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Vegan Coleslaw

5 from 1 vote

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This Vegan Coleslaw is a colorful and fresh lightened up version of the classic recipe we all love. Filled with red and green cabbage, carrots, and a delicious dressing, it’s the perfect slaw for your next summer barbecue, picnic or potluck. It’s egg free, dairy free, gluten free, and so easy to make.

Vegan coleslaw in a white bowl.

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This vegan coleslaw is one of those dishes that goes with so many things. While it’s great for summer cookouts and BBQs, it’s also wonderful all year round.

It will work with just about any meal. It’s a great accompaniment to your sandwiches and vegan burgers. It’s also wonderful alongside soups and vegan entrees like BBQ Tofu and Lentil Loaf.

With my Tofu Cashew Mayonnaise on hand, this recipe goes together in minutes.

And the vegan coleslaw dressing has only a fifth of the fat of traditional coleslaw. But trust me, you won’t miss the fat. This coleslaw is just as creamy and delicious as the classic coleslaw you’re used to.

It’s creamy, sweet and tangy, crunchy, and healthy.

Vegan Coleslaw Ingredients

This delicious coleslaw is easy to make with just a few simple ingredients. (Oops! I forgot to include the sweetener in the ingredient photo.)

Ingredients for vegan coleslaw.
  • Cabbage – I used a combination of green and red cabbage for color as well as varied nutrients. You can use just green cabbage if you prefer. To save time, use pre-shredded cabbage from the store.
  • Carrots – I like to add some shredded carrots to my coleslaw.
  • Vegan Mayonnaise – I used my oil free vegan mayonnaise recipe for this slaw, but you can use a store bought vegan mayo whatever vegan mayo you want.
  • Organic sugar – this can be substituted with maple syrup for a less refined sugar option or with your preferred sweetener.
  • White vinegar – this gives the tang to the coleslaw dressing. Substitute with apple cider vinegar if you desire.
  • Celery seed – these tiny seeds add a pack of flavor, and are a delicious addition to this coleslaw.
  • Salt and Pepper

How to make this vegan coleslaw recipe

Step 1: In a small bowl, mix together the vegan mayonnaise, sugar or maple syrup, vinegar, celery seeds, salt, and pepper to make the coleslaw dressing.

Ingredients for coleslaw dressing in a small glass bowl with a spoon.
Bowl of Coleslaw Dressing with vegetables around it.

Step 2: Prepare your vegetables. You want your vegetables shredded very thinly. You can shred the carrot with a box shredder, a food processor, or a salad shooter. The cabbage can be shredded with a sharp knife, a mandolin, or a food processor. Place the shredded cabbage and carrots in a large mixing bowl.

To save time, use a bag of coleslaw mix from the store.

Shredded green and purple cabbage and grated carrots in a glass bowl in front of a cutting board with cabbage and a knife.

Step 3: Pour the dressing over the veggies and stir to combine. Eat immediately, or place the coleslaw in the refrigerator for an hour or so for the flavors to combine and the

Dressing added to bowl of shredded cabbage and carrots.
Dressing mixed into shredded cabbage and carrots in a glass mixing bowl.

Serving suggestions:

This creamy vegan coleslaw is a great side dish with my Black Bean Burgers, Chickpea Burgers, Buffalo Soy Curl Subs, Chickpea Salad Sandwiches, or other sandwiches.

I love to add it to my BBQ Soy Curl Sandwich.

It would also be delicious with my BBQ Tofu or my Grilled Tofu Veggie Kabobs.

Forkful of coleslaw held over small bowl of coleslaw in front of large bowl of coleslaw.

Frequently asked questions

Can vegan coleslaw be made in advance?

This coleslaw can be made up to 3 or 4 days in advance, as long as it is stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. It does become a bit tired and limp after sitting for a day or so, so if you are making this for entertainment, I suggest preparing it the same day or no more than a day before.

If you need to make it further in advance, prepare the dressing and shred the vegetables and store them separately in the refrigerator. Mix them together an hour or so before serving.

How long does this coleslaw dressing last?

As long as the vegan mayo has been freshly made or it store bought, this dressing will last in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Can you freeze coleslaw?

I would not recommend freezing this vegan coleslaw. The vegan mayonnaise based dressing does not freeze well.

Explore our Quick & Easy Cookbook

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For other salad and dressing recipes, see:

Vegan coleslaw in a white bowl sitting on a blue and white napkin.

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Bowl of coleslaw in a white bowl with a wooden spoon.

Vegan Coleslaw

Teresa Sklenicka
Low in fat, but still creamy, crunchy and delicious!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 8
Calories 61.9 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup Tofu Cashew Mayonnaise
  • 1 ½ tablespoons vinegar
  • 1 tablespoons sugar, maple syrup, or sweetener of choice
  • ½ teaspoon celery seed
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 4 cups shredded green cabbage
  • 2 cups shredded red cabbage
  • 2 medium carrots, shredded

Instructions
 

  • Whisk together the dressing ingredients in a small bowl.
  • Place the shredded cabbage and carrots in a large bowl, add the dressing and toss together.
  • Place in the refrigerator for a couple of hours to allow the cabbage to soften slightly.

Notes

This makes a large amount of coleslaw which keeps in the refrigerator for 2 or 3 days. If you only need a couple of servings, shred the amount of vegetables you need for your meal and mix in enough dressing to coat the vegetables. The dressing will keep in the refrigerator for about 5 days, if the mayonnaise is freshly made.

Nutrition

Calories: 61.9kcalCarbohydrates: 8.6gProtein: 3.2gFat: 2.1gSaturated Fat: 0.4gSodium: 196.5mgPotassium: 205.76mgFiber: 1.9gSugar: 4.9gVitamin A: 89.79IUVitamin C: 9.56mgCalcium: 43.93mgIron: 0.9mg
Keyword Gluten Free, Oil Free, Salad, Side Dish, Vegan
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Image of small bowl and large bowl of coleslaw Pinterest text.

Nutrition calculations are approximate.

By on May 28th, 2023

About Teresa Sklenicka

I love creating tasty, oil-free, vegan recipes that everyone will love (even non-vegans)! Here you'll find vegan versions of your favorite comfort foods, as well as some new tastes! Join me on a path to improving your health, helping the planet, and saving animals.

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