21 Coleslaw Recipes That Will Instantly Become Stars of the Picnic

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, make ahead

This better-for-you coleslaw trades mayo for Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard and plenty of vinegar. Not only does this combo provide extra protein, but it also makes the slaw irresistibly tangy.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, make ahead, no cook

Fun fact: In Sweden, coleslaw is a standard pizza side, since the vinegar cuts the richness of the cheese and tomato sauce. Who are we to argue?

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, make ahead

There's no anchovy in the Caesar-inspired dressing, so vegetarians can dig in without issue. Instead, soaked almonds and sunflower seeds are the keys to its creaminess.

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes, make ahead

Adding protein-packed quinoa means that the leftovers can easily double as a main—or at least as tomorrow’s lunch. Oh, and you’ll want to make a double batch of the sesame-honey vinaigrette—put it on grains and green salads alike.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, no cook

So much texture, so little time. Sure, you can serve this mix of earthy Brussels, sweet-tart apples, juicy pomegranate arils and Dijon dressing for any fall or winter holiday, but it also holds up well at a summer picnic.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, vegan, no cook

Turmeric is said to have anti-inflammatory properties, and it tastes great to boot—especially in this crunchy, citrusy slaw that happens to be vegan and gluten free.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly, vegan

Braising the cabbage before mixing the slaw is a total revelation. It gets soft and caramelized, creating an epic contrast to the tender black rice and peppery arugula.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, vegan, no cook

Sweet, crunchy and totally refreshing, this side is ideal summer fare (though we’ve been known to eat it all year round). Be sure to use a firm mango so it doesn’t turn mushy or bog down the slaw with liquid.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes, vegan

Red bell peppers and radishes add color to this zippy side, while toasted slivered almonds offer bonus crunch to every bite. Add a touch of honey to the mustard vinaigrette to curb its acidity.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, no cook, beginner-friendly

This slaw is all about the gochujang, a sweet, umami-rich fermented chile paste used in Korean cuisine that we’d follow to the ends of the earth.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: make-ahead, beginner-friendly, vegetarian

File this under Ingenious Ways to Use Leftover Quinoa. Shred the broccoli in your food processor, or buy the pre-shredded stuff at the store to save time.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour, 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, vegetarian

Don't let the time commitment deter you: Most of it is hands-off chilling. The slaw sits in the fridge for an hour to maintain its crispness and soak up as much flavor from the creamy dressing as possible.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, high protein

Why have slaw as a side when you can eat the whole damn bowl for dinner? Savory peanut butter dressing and shredded chicken make this one a bonafide main. Might we suggest starting with store-bought rotisserie chicken?

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, vegan, make ahead

Serving fish tacos at the barbecue? This lime-kissed mix of cabbage, red onion, jalapeño and cilantro is the ultimate finishing touch. We'll bring the cerveza.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, gluten-free, special occasion-worthy

Did someone say coconut bacon? We’re intrigued. It’s as easy as marinating large flake coconut in a smoky marinade and baking until crispy.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour, 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, make ahead

Equal parts sweet and tangy, this slaw is ideal for pairing with Southern-style barbecue. Be sure to chill it for an hour before serving it to your guests.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: no cook, <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser

Not only is the salad crowned with slices of mandarin orange, but the fruit's juice is also the star ingredient in the dressing, along with tahini. And those roasted cashews? *Chef's kiss.*

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, make ahead, special occasion-worthy

Chickpeas, apples, pepitas and dried cranberries infuse this summer staple with autumnal flair. Feel free to substitute white beans, pears, sunflower seeds or raisins respectively.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, make ahead

The recipe calls for canned pineapple, so you won't have to fuss with slicing one unless you'd prefer to. Either way, might we suggest grilling the fruit?

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, make ahead

This coleslaw recipe gets its name from fresh lemon and orange juices in the vinegary dressing. But adding a few pieces of grapefruit, clementine or tangerine to the mix couldn't hurt.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour, 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, beginner-friendly

If you're a sucker for classic mayo-based coleslaw, we don't blame you. And if you're looking for an O.G. recipe, we'd suggest this sweet-and-tangy version finished with celery seed.