This Sweet Jalapeno Coleslaw is creamy, crunchy, easy to prepare and packed with flavor! Tangy, sweet and subtly spicy in taste, this recipe for coleslaw with jalapeños is far from bland or boring! It’s the perfect summer side, or salad, to add to all your cookouts and barbecues!
Update: This post was originally published in June 2014. I took new photos and made updates to the post below to include more information about this spicy sweet coleslaw.
Hi, friends! So, I have been holding out on you guys with this blog post. And, that didn’t stop me from unfairly teasing this recipe with photographs on social media networks. I’ve been bad, I know.
So what’s been the hold up and why haven’t I shared on more than social media?
Well, I have been waiting on someone very special and near and dear to my heart. My other half, Boy.
He promised to guest post this particular blog post, and guess what? I’m STILL waiting on him to deliver. (<– Update: Still waiting.)
After many weeks of waiting and nagging on Boy, I decided the show must go on without him.
The procrastinating habits of my husband aside, we both have sworn for years that we hated coleslaw.
And, to be honest, I will probably still swear by that statement if I’m at someone’s house and they offer me coleslaw.
However, this coleslaw recipe I’m sharing today just happens to be that ONE exception to my ‘I don’t do coleslaw’ rule.
This coleslaw jalapeno is just THAT darn delicious.
About this recipe for sweet jalapeno coleslaw
Crisp, shredded cabbage mixed with crunchy carrots, spicy jalapeños, pungent red onions and fresh green onions, then tossed with a slightly sweet, terrifically tangy mayonnaise based coleslaw sauce.
This slaw is fresh, fabulous and THE perfect addition to ALL your BBQ’s, summer shindigs and outdoor siorees!
To tell you exactly how phenomenally delicious this stuff is, all I have to say is this:
I made 2 POUNDS of this coleslaw in 2 DAYS and Boy ate it up like I haven’t fed him in the 8 years that we have been together. And, I didn’t dare try to stop him from gobbling it up, because if I went to take the coleslaw away, he got a crazy eyed, rabid dog look about him (there was possibly also foaming at the mouth happening). Basically, it looked like I would NOT be taking his coleslaw away with my hand still attached to my wrist.
Remember to keep in mind, this is someone who (like me) “hates” coleslaw.
He loved it so much he actually offered to write the blog post about it! Which, clearly, he never plans on delivering.
What goes with sweet coleslaw recipe?
Coleslaw is such a budget friendly, versatile side dish, or salad! This crisp, sweet and spicy coleslaw is a perfect way to round out any barbecue or dinner!
You can pair coleslaw with any type of grilled protein – think ribs, chicken, pork, steak – or even fried fish! Pulled chicken or pulled pork, hot dogs, brisket, and kebobs are always a delicious option as well!
As for sides, I personally love coleslaw with traditional bbq dishes, such as baked beans recipes with bacon and broccoli salad. However, if you are looking to keep things simple, I love this slaw with no-cook salads such a marinated tomatoes and bean salads.
However, you don’t need to limit coleslaw to just being served as a side or salad! This Sweet Jalapeno Coleslaw also makes a delicious topping for a variety of sandwiches, hamburgers or hot dogs!
Tips for the best spicy coleslaw
Follow the simple tips below to create the most flavorful spicy and sweet jalapeno coleslaw recipe:
- While the jalapeno spiced coleslaw recipe below calls for heads of green and purple cabbage, plus carrots, you can absolutely substitute a bag of pre-prepared coleslaw mix from the grocery store! While fresh produce you shred and prepare yourself will always taste the best, using a packaged bag of coleslaw mix is a great way to save time!
- If you like your spicy sweet coleslaws on the creamier, less tangy side, increase the mayonnaise to 3/4 of a cup and decrease the mustard to only 1 tablespoon.
- When adding the coleslaw dressing to the vegetables, start with 1/4 cup of dressing, toss and then continue to add the dressing a little bit at a time until desired level of creaminess is achieved. Chances are you will not need all of the dressing, so it is best to err on the side of caution!
Tangy, slightly spicy and balanced with the right amount of sweet, this versatile Jalapeno Coleslaw is perfect for any occasion! Fresh and flavorful, it is sure to be a hit at your next summer BBQ!
Until next time, friends, cheers – to stellar summer sides!
Cheyanne
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How to make Sweet Jalapeno Coleslaw for pulled pork and more!👇
Sweet Jalapeno Coleslaw & a Pulled Pork Sandwich
Ingredients
Jalapeno Coleslaw:
- 1/2 small Head Green Cabbage - thinly sliced (about 8 ounces)*
- 1/2 Head Purple Cabbage - thinly sliced (about 8 ounces)*
- 1 small Red Onion – thinly sliced, rinsed in cold water, and drained well
- 2 small Carrots – peeled and shredded
- 2 Jalapenos – seeded and minced
- 2 Green Onions – thinly sliced
- 1/2 Cup Mayonnaise or more to taste*
- 2 TBS Spicy Brown Mustard
- 1 TBS Apple Cider Vinegar
- 4 tsp Granulated White Sugar
- 1/4 tsp Celery salt
- 1/4 tsp Cumin
- 1/8 tsp EACH: Cayenne & Black Pepper
Pulled Pork Sandwich:
- 8 Pieces Texas Toast - Cooked (I used the Garlic & Parsley flavor, it was excellent for this sammie)
- 10-12 Oz Pulled Pork
- Carolina BBQ Sauce
Instructions
- Jalapeno Coleslaw: Combine Cabbage, Carrots, Jalapeno, Red and Green Onion in a mixing bowl.
- In a separate, small mixing bowl combine remaining (dressing) ingredients. Whisk well to combine.
- Pour 1/4 cup of the Dressing over Cabbage mixture. Toss to combine. Add more dressing until desired level of creaminess is achieved. OPTIONAL, but recommended: Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to incorporate.
- Pulled Pork Sandwich: (I don't really think you guys need a written recipe for this, but I will include instructions for those of you who simply feel more comfortable with instructions.)
- Layer in this order: Slice of Texas Toast, (4 ounces) Pulled Pork, Smear of BBQ Sauce, Coleslaw & Top with Slice of Texas Toast. Enjoy!
Notes
- While the recipe calls for heads of green and purple cabbage, plus carrots, you can absolutely substitute a (16 ounce) bag of pre-prepared coleslaw mix from the grocery store! While fresh produce you shred and prepare yourself will always taste the best, using a packaged bag of coleslaw mix is a great way to save time!
- If you like your coleslaw on the creamier, less tangy side, increase the mayonnaise to 3/4 of a cup and decrease the mustard to only 1 tablespoon.
- When adding the coleslaw dressing to the vegetables, start with 1/4 cup of dressing, toss and then continue to add the dressing a little bit at a time until desired level of creaminess is achieved. Chances are, you will not need all of the dressing, so it is best to err on the side of caution.
Nutrition
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Excellent recipe! I used the 9oz bag of slaw mix from Trader Joe’s and cut the recipe in half – it still makes quite a bit with generous servings! I subbed just a few drops of liquid stevia instead of the sugar and it was still delicious (and great for low carb lifestyles). Thank you!
Can this recipe be frozen
Thank you in advance
Hi Beverly,
Great question! Unfortunately, this coleslaw recipe is mayo-based so it does not freeze well. Please let me know if you have any other questions as I’m always happy to help. 🙂 Cheers are warm wishes for a wonderful holiday season.
I made this recipe with 2 slight mods. First, I saw the comment about adding shredded apple and added 1 red delicious. Second, I pickled my fresh jalapeños in a sweet garlic pickling blend. The result was a perfect pairing for my pulled pork sliders. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Steve,
Your addition and modification sound absolutely delicious. I especially love your idea to pickle the jalapeños – brilliant! I’m definitely going to do that next time I make this slaw, so thank you for sharing. 🙂 And thank you so much for coming back and leaving a review. I’m thrilled you enjoyed the recipe.
Cheers!
I never made spicy coleslaw, my family would love it if I made this. Mine never has much flavor.
Best coleslaw recipe ever. Can’t keep it very long as it gets eaten that fast. I add dried cranberries adds nice texture and flavor
Hands down one of the best Cole slaw recipes out there! We made a Mexican inspired pulled chicken and I made this as well-phenomenal! To go with our theme, I made the slaw according to instructions but added a splash of lime juice and pickled jalapeño vinegar at the end. Sooo good!
Hi Tina,
I’m absolutely thrilled you enjoyed this coleslaw recipe!! I’m so happy to hear you were able to customize it to fit your theme and your additions sound SO delicious!! Thank you so much for coming back and letting me know how everything went over! Cheers and warm wishes for a wonderful rest of the week! 🙂
I was trying to come up with a sweet & tangy with a little heat coleslaw recipe that paired well with my smoked pulled pork. I’m thinking of adding a bit of apple and pineapple to this, but it looks so delicious as is! Very nice and appealing camera work. Huge fan of coleslaw recipes. Thank you Cheyanne.
Hi Chris,
Thank you so much for the kind comment – it made my day!! I actually think your suggestion of adding apple or pineapple (or both!) sounds delicious – I’m going to try that next time I make this slaw, so thank YOU! 🙂 If you end up trying this recipe, I certainly do hope you love it as much as we do!
Sorry for the delay. We did and will spread the word! Your recipe is a keeper. If others want to add a little heat, add the aforementioned items. Perfect as Cheyanne outlines also.
Ok! So let me start out by saying I don’t like cole slaw, never have. This recipe changed my mind. It is so good. I put it on top of pulled pork sandwiches (your recipe as well) and it is FANTASTIC! I did use triple the amount of jalapenos because we like the heat. And left out all of the onions (personal preference) Yum yum yum!!
Hi Jennifer,
Yay!! First of all, I’m so honored that you decided to try this recipe despite the fact that you don’t like coleslaw. And, I’m absolutely thrilled you enjoyed it!! I love that you added more jalapeños – I’m all for a lot of spicy heat!! Thank you for coming back and letting me know how everything went over! Cheers!
I first tried this recipe months ago and have kept coming back to it over the course of the summer.. not just because I find it absolutely delicious, but because it’s the ONLY coleslaw my fiancé will eat! He was adamant about his dislike for coleslaw but I persuaded him to try this when I first made it and he scarfed it! Since that first time, he’s requested it at least six times. We made it for his parents who don’t care for mayonnaise-based coleslaw and they also loved it and asked for the recipe!! Thank you for the awesome share! (Also have made it sans celery salt since we were out, and it was just as tasty!)
I’ve made this as directed and also with bagged slaw. It’s delicious! I’m also trying to lower my sugar and carb intake so I have tried it with Xylitol instead of sugar and it is still amazing! This is my husband’s favorite side and one we will be taking to BBQs here in the South once things get back to normal. Great recipe, thanks!!
Hi JJ,
I’m so thrilled to hear you and your husband love this coleslaw!! And, I’m so happy to hear you were able to adapt the recipe to suit your dietary needs! Thank you so much for coming back and letting me know how everything went over! Cheers!! 🙂
My partner and I haven’t been able to leave the house due to covid-19, and we needed something fresh and bright to eat with our black bean burgers. We’re vegan, but none of the vegan coleslaw recipes I Googled looked appealing. Luckily, I found your recipe and simply subbed vegan mayo and mustard! I also didn’t have purple cabbage (and not trying to wait 2 hrs to get into the grocery store to buy one) so I just doubled green cabbage, subbed pickled red onions, and skipped the celery salt. The slaw still turned out so yummy, I kept going back to the bowl to eat more. Even my partner who typically hates coleslaw absolutely loved it. Can’t wait to make this again!
Hi Sarah,
I hope you and your partner are staying safe and healthy! I’m so honored you decided to try this coleslaw recipe and beyond thrilled you both enjoyed it! Your substitutions sound delicious and I’m happy to hear you were able to customize the recipe to your specific taste and needs!! Thank you for coming back and letting me know how everything went over! Cheers!! 🙂
After googling sweet and spicy coleslaw I was directed to your website and made the coleslaw…AMAZING! I am not a coleslaw fan at all but loved this. My husband likes sweet and we like spicy so this was perfect. It was a last minute decision to make so I was limited in ingredients and cut the recipe in half. I used all green cabbage, had no red or green onions and used country mustard instead of spicy but only 1T. I also increased the sugar by 1 tsp and it was fantastic! Will definitely be making it again. I am just thrilled that I was directed to your website as I see many delicious recipes that I am anxious to try. Thanks for being such a creative chef!
Love Sweet Spicy Coleslaw. Trying the recipe today. Thanks
You don’t say anything about what kind of jalapeno you’re using – fresh from the produce department, or from a can.
Hi Christopher,
The recipe calls for 2 FRESH jalapenos, seeded and minced. However, if you wanted to use canned jalapenos you could. But, please note that the flavor and texture will not be the same as fresh ingredients are always better. Cheers and thanks for stopping by!
So fun to make and absolutely delicious! Thank you!
Hi Diane,
I’m so thrilled you enjoyed the coleslaw! Cheers!!
For the first half of my life, coleslaw was the super sweet, goopy with mayo variety – pass! But THIS coleslaw I’d gladly tuck into regularly. Perfect to pair with so many summer mains!
Coleslaw is one of my favorite things ever — I love that great crunch from the cabbage! Adding jalapeno to spice things up is genius and I can’t wait to try it!
I’m such a coleslaw fan, Cheyanne – I glad you’ve finally seen the light because it’s fresh and crunchy and tangy – perfect for the upcoming Memorial day (how did we get to May so fast!). Pinning! Hope you’re having a great weekend!
Awesome recipe! I need tasty side dishes in my life. This is an excellent side for dinner or for a party! I bet this would kill at a potluck or BBQ in the summer!
I’m a huge fan of coleslaw but I never ever ever made coleslaw myself. Loving the addition of jalapeños.
I’m super picky when it comes to coleslaw because it’s usually just mayonnaise soup with cabbage. And I just say no to that. But this! You’ve nailed it, Chey! It looks like the perfect ratio of dressing to veg :). I know I’ll be making this for summer BBQS!
What a pretty coleslaw and so versatile! Loving the jalapeno kick 🙂
Lol! We both have slaw on the brain today Chey! This looks yummy, and I totally agree it’s the perfect picnic side. And how excited is everyone that winter is over and picnic season is here! If Boy gobbled this up, I know it’s gonna be good! Can’t wait to give it a try!
This is something I can eat every single day! I must try your creamy dressing.
Another good one from the past – love it! I cannot say I’m a huge fan of coleslaw either. I enjoy it once in a while, but it’s unlikely I’ll make it at home. Well perhaps until today because this version sounds and looks great!
Love, love, love coleslaw on pulled pork sandwiches! The best!
Hey there Cheyanne, your slaw recipe is killer delicious! I followed it to a tee with one exception and that is the addition of crushed pineapple (one 8 oz. can). It make a yummy counterpoint to the jalapeno. Keep cooking young lady:)
Hi John! I’m thrilled you enjoyed this slaw recipe!! The addition of pineapple sounds absolutely delicious, and I’m definitely going to have to try that next time I make this! Thank you so much for coming back and letting me know how it went over! Cheers and thank you so much for stopping by!! 🙂
Ate & made the pulled pork & slaw last night. It was delish! A bit of work but worth it. The pork was so tender after 5 1/2 hours that we couldn’t flip it to brush with BBQ sauce but that was ok. We used Stone smoked porter with chipotle peppers as liquid in bottom of pan as we didn’t have any other type on hand. For the slaw, we left out the jalepeno pepper as I know my tongue couldn’t handle that much heat and we cut down the mayo to about 3/4 c. The sweets and sours all balanced nicely in the end. Thanks for sharing recipe – will make again!
I love the tweaks you made! My oven seems to run overly hot some days and not so hot on others. I will have to change the recipe to give a larger window on the cook time, stating to check it sooner than I have it written. The mayonnaise mixture for the slaw is definately to taste… Jeremy likes it heavily sauced. I’ll include (or to taste) on that recipe as well. I GREATLY apprechiate your feed back. Thank you so much for not only making it but helping me tweak the recipes… so easy to overlook things! Besides my palate is NOT representative of everyones, so any feedback, advice, words of wisdome, honesty.. its all welcomed!!! Love you so much! Thanks again Aunt Tee. xoxo
I am anxiously awaiting to read what he has to say! I am heading to the store right now with a print out of the Blackened Scallop Salad recipe in hand!
I just made this with a couple of minor alterations; i used half reg. mayo & half light mayo. I had Pickled jalapenos – so used 1 of those instead of fresh.
So far – this is hands down the best Coleslaw I’ve had. ( and I’m not a real big fan usually )
C.M.
Your alterations sound delicious! I am thrilled you enjoyed the coleslaw, especially since you aren’t normally a big fan!! Thank you for coming back to let me know how it went! Cheers! 🙂