Old fashioned Amish coleslaw is an American classic side dish that's perfect for summer gatherings. The tangy vinegar dressing and the crunchy cabbage are a match made in heaven.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
It is made with simple ingredients, but the flavors are complex and delicious. This traditional Amish coleslaw recipe is easy and delicious - perfect for barbecues, picnics.
The tangy vinegar dressing has all the classic flavor you'd expect from a homemade slaw, without the same risks associated with mayonnaise based coleslaw. And best of all? You can whip up this simple slaw in no time!
- Simple. Simple to make and uses simple, easy to source, budget friendly ingredients.
- Delicious. The vinegar based dressing is tangy and compliments the crisp shredded cabbage.
- Versatile. Serve it as a side dish, a topping for sandwiches, or with pulled pork sliders.
- Healthy. This old fashioned coleslaw is low in calories and fat.
Jump to:
- Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Amish Coleslaw Ingredients
- How to Make Old Fashioned Amish Coleslaw
- Add Dressing
- Serving Suggestions
- Related Recipes
- Substitutions and Variations
- Equipment
- Storage and Freezing
- Tips for Success
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Food Safety
- Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love
- 📖 Recipe
- Connect with Smells Like Delish!
Amish Coleslaw Ingredients
The key ingredients in Amish coleslaw are cabbage, onion, vinegar, sugar, oil, and spices. The cabbage is the star of the show, and it should be shredded as thinly as possible. The onion adds a bit of sweetness and crunch, and the vinegar dressing brings it all together.
- Coleslaw mix - Or, shred 1 small head of cabbage.
- Carrot - Small carrot if not using a bag of coleslaw mix.
- Onion - Diced finely, yellow or green spring onions are best.
- Apple cider vinegar - Or, Red wine vinegar.
- Honey - Or, sugar.
- Vegetable oil
- Salt - To taste.
- Black pepper - To taste.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How to Make Old Fashioned Amish Coleslaw
This Amish coleslaw recipe is easy to make and can be customized easily. You can add carrots, red cabbage, or even fruit to the slaw. You can also adjust the amount of vinegar or sugar to your taste.
Place Shredded Cabbage In Bowl
- Empty the bag of coleslaw mix into a large mixing bowl.
- Add the finely diced onion, or the chopped green onions.
PRO TIP: Or, shred a small head of cabbage and one small carrot in your food processor instead of using pre made coleslaw mix.
Prepare Amish Coleslaw Dressing
- In a small bowl, whisk together the apple cider vinegar, honey, vegetable oil, salt, and pepper.
Add Dressing
- Pour the Amish coleslaw dressing over the bowl of coleslaw and onion.
Toss Coleslaw
- Pour the Amish coleslaw dressing over the bowl of coleslaw and onion.
- Toss to coat the shredded cabbage and chill for two hours or overnight before serving.
Serving Suggestions
Old Fashioned Amish Coleslaw is a great side dish to serve with barbecue, fried chicken, or fish. You can also serve it as a topping for sandwiches or wraps. No matter how you serve it, coleslaw is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed on its own or as part of a larger meal.
- Smoked Brisket Flat
- Chili Lime Shrimp Tacos
- Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sliders
- Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
- Traeger Smoked Chicken Breasts
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Related Recipes
Substitutions and Variations
Here are a few easy variations when making this old fashioned apple cider vinegar coleslaw recipe:
- If you don't have apple cider vinegar, you can use white vinegar or even lemon juice.
- If you want a sweeter slaw, you can add more sugar to the dressing.
- Caraway seeds add a great flavor. Use about 1 tablespoon of whole caraway seeds in this recipe.
- Substitute red cabbage for some or all of the green cabbage.
Equipment
Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. Below are some of my favorite pieces of equipment that I use when making a this recipe for old fashioned coleslaw with vinegar.
Storage and Freezing
- Old Fashioned Amish Coleslaw can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- You can also freeze it for up to 2 months since it has no mayonnaise in the dressing.
- To thaw the coleslaw, place it overnight in the refrigerator and then stir it well before serving.
Tips for Success
- Let this old fashioned coleslaw with vinegar chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or overnight, before serving. This will allow the flavors to blend and the coleslaw to become even more delicious.
- This dressing can be used on other vegetables, such as carrots, celery, or cucumbers. It can also be used as a marinade for chicken or fish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can use mayonnaise instead of vinegar dressing. However, the slaw will not have the same tangy flavor. Keep in mind however that mayonnaise based coleslaw shouldn't be left out at room temperature.
This apple cider vinegar coleslaw will last in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Yes, you can make this recipe ahead of time. Simply prepare the slaw and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Food Safety
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat.
- Wash hands after touching raw meat.
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods.
- Never leave cooking food unattended.
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds.
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove.
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love
📖 Recipe
Amish Coleslaw (Old Fashioned Coleslaw)
Ingredients
- 16 oz slaw mix or small head of cabbage shredded
- 1 small carrot shredded if using head of cabbage
- ½ onion diced finely, or 5 green onions, chopped.
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoon honey or sugar
- 2 tablespoon vegetable oil or olive oil
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Empty the bag of coleslaw mix into a large mixing bowl.PRO TIP: Or, shred a small head of cabbage and one small carrot in your food processor instead of using pre made coleslaw mix.16 oz slaw mix, 1 small carrot
- Add the finely diced onion, or the chopped green onions.½ onion
- In a small bowl, whisk together the apple cider vinegar, honey, vegetable oil, salt, and pepper.¼ cup apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoon honey, 2 tablespoon vegetable oil, salt, black pepper
- Pour the Amish coleslaw dressing over the bowl of coleslaw and onion.
- Toss to coat the shredded cabbage and chill for two hours or overnight before serving.
Notes
- Let this old fashioned coleslaw with vinegar chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or overnight, before serving. This will allow the flavors to blend and the coleslaw to become even more delicious.
- This dressing can be used on other vegetables, such as carrots, celery, or cucumbers. It can also be used as a marinade for chicken or fish.
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