Coleslaw with Celery Seed

This coleslaw with celery seed is a unique twist on a classic side. It’s the perfect coleslaw for pulled pork, chicken or ribs!

Do you have any strong opinions about coleslaw? I feel like most people do!

Some people like it creamy, others like it vinegary. I’m sure some people will only use green cabbage, whereas others might throw in some red cabbage (or even make a brussels sprout coleslaw).

Honestly, I pretty much like all coleslaw (especially next to a rack of crock pot ribs or root beer ribs), but I like it best when it’s not too creamy and not too vinegary. In my opinion, the best coleslaw dressing recipe is a nice balance between creamy and vinegary.

Sometimes I like my coleslaw with a touch of sweetness to balance out something else on my plate that might be spicy (like my spicy apricot glazed salmon).

This coleslaw with celery seed with an easy coleslaw dressing recipe is my idea of a perfect slaw recipe.

This is the best coleslaw for pulled pork, grilled chicken, ribs, chops or basically anything!

This coleslaw with celery seed is one of those versatile slaw recipes that will work for just about every meal, all through the summer and fall.

It can be used as a topping for a pulled pork sandwich, or simply served alongside. And it’s certified delicious with my buttermilk grilled chicken and orange glazed chicken. Whatever you serve it with, make sure you also have a round of tequila mojitos or strawberry Moscow mules to wash it all down!

The vegetables are flexible. Feel free to use all green or all red cabbage, or simply buy a bag of the pre-shredded mix (seriously, SO easy). All told, you’ll need 4 cups shredded cabbage. Any extra cabbage can be used to sprinkle over lamb tacos or made into cabbage potato soup or corned beef egg rolls.

I got wild and used both red and green cabbage this time, along with some carrots and a bit of green onion. Any extra carrots can be throw into a carrot cake smoothie.

Then, for a unique twist on classic slaw, I grated a Gala apple into the bowl. Galas are also my apple of choice for instant pot apple butter (delicious on a butter board). The snappy, slightly sweet flavor of this apple is great for cooking and baking, and adds a special touch to the slaw.

The apple also gives it an autumn touch, making it perfect to serve with Thanksgiving dinner on the years you’re not serving Thanksgiving salad.

What’s in the easy coleslaw dressing recipe that goes on this coleslaw with celery seed?

This easy coleslaw dressing recipe is a simple mixture of mayonnaise, cider vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper, and celery seeds. If you don’t have cider vinegar on hand, white vinegar works just fine for this best coleslaw dressing recipe.

The key ingredient here is obviously the celery seeds. The seeds are tiny, but they pack a powerful flavor punch of concentrated celery, adding yet another layer of flavor to this slaw.

If you buy a jar of celery seeds to make this coleslaw with celery seed, you’ll surely have a bunch left over. But that’s OK, because they’re more versatile than you’d think!

Celery seeds are commonly used to make pickles and brines, and sometimes show up in bloody marys, too. Also, Simply Recipes has a nice list of celery seed recipes that you can make with the rest of your jar of celery seeds.

This is the best coleslaw dressing recipe, but it’s not JUST for coleslaw!

This is definitely the best coleslaw dressing recipe I’ve ever made, and I actually like it so much that I often keep a jar in the fridge to use on things other than coleslaw.

It’s really great drizzled over roasted vegetables, especially carrots. It’s also good for simply tossing with mixed greens for a side salad. I’ve even used this easy coleslaw dressing recipe as a dip for shrimp, like a creamy shrimp cocktail situation.

This coleslaw with celery seed is part of my Epic Barbecue Party menu!

My Epic Barbecue Party is simply my favorite summer recipes, all in one place. These are the dishes I make on repeat all summer long.

I hope they also become staples of your summer, whether for a backyard party, a picnic, or just a weeknight meal (my country style pork ribs also have an honorary place on this list).

Along with this coleslaw, there’s also:

• Harissa Grilled Chicken
• Good Midwestern Potato Salad
• Warm Antipasto Packets
• Vanilla Lemonade or Agave Lemonade
• Fruit Crisp Bars

Can I make this coleslaw with celery seed in advance?

This coleslaw with celery seed is best eaten the day it is made, because of the shredded apple. However, you can keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days if you need to.

But the best option for making it ahead is to prepare the recipe as written, omitting the apple for now, and storing it in a covered container in the fridge until you’re ready to serve (maybe alongside some steak lettuce wraps or a smoked salmon BLT). Just before serving, shred the apple and fold it in!

Don’t forget the frozen yogurt pie for dessert, which is also a great make-ahead recipe!