Easy Sweet and Spicy Pickle Slaw Recipe for Dinner
Love the crunch and tang of pickles? You’ll adore this Easy Sweet and Spicy Pickle Slaw. After making it dozens of times, I discovered the secret to a perfect balance of sweet and heat. Jump to the recipe card or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Iced Blue Tea Latte with Vanilla Cold Foam and Easy Orange Teriyaki Turkey Medallions.
Why This Easy Sweet and Spicy Pickle Slaw Recipe for Dinner Is Pure Comfort
- It's ready in just 15 minutes
- Better than takeout
- Perfect balance of sweet and spicy
- Crispy, tangy, and addictive
What You'll Need for Easy Sweet and Spicy Pickle Slaw Recipe for Dinner
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- 1/2 head green cabbage
- 1/2 head red cabbage
- 1/2 small red onion
- 1/2 cup chopped dill pickles
- 1/2 cup pickle juice
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp hot sauce (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 tsp celery seeds
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Optional: Chopped fresh parsley
- Optional: Crushed red pepper flakes
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Cabbage: You can also use pre-shredded coleslaw mix.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Food Processor — Saves time and ensures even shredding. → See on Amazon
- Mandoline Slicer — Gives you thin, even slices for perfect texture. → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Sweet and Spicy Pickle Slaw Recipe for Dinner
- Prepare the cabbage: Thinly slice the green and red cabbage. You can use a mandoline slicer or a sharp knife.
- Chop the onion and pickles: Finely chop the red onion and dill pickles. You can use a food processor for this.
- Mix the dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, sugar, Dijon mustard, hot sauce, celery seeds, salt, and pepper.
- Combine and toss: Add the cabbage, onion, pickles, and pickle juice to the bowl with the dressing. Toss until everything is well coated.
- Chill and serve: Chill the slaw in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. Top with chopped fresh parsley and crushed red pepper flakes, if desired.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Sweet and Spicy Pickle Slaw Recipe for Dinner
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overmix the slaw or it will become watery. Just toss until the ingredients are well coated.
- Pro tip: For a spicier slaw, add more hot sauce or a pinch of cayenne pepper. For a milder version, use less hot sauce or omit it entirely.
- Pro tip: Make this slaw up to a day ahead. The flavors will meld together and it will be even tastier.
- Pro tip: Serve this slaw with grilled meats, burgers, or as a side for a cookout. It's also great with fried chicken or fish.
Storing & Reheating Easy Sweet and Spicy Pickle Slaw Recipe 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: You can make this slaw up to a day ahead.
Freezing Easy Sweet and Spicy Pickle Slaw Recipe for Dinner
Not recommended for this recipe.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Not applicable. Microwave: Not applicable.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a creamier slaw, add a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt to the dressing.
- Best substitution: If you don't have apple cider vinegar, you can use white vinegar or lemon juice.
- Make-ahead: This slaw is best made ahead to allow the flavors to meld together.
- Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for a crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If your slaw is too watery, you can drain some of the liquid before serving. If it's too dry, add a bit more mayonnaise or pickle juice.
Want to level up this recipe?
Good quality mayonnaise — Makes a big difference in the flavor of this slaw. → Check price on Amazon
Easy Sweet and Spicy Pickle Slaw Recipe for Dinner
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1/2 head green cabbage
- 1/2 head red cabbage
- 1/2 small red onion
- 1/2 cup chopped dill pickles
- 1/2 cup pickle juice
Seasonings
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp hot sauce (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 tsp celery seeds
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Optional Toppings
- Chopped fresh parsley
- Crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Prepare the cabbage: Thinly slice the green and red cabbage. You can use a mandoline slicer or a sharp knife.
- Chop the onion and pickles: Finely chop the red onion and dill pickles. You can use a food processor for this.
- Mix the dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, sugar, Dijon mustard, hot sauce, celery seeds, salt, and pepper.
- Combine and toss: Add the cabbage, onion, pickles, and pickle juice to the bowl with the dressing. Toss until everything is well coated.
- Chill and serve: Chill the slaw in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. Top with chopped fresh parsley and crushed red pepper flakes, if desired.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a creamier slaw, add a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt to the dressing.
- Best substitution: If you don't have apple cider vinegar, you can use white vinegar or lemon juice.
- Make-ahead: This slaw is best made ahead to allow the flavors to meld together.
- Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for a crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If your slaw is too watery, you can drain some of the liquid before serving. If it's too dry, add a bit more mayonnaise or pickle juice.
Storage
- Fridge: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: Not recommended for this recipe.
- Oven reheat: Not applicable.
- Microwave reheat: Not applicable.
- Make ahead: You can make this slaw up to a day ahead.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 170
- Protein: 2g
- Fat: 14g
- Carbs: 12g
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 650mg
- 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 Recipe for Dinner FAQs
Yes, it's best made ahead to allow the flavors to meld together. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
If your slaw is too watery, you can drain some of the liquid before serving. This can happen if you overmix the slaw or if the cabbage releases too much liquid.
For a spicier slaw, add more hot sauce or a pinch of cayenne pepper. For a milder version, use less hot sauce or omit it entirely.
This slaw is great with grilled meats, burgers, or as a side for a cookout. It's also delicious with fried chicken or fish.
Yes, you can use pre-shredded coleslaw mix to save time. Just adjust the amount of dressing to your taste.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Sweet and Spicy Pickle Slaw Recipe 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!
