Red Cabbage Mexican Slaw Recipe (5 Minutes!) | Wicked Spatula (2024)

This easy Mexican slaw recipe is bursting with bold colors & flavors! See how to make Mexican cabbage slaw salad in just 5 minutes. Plus, red cabbage slaw is versatile year round.

by Maya Last Updated on March 31, 2020 28 Comments

This fresh Mexican slaw recipe is one of the easiest recipes on the site – but one of the best. I’ve always loved the crunch of cabbage in salads, and most of my paleo salads have some cabbage thrown in. Even though this is a Mexican red cabbage slaw, I could (and did) eat it alone as a meal. This Mexican coleslaw salad is crunchy, sweet, tart, spicy, and colorful… all my favorite adjectives when it comes to food!

My family eats Mexican style slaw year round, but we especially love it in the hot summer months. The crisp vegetables are refreshing, but the real star of the show in the red cabbage slaw is the pomegranate arils. They take the dish to the next level of delicious!

It takes less than 5 minutes to make this Mexican style slaw, and I promise it will brighten up your table! I could easily serve this with a variety of grilled steak or other meats, plus it would be fantastic on tacos. Or you know, dig in and finish the entire batch for lunch.

The only downside to serving sweet red cabbage slaw at a party is that you probably aren’t going to end up with any leftovers. You’ll just have to make more!

How To Make Mexican Coleslaw

This beautiful Mexican coleslaw recipe is as easy as it gets:

• Mix the carrots and cabbage in a large bowl.
• Pour lime juice on top.
• Spoon in avocado oil mayonnaise and sprinkle with sea salt to taste.
• Add chili flakes, pomegranate seeds, cashews, and cilantro. The cashews level out the flavor of the slaw and pull it all together, melding the flavors into a cohesive harmony. I think they’re my favorite part.

Toss the mixture, and it is ready to serve! Can you believe how simple this Mexican coleslaw recipe is?

Optional Mexican Style Slaw Variations

I’d call this Mexican style slaw pretty perfect as is, but sometimes I like to toss in a few extra ingredients. Here are some ideas to try out:

• Red Onion – Add some extra flavor to the Mexican coleslaw recipe with a little bit of diced red onion.
• Jalapeno – If you are craving something spicy, don’t be afraid to add in some chopped peppers to the red cabbage slaw. So good!
• Red Bell Peppers – Use any kind of bell pepper you like, but I am partial to red because they are a little sweeter.
• Cauliflower – You will get a little bit of added nutrients and amazing flavor from adding some cauliflower. It’s kind of like a cross between a coleslaw and a cauliflower potato salad!

Is This Mexican Slaw Recipe Healthy?

Absolutely, this Mexican slaw recipe is healthy! Here are some nutritional highlights of this easy Mexican slaw:

• Pomegranate seeds – Vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, and potassium
• Carrots – beta-carotene, fiber, antioxidants, potassium, and vitamin K
• Cabbage – vitamin K, vitamin B6, fiber, vitamin C, and potassium

How Can You Tell If Red Cabbage Slaw Has Gone Bad?

There are a few ways to tell if red cabbage slaw has started to go bad. Sight and smell are your best friends! Watch for Mexican red cabbage slaw that’s super watery (a little is ok, though!), slimy (this is a big one!), smells bad, or has visible mold.

Can You Make Mexican Coleslaw Salad Ahead?

Yes, you can make Mexican coleslaw salad ahead. It will store well in the fridge for 3 to 5 days, though it’s even better if you add the pomegranate and cashews in right before serving. Just plan to make a larger batch if you make the red cabbage slaw for a get-together, because it goes fast!

Another option is to chop the cabbage and carrots and place them in an airtight glass container. Then the day you are ready to serve the Mexican cabbage slaw, you can add the other ingredients with the cabbage and carrots then toss everything together. Super fresh this way!

The Mexican coleslaw salad makes a great lunch if you are meal prepping too. I may or may not have had this Mexican style slaw for lunch several days in a row this week. 😉

Can I Freeze Mexican Cabbage Slaw?

No, I don’t recommend freezing Mexican cabbage slaw. The texture of the cabbage and dressing just won’t taste good.

What To Serve With This Mexican Slaw Recipe

This Mexican slaw recipe goes with lots of different recipes. Here are a few of the go-to paleo dishes that I love to serve with it:

• The Best Pork Belly Tacos
• Spicy Honey Barbecue Wings
• Mexican Cauliflower Rice
• Easy Chipotle Cauliflower Burgers

Pair your Mexican slaw with your next paleo dinner entree.