Tricolor Coleslaw

During the summertime, there’s nothing I love more than classic picnic and grilling fare. I’m talking about burgers, hot dogs, pasta salad, and of course—coleslaw.

This cabbage-based salad is an icon in its own right and has been a classic barbecue staple for as long as I can remember. I love coleslaw as much as the next person, but it’s not exactly the healthiest “salad” out there.

My take on the classic tri-color coleslaw is healthier than the one you grew up with, yet still just as delicious as you remember. By making easy swaps like cutting out most of the mayonnaise for Greek yogurt and swapping white sugar for honey, you can make this coleslaw recipe much healthier without sacrificing flavor in the process.

This quick and easy coleslaw is vibrant, tangy, sweet, savory, refreshing, and super flavorful. You can serve it as a side salad with just about any of your favorite summer meals.

I also love serving it as a topping on fish tacos and pulled pork sandwiches. Basically, this healthy coleslaw recipe can do it all. Did I mention it only takes a few minutes to make?

What You’ll Need

Here’s a quick breakdown of the tri-color coleslaw ingredients needed to bring this dish to life.

• Coleslaw Mix: I love using the pre-shredded tricolor coleslaw mix at the grocery store for the sake of convenience and the fun pop of color. This is where the tri-color comes in with red cabbage, green cabbage, and carrots.
• Green Onions: This adds a ton of fresh, earthy flavor.
• Greek Yogurt: To lighten up this healthy coleslaw recipe, I substitute some of the mayo traditionally used for protein-packed Greek yogurt. You really can’t even tell the difference when it’s all mixed up!
• Mayonnaise: I use reduced-fat mayonnaise to maintain the classic coleslaw flavor while still keeping this dish on the lighter side.
• Dijon Mustard: Not only does this help to make the dressing extra creamy, but it also adds some tangy flavor that works great with the other ingredients.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: This gives our coleslaw that tangy flavor we know and love! It adds a ton of flavor and brightens up the dish.
• Honey: Instead of the granulated sugar that classic coleslaw uses, we use honey which has a lower glycemic index.

Recipe Tips for the Best Coleslaw

Here are some of my top tips to help you make the best coleslaw you’ve ever tried:

• Feel free to swap out the shredded cabbage coleslaw for broccoli slaw instead if desired.
• For nutty flavor and an added crunch, toss in some roasted sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds.
• You can turn this into no-mayo coleslaw by simply swapping out the mayonnaise for extra Greek yogurt.
• While I recommend using pre-shredded coleslaw mix for ease, you can also shred your own cabbages and carrots by hand with a mandoline or sharp knife.
• If you want to jazz up this dish with some extra flavor, throw in some of your favorite fresh herbs. Parsley, cilantro, basil, mint, and chives would all work great.
• For a little kick, mix a few shakes of hot sauce into the coleslaw dressing before you dress the salad. The heat balances wonderfully with the sweet and refreshing coleslaw flavors!
• Don’t have apple cider vinegar? Use fresh lemon juice instead.

What to Serve with Tri-Color Coleslaw

This coleslaw recipe with Greek yogurt tastes amazing with all sorts of tasty summer dishes. If you’re hosting a barbecue or picnic, you’re going to want to add this dish to the menu. Not sure what else to serve?

Here are some of my favorite ideas for what to serve with tri-color coleslaw this summer:

• Easy Ground Chicken Burgers
• Baked Chicken Drumsticks
• Double Bean Burgers
• Healthy Egg Salad with Fresh Herbs
• Grilled Salmon

How to Store Leftover Coleslaw

If you have leftover coleslaw, you can seal it up in an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 4 days. Keep in mind that coleslaw will have the crunchiest texture in the first 48 hours, but it will still taste fresh and delicious when eaten within 4 days.

Can you freeze coleslaw? No, I would strongly advise against it. Freezing salads is never a great idea because raw veggies contain high concentrations of water and tend not to freeze well. Not only that, but dairy products like mayonnaise and Greek yogurt also tend to separate when frozen.