• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Veggies Don't Bite
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Fall
  • Recipes
  • Shop
  • Resources
  • Meal Plans
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Fall
    • Recipes
    • Shop
    • Resources
    • Meal Plans
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home ▸ 30 Minutes or Less

    Creamy Vegan Coleslaw Recipe

    Last modified: July 3, 2023. Originally posted: July 3, 2023 By Sophia DeSantis

    This post may contain paid links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    A photo of a black bowl in a grey towel filled with creamy coleslaw inside it.
    Collage of ingredients and process to make coleslaw and the coleslaw in a black bowl with overlay text.

    This creamy vegan coleslaw is a guilt-free twist on a classic favorite! Full of crunchy vegetables mixed with a flavorful dairy free dressing.

    Tastes better than the traditional version! Easy to make and uses whole food ingredients so super healthy.

    Black bowl filled with coleslaw on a blue napkin.
    Click here to subscribe

    This post was originally published on March 8, 2021.

    I love easy side dishes and this vegan coleslaw recipe is the perfect thing to make for picnics, barbecues or as a dinner side. If you prefer the non creamy version try vinegar coleslaw or Mexican coleslaw!

    Ingredients

    This creamy vegan coleslaw is easy enough to make up to go alongside vegan burgers like my chickpea burgers, or sandwiches like my Vegan BLT. It's even great with pasta dishes like Healthy Vegan Chili Mac! It's also a great dish to bring along to a Summer potluck, no one will know it's dairy free!

    Just a handful of whole food ingredients are needed to create this crisp and flavorful dairy free coleslaw:

    • Shredded cabbage
    • Shredded carrots 
    • Red onion
    • Vegan mayo 
    • Vinegar 
    • Seasonings
    Bowls with ingredients needed to make coleslaw.

    How To Make Vegan Coleslaw

    Easy recipes are the best recipes! Once the dressing is blended and veggies are shredded, here's what to do:

    1. Mix cabbage, veggies, and vegan coleslaw dressing together well in a bowl.
    2. Let rest in the refrigerator then serve!
    Glass bowl with forks mixing coleslaw inside.
    Two forks getting creamy coleslaw out of a black bowl.

    What to Serve With Coleslaw

    Whether it's a picnic lunch, Summer Potluck, or weeknight dinner, this vegan coleslaw recipe goes well with so many dishes! Try it with any of these:

    • Vegan BBQ Black Bean Burger
    • Pulled "Pork" Mushroom Sandwich
    • Crispy Baked Buffalo Cauliflower Tacos
    • Apple, Arugula, and Smoky Tempeh Sandwich
    • Healthy Veggie Chili
    • Vegan Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni

    Flavor tips

    In order to achieve the best flavors, make sure to follow these suggestions:

    • I like to use a mix of green and red cabbage, but any cabbage or combination will do.
    • The base of the vegan coleslaw dressing is mayonnaise, but you can sub it out (or some of it) with sour cream or even plain yogurt.
      • However, if you do this you will need more salt and a bit more vinegar to get the right flavor combo. Taste as you go to find the perfect balance.
    • My homemade vegan mayo is what I used and it’s perfect and made with whole foods.
    • Distilled white wine vinegar is the best for this recipe. If you want to use another vinegar you can, however the end result won’t have that same tang.
    • This coleslaw will taste best after it has a chance for the flavors to come together. I recommend chilling in the fridge for a minimum of 5-10 minutes.

    Preparation tips

    Here are a few hints that should help you when preparing this vegan coleslaw recipe:

    • To save time, you can shred the cabbage ahead of time. Or, buy a package of pre shredded cabbage.
    • Shred the carrots by using a thick cheese grater, or a grating attachment on a food processor. You can do this ahead of time, just keep them in an airtight container in the fridge until you're ready to use.
    • Some packaged mixes have the carrots in them. You can make this easy and use those. Just make sure the total amount of cups is the same.
    • I make the dressing by putting everything in a blender and blending until smooth. If you don't have a blender you can whisk everything together instead, just make sure it's mixed thoroughly.

    Meal Prep and Storage Tips

    • Shred the veggies ahead of time and keep them in airtight containers in the refrigerator.
    • The dressing can also be made up to 5 days in advance to save on time.
    • Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

    Common Questions

    Is coleslaw vegan?

    Creamy coleslaw is usually not vegan because the dressing uses egg based mayonnaise, or dairy filled sour cream or yogurt. This recipe avoids all of those to keep it vegan friendly.

    What is coleslaw dressing made of?

    Generally, coleslaw dressing is made from mayonnaise, a sweetener like sugar, an acid such as lemon juice or vinegar, and seasonings. This version uses a vegan mayo, distilled white vinegar, celery seed, mustard seed, salt, and pepper.

    Does coleslaw contain mayonnaise?

    More often than not, yes. However, there are versions of coleslaw that use a vinegar based dressing. This recipe uses vegan mayonnaise.

    Is coleslaw bad for you?

    Everyone's version of what is healthy is different. Traditional coleslaw can be considered bad for you since it contains mayonnaise and sugar. I think we can all agree too much sugar isn't the healthiest thing in the world. Additionally, mayo contains high amounts of fat, and depending on your fat needs too much mayo can be unhealthy. This recipe omits any sugar, and my vegan mayo is made from all whole food ingredients for a healthier approach.

    More Vegan Side Dishes

    Main dishes always get all the attention, but so many times the side dishes are really where it's at! We love high flavor sides to compliment our favorite meals, here's some great plant based go tos:

    • A cowboy caviar salad in a white bowl with springs of cilantro and half a lime sitting on an orange background.
      The Best Cowboy Salad Recipe
    • Crispy baked french fries in a brown tin on a red checkered towel.
      Crispy Oven Fries Recipe
    • Spoons serving a citrus avocado and feta salad from a white platter with an avocado and bowl of feta next to it.
      Citrus Salad Recipe with Avocado and Feta
    • A fork getting a bite of creamy macaroni salad from a stack of two white bowls with blue rims.
      Easy Vegan Macaroni Salad Recipe
    Click here to subscribe
    Creamy coleslaw in a black bowl that is sitting on top of a blue napkin.

    Creamy Vegan Coleslaw Recipe

    Sophia DeSantis
    This creamy vegan coleslaw is a guilt-free twist on a classic favorite! Full of crunchy vegetables mixed with a flavorful dairy free dressing.
    4.50 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Shop Ingredients
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 20 minutes mins
    Course 30 Minutes or Less, Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8
    Calories 85 kcal

    Equipment

    • Blender

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 4 cups shredded cabbage , can do a mix of green and red or a prepackaged mix
    • 1 cup shredded carrots , see note
    • ½ thinly sliced red onion

    Dressing:

    • ½ - ¾ cup vegan mayo , depending on how creamy you like it (see note)
    • 1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar , see note
    • ½ teaspoon sea salt
    • ½ teaspoon celery seed
    • ¼ teaspoon ground mustard seed
    • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Place cabbage, carrots and red onion in a bowl and mix well.
    • Add all dressing ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.
    • Add dressing to the bowl and mix well to spread the creamy dressing over the entire mix.
    • After mixing, allow salad to sit for a bit to combine flavors. I usually let it settle about 5-10 minutes but it’s still great the next day.

    Notes

    • There are some mixes you can buy that has the carrots, or other veggies, in them. You can make this easy and use those. Just make sure the total cups is the same.
    • You can sub the mayo, or some of it, with sour cream or even plain yogurt. You will need more salt and a bit more vinegar to get the right flavor combo however.
    • My homemade vegan mayo is what I used and it’s perfect and made with whole foods.
    • If you want to use another vinegar you can, however the end result won’t have that same tang.

    Recipe by Veggies Don’t Bite, visit our site for more great plant-based recipes.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 85kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 3gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 151mgPotassium: 191mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 2241IUVitamin C: 14mgCalcium: 28mgIron: 1mg

    Nutrition and metric information should be considered an estimate.

    Never miss a recipe!Sign up here and get a FREE quick and easy meal guide!
    A photo of a signature saying Sophia with a blueberry as the letter O
    « How to Make Coconut Butter
    Watermelon Feta Mint Salad »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Questions or comments? Let me know below! Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. SwashB

      January 13, 2023 at 4:41 am

      Apple cider vinegar is the very definition of tang. 👍

      Reply
      • Sophia DeSantis

        January 13, 2023 at 8:04 am

        Agreed! Glad you liked it!

        Reply
    2. John

      March 30, 2021 at 3:01 am

      Whats your opinion on using like a broccoli slaw ?

      Reply
      • veggiesdontbite

        April 01, 2021 at 5:39 pm

        Hi John! I love broccoli slaw! I often mix it in. Go for it!

        Reply
    3. Chelsee

      March 10, 2021 at 9:48 am

      Perfect for picnics!

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I’m Sophia and I love food. As a food photographer, plant-based recipe creator, and client-centered health coach, I focus on helping people feel empowered instead of overwhelmed when it comes to overall health and wellness. Let me help you eat more plants!

    More about me →

    Click here to subscribe

    Vegan Soup Recipes

    • Two white soup bowls filled with vegetable bean soup and sitting on a dark grey surface next to spoons, parsley, garlic and lemons.
      Vegetable Bean Soup Recipe
    • Butternut squash soup in two white soup mugs on a white wooden surface with thyme and pumpkin seeds on the soup.
      Vegan Butternut Squash Soup
    • A glass jar with a pink lentil and veggie stew in it sitting on a white towel on a white wood surface.
      French Lentil Soup (Vegan)
    • Asian style veggies and noodles in a broth in a black bowl with a white asian soup spoon next to it.
      Vegan Miso Soup with Noodles & Vegetables

    Vegan Fall Recipes

    • Fork taking a bite out of a baked apple on a plate.
      Healthy Baked Cinnamon Apples
    • Blue bowl with two pieces of apple cobbler and whipped cream
      Easy Apple Cobbler
    • Two burgers with pretzel buns and rice based burgers topped with white sauce and lettuce.
      Apple Burgers with Butternut Squash
    • A red checked towel with an apple pie smoothie topped with whipped cream and caramel on top.
      Healthy Apple Pie Smoothie

    Trending Recipes

    • Three oat breakfast bars stacked on top of each other sitting on a piece of parchment paper.
      Healthy Breakfast Bars (Gluten Free)
    • A white bowl surrounded by a towel with cooked chickpeas inside and sprigs of thyme on top.
      How To Cook Dried Chickpeas
    • Asian style veggies and noodles in a broth in a black bowl with a white asian soup spoon next to it.
      Vegan Miso Soup with Noodles & Vegetables
    • A blue bowl on a blue striped towel that is filled with black beans and white rice with cilantro on top.
      The Best Vegan Black Beans (with Recipes)
    Cookbook cover with a burrito, burger and fries on a white table with a black background

    Amazon | Barnes & Noble

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Logos of websites that listed places this site has been featured

    About

    • About Me
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    Click here to subscribe

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with me
    • Press

    Copyright © 2013-2023 Veggies Don't Bite