Jalapeño Coleslaw

Why We ❤️ This Jalapeño Slaw Recipe

Blake and I have always been big fans of coleslaw. But our daughters, not so much. UNTIL this recipe came around. They LOVE it! Here’s why it’s a family favorite:

• A fun twist on coleslaw that’s easily adjustable. Don’t get me wrong – I love a traditional creamy coleslaw and my mom’s vinegar-based coleslaw. But I also live by the motto “variety is the spice of life”. So this jalapeno slaw is extra fun with its fresh jalapeno and lime – and you can easily adjust the amount of jalapeno, whether you like it mild or super spicy!
• Magical with tacos! With a cumin-spiced mayo and sour cream base, plus fresh jalapeno, lime juice and zest – the flavor combo is perfection with tacos and most any Mexican-inspired meals!
• Easy. This is a super simple one-bowl side dish recipe, a great last-minute addition to any meal. I like to stir it together, then pop it in the fridge to chill for 30 minutes while making the rest of the meal.

Ingredient Notes

I’ve outlined below what you’ll need to make this jalapeno slaw recipe. Scroll down to the printable recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredient amounts.

Dressing

• Mayonnaise – Use a good-quality mayo like Hellmann’s.
• Sour cream – I prefer full-fat sour cream for richness and flavor.
• Sugar – A little granulated sugar adds a touch of sweetness to the dressing. You could also use honey.
• Lime juice & zest – Fresh lime gives this slaw a unique, irresistible flavor.
• Celery salt – I’ve always liked coleslaw recipes that use celery seed or celery salt, such as Mom’s sweet onion coleslaw – so I couldn’t resist adding it to this recipe!
• Cumin – This adds a hint of smoky, earthy flavor. One of my favorite spices in the drawer!
• Black pepper – For additional seasoning.

Coleslaw Mix

• Cabbage – I like to use a mix of red and green cabbage, for pretty color. You can buy pre-shredded cabbage or shred it yourself.
• Carrots – Buy pre-shredded carrots or shred whole peeled carrots yourself.
• Cilantro – This herb is a natural with Mexican-inspired meals, so it’s perfect in this recipe with lime and jalapeno.
• Red onion – This adds a little more depth of flavor to the slaw, plus some more color.
• Jalapeño pepper – Feel free to adjust the amount of jalapeno, to include as little or as much as you like.

Is Jalapeño Slaw Spicy?

The thing about jalapenos is that the heat level can vary tremendously from one to the next. So I always recommend that you taste-test before adding them to the salad. My family prefers just a touch of warm heat, so I don’t make it overly spicy. But if you crave heat, go for it! Add more!

How to Make Jalapeño Coleslaw

This one-bowl recipe comes together in a snap. Here’s a quick look at how to do it. Find the detailed instructions in the recipe card lower down.

• Make the dressing. Stir together the dressing ingredients in a large bowl.

• Combine everything together. Add the coleslaw mix ingredients to the dressing and fold to combine. Enjoy right away or let it chill in the fridge for 30-60 minutes before serving.

Tips & Variation Ideas

A few simple tips will help this jalapeno slaw recipe to turn out perfectly:

• Use fresh, crisp vegetables. For the best flavor and crispest texture, use the freshest veggies possible.
• Rest the slaw. You can definitely serve this as soon as you make it. But I personally like it even more after it’s had 30 minutes to rest in the fridge. This gives it a more chilled temperature and lets the flavors mingle.
• Try Greek yogurt. If you’re not a fan of mayo, try substituting with plain Greek yogurt. It won’t have quite the intended flavor, but it will still be very good.
• Buy pre-shredded veggies. If you’re short on time, just grab pre-shredded cabbage and carrots.
• Prep ahead. You can prepare this dish up to 24 hours in advance. Just stir together the dressing and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. And combine all the fresh veggies together in an airtight container and put it in the fridge. Then 30-60 minutes prior to serving, combine the dressing and veggies, and let it chill in the fridge while you prepare the rest of the meal.
• Add-ins: Try adding sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds for extra crunch. During summertime sweet corn season, I also like to cut fresh corn kernels off the cob and toss them into the salad, raw. SO GOOD!!!!

Serving Suggestions

I like to tuck a few jalapeño slices into the top of the slaw, to give guests a little heads-up that this slaw includes jalapeños! Here are some ways to serve jalapeño slaw:

• Grilling. Set out a fresh, cold bowl of slaw with anything you pull off of the grill. Some of our favorite main dishes include easy grilled pork chops, southwest salad with grilled chicken and cumin lime vinaigrette, grilled pork and pineapple tacos, and grilled shrimp Or, find something to suit every occasion in my grilling section!
• Salads. Jalapeño coleslaw is great paired with other vegetable-forward salads such as my roasted beet salad, crunchy broccoli salad, and arugula beet salad. It would also pair well with my Mexican corn salad!
• Vegetables. If you’ve already got the grill going, toss on a few veggies! My grilled asparagus or grilled vegetable salad recipes are easy and satisfying.
• Pasta salads. Cold pasta salads are a summer staple. Try my bacon ranch pasta salad and Mom’s macaroni salad with ham and cheese.
• TACOS! Top my blackened shrimp tacos or easy fish tacos with a big spoonful of spicy slaw.
• Burgers. It’s perfect with goat cheese stuffed turkey burgers, juicy lucy burger lettuce wraps, or cheeseburger sliders.

How to Store Extras

Transfer leftover jalapeño slaw to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days. Just know that the slaw will soften more the longer it sits in the fridge.

More Easy Sides

• German Potato Salad
• Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
• Cowboy Beans
• Mojito Fruit Salad