Healthy Purple Cabbage Coleslaw Recipe (Creamy)

This Purple Cabbage Coleslaw recipe is an easy side dish with a vibrant color and crunchy texture! It's great to bring to a summer cookout or meal prep at the beginning of the week to serve with various dishes like a Hot Honey Chicken Bowl!

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close up overhead view of purple cabbage coleslaw in a bowl.

As a dietitian, I always appreciate a recipe that is loaded with important nutrients and also tastes amazing. This purple cabbage slaw has a beautiful color, crunchy texture, and creamy dressing and it's so delicious!

It's a healthy side dish and a unique spin on a classic coleslaw recipe! And one of my favorite things to add fresh flavor to a Chicken & Sweet Potato Bowl.

If you're looking for more coleslaw recipes, try my Shrimp Tacos with Avocado Crema Coleslaw made with green cabbage.

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Key Ingredients and Substitutions
How to Make Purple Cabbage Coleslaw
Dietitian Tip
Variations
How to Serve Purple Cabbage Slaw
Meal Prep & Storage
Expert Tips
FAQ
Related
Perfect for Pairing
Want to Learn About Nutrition?
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Key Ingredients and Substitutions

This Red Cabbage Slaw is made with simple ingredients. Below are some ingredient notes. Check the ingredient card for the full amounts.

ingredients for purple cabbage coleslaw on a table.

Purple Cabbage - this is the main ingredient. There are many different cabbage varieties and red cabbage and purple cabbage are one in the same! While raw red cabbage sometimes tastes a little bitter, the flavor is enhanced with the dressing in this creamy coleslaw. To save time, you can use packaged shredded cabbage.
Carrots - carrots add sweetness to this healthy slaw recipe. It also adds vitamin C and vitamin A which is great for immunity, skin and eye health. You can grate your carrots using a box grater, sharp knife, or madoline. Or grab matchstick carrots at the grocery store.
Greek yogurt - traditional coleslaw uses quite a bit of mayonnaise. To take the saturated fats down a notch, I use plain nonfat greek yogurt as the base with just a small amount of mayo added. You can use whole fat or reduced fat. Be sure to use plain yogurt and not sweetened or flavored yogurt for this recipe.
Olive Oil Mayonnaise - I use olive oil mayo because it has it has less total and saturated fat than regular mayo. You can use avocado oil mayonnaise, vegan mayo or regular mayo instead. If you prefer, you can cut out the mayo altogether and use extra Greek yogurt.
Apple Cider Vinegar - to add a bit of tang. You can use white wine vinegar if you prefer.
Honey - a drizzle of honey adds a touch of sweetness and some antioxidants. If you prefer, you can use maple syrup to add sweetness instead.
Squeeze of Lime Juice - or lemon juice. I suggest using fresh lime juice instead of bottled. Lime juice & lemon juice contain ascorbic acid that helps the red cabbage maintain its beautiful purple color. Plus, it brightens the flavor of this coleslaw!
Dijon Mustard - Dijon mustard is made from black mustard seeds which makes it slightly more spicy than your typical yellow mustard. A little bit of dijon is my favorite way to add some tang and spice to this coleslaw.
Garlic or Garlic Powder - an easy way to add more flavor.
Kosher Salt & Black Pepper - just a pinch of salt and pepper to tie all the flavors together.

How to Make Purple Cabbage Coleslaw

Below are the instructions for how to make this easy recipe with some visuals that I hope are helpful! Don't forget to check out the recipe card at the bottom for the full recipe.

creamy dressing ingredients for red cabbage slaw in a glass bowl.

Step 1: Shred cabbage and carrots and set them aside. In a large bowl, add the dressing ingredients and whisk well to combine.

carrots and purple cabbage in a glass bowl.

Step 2: Add the shredded cabbage and carrots on top of the dressing and then mix everything until the vegetables are well coated.

Hint: you can make the coleslaw dressing in a food processor or blender if you want! Just combine the dressing ingredients in your blender and blend until smooth.

Dietitian Tip

Did you know that Purple cabbage is even richer nutrients than green cabbage which is used in traditional coleslaw recipes? It’s darker color comes from powerful antioxidants called anthocyanins also found in blueberries and eggplant. This purple cabbage coleslaw is a great way to get more of it in your day!

Variations

The best part about this red cabbage coleslaw is you can customize to your taste! Below are some ideas, but feel free to get creative.

Spicy - if you like your coleslaw a bit spicy, add a chopped jalapeno, red pepper flakes, or cayenne pepper!
Deluxe - add green onions, fresh herbs like fresh parsley or fresh cilantro, red onions, and broccoli slaw to add flavor and a little bit of extra crunch.

How to Serve Purple Cabbage Slaw

In a Hot Honey Chicken Bowl - add this healthy coleslaw recipe to a bowl with quinoa, sweet potatoes, blackened chicken, and hot honey mustard sauce.
Potato Salad - Combine it with potatoes to make a potato salad - two side dishes in one!
As a Side Dish - this easy coleslaw recipe makes a great side dish if you're serving fish tacos or BBQ.

Meal Prep & Storage

Meal Prep - chop the vegetables ahead of time so that when it comes time to make the coleslaw, everything is ready to go!
Refrigerator - store leftover coleslaw in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. If you are making in advance, store the dressing and shredded vegetables separately and add the dressing when it's time to serve.

side angle view of purple cabbage coleslaw in a bowl.

Expert Tips

For best results, chop your vegetables into relatively similar-sized pieces.
Use a kitchen mandolin to make shredding the purple cabbage even easier.

FAQ

Is this purple cabbage coleslaw healthy?

While healthy means something different to everyone, this coleslaw is a nutrient-rich option. It provides plenty of dietary fiber for a healthy gut, antioxidants, calcium, and vitamins C, A, and D. This coleslaw is also low-calorie, plant-based, naturally gluten-free, and made with whole food ingredients.

How do I choose a good red cabbage at the grocery store?

According to Instacart, when it comes to how to choose your own cabbage at the grocery store, look for a head of cabbage that is shiny with compact leaves and is heavy and dense for its size. Try not to choose a cabbage with wilted leaves if possible.

What is the best way to shred cabbage?

It really depends on what equipment you have and what you prefer! A couple of options to slice cabbage are to use a sharp knife and sturdy cutting board, use a kitchen mandoline, or use your food processor. You can also shred cabbage using a box grater. No matter what method you choose, remove the outer leaves and core of the cabbage first.

Is this red cabbage coleslaw gluten-free?

Yes, it is a gluten-free recipe.

Can I use packaged shredded cabbage and shredded carrots?

Absolutely! If you want to save some time, you can grab both your purple cabbage and carrots already shredded in the produce section at the grocery store. Look for matchstick carrots for this. I like to give my shredded vegetables an additional chop, but it's not necessary if you don't have time.

Looking for other dietitian recipes like this? Try these:

Perfect for Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with Purple Cabbage Coleslaw:

Want to Learn About Nutrition?

Here are some of my educational posts you may enjoy:

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! I would love to hear from you! If you made this recipe, please leave me a review below or tag me in a photo or story on Instagram. Your reviews help support me and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you know and love. 🙂 IG: @mallorythedietitian

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