Creamy Skinny Coleslaw Recipe (2024)

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By: The Chunky Chefpublished: 05/01/2018

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Eating healthy doesn’t mean sacrificing great creamy coleslaw. You’ll love the tangy, slightly sweet flavor, and all the amazing crunchy textures. And at just 1 smart point per serving, you can enjoy one of your favorite warm weather side dishes without guilt!

Creamy Skinny Coleslaw Recipe (1)

Creamy Skinny Coleslaw Recipe (2)

Earlier this year, when I shared my easy Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Pork, I had a few of you email me asking about a healthy coleslaw to pile on top of it. I already had this recipe developed, so I’m happy to share it with you here today!

Here in the Midwest, it’s an unspoken thing that most people put coleslaw on top of their pulled pork/chicken/beef sandwiches. There’s something about the combination of temperatures, textures and flavors that’s just SOmouthwatering!!

HOW DO YOU MAKE COLESLAW

Traditionally, coleslaw is mayo based, and it uses a lot of it. Shredded cabbage, carrots, onion, mayo, vinegar/lemon juice, sugar, salt, pepper and ground celery seed are the usual ingredients in a coleslaw recipe. All of my regular, non-skinny coleslaw recipes use at least 1/2 cup of mayo, which adds up to a lot of points! They usually use a good bit of sugar, which also racks up the points.

HOW CAN YOU MAKE COLESLAW HEALTHIER

The first major swap was to switch out the mayo in favor of a zero point food, non-fat plain greek yogurt. It’s more tangy than mayo, but still gives it a nice creamy consistency. I also reduced the amount of sugar.

Creamy Skinny Coleslaw Recipe (3)

HOW LONG DOES COLESLAW KEEP IN THE REFRIGERATOR

The beauty of a great coleslaw is that it actually needs to sit in the fridge in order for the flavors to really combine and mellow. But coleslaw can be made in advance and kept refrigerated (in an airtight container) for 2-3 days.

CAN YOU FREEZE COLESLAW

Certain kinds, yes, but with reservations. Oil and vinegar based coleslaws can be frozen, but they will lose their crunch. Any coleslaw that’s mayo or yogurt based will not freeze well, as the dressing can separate.

Creamy Skinny Coleslaw Recipe (4)

The inspiration for this recipe comes from three sources. My sweet and tangy coleslaw, a Chick-Fil-A copycat recipe I’m working on for my other website, and this recipe from Gimme Some Oven. Ali has some fantastic recipes there, and she really got the proportion of greek yogurt right.

To make it easy and really cut down the prep time, I used a bag of shredded coleslaw mix and just chopped it up a little bit. I chose not to add purple cabbage here, to keep that classic coleslaw color, but it would be a great addition. If you’re feeling ambitious, go ahead and grab a head of green cabbage and a few carrots and grate them on your box grater.

As we head into summer bbq and potluck season, give this skinny coleslaw recipe a try, and don’t forget to have some on top of this pulled pork or shredded beef barbecue!

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Creamy Skinny Coleslaw Recipe (5)

Creamy Skinny Coleslaw Recipe

4.50 from 28 votes

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Calories: 34

Servings: 8 servings

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This ultra creamy coleslaw is tangy with a hint of sweetness and plenty of crunch.

Ingredients

  • 2/3 cup non-fat plain Greek yogurt
  • 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice , fresh is best
  • 2 Tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1/4 tsp ground celery seed
  • kosher salt and black pepper, to taste (I like mine peppery)
  • 10 oz bag of shredded coleslaw mix
  • 1/3 cup red onion or shallots , finely minced
  • 2 Tbsp green onions, sliced

Instructions

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine Greek yogurt, vinegar, lemon juice, sugar, celery seed, salt and pepper. Whisk until a dressing forms.

  • Add coleslaw mix, red onion, and green onions. Toss to combine, making sure all the coleslaw is coated.

  • Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. Taste and adjust salt and pepper seasoning.

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Nutrition Disclaimer

The Chunky Chef is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

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Calories: 34 | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 0g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 13mg | Potassium 93mg | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1% | Vitamin C: 17.1% | Calcium: 3.4% | Iron: 1.1%

I’m not a nutritionist, and nutritional values here on my recipes should be used for general information purposes only. This information is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues and consult your physician before starting a new diet and fitness regimen.

Creamy Skinny Coleslaw Recipe (6)

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  • Coleslaw Recipe (Chick-Fil-A Copycat)

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Hey there! I'm Amanda. Wife, mother, photography nerd, and bacon lover! I believe that delicious meals should be easy to make. Now that you’re here, stay a bit, browse a few recipes, and let’s get cookin’!

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  1. Cindy says

    This sounds delicious! Can this be frozen?

    Reply

    • Amanda says

      I don’t recommend freezing this coleslaw, as the texture can get unpleasant.

      Reply

  2. Lindsay R says

    The hubs and I are pretty health conscious people and are always looking for healthy alternatives. But one that he has never budged on is using Greek yogurt as a replacement. “I’ll take the fat and calories in light mayo over that awful devils yogurt” he said once. Trust me, ladies and gents, I have tried to sneak it in more than once. He can always tell and refuses to eat it. I’ve even gone as far as to swap containers and put Greek yogurt into low-fat cottage cheese containers (which he also won’t eat). No luck. He can always tell. Until tonight.

    I made pulled pork tonight, (highly recommend recipe by The Clean Eating Couple), and like the author, we like to top our pulled pork with creamy coleslaw. I thought I would try slipping in Greek yogurt one more time.and …. GUYS! It worked! He couldn’t even tell! (And so I kept my lips shut).

    I did use no calorie sweetener instead of sugar. Which always has a certain taste about it. I think I’ll go for the real thing next time and calories be damned. And I made the mistake of tasting it right after I whipped up a batch. DONT DO THIS. Let it marinate in the fridge for a few hours and let the flavors come together. My first bite was too sweet and lemony and concerned me that it didn’t taste at all like creamy Cole slaw. But after 2 hours in the fridge, I was amazed.

    WONDERFUL recipe! Thank you for helping me trick the hubs!

    Reply

  3. Jessica says

    This was very good – the dressing was nice any tangy! I was making this “on the fly” and had to make a change. I only had a scant half cup of nonfat Greek yogurt so I added some reduced-calorie mayonnaise to get to two thirds of a cup. After tasting the dressing, I added a squirt or two of Dijon mustard and a dash of garlic powder, because that’s how I like my coleslaw. But that was just a matter of personal taste – this is a very good recipe for coleslaw that tastes great with few calories.

    Reply

  4. JeskaJones says

    I just made this tonight! It’s not done “resting” yet, but I’m thrilled with how it turned out already! I used fa*ge 0% yogurt, which is super dense and creamy! Such good yogurt in general! It has the texture of sour cream and not very tart. But I digress! I ended up using dried dill in place of the celery seeds, so I’ll be trying it again when I can get some seeds, but the dill is dillicious!! I also had to use lime instead of lemon, lakanto granules for sweetener, and yellow onion. Sadly, I didn’t have any scallions. Can’t wait until next time! Thanks for an easy healthy recipe that comes together easily, and satisfied some nostalgia for a BBQ during the quarantime!

    Reply

  5. Carole says

    Looks delicious, I will be making!

    Reply

  6. SusanfromKentucky says

    So yummy!!

    Reply

  7. Terry says

    Just made this and only thing I changed was I used 3 tablespoons on monk fruit granular sweetener instead of sugar. I like my cole slaw on the sweeter side. Delicious!

    Reply

  8. Brent says

    I never leave comments and had to on this. Only thing I changed was I added a pinch of granulated garlic and some Cajun seasoning. My 6yr old approved

    Reply

    • Joli says

      I made this without sugar and I really liked it. I used fat free Greek yogurt which worked really well. Thanks for recipe!

      Reply

  9. Glenn says

    What is the serving size because it’s not mentioned here?

    Reply

    • The Chunky Chef says

      It’s not measured specifically, but this recipe serves 8.

      Reply

  10. Tricia says

    Can’t wait to try this afternoon! Growing up on my mother’s Cole slaw, hate the store bought mayo with some cabbage added.

    Reply

  11. Lucky Cedarlane says

    made this but used honey , no sugar and it was GREAT ! oh i did 1/2 cabbage, a small red cabbage, 4 carrots and i add a NewOrleans PINCH of Cayenne & 1tbs of fresh lemon ! so so GOOD Thanks for this

    Reply

  12. Lauren says

    I never leave comments, but holy smokes this is good! I did use a mix of Greek yogurt and mayo but that’s the only thing I changed. The flavor is amazing!

    Reply

  13. Krista says

    This is perfect for our Summer BBQ’s!

    Reply

  14. Des says

    I would come home with an empty bowl from every potluck I bring this to. Fabulous!

    Reply

  15. Katerina @ diethood .com says

    This sounds fantastic!! I love that you made a lighter version!!

    Reply

  16. Dee says

    We love pulled pork and coleslaw, and I love that you found a way to lighten it up!

    Reply

  17. Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says

    This will be such a perfect side dish this summer! Love the lighter dressing made with greek yogurt!

    Reply

  18. I Heart Naptime says

    Looks delicious! Perfect for BBQs this Summer!

    Reply

  19. Dawn says

    Serves 8; how many ounces in one serving for 1 smart point?

    Reply

    • The Chunky Chef says

      Hi Dawn 🙂 No exact amount, just 1/8 of the recipe.

      Reply

Newer Comments

Creamy Skinny Coleslaw Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is creamy coleslaw made of? ›

Julienne cabbage and carrots using a mandoline (<- affiliate link). Place in a large bowl. Add in mayonnaise, sour cream, white wine vinegar, salt, sugar, mustard powder and white pepper. Stir everything together until thoroughly combined.

Can you eat coleslaw when trying to lose weight? ›

Yes. Coleslaw can absolutely be part of a healthy eating plan as long as you choose your dressing carefully. Toby Amidor, MS, RD, CDN, is a registered dietitian and consultant who specializes in food safety and culinary nutrition.

Is low fat coleslaw good for you? ›

Yes, but the dressing makes all the difference! Depending on the recipe coleslaw can be either a healthy veggie-packed side dish or it can be a high-calorie addition to the plate. Cabbage is high in fiber and very low in calories. It is also rich in Vitamin C.

Is creamy coleslaw good for you? ›

Yes, coleslaw can be healthy! The base of coleslaw is shredded vegetables (traditionally cabbage), so inherently coleslaw is vitamin- and fiber-packed and good for you. The issue is the dressing. Most traditional creamy coleslaw dressing is made with high fat ingredients like mayo and has sugar added too.

What is creamy coleslaw made of mayonnaise? ›

Combine the mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, maple syrup, celery seed, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Whisk until smooth! Then, combine the veggies. Add the scallions, red cabbage, green cabbage, and carrot to a large bowl, and toss to combine.

What's the difference between coleslaw and slaw? ›

The real difference is that the raw, chopped vegetables in coleslaw are primarily cabbage: Napa, red, savoy, or bok choy. Slaw without the cole can feature any crunchy veggie in place of cabbage, including chopped or shredded broccoli, carrots, snow peas, jicama, and more.

When should you not eat coleslaw? ›

- A foul or sour smell is a clear indicator that the coleslaw has spoiled. Fresh coleslaw should have a crisp and slightly tangy aroma. - Visible mold or mildew on the surface of the coleslaw is a definite sign of spoilage. Mold can appear as fuzzy patches and may have different colors, such as white, green, or black.

Which is healthier potato salad or coleslaw? ›

Cup for cup, coleslaw also typically has fewer calories (94 versus 357) and less sodium than potato salad. Either side is loaded with fiber (about 12 to 14 grams per cup) and protein (about eight to 12 grams per cup).

What does coleslaw do for your body? ›

A 100g serving of coleslaw provides about a quarter of your recommended daily vitamin A thanks to the cabbage and carrot content and the total recommended daily allowance of vitamin E from the plant oils found in mayonnaise. When buying coleslaw, check the ingredients and make sure it doesn't contain too much salt.

Is coleslaw a carb or protein? ›

Coleslaw (1 tbsp) contains 1g total carbs, 0.9g net carbs, 0.2g fat, 0.1g protein, and 6 calories.

How many calories are in 1 cup of homemade coleslaw? ›

Coleslaw, home-prepared, 1 cup
Protein (g)0.77
Carbohydrate, by difference (g)7.45
Energy (kcal)41.4
Fiber, total dietary (g)0.9
Calcium, Ca (mg)27
27 more rows

Why is KFC coleslaw so good? ›

Mayonnaise/Miracle Whip

Considering that most coleslaw recipes use mayonnaise, it's safe to assume that KFC does it as well. With its fat, its salt, and its slightly acidic taste, mayo is exactly what's needed to balance and enhance the vinegar, salt, and sugar found in coleslaw.

How much sugar is in creamy coleslaw? ›

Amount/Serving%DV*Amount/Serving
Trans Fat 0gSugars 11g
Cholesterol 15.1mg5%Protein 1g
Sodium 160.6mg11%
Vitamin A - IU 0% Vitamin C 0% Calcium 2% Iron 0% Fat 40% Saturated Fat 20%
2 more rows

Why does coleslaw go bad so quickly? ›

Additionally, coleslaw often contains mayo or dairy-based dressings that can go bad pretty quickly. The U.S. Department of Agriculture warns that bacteria thrive at temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, so the longer you leave your food out, the higher the risk of spoilage.

What is coleslaw usually made of? ›

The only consistent ingredient in coleslaw is raw cabbage, while other ingredients and dressings vary widely. Some popular variations include adding red cabbage, pepper, shredded carrots, onion, grated cheese, pineapple, pears or apple, and using salad dressings like mayonnaise or cream.

What is traditional coleslaw made of? ›

What is traditional coleslaw made of? Traditional coleslaw is little more than shredded cabbage and a creamy dressing. This recipe adds a bit more flavor with shredded carrots and onion. The creamy dressing is made with mayonnaise, sugar, cider vinegar, salt, and pepper, for a just right tangy-sweet flavor.

What's the difference between coleslaw and creamed cabbage? ›

Creamed cabbage is made with cream, cabbage, mustard, and seasoning. Coleslaw includes other veggies, like shredded carrots. The sauce for coleslaw is made with vinegar, mayo, sugar, salt, and other seasonings. Coleslaw is meant to be eaten cold, while creamed cabbage should be eaten warm.

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