenos, and limes on a white cloth on a wooden surface with wooden utensils next to the bowl

    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 in a white bowl resting on a wooden surface with yellow dipped wooden salad utensils resting next to the bowl

    Spicy Cabbage Slaw

    ★★★★★ 5 from 27 reviews
    • Author: Whip & Wander
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Total Time: 5 minutes
    • Yield: 6 portions 1x
    • Category: Sides, Salads & Dressings
    • Method: No-Cook
    • Cuisine: American
    • Diet: Gluten Free
    Print Recipe
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    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

    Scale
    • 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

    1. In a large bowl, combine mayo, sriracha, apple cider vinegar, lime juice, and honey, mixing with a spoon or spatula until smooth.
    2. 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.
    3. 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

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @whipandwander on Instagram and hashtag it #whipandwander

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. heather says

      May 23, 2018 at 8:03 am

      Yum! It looks like the perfect side dish for our Memorial Day dinner!

      Reply
    2. Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

      April 26, 2018 at 10:51 am

      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!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    3. Veronika says

      February 12, 2018 at 8:12 am

      I loooove cabbage slaw, especially during summer time! Will definitely try your recipe)

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    4. Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says

      February 11, 2018 at 1:01 pm

      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.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    5. Nicoletta @sugarlovespices says

      February 11, 2018 at 12:30 pm

      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!

      Reply
    6. Sara says

      February 09, 2018 at 6:14 pm

      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!

      Reply
    7. Analida at ethnicspoon.com says

      February 09, 2018 at 6:40 am

      This looks like a great slaw to drop on top of a nice pulled pork sandwich or some fish tacos! Thanks for sharing!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    8. Sharon says

      February 08, 2018 at 2:42 pm

      This slaw looks so amazing. Sriracha and the honey make for the perfect setting for the crunchy coleslaw.

      Reply
    9. Patti @Patty Cake's Pantry says

      February 08, 2018 at 12:15 pm

      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!

      Reply
    10. TaraTeaspoon says

      February 08, 2018 at 10:14 am

      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!

      Reply
    11. Matt Kearns says

      February 07, 2018 at 11:07 pm

      I love a tasty coleslaw recipe! I will definitely have to try this one out!

      Reply
    12. Carrie | Clean Eating Kitchen says

      February 06, 2018 at 8:30 am

      I can never say no to slaw! I love the jalapeno and apple cider combo!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    13. Elaine @ Dishes Delish says

      February 06, 2018 at 8:13 am

      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!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    14. Amanda says

      February 06, 2018 at 5:28 am

      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!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    15. Marie - Not Enough Cinnamon says

      January 20, 2018 at 9:35 am

      I love a good slaw, it's so simple yet so good! I'm digging the addition of sriracha for a little kick!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    16. [email protected] says

      January 20, 2018 at 9:35 am

      I'm all about the spice and love coleslaw. Sounds like a fabulous recipe that I need to try soon!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    17. Traci The Kitchen Girl says

      January 20, 2018 at 9:32 am

      Oh I love cabbage slaw...and the spicier the better! Looooove anything sriracha...thanks for sharing 🙂

      Reply
    18. Kim @ Three Olives Branch says

      January 20, 2018 at 9:27 am

      Looks delicious! I love the idea of giving it a spicy kick, especially with the creaminess to balance it all out.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    19. Lisa Bryan says

      January 20, 2018 at 8:47 am

      I love a good cabbage slaw. It's that perfect blend of crunchy and creamy. Yum!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    20. Rebecca | Let's Eat Cake says

      October 18, 2017 at 7:30 pm

      This cabbage slaw looks like the perfect side for any barbecue! YUM!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
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