This Apple Slaw is your new favorite side dish to bring to a party. Made with apples, cabbage, carrots, and the perfect simple dressing, it is creamy, crunchy, and delicious. You will be obsessed with it.
I love summer side dishes with a fiery passion. Give me a whole bowl of corn salad for myself, or a buffet covered with summer salads, and I’m a happy girl. This apple slaw recipe, a great spin on traditional coleslaw, would fit in perfectly on that table. I know that everyone you serve it to will be so happy they invited you.
Why This Recipe Works
- Two Acids: We are using both apple cider vinegar and lemon juice in this recipe. The lemon juice keeps the apples from browning. The apple cider vinegar brings a depth of flavor to the dressing, and both prevent the apples from browning.
- Two Sugars: Like the acids, we are using both sugar and honey in this recipe. The honey adds another flavor profile to the dressing, and the sugar dissolves into the dressing for perfectly smooth sweetness.
- We let the dressing rest: Letting the dressing rest allows both the sugar and the salt in the dressing to dissolve. Dissolved sugar has already combined with water, so it won’t pull water out of the apples and cabbage, keeping your slaw from getting soggy.
- We balance the dressing: Tasting a dressing before adding it to any salad is key. Here we taste it before adding it, but after we have let it sit, to balance the flavors. If it is too tart you can add more honey, and if it is too sweet, add some lemon.
- Our apple combination: Using a Granny Smith apple and a Gala apple provides another perfect balance of tart and sweet. Additionally, both apple varieties are nice and crisp which is ideal for a slaw.
How to Make Apple Slaw
Here is a photo overview of how this apple cabbage slaw comes together. For the full recipe, including all ingredients and their measurements, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Make the Dressing
Whisk together the mayo, sugar, lemon juice, honey, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper. Let it rest so the sugar and salt dissolve into the dressing while you prepare the rest of the salad ingredients.
Chop the Apples
Slice the apples into thin strips (like matchsticks) and toss with lemon juice. The acid in the lemon juice will prevent the apples from browning as quickly without affecting the flavor.
Pro Tip! Cut the four sides off of the apple around the core for more stable slicing (in the photo below we have started by cutting off one side of the Granny Smith apple). From there cut them into thin slices as seen below. Then cut into matchsticks.
Put it All Together
Toss the remaining ingredients together in a large bowl and add the apples. Pour in the creamy dressing and mix until well combined.
Tips and Tricks
- Use store-bought coleslaw mix: If you are in a pinch, you can buy a bag of coleslaw mix- shredded green cabbage (possibly red cabbage, too) and carrots to make this recipe.
- Don’t make the salad ahead of time: While the lemon juice will help slow down the browning of the cut apples and letting the dressing rest helps with sogginess, neither will prevent these issues altogether. This salad is best enjoyed fresh.
Storing Apple Coleslaw
This salad is best when eaten right after being made. That said, you should absolutely keep your delicious leftovers. Store this apple slaw in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days. If it sits out for more than two hours, toss what is left.
What to Pair with Apple Slaw
This is the ideal dish to pair with any BBQ menu (especially my Crock Pot Pulled Pork), but if you are looking for some great out of the box pairings, here are some of my favorite dishes to make with this.
If you make this Cabbage and Apple Slaw recipe or any of my other recipes, I’d love to hear how you enjoyed it. Leave a comment letting me know how you enjoyed it!
Apple Slaw
Ingredients
Dressing Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt or 1/4 teaspoon table salt
- dash freshly ground black pepper
Slaw Ingredients
- 2 apples unpeeled, cut into matchsticks, see note 1
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 3 cups chopped cabbage
- 1 1/2 cups matchstick carrots
- 2 green onions finely chopped
Instructions
- Whisk together the ingredients for the dressing and let rest so that the granulated sugar has some time to dissolve into the dressing (see note 2). Before adding to the salad, taste and adjust flavors if necessary. If too tart, add a bit more honey. If too sweet, add a little more lemon juice.1/2 cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, dash freshly ground black pepper
- Chop the apples and toss with one tablespoon of lemon juice to prevent browning.2 apples, 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Toss the remaining ingredients together. Add in the apples. Then pour the dressing over and toss to combine.3 cups chopped cabbage, 1 1/2 cups matchstick carrots, 2 green onions
Notes
- Apples: I prefer to go with one red and one green for this recipe. I like to use Gala for sweetness and Granny Smith for tartness. Additionally, both varieties are nice and crisp, which is perfect for this slaw. After you chop the apples, toss them with one tablespoon of lemon juice to prevent browning.
- Dressing: Letting the dressing rest allows both the sugar and the salt in the dressing to dissolve. Dissolved sugar has already combined with water, so it won’t pull water out of the apples and cabbage, keeping your slaw from getting soggy.
LEAVE A COMMENT