The Ultimate Easy Coleslaw Recipe 5 Minutes (Creamy & Crunchy!)

We’ve all had that moment just before serving a meal, where we look down at the plate and realise it needs a little something extra. That missing element is often a fresh, crisp, and colourful side to balance the main dish. When you’re pressed for time, a complex salad is out of the question, and plain steamed vegetables can feel uninspired. Imagine, though, being able to create a stunning, universally loved side dish in under five minutes. That’s precisely what our Easy Coleslaw Recipe 5 Minutes delivers. It’s time to move beyond the disappointing, soupy coleslaws from the supermarket. We’re here to guide you in making a homemade version that’s wonderfully creamy, has the perfect amount of tang, and offers an unbeatable crunch.

We turn to this recipe time and time again; it’s our saving grace for spontaneous summer gatherings and hectic weeknight meals alike. It pairs beautifully with everything from pulled pork buns and grilled meats to a humble baked potato. We have meticulously crafted the dressing to strike the perfect harmony between creamy richness and zesty brightness, ensuring it never feels heavy. Let’s get started and turn a simple bag of shredded vegetables into a truly memorable side that will have your guests begging for the secret.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Ready in a Flash: As the name suggests, this recipe comes together in genuinely just five minutes. It’s the ideal fast side dish when time is of the essence but you refuse to compromise on quality.
• Effortlessly Easy: This recipe requires no cooking and very little preparation, especially when using a pre-cut vegetable mix. It’s essentially a simple case of measuring and mixing.
• Sublime, Balanced Taste: We’ve formulated a dressing that we believe is the pinnacle of coleslaw perfection—rich, tangy, and with a hint of sweetness. It’s a classic Creamy coleslaw that lightly coats every strand of cabbage and carrot without ever being cloying.
• Made with Pantry Staples: There’s no need for a special shopping trip, as you probably have all the dressing ingredients in your kitchen already.
• Wonderfully Versatile: This coleslaw is incredibly adaptable. Serve it at a family barbecue, take it on a picnic, spoon it onto a burger, or enjoy it as a light lunch. It complements almost any meal.

Ingredients

• 450g pre-shredded coleslaw mix (containing green cabbage, red cabbage, and carrots)
• 150g full-fat mayonnaise
• 60g Greek yoghurt or soured cream (for extra tang)
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp caster sugar or honey
• 1/2 tsp celery seeds
• 1/4 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley (optional)
• 1 spring onion, finely sliced (optional)

How to Make This Easy Coleslaw in Just 5 Minutes

Believe us when we say this is incredibly straightforward. The secret to making it so quick is having everything prepared beforehand—a technique known as ‘mise en place’. Let’s walk through the simple steps together.

1. Whisk the Dressing: In a large bowl (one that will comfortably fit the entire salad), add the mayonnaise, Greek yoghurt, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, sugar or honey, celery seeds, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
2. Combine Until Smooth: Use a whisk or fork to mix the dressing ingredients thoroughly until you have a smooth and creamy consistency. This is a good moment to taste it and make any adjustments—perhaps a touch more sugar for sweetness or vinegar for sharpness.
3. Introduce the Vegetables: Empty the bag of pre-shredded coleslaw mix into the bowl with your prepared dressing. If you’re including them, now is the time to add the fresh parsley and spring onion for an extra burst of flavour.
4. Toss to Coat: With two large spoons or a set of tongs, gently fold everything together. Continue until every shred of vegetable is evenly coated in the creamy dressing, making sure to scrape the sides of the bowl.
5. Enjoy Immediately or Chill: For the best possible crunch, serve your coleslaw straight away! If you prefer, you can cover it and let it chill in the fridge for 30 minutes. This allows the flavours to meld, though it will slightly soften the cabbage.

Top Tips for the Best Quick Coleslaw

While this recipe is incredibly straightforward, we’ve gathered a few tips over the years to help you make it absolutely perfect every single time.

Crafting the Perfect Dressing

The heart of any exceptional coleslaw lies in its dressing. We find the blend of mayonnaise for its creamy base, Greek yoghurt for a lighter tang, and apple cider vinegar for sharpness creates a truly winning combination. The addition of Dijon mustard lends a wonderful complexity, while the celery seeds provide that unmistakable, classic coleslaw taste. Our top tip is to taste and adjust the dressing to your preference before you add the vegetables.

Using Pre-Shredded vs. Fresh Vegetables

To create this recipe in a genuine five minutes, a bag of pre-shredded vegetables is undeniably your best option, saving you significant time and effort. However, if you can spare an extra ten minutes, shredding your own cabbage and carrots will yield a crisper texture and fresher taste. A food processor with a shredding attachment is the fastest way to do this, but a sharp knife or box grater also works perfectly. This elevates it from a Quick coleslaw to a more refined Simple cabbage salad.

Making It Your Own: Customisations

Consider our recipe a brilliant starting point. While it’s delicious just as it is, you can have a lot of fun personalising it. Here are some of our favourite ways to adapt it:

• A Touch of Sweetness: For a lovely textural contrast and a hint of sweetness, mix in a small handful of raisins, dried cranberries, or finely diced apple (Granny Smith is an excellent choice).
• A Little Heat: If you enjoy a bit of spice, add a pinch of cayenne pepper, a few drops of hot sauce, or some finely minced fresh chilli to the dressing.
• Nutty and Crunchy: For added texture and a toasted flavour, toss in some toasted sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, or chopped pecans just before you serve.

How to Make a Healthy Easy Coleslaw

If you’re looking for a lighter option, this recipe is very easy to modify. To create a Healthy Easy Coleslaw, simply tweak the dressing ingredients. Consider one of these simple swaps:

• Substitute the mayonnaise entirely with low-fat Greek yoghurt. This will give you a similarly creamy finish but with much less fat and a boost of protein.
• Use a light mayonnaise instead of full-fat, and keep the Greek yoghurt in the mix.
• Replace the sugar with a natural alternative like a drizzle of honey or maple syrup, or omit it completely for a dressing that’s purely zesty.

Serving fresh salads alongside lean proteins is a wonderful strategy for a well-rounded meal. For more insights into healthy eating, we often consult the guidance provided by the NHS Eatwell Guide, which offers a straightforward model for a balanced diet.

What to Serve With Your Coleslaw

The true charm of this coleslaw lies in its adaptability. It’s the ideal companion for countless dishes, enhancing them with its crisp texture and fresh flavour. We particularly enjoy it at summer barbecues next to sizzling sausages and juicy burgers. It is also an indispensable topping for a hearty slow-cooked pulled pork or brisket bap.

This coleslaw is a lifesaver for creating a quick and satisfying weeknight meal, offering a cool, crunchy counterpoint to more decadent mains. We suggest serving it with our fantastic Baked Ranch Chicken for a dinner the entire family will adore. It also pairs surprisingly well with pasta dishes, as its tangy crunch cuts through the richness of creamy sauces. It makes a wonderful accompaniment to our Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta Recipe.

FAQ

Your New Favourite Go-To Side

And there you have it—a quick, simple, and completely delicious answer to your side dish needs. Our Easy Coleslaw Recipe 5 Minutes is proof that you don’t need to spend hours in the kitchen to produce something fresh and full of flavour that can elevate an entire meal. We are confident this will become a recipe you return to, whether it’s for a speedy midweek supper or a large batch for a weekend get-together.

The next time you find yourself short on time, keep this recipe in mind. By having a bag of coleslaw mix and the key dressing ingredients ready, a perfect side dish is never more than five minutes away. We truly hope you give it a go and discover the difference that homemade makes. We would love to hear how you get on, so please feel free to share your thoughts and any personal customisations in the comments below!

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Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

• 450g pre-shredded coleslaw mix (green cabbage, red cabbage, and carrots)
• 150g full-fat mayonnaise
• 60g Greek yoghurt or soured cream
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp caster sugar or honey
• 1/2 tsp celery seeds
• 1/4 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley (optional)
• 1 spring onion, finely sliced (optional)

Instructions

1. Whisk the Dressing: In a large bowl, add the mayonnaise, Greek yoghurt, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, sugar or honey, celery seeds, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
2. Combine Until Smooth: Use a whisk to mix the dressing ingredients thoroughly until you have a smooth and creamy consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
3. Introduce the Vegetables: Add the pre-shredded coleslaw mix, optional fresh parsley, and spring onion to the bowl with the dressing.
4. Toss to Coat: Using two large spoons or tongs, gently fold everything together until every shred of vegetable is evenly coated in the creamy dressing.
5. Enjoy Immediately or Chill: Serve straight away for the best crunch. Alternatively, cover and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes to allow the flavours to meld.

Nutrition (per serving): Calories: —, Carbs: — g, Protein: — g, Fat: — g