Easy Slaw 3 Ways: Taco, Ranch and Citrus Dressing

If you need a quick and easy side dish that goes with almost anything, you need this slaw recipe. With options for 3 different dressings, you can customise this basic slaw recipe to suit so many different meals.

We have Taco Slaw with a creamy lime dressing, Ranch Slaw with a creamy garlic and herb dressing, or Citrus Slaw is a no mayo option with a tangy orange dressing.

Quick Recipe Summary

A quick and easy side dish that goes with almost anything. Taco Slaw with a creamy lime dressing, Ranch Slaw with a creamy garlic and herb dressing, or Citrus Slaw is a no mayo option with a tangy orange dressing.

Full Recipe

10 minutes minutes

4

Cuisine: Fusion

Meal Type: Salad, Side Dish, Slaw

Ingredient Highlights: cabbage, carrot, red onion

Ingredients

Full ingredients list with quantities is included in the recipe card below. These are some helpful notes about the main ingredients including some swaps and substitutes where applicable.

• Cabbage – I love red cabbage but any variety will work here, even a mix. The basic recipe requires ½ a regular cabbage, but they do vary in size so my estimate is about 300 grams.
• Carrots – 3 medium carrots or about 180 to 200 grams if using pre-shredded.
• Red Onion

Slaw Mix Substitutes

• Use a bag of pre-shredded slaw mix if you prefer.
• I’ve given amounts of cabbage and carrots in the recipe card, but feel free to adjust these to suit your own tastes.
• Red onion can be swapped for 3 to 4 shallots, depending on size. Or use a white onion, but since it’s a bit more pungent I’d recommend soaking or rinsing slices in cold water for a few minutes before using. Sliced spring onion works too and is a great milder option.

Dressing Swaps and Substitutions

Like all of my recipes, the dressing recipes are easy to adapt to what you have to hand. I’ve included a few ideas below but feel free to make it your own, and leave a comment if you tried something different.

• Mayo can be switched out for plain yoghurt or sour cream, but this will yield a tangier flavour and depending on yoghurt choice can be much thicker.
• Apple cider vinegar can be swapped for white wine vinegar and vice versa.
• Lime juice is a nice swap for ACV in the Citrus Slaw.
• Use lemon juice instead of white wine vinegar for Ranch Slaw.
• Swap dried herbs for fresh and vice versa – 1 tsp dried is approximate to 1 tbsp fresh.
• Instead of honey use maple syrup, agave or sugar.

How to Make Slaw

1. Shred the cabbage and carrots and thinly slice the onion (I use a box chopper with a mandoline and julienne attachments, or you can use a food processor.)
2. Combine the dressing ingredients, mix well and season to taste.
3. Add the slaw mix to a large bowl with any additional herbs or add-ins then pour over the dressing.
4. Toss to combine (I love using a large lidded bowl so I can give it a good shake) and serve.

Carrie’s Note

I am so glad to have these slaw recipes in my back pocket to serve with things like speedy fish finger tacos or to use with leftover chicken to fill wraps for lunches. My toddler loves a little Taco Slaw stuffed in a cheesy quesadilla.

Make Carrie's Kitchen a Preferred Source

So my fuss free recipes are more likely to show up when you're searching for dinner inspiration.

Tips For Success

• For best results, let dressed slaw sit for around 10 minutes before serving. This allows the flavours to meld and the cabbage to soften just enough.
• I like to add the dressing in two stages, tossing between each to make sure the slaw is coated evenly.

Serving Suggestions

There are so many ways to serve this slaw, here are just a few ideas:

• All slaw variations go great with grilled meat, chicken, fish or halloumi or as a BBQ or picnic side dish.
• Taco Slaw is obviously excellent in tacos, or with any other Mexican inspired dishes (my little one loves it in cheese quesadillas).
• Ranch Slaw goes great with pulled pork (and macaroni cheese) or in a sandwich or wrap with crispy chicken.
• Citrus Slaw goes so well with pan fried halloumi, salmon or grilled chicken, or use as a mayo-free alternative to Ranch or Taco slaw.

Additional Mix-Ins

Each slaw variation is perfect as is for an easy side but you can add some extras to make it more exciting, or if you want more of a standalone salad. Here are a few ideas, but feel free to make it your own:

Taco Slaw

• Add some crumbled feta or grated mature cheddar for a salty tang
• Sweetcorn or sliced bell pepper make a great addition
• Pickled jalapenos or chilli flakes for heat
• Toasted pumpkin seeds add crunch

Ranch Slaw

• Add thinly sliced radish or celery
• Toss in crumbled bacon bits or toasted seeds for crunch
• Grated cheddar or mozzarella
• Fresh chopped chives are excellent if you have them

Citrus Slaw

• Sliced or diced avocado adds creaminess
• Toasted almonds or pistachios are great for crunch
• Pomegranate seeds go so well with the citrus dressing
• Fresh mint is a lovely cooling addition if you have it

Serve Slaw With:

• Pork Meatballs, Chicken Gyros or Bang Bang Shrimp would go great with Citrus Slaw
• Halloumi Tacos, Buffalo Chicken Caesar and Turkey Meatballs are perfect to serve with Ranch Slaw
• Traybake Fajitas, Minced Beef and Bean Tacos or Beef Burrito Bowls are ideal with Taco Slaw

I hope you like this recipe as much as I do!

Don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave a comment if you make it.

Your feedback is really important and helps me keep making recipes you love!

Make Carrie's Kitchen a Preferred Source

So my fuss free recipes are more likely to show up when you're searching for dinner inspiration.

The Recipe

Easy Slaw Three Ways

Print Email

Pin

Rate

A quick and easy side dish that goes with almost anything. Taco Slaw with a creamy lime dressing, Ranch Slaw with a creamy garlic and herb dressing, or Citrus Slaw is a no mayo option with a tangy orange dressing.

Carrie Carvalho

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Equipment

• large bowl
• Mandoline Slicer
• julienne peeler

Ingredients

• 300 grams (10.5 oz) shredded cabbage
• 1 red onion thinly sliced
• 3 (6.5 oz) medium carrots coarse grated or julienned

Taco Slaw Dressing

• 4 tbsp mayo or sour cream
• 1 lime juiced
• 1 tsp your favourite hot sauce add more to taste
• Handful of coriander chopped
• salt and balck pepper to taste

Citrus Slaw Dressing

• 4 tbsp (¼ cup) orange juice
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp honey
• salt and black pepper to taste
• Pinch of chilli flakes optional or dash of hot sauce

Ranch Slaw Dressing

• 2 tbsp mayo
• 2 tbsp Greek yoghurt
• 1 tbsp white wine vinegar
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp dried parsley
• 1 tsp dried dill
• salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

• Shred the cabbage and carrots and thinly slice the onion (I use a box chopper with a mandoline and julienne attachments, or you can use a food processor.)
• Combine your chosen dressing ingredients, mix well and season to taste.
• Add the slaw mix to a large bowl with any additional herbs or add-ins then pour over the dressing.
• Toss to combine (I love using a large lidded bowl so I can give it a good shake). Ideally let the slaw rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

• Cabbage – I love red cabbage but any variety will work here, even a mix. The basic recipe requires ½ a regular cabbage, but they do vary in size so my estimate is about 300 grams.
• Carrots – 3 medium carrots or about 180 to 200 grams if using pre-shredded.
• Red Onion – can be swapped for 3 to 4 shallots, depending on size. Or use a white onion, but since it’s a bit more pungent I’d recommend soaking or rinsing slices in cold water for a few minutes before using. Sliced spring onion works too and is a great milder option.
• Use a bag of pre-shredded slaw mix if you prefer.

• I’ve given amounts of cabbage and carrots in the recipe card, but feel free to adjust these to suit your own tastes.

Swaps and Subs

• Mayo can be switched out for plain yoghurt or sour cream, but this will yield a tangier flavour and depending on yoghurt choice can be much thicker.
• Apple cider vinegar can be swapped for white wine vinegar and vice versa.
• Lime juice is a nice swap for ACV in the Citrus Slaw.
• Use lemon juice instead of white wine vinegar for Ranch Slaw.
• Swap dried herbs for fresh and vice versa – 1 tsp dried is approximate to 1 tbsp fresh.
• Instead of honey use maple syrup, agave or sugar.

Did You Make This Recipe?

Be sure to rate and leave a comment!

Rate this Recipe Pin Recipe Share Recipe Read my weekly dinner diary free on Substack – I share what we actually ate, what worked, what didn’t and how we used the leftovers.