Easy Sweet and Spicy Pickle Slaw for Dinner
Easy Sweet and Spicy Pickle Slaw is the perfect side dish for summer cookouts. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to keeping it crispy is to toss it right before serving. This fresh, tangy slaw pairs perfectly with grilled meats. Jump to the recipe card or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Rhubarb Cream Cheese Bars Recipe for Spring Desserts and Refreshing Cherry Limeade Recipe for Easy Summer Drinks.
Why This Easy Sweet and Spicy Pickle Slaw for Dinner Is Pure Comfort
- Crispy and tangy, with a kick of heat
- Easy to make and customize
- Perfect for summer cookouts and BBQs
- Better than store-bought, every time
What You'll Need for Easy Sweet and Spicy Pickle Slaw for Dinner
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- 1 small head cabbage
- 1 small red onion
- 1 cup dill pickles
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp celery seeds
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- Mayonnaise
- Apple cider vinegar
- Dijon mustard
- Honey
- Celery seeds
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Cayenne pepper
- Optional: Chopped fresh parsley
- Optional: Crumbled bacon
- Optional: Shredded cheese
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Cabbage: Use a mandoline or food processor to thinly slice the cabbage for the best texture.
- Pickles: Use dill pickles for the best flavor. You can also use pickle relish if you prefer.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Mandoline Slicer — Makes slicing cabbage quick and easy → See on Amazon
- Food Processor — Saves time and effort in slicing cabbage → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Sweet and Spicy Pickle Slaw for Dinner
- Prepare the cabbage and onion: Thinly slice the cabbage and red onion. You can use a mandoline or food processor for this step.
- Chop the pickles: Finely chop the dill pickles. You can also use pickle relish if you prefer.
- Make the dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, celery seeds, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper (if using).
- Combine the ingredients: Add the sliced cabbage, red onion, and chopped pickles to the bowl with the dressing. Toss to combine.
- Chill and serve: Chill the slaw in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. Toss again just before serving to keep it crispy.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Sweet and Spicy Pickle Slaw for Dinner
- Common mistake and fix: Don't let the slaw sit too long before serving. The longer it sits, the softer it gets.
- Tip: For a milder slaw, reduce or omit the cayenne pepper. For a spicier slaw, add more cayenne pepper or a pinch of red pepper flakes.
- Tip: Make this slaw up to a day ahead. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Toss it again just before serving to refresh the crunch.
- Tip: This slaw is perfect for meal prepping. Make a big batch and portion it out for the week. It keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Storing & Reheating Easy Sweet and Spicy Pickle Slaw for Dinner
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days Make-ahead tip: Yes, make up to a day ahead. Toss again just before serving.
Freezing Easy Sweet and Spicy Pickle Slaw for Dinner
Not recommended
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Not applicable Microwave: Not applicable
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a faster, easier method, you can use a bag of pre-shredded coleslaw mix instead of slicing the cabbage and onion yourself.
- Best substitution: If you don't have apple cider vinegar, you can use white vinegar or lemon juice as a substitute.
- Make-ahead: This slaw is best made fresh, but it can be made up to a day ahead. Store it in the refrigerator and toss again just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe is easily scalable. Just adjust the quantities of the ingredients to suit your needs.
- Troubleshooting: If your slaw is too dry, add a little more mayonnaise. If it's too wet, add a little more cabbage or let it sit for a few minutes to drain some of the liquid.
Want to level up this recipe?
High-quality mayonnaise — Using a good-quality mayonnaise makes a big difference in the flavor of this slaw → Check price on Amazon
Easy Sweet and Spicy Pickle Slaw for Dinner
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 small head cabbage
- 1 small red onion
- 1 cup dill pickles
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp celery seeds
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
Seasonings
- Mayonnaise
- Apple cider vinegar
- Dijon mustard
- Honey
- Celery seeds
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Cayenne pepper
Optional Toppings
- Chopped fresh parsley
- Crumbled bacon
- Shredded cheese
Instructions
- Prepare the cabbage and onion: Thinly slice the cabbage and red onion. You can use a mandoline or food processor for this step.
- Chop the pickles: Finely chop the dill pickles. You can also use pickle relish if you prefer.
- Make the dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, celery seeds, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper (if using).
- Combine the ingredients: Add the sliced cabbage, red onion, and chopped pickles to the bowl with the dressing. Toss to combine.
- Chill and serve: Chill the slaw in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. Toss again just before serving to keep it crispy.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a faster, easier method, you can use a bag of pre-shredded coleslaw mix instead of slicing the cabbage and onion yourself.
- Best substitution: If you don't have apple cider vinegar, you can use white vinegar or lemon juice as a substitute.
- Make-ahead: This slaw is best made fresh, but it can be made up to a day ahead. Store it in the refrigerator and toss again just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe is easily scalable. Just adjust the quantities of the ingredients to suit your needs.
- Troubleshooting: If your slaw is too dry, add a little more mayonnaise. If it's too wet, add a little more cabbage or let it sit for a few minutes to drain some of the liquid.
Storage
- Fridge: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days
- Freezer: Not recommended
- Oven reheat: Not applicable
- Microwave reheat: Not applicable
- Make ahead: Yes, make up to a day ahead. Toss again just before serving.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 140
- Protein: 2g
- Fat: 12g
- Carbs: 9g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Cholesterol: 10mg
- Sat. Fat: 2g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Sweet and Spicy Pickle Slaw for Dinner FAQs
Yes, you can make this slaw up to a day ahead. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Toss it again just before serving to refresh the crunch.
Your slaw may be soggy if it's been sitting too long or if you added too much dressing. To fix this, drain some of the liquid and add more cabbage or a little more mayonnaise.
Yes, this slaw is perfect for summer cookouts and BBQs. The fresh, tangy flavors pair well with grilled meats.
No, freezing this slaw will cause it to lose its crispy texture. It's best to make it fresh and store any leftovers in the refrigerator.
This slaw is great with grilled meats like chicken, pork, or beef. It also pairs well with fish and seafood. For a light meal, you can serve it with sandwiches or wraps.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Sweet and Spicy Pickle Slaw for Dinner and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
