Sweet and Tangy Apple Coleslaw Salad Recipe
This Sweet and Tangy Apple Coleslaw Salad is a refreshing and flavorful side dish that combines crisp coleslaw mix with tart Granny Smith apples, crunchy celery, and fresh green onions. Tossed in a warm, tangy dressing made with apple cider vinegar, sugar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, red pepper flakes, and creamy mayonnaise, this salad offers a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and spicy notes. It’s an ideal accompaniment for BBQ meals or sandwiches and needs at least an hour of chilling for the flavors to meld beautifully.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
For the Salad
- 1 bag (16 ounces) coleslaw mix
- 1 Granny Smith apple, sliced into thin matchsticks
- ½ cup diced celery
- 5 green onions, finely sliced
For the Dressing
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup granulated white sugar
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
Instructions
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix together the coleslaw mix, sliced Granny Smith apple, diced celery, and finely sliced green onions until well combined.
- Prepare the Dressing: In a saucepan over medium heat, whisk together apple cider vinegar, granulated sugar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, and red pepper flakes. Bring this mixture to a simmer, stirring consistently until the sugar has completely dissolved and the dressing is warm.
- Add Mayonnaise to Dressing: Remove the saucepan from heat and whisk the mayonnaise into the warm dressing until fully incorporated, creating a creamy and tangy dressing.
- Toss Salad with Dressing: Pour the warm dressing over the coleslaw mixture. Toss thoroughly to ensure all ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.
- Chill Before Serving: Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld and the coleslaw to chill fully before serving.
Notes
- To make this salad vegan, substitute the mayonnaise with a vegan mayo or prepare homemade vegan mayo.
- This salad pairs wonderfully as a side for BBQ dishes or sandwiches.
- For a twist, you can add pineapple or grapes to vary the sweetness and texture.
Keywords: Apple coleslaw, tangy coleslaw, apple cider vinegar dressing, summer salad, BBQ side dish, creamy coleslaw
