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My Creamy Walnut Coleslaw Recipe is a surefire winner for all your summer party side dish needs. It’s crunchy and creamy with a tangy coleslaw dressing and so packed with flavor! (Thanks to California Walnuts for sponsoring today’s post.)

Coleslaw is the perfect picnic side dish and pairs so well with other potluck salads like our Easy Vegetable Pasta Salad and Lightened Up Broccoli Pasta Salad.

Creamy Walnut Coleslaw in a bowl topped with walnuts

WALNUT COLESLAW RECIPE

I was never a fan of coleslaw until a few years ago. The only coleslaw I’d really ever tried was the mushy, watery kind from a popular fried chicken restaurant. And I was not a fan.

But then there was the time I tasted the most magical coleslaw ever created. It was creamy, but still crunchy. It had a ton of flavor and was not at all watery. It was my turning point in the coleslaw world. I still don’t like that watery fast food version (my apologies to those who are die-hard fans) but this crunchy, creamy coleslaw with a tangy coleslaw dressing? Yeah, I could get used to that.

creamy, tangy walnut coleslaw recipe

THIS WALNUT COLESLAW RECIPE IS TO DIE FOR!

So I started making my own coleslaw at home. I came up with different a few different types of coleslaw dressing, both creamy versions and delicious vinegar based coleslaw dressings. My loves are combined to make this Creamy Walnut Coleslaw recipe you see here.

Here’s how to make it:

  1. Buy a bag of coleslaw mix. Ok so this is optional – it’s a super easy way to cut corners and save time, but I also kinda prefer to chop my own veggies. So you can buy a pre-mixed bag (usually has purple and green cabbage and shredded carrots) or you can chop your own. Make sure to chop the heads of cabbage very thin.
  2. Combine shredded cabbage and shredded carrots, then add the chopped walnuts.
  3. Coat with coleslaw dressing and serve.

ingredients in bowls for making creamy coleslaw dressing recipe

HOW TO MAKE THE COLESLAW DRESSING

Start by combining the following:

  • Mayonnaise
  • sour cream
  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Honey
  • Whole grain or Dijon mustard

Drown your veggies in this luscious dressing and you are good to go!

WALNUT COLESLAW RECIPE TIPS

Mustard in coleslaw? I’m kind of obsessed with whole grain mustard right now, so I used quite a bit. I love the tangy mustard flavor and the slight pop from the mustard seeds – super fun! You can adjust all of these ingredients to your liking.

Walnuts in coleslaw? The walnuts are such a nice addition, providing a nice crunch and a smooth flavor. Pro tip- toast the walnuts for several minutes in a 350 degree oven for even more flavor.

Crunchy versus soft. For a nice crunchy slaw, serve immediately or shortly after combining the ingredients. But if you let it sit for a while, the cabbage will soften and it will be easier to eat, and more enjoyable. Make sure to stir it up real good before serving.

HOW LONG CAN COLESLAW SIT OUT?

Because of the mayo in the dressing, coleslaw shouldn’t sit out longer than 2 hours. Any longer than that and it should be discarded. Properly store, coleslaw will remain fresh for 3-5 days in the fridge.

Creamy Walnut Coleslaw recipe in a clear glass bowl

This Coleslaw Recipe is completely customizable!

If you’re not a fan of mustard or don’t like the whole grain variety, leave it out or use less. If you are allergic to walnuts you can leave them out. For a lighter recipe, use an olive oil based mayo and replace the sour cream with Greek yogurt.

With the protein you get from the walnuts (4 grams per ounce), this Creamy Walnut Coleslaw Recipe would even make a great meal!

A spoonful of Creamy Coleslaw with Walnuts

For other delicious walnut recipes, give these a try:

Recipe
A close up of a bowl of Coleslaw

Creamy Walnut Coleslaw

4.84 from 6 votes
My Creamy Walnut Coleslaw Recipe is a surefire winner for all your summer party side dish needs. It's crunchy and creamy with a tangy coleslaw dressing and so packed with flavor!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 bag shredded coleslaw mix OR 4 cups of shredded purple and green cabbage and carrots
  • 1 cup walnuts roughly chopped
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoons honey or more to taste
  • 1 tablespoon whole grain or Dijon mustard or more to taste
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Instructions
 

  • Whisk dressing ingredients together in a medium-sized bowl.
  • Stir in coleslaw mix and walnuts until coated.
  • Garnish with fresh parsley and extra walnuts if desired.

Notes

*toast walnuts first for an extra pop of flavor.
Keyword walnut coleslaw

Nutrition

Calories: 167kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 3gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 10gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 7mgSodium: 68mgPotassium: 82mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 54IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 24mgIron: 1mg

Nutritional Disclaimer Kristin Maxwell of "Yellow Bliss Road" is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. For accurate calorie counts and other nutritional values, we recommend running the ingredients through your preferred online nutritional calculator. Calories and other nutritional values can vary depending on which brands were used.

coleslaw recipe, coleslaw dressing collage

 

Kristin Maxwell

Kristin Maxwell is the creator and main recipe developer, writer, and photographer of Yellow Bliss Road. A self-taught cook and self-appointed foodie, she specializes in easy, flavorful and approachable recipes for any home cook.

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Comments

  1. Jeanne says:

    Great slaw! I added a bit more honey to mine, plus I added a little apple balsamic vinegar and apple cider, along with a finely minced vidalia onion and poppy seeds. It was delicious.

    1. Kristin says:

      Thanks for sharing your positive experience Jeanne!

  2. Deena says:

    Amazing idea of using walnut in coleslaw salad! I love it!