Cabbage Salad

We seriously love this crunchy, sweet-and-savory cabbage salad. It’s one of our most versatile cabbage recipes. Delicious in any season, the hearty shredded salad is flecked with colorful raw vegetables and tossed in an easy, creamy homemade salad dressing. Cabbage salad sweet dressing has a bright and tangy flavor that is a perfect complement to rich foods like burgers and sausages, and the robust texture of the cabbage salad recipe is exciting paired with softer foods like stews and braises.

On top of being very affordable and easy to buy year-round, cabbage is also rich in fiber and vitamins C and K. Eaten raw, it’s delightfully crunchy, even if you prepare it in a make-ahead salad recipe.

What’s the difference between cabbage salad and coleslaw?

Most cabbage salad recipes are similar to coleslaw, and many of our best coleslaw recipes use cabbage as a base, but coleslaw doesn’t need to include cabbage. Other firm, crisp vegetables can be used to make coleslaw, as in butternut squash coleslaw, cucumber coleslaw and fennel-jicama salad, just to name a few.

Cabbage Salad Ingredients

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• Cabbage: Look for a small head of cabbage with tight leaves and no bruises or blemishes. Most types of cabbage, especially green or savoy cabbage, will work in cabbage salad recipes. You can use red cabbage, but its color will bleed into the dressing.
• Chopped vegetables: Chopped onion and green pepper add flavor and crunch to this hearty cabbage salad recipe.
• Mayonnaise: Creamy, tangy mayonnaise is the base of the cabbage salad sweet dressing. It brightens up the robust cabbage flavor.
• White vinegar: Cabbage can stand up to a sharp flavor, like piquant white vinegar.
• Seasonings: This cabbage salad recipe calls for salt and sugar to create a simple yet nicely balanced dressing.
• Bacon strips: Crumbled bacon strips add a lively, crunchy texture to the salad. Use bacon bits, or cook bacon in the oven or on the stovetop.

Directions

Step 1: Mix the veggies

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In a large bowl, combine the cabbage, green pepper and onion.

Step 2: Make the cabbage salad sweet dressing

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In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar and salt.

Step 3: Toss the salad

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Pour the dressing over the cabbage mixture and toss to coat.

Step 4: Chill the salad

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Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least four hours. Stir in the bacon just before serving.

Editor’s Tip: Letting the cabbage salad chill allows the flavors to meld and the cabbage to soften slightly. And adding the bacon last ensures that it stays nice and crisp.

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Recipe Variations

• Change the veggies: You can add any number of raw veggies to cabbage salad recipes. Think shredded carrots, diced tomatoes, chopped red peppers, minced garlic or sliced cucumbers.
• Jazz up the dressing: Swap in a more flavorful vinegar, such as red wine, apple cider, champagne or white wine vinegar. You could also add a squeeze of lemon to brighten up the flavors (or use lime juice if you plan to serve it with southwestern foods). Or, whisk in a tablespoon of Dijon mustard to add a kick of spice.
• Make it nutty: Use a peanut dressing to turn this cabbage salad recipe into an Asian-inspired salad that would be delicious with stir-fry recipes. Try the dressing from our Thai salad with peanut dressing.
• Add other mix-ins: If you love crunch, lean into it and stir in pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, or nuts like almonds, walnuts or pecans. Or, add a sweet note with a handful of dried fruits like cranberries or golden raisins. Quick pickled vegetables like pickled red onions are another zesty mix-in that would taste especially good alongside barbecue recipes.
• Sprinkle in fresh herbs: Soft, leafy fresh herbs are a lively addition to cabbage salad recipes. Try chive, basil, parsley, cilantro or dill.

How to Store Cabbage Salad

Keep leftover cabbage salad in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator. Cabbage salad sweet dressing can get a little runny as it sits, so you may want to drain the excess liquid before serving.

How long does cabbage salad last?

Leftover cabbage salad will keep for up to three days in the refrigerator, although it will lose its crisp texture after about a day. It will not freeze well, so make a freezer slaw recipe with a vinegar-based dressing if freezing is your intent.

Cabbage Salad Tips

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How do you shred cabbage for cabbage salad recipes?

You can shred cabbage with a knife, large box grater, mandoline or food processor. To shred cabbage by hand with a knife, first slice off the stem and chop the head in half. Then, cut the halves again to create manageable quarters. Cut out the stem, and lay the cabbage with a flat side down on the cutting board. Slice the tightly compressed leaves into thin strips.

What can you serve with cabbage salad recipes?

Cabbage salad is a versatile side dish that can be served with almost anything! In the summer, it’s a great match with most grilled recipes, from barbecue chicken to burgers, brats and hot dogs. In cold weather, the fresh, zippy cabbage livens up classic comfort food dinners like stew, roast chicken or pot roast. Cabbage salad is also a traditional side dish around the world and is seen alongside sausages in Bavaria or with tacos in Latin America.

Can you make cabbage salad a main dish?

To turn our cabbage salad recipe into a main dish or a make-ahead lunch recipe, add some protein. Cubed tofu (like crispy baked tofu), chickpeas or white beans would do the trick.