Broccoli slaw with this bright broccoli slaw dressing is an elevated, even more nutritious cousin of traditional coleslaw.

It’s packed with fiber, natural hydration, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Plus, it’s delicious. It’s a great way to want to devour a bowl of veggies.

It’s perfect with pulled or shredded chicken, BBQ Chicken Sandwiches, or as a side dish at any gathering. 

Plus, the easy broccoli slaw dressing mixes up in less than 2 minutes with 5 ingredients or less, making it a winner all around!

Broccoli Slaw Recipe Ingredients

1. Broccoli Slaw

Of course, you’ll need some slaw. You’ve got a few options here.

This incredibly easy broccoli slaw recipe comes together in just a few minutes when you use a package of plain broccoli slaw (or shredded cabbage or any slaw mix) from your local store. Just about every store has pre-shredded slaw with the lettuces, and it’s just as healthy (and much more convenient) than making it yourself. I always avoid those salad kits at the store because they’re overpriced for chopped greens, not to mention they come with unhealthy dressings. However, this type of pre-packaged plain slaw is a total winner in my book.

I’m loving the broccoli slaw mix at Whole Foods right now—for about 3 dollars you get 4 cups of slaw (which is pre-shredded broccoli stems with a few shredded carrots tossed in.) If you have leftover fresh broccoli stems from another recipe, you can use your food processor shredding attachment to shred the stems into slaw, or get to work with a sharp knife and julienne cut them yourself.

Tip: You can use shredded cabbage in this recipe, too, if you don’t have broccoli slaw and want a more traditional coleslaw.  Or, make a mix of broccoli slaw and shredded cabbage if you fancy. All in, you’ll want 4 cups of loosely packed slaw for this dish.

Veganaise (or Mayonnaise)

When it comes to mayo, I prefer Veganaise (whether someone is vegan or not) for its lighter texture and tangier flavor than regular mayo. In this recipe, give it a try if you’ve never had it.

Of course, you can use any mayo you prefer here. I like the soy-free Veganaise and use it often. I’ve made this slaw for quite a few party guests who rave about it and don’t even know it’s vegan.

2. Apple Cider Vinegar + Fresh Lemon Juice

Every slaw needs some tang, which comes from acidic ingredients like vinegar or citrus. I like to use a combo of apple cider vinegar (ACV) and fresh lemon juice to give this broccoli slaw dressing a bright coleslaw flavor.

I prefer apple cider vinegar for its flavor and health benefits, but distilled white vinegar is also often used in slaw recipes. Apple cider vinegar, distilled white vinegar, or even champagne vinegar will work here.

Lemon juice adds another acidic tag to slaw and brightens up the flavor. Only use fresh lemon juice. Lemon juice in a bottle is just citric acid mixed with water and lemon flavor and has no nutrition. Real lemon juice, on the other hand, is not only full of incredible flavor, it contains enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants your body loves.

All in, you want 2 tablespoons of acid in your broccoli slaw dressing. I use 1 tablespoon of each ACV and fresh lemon juice, but you can use 2 tablespoons of one or the other if it’s all you have on hand.

3. Sugar (or Honey)

Traditional slaw has some sweetness. If you prefer a sugar-free version, go ahead and leave it out completely. It’s a small amount in the overall meal, so I’m all about using it to sweeten up the slaw dressing, especially when 4 cups of broccoli come with it.

Honey or white sugar both work here. It’s such a small amount of sugar that using regular sugar here isn’t an issue. If you prefer this to be completely vegan, use good ‘ol white sugar (which is traditional is slaw dressing). I find that maple syrup would be too strong in this dish.

4. Salt & Pepper

Just like any dressing, a dash of sea salt and freshly ground black pepper round out the flavor.

The amount of salt you need will depend on your mayo. Start with less than you think you need and work up from there. I use Real Salt sea salt because it dissolves nicely into dressings and dishes like this. 

Pre-ground black pepper can’t hold a candle to freshly ground, so grab yourself a pepper grinder for the real thing—you can now even find them filled with peppercorns right in the spice aisle for a great price.

Tip to Prevent Your Slaw from Becoming Watery

The combination of acids (vinegar and lemon juice) and salt in the dressing will cause the broccoli slaw (or cabbage, or any veggie) to release water once it’s all mixed together, which is why sometimes you’ll find a bunch of water at the bottom of a bowl of coleslaw. Use less dressing than you think you need and add more (or put some on the side) if needed.

Broccoli Slaw Servings Ideas

Broccoli slaw, with its bright broccoli slaw dressing, is a versatile dish that can complement many meals. Here are some delightful serving ideas to make the most of this nutritious and delicious slaw:

• Tacos and Wraps: Add a refreshing crunch to your shredded chicken tacos or wraps by using broccoli slaw as a topping. It also pairs well with fish tacos, shrimp tacos, or vegetarian wraps.
• Pulled Pork Sandwiches: The tangy dressing of broccoli slaw cuts through the richness of pulled pork, making it an excellent topping for pulled pork sandwiches or sliders.
• Salmon Fillets: Serve a heaping side of broccoli slaw with grilled or baked salmon fillets for a light and nutritious meal.
• Stuffed Baked Potatoes: Top baked potatoes with broccoli slaw and your choice of protein (like shredded chicken or black beans) for a hearty and satisfying meal.
• Picnic and Potluck Side Dish: Broccoli slaw is a crowd-pleaser at picnics and potlucks. Its crisp texture and vibrant flavors hold up well, even when made ahead of time.
• Serve it with my easy weeknight BBQ Chicken Sandwiches for a hit everyone will love.

Want more ways to use broccoli? Check out my guide to 7 ways to cook broccoli, ranked best to worst.

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