20 Recipes That Start With a Bag of Coleslaw Mix (2024)

When you buy a bag of coleslaw mix, the question isn't whether to whip up vinegar- or mayo-based slaw. The question is whether you'll make coleslaw at all. Trust us, we're very much Team Coleslaw here. (Take our hundreds of recipes as proof.) But we relish new ideas for those ever-convenient bags of shredded cabbage. From hearty stews to zippy salads, here are our favorite ways to use coleslaw mix.

01of 20

The Best Chicken Salad Ever

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20 Recipes That Start With a Bag of Coleslaw Mix (1)

When you have about 1/4 cup of coleslaw mix left, make the most of it by making The Best Chicken Salad Ever. You can't beat the crunch.

02of 20

Spaghetti Squash Pad Thai

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Who knew broccoli slaw mix could be the secret to stir fry? Don't let this easy recipe's 50-minute cook time discourage you from making it. A 30- to 45-minute chunk of that is the squash baking in the oven until it's tender enough to shred into spaghetti-like strands.

03of 20

Keto Beef Egg Roll Slaw

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"Delicious! I used pork and topped it with a tiny bit of fried wonton strips, which I know isn't Keto," Cheryl Leary says. "But it was very tasty. It was just the right amount of spicy, and I will make this again."

04of 20

Bacon Okonomiyaki

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Recipe creator Whitney calls this an Americanized take on okonomiyaki, a savory Japanese pancake filled with veggies: "It can be customized to your liking, but I prefer to keep mine simple." Since you're shredding the cabbage anyway, you might as well use a bag of coleslaw mix here.

05of 20

Broccoli and Ramen Noodle Salad

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When you're craving crunch, this salad delivers with slaw mix, ramen, unsalted peanuts, and sunflower seeds. A sweet vinaigrette tops it off.

06of 20

Portable Chinese Chicken Salad

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"This is my middle son's very favorite salad -- so much so, he requested that it be served at his graduation open house last June where it went over famously! The only change I made was substituting white vinegar and sugar for the called for items. No difference noted," Susan Sunderman says.

07of 20

Chicken Mango Salsa Salad with Chipotle Lime Vinaigrette

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"A delicious, colorful, sweet, and spicy salad with diced chicken, mango pico de gallo salsa, blue cheese, and cranberries in a wonderful chipotle-lime vinaigrette. It's almost too pretty to eat. Almost," says recipe creator Occasional Cooker.

08of 20

Thai Chicken Broccoli Slaw

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Sesame oil and peanut sauce lend this skillet dinner a toasty, Thai-inspired flavor. You can use cabbage or broccoli slaw here.

09of 20

Beefy Cabbage Stew

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"I tried this recipe since I'd never thought to make a stew with coleslaw mix. I liked the different textures of beans, beef, and cabbage," Denise Y. says. "I added additional spices to perk it up, and my hubby really enjoyed it."

10of 20

Catfish Po Boy

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"Quick and easy just the right amount of heat," San says. "The fish was crispy, and adding coleslaw gave it that pop and sweet crunch. Yummy!"

11of 20

Timesaver Kale Slaw

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True to its name, this salad takes just 15 minutes to make. You can thank the coleslaw mix.

12of 20

Golompke (Beef and Cabbage Casserole)

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"Delicious and easy recipe that has the taste of cabbage rolls! A bag of slaw mix from the produce section, some ground beef along with several other ingredients and you have a fabulous dinner," Debby Allen says.

13of 20

Thai Shrimp and Cabbage

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"This spicy shrimp is absolutely wonderful served over shredded cabbage. When I'm in a hurry, I use packaged coleslaw mix instead," says recipe creator Beth Malchiodi. "It's a welcome change from rice."

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14of 20

Weeknight Crack Slaw

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"When you get home from work, you hardly want a big production for dinner. That's when this recipe can be your standby. Cook your ground turkey, then add veggies, coleslaw mix, and sauce and in 10 minutes you've got a hearty meal for everyone to enjoy," Matt Wencl says.

15of 20

Pittsburgh Football Sunday Pasta Salad

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Slaw mix, tomatoes, cucumber, canned tuna, and cheese turn pasta salad from a side to a balanced meal.

16of 20

Grilled Cheese and Veggie Sandwich

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"In a million years, I never would have thought to put coleslaw mix on my grilled cheese," says Sondran. "I figured I would give it a shot, and I am so glad I did! I liked the creaminess of the cheese then the crispness of the slaw mix. I will definitely be adding it to my grilled cheeses from now on!"

17of 20

Thai Chicken Slaw Burgers

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Sweet, tangy slaw complements spiced chicken sandwiches. Season with red pepper flakes for extra heat, recommends reviewer Linda T.

18of 20

Kai's Chicken Potstickers

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Replace 1 cup finely shredded carrots and 3/4 cup finely shredded cabbage with a bag of coleslaw mix, and you're golden. Just like these potstickers.

19of 20

Sweet and Crunchy Salad

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With mandarin oranges, water chestnuts, and slaw in the mix, this salad tastes light but satisfying. "It was heaven from the first bite," Mari Boyd says. "Adding fresh cilantro really gives it a wonderful flavor."

20of 20

Spicy Veggie Cabbage Soup

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"Just love this soup. I developed it to use up small quantities of veggies, and we fell in love with the flavors. For a less spicy soup, use regular Italian sausage. For more heat, add some cayenne pepper and/or crushed red pepper flakes," Phyllis Trinke Funk says.

  • Our Most Popular Cabbage Recipes
  • See our entire collection of cabbage recipes here.
20 Recipes That Start With a Bag of Coleslaw Mix (2024)

FAQs

How do you jazz up store bought coleslaw? ›

Flavor wise, chopped pickle relish, celery seeds, a touch of Dijon mustard, salt, pepper and sour cream are all common. Just mix everything together and go!

How do you make Gordon Ramsay homemade coleslaw? ›

In a bowl mix together 2 Tbs vinegar, juice of half lemon, 3 Tbs mayonnaise, 1 tsp sugar, 1 tsp salt and pepper and mix well. Add the dressing into the cabbage and mix well. Let sit for 15 minutes before serving as a healthy side dish to your burger!

Can you freeze raw coleslaw mix? ›

It is perfectly safe to freeze coleslaw. You can freeze coleslaw without risk as long as the slaw hasn't been left out before freezing and it's thawed slowly in the fridge.

Why does my homemade coleslaw go watery? ›

Cabbage contains lots of water. Alton Brown suggests salting the cabbage and letting the water drain for two hours, then rinsing the cabbage and spinning it dry before dressing it. That purges the excess water out of the cabbage before it is dressed, so it doesn't get watery.

How do you pimp up shop bought coleslaw? ›

Minced red bell pepper, minced dill pickle or cornichon, minced parsley, some sour cream, white balsamic and a little lemon juice to cut through the often way-too-sweet storebought stuff.

What to add to store bought cole slaw? ›

It's the dressing that makes it so bad. Buy the bags without dressing and add, walnuts or pecans, grated cheese, pineapple, apple, sultanas, asian fried noodles.

What is in Mary Brown's coleslaw? ›

Mary Brown's shreds fresh cabbage and carrots in house, and tops it with a creamy dressing. The freshly shredded veggies give you a light yet satisfying crunch while the dressing gives you the tanginess you're looking for.

What is KFC coleslaw made of? ›

KFC coleslaw has a sweet and tangy taste with a creamy texture. The coleslaw is made with shredded cabbage, carrots, and onions, and is dressed with a sweet and tangy dressing that includes vinegar, sugar, and a blend of spices.

Why did KFC stop selling coleslaw? ›

The fast food chain was forced to stop selling its coleslaw tubs when a supply issue meant the slaw would have to be served up without the dressing. “We are currently experiencing a supply issue with our KFC coleslaw dressing,” a KFC spokesperson said. The slaw is made up of cabbage and carrots coated in mayonnaise.

Can you eat coleslaw 2 days out of date? ›

Well, like most things if it looks okay, smells okay and tastes okay, it's probably okay to eat. Signs to look out for might include the texture getting noticeably softer instead of crispy, any discoloration at all (areas or spots of gray or brown), and obviously anything growing on it.

How do you store bagged coleslaw? ›

8 Ways to Keep Bagged Salad from Wilting
  1. Keep it cool on the way home from the store. ...
  2. Remove wilted leaves. ...
  3. Keep the greens dry. ...
  4. Add a towel to absorb moisture. ...
  5. Consider transferring the greens to a new container. ...
  6. Store greens in the crisper. ...
  7. Put on the gas. ...
  8. Keep your options open.
Apr 27, 2023

Can you freeze store-bought bagged coleslaw mix? ›

Trying to freeze store-bought coleslaw probably isn't a good idea as most of them have a mayonnaise-based dressing. So it's best to freeze homemade slaw or coleslaw with no dressing or, at a push, yoghurt-based dressing. Yoghurt (especially low-fat) can still split, just not as much as mayonnaise.

Should you wash bagged coleslaw? ›

Bagged or ready-to-eat, fresh-cut produce

If the product is not labeled "washed," "triple washed," or "ready-to-eat," it must be washed before eating.

Why did my coleslaw turn pink? ›

Red cabbage, red radishes, and red onions have pigments that bleed into the slaw and turn it pink after several hours. Red cabbage can also stain plastic bowls. Red cabbage slaws also look bleached out after several hours. As a result, leftovers of slaws with these ingredients can look funny.

Why does my coleslaw taste weird? ›

Cabbage Core:Issue: The core of the cabbage can be bitter, especially if it's not removed before shredding. Solution: Ensure that you remove the core of the cabbage before shredding it. Cut the cabbage in half, then cut out the triangular core from each half. Old Cabbage:Issue: Older cabbage may develop a bitter taste.

How far in advance should you dress coleslaw? ›

Then you add vinegar, sugar, Dijon mustard, and poppy seeds. A bit of salt and pepper finishes off a classic, creamy, tangy dressing. When should you dress coleslaw? For the ideal coleslaw, add dressing to coleslaw no more than 30 minutes before serving.

Why did Chick Fil A get rid of coleslaw? ›

"But as our sales volumes grew, it just wasn't feasible to keep adding to the menu without taking anything away." Chick-fil-A cut cole slaw from the menu in January to make room for a new "superfood" side of kale and broccolini in a maple vinaigrette dressing.

Why is my coleslaw bland? ›

Neglecting to add enough spices or seasoning

Perhaps the recipe you followed is just inherently bland. If your dressing is already applied, you only have one choice left to turn your coleslaw around. You've got to add some seasoning or spice. Start by adding salt and pepper to taste.

How do you sweeten bitter coleslaw? ›

That bitterness could be acid from the tomatoes and one way people typically fix that is by adding a small amount of sugar.

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