North Carolina Coleslaw
North Carolina Coleslaw combines crisp cabbage, tangy vinegar dressing and a touch of sweetness for a bold, refreshing slaw that’s packed with flavor and crunch.
This North Carolina Coleslaw skips the mayo and uses a warm vinegar-based dressing that soaks into the vegetables for a bright, zesty side dish.
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Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This North Carolina Coleslaw
North Carolina Coleslaw delivers a crisp, tangy bite with a balanced dressing that enhances every ingredient.
- Tangy vinegar dressing: Apple cider vinegar and mustard create a bold, zesty flavor without heaviness.
- Crisp, fresh texture: Cabbage, carrots and kale add crunch and variety in every bite.
- No mayo needed: A lighter option that still feels flavorful and satisfying.
- Great make-ahead side: The flavors deepen as it chills, making it even better after resting.
North Carolina Coleslaw delivers bright flavor, satisfying crunch and a refreshing twist on a classic side.
What Goes With North Carolina Coleslaw
This tangy slaw pairs perfectly with rich, savory dishes that benefit from a fresh, acidic contrast:
- Pulled pork or BBQ sandwiches: The vinegar dressing cuts through smoky, rich meats and balances the flavors beautifully.
- Fried or grilled chicken: Adds a crisp, refreshing side that complements savory seasoning.
- Burgers or hot dogs: Brings brightness and crunch to classic cookout favorites.
- Baked beans: A sweet and hearty side that pairs well with the tangy slaw.
- Cornbread or rolls: Helps round out the meal with a soft, comforting element.
These pairings make North Carolina Coleslaw perfect for cookouts, picnics or casual dinners.
What is North Carolina Coleslaw
North Carolina coleslaw is a vinegar-based coleslaw that’s tangy, slightly sweet, and crisp, rather than creamy.
It’s typically made with shredded cabbage, vinegar, sugar, and seasonings, without mayonnaise, which gives it a lighter texture and a bright, zesty flavor.
It’s especially popular in North Carolina barbecue, where it’s often served on top of pulled pork sandwiches or alongside smoked meats, helping cut through the richness with its refreshing acidity.
North Carolina Coleslaw Recipe
North Carolina Coleslaw tosses fresh vegetables with a warm vinegar dressing, then chills for a crisp, tangy and flavorful side dish.
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes
Chill time: 2 hours
Total time: About 2 hours 25 minutes
Servings: 8
Kitchen Tools You’ll Need
To prepare North Carolina Coleslaw, you’ll need the following kitchen tools:
- Measuring Cups and Spoons: For accurately measuring vinegar, sugar and oil.
- Large Glass Mixing Bowl: To combine the vegetables and toss evenly.
- Cutting Board: To prep cabbage, onions and kale safely.
- Chef’s Knife: To slice vegetables thinly for the best texture.
- Grater: To grate the carrots evenly.
- Small Saucepan: To heat and dissolve the vinegar and sugar.
- Whisk: To combine the dressing ingredients smoothly.
- Plastic Wrap or Lid: To cover and chill the slaw.
These tools make it easy to create a crisp, tangy coleslaw with perfectly balanced vinegar dressing and fresh, crunchy vegetables every time.
Ingredients
These ingredients come together to create a fresh, tangy coleslaw.
- Green cabbage
- Red onion
- White onion
- Carrots
- Kale leaves
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Apple cider vinegar
- White sugar
- Vegetable oil
- Dijon mustard
- Celery seeds
How To Make North Carolina Coleslaw
Add the cabbage, red onion, white onion, carrots and kale to a large bowl and toss to combine.
Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the vinegar and sugar and stir until the sugar fully dissolves.
Remove from heat and whisk in the vegetable oil, Dijon mustard and celery seeds.
Pour the warm dressing over the cabbage mixture and toss thoroughly to coat.
Cover and refrigerate for a couple of hours before serving, then adjust seasoning if needed and serve chilled.
More Coleslaw Recipes
Explore more coleslaw recipes that deliver fresh crunch and flavorful variety to your meals.
- Best Coleslaw Salad Recipe
- Tarragon Vinaigrette Coleslaw
- Honey Dill Coleslaw
- No Mayo Southwest Coleslaw
- Best Classic Coleslaw Recipe
- Apple Poppy Seed Coleslaw
- Fresh Pineapple Coleslaw
- Zucchini Coleslaw
North Caroline Coleslaw
North Carolina Coleslaw combines crisp cabbage, tangy vinegar dressing and a touch of sweetness for a bold, refreshing slaw that’s packed with flavor and crunch.
Ingredients
- 1 head green cabbage, cored and thinly sliced
- 1 small or ½ medium red onion, thinly sliced 1 small white onion, thinly sliced
- 3 large carrots, grated
- 4 large kale leaves, stalk removed and cut into thin ribbons
- salt and pepper, to taste
- ¾ c. apple cider vinegar
- ½ c. white sugar
- ½ c. vegetable oil
- 1 T. Dijon mustard
- 2 t. celery seeds
Instructions
- Add the cabbage, red onion, white onion, carrots and kale to a large bowl and toss to combine.
- Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
- In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the vinegar and sugar and stir until the sugar fully dissolves.
- Remove from heat and whisk in the vegetable oil, Dijon mustard and celery seeds.
- Pour the warm dressing over the cabbage mixture and toss thoroughly to coat.
- Cover and refrigerate for a couple of hours before serving, then adjust seasoning if needed and serve chilled.
Notes
For best results, soak the red onion in a mixture of 1 part water to 1 part vinegar for 10-15 minutes before use to tame the strong flavor and reduce odor.
Tough kale leaves can be tenderized by rubbing them with some olive oil for a few minutes.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 36Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 43mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 2gSugar: 2gProtein: 2g
Nutrient values are only estimates provided by online calculators. Various factors can change the nutritional information in any given recipe.
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