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This Apple Slaw hits all of my favorite notes in a side: crunchy, creamy, and packed with good-for-you fruit and veggies. I came up with it when I wanted an alternative to coleslaw that still checks the same boxes. With it almost being fall, adding sweet yet tart apples makes total sense (and is a little genius, if I do say so myself!).
Table of Contents
One of my favorite parts of this apple slaw has to be the dressing. This is apple coleslaw has no mayo! That’s right: Instead, I use Greek yogurt, which is tangier, lighter, and just as creamy. With a little honey, Dijon mustard, and apple cider vinegar mixed in, the dressing is so good!.
My other key to making the best apple slaw is to evenly and finely shred and cut the ingredients. That way, every bite is the same, and you don’t get smacked in the face with one too many of a single ingredient.
Recipe At a Glance
Cuisine Inspiration: American
Primary Cooking Method: No-cook
Dietary Info: Gluten-free
Key Flavor: Apples and cabbage
Skill Level: Easy
Why This Is So Good
- Little prep time: With a simple, whisk-it-together-and-you’re-done dressing and just a few fruit and veggies to slice, this apple salad takes just 20 minutes to make!
- Less than 10 ingredients: I pared down this recipe so it’s as straightforward as possible, but do have a few suggestions for other things you can add below (like nuts and cheese!).
- An excellent potluck or party side: This apple slaw salad easily serves 6! I like to bring it to potlucks, barbecues, and cookouts when I want something everyone is guaranteed to enjoy.
Ingredients to Make Apple Salad
- Greek yogurt: Thick and creamy, I recommend full-fat Greek yogurt for the best flavor!
- Olive oil: Just a little oil helps to loosen the yogurt.
- Honey: Sweetness balances the tanginess in the dressing. You could use maple syrup instead of honey!
- Apple cider vinegar: Feel free to substitute white or red wine vinegar if that’s what you have.
- Cabbage: Regular green cabbage is what you’ll need! If you’re using bagged, pre-cut cabbage, look for one that is finely shredded.
- Apples: Any type of apple works!
- Carrots: I like to use bagged carrots that are already cut into matchsticks!
- Green onions: These are like very mild onions. You can read more about how to cut them here.
Popular Substitutions & Additions
- Add toasted nuts. Toasted, chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds would be delicious in this apple salad.
- Add cheese. After tossing the veggies and apples with the dressing, you could gently mix in crumbled goat cheese or grated or cubed cheddar.
- Try another fruit. This apple slaw would also be delicious with pears!
- Mix in tahini. I love tahini (see here!) and think this apple salad’s dressing would be incredible with a couple of tablespoons of it whisked in.
- Add in fresh herbs. Try chopped cilantro, dill, mint, basil, or parsley.
How to Make Apple Salad
This apple slaw with cabbage comes together in one bowl. First, you whisk together the dressing. Then, you add the veggies, fruit, and scallions and toss until well-coated and creamy. That’s it!
Tips for Making the Best Apple Slaw Salad
- Shred cabbage the right way. You can read more about how to cut cabbage here, but it’s important to remove the core after you’ve sliced the head in half. I like to do this with a sharp chef’s knife and make a triangular cut around the core to get it out! After that, you can use that same knife to finely shred the cabbage.
- Make sure to cut apples into matchsticks. Matchsticks are key because the longer pieces will be easier to eat in the apple salad! To cut apple pieces into matchsticks, slice them thinly into half moons, stack these, and then slice them finely lengthwise.
- Don’t swap out the full-fat yogurt. This has the best flavor and consistency! Using low-fat or fat-free yogurt might make the dressing taste a little bland.
- Don’t skip the wait time. This apple salad is best after it’s had 2 hours in the fridge. Why? It’s so the ingredients can soften and absorb the dressing!
What to Serve With Apple Coleslaw with Yogurt
Frequently Asked Questions
Kept in an airtight container in the fridge, this apple slaw will last for up to 5 days.
You could, but red cabbage might make the whole thing pink, and napa cabbage doesn’t have the same texture! For the best results, I recommend just using green cabbage.
You could, but it really is better after it’s had a couple of hours in the fridge for the flavors to meld and the cabbage to soak up the dressing and soften a bit.
You know the saying “as easy as pie?” I think it should be “as easy as slaw” because this apple salad really is that simple. The hardest part is waiting while it does its thing in the fridge! I love how versatile this apple slaw is, too: It’s delicious with roasted chicken or grilled chicken, piled onto a sandwich, or for lunch the next day.
More Slaw Recipes:
- Healthy Coleslaw
- Grilled Fish Tacos with Coleslaw
- Watermelon Cucumber Salad
- Cowboy Caviar
- Yogurt Macaroni Salad
- Greek Orzo Salad
- Creamy Cucumber Salad
- Mexican Street Corn Salad
- Tomato Avocado Cucumber Salad
- Chopped Green Goddess Salad
If you try this feel good Apple Slaw recipe or any other recipe on Feel Good Foodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave a comment below! It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe. We would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots, share it on Instagram so we can repost on Stories!
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Apple Slaw
Ingredients
- ¾ cup plain whole milk Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ small cabbage shredded (about 6 cups)
- 2 large apples sliced into matchsticks
- 1 cup matchstick carrots
- 2 green onions finely chopped
Instructions
- In a large serving bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, olive oil, dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper until well combined and smooth.
- Add the cabbage, apples, carrots, and green onions and toss to evenly coat. Set in the fridge for at least 2 hours before serving for best results.
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
