Easy Napa Cabbage Slaw Recipe (2024)

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March 7, 2022 by Emily Dingmannn 38 Comments

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4.9 from 11 reviews

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This napa cabbage slaw recipe is the coleslaw you’ll make ALL summer long! My easy napa slaw is the perfect side for summer picnics, grilled dinners, and a potluck. This easy napa cabbage coleslaw takes just 15 minutes to make and 8 easy ingredients that you probably already have.

This napa slaw salad is a recipe that’s been a summer staple for SO LONG. I grew up eating this salad (it’s inspired by a super old one from a newspaper clipping!) and while it’s an old one, it still manages to taste fresh, light, and modern. Serve this homemade coleslaw with burgers, pulled pork sandwiches, smoked meats, turkey sliders, Greek lamb meatballs, meatball sliders, grilled drumsticks, grilled chicken thighs, or even grilled lake trout for the ultimate summer meal. And add my Mediterranean tortellini salad on the side if you need a carb!

If napa slaw is new to you, I’ll show you how to buy it, how to slice napa cabbage, and how to whip up the best coleslaw made with napa cabbage. I can’t wait for you to try this one.

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

What Is Napa Slaw?
What You’ll Love About Napa Cabbage Slaw
Napa Cabbage Coleslaw Ingredients
How to Make Napa Cabbage Slaw
How To Cut Napa Cabbage for Slaw
Storage Instructions
Substitutes + Nutrition
What to Serve with Napa Coleslaw
More Easy Salad Recipes

What Is Napa Slaw?

This napa cabbage salad slaw recipe is simply a vinaigrette-based coleslaw made with napa cabbage instead of traditional green cabbage.

Napa cabbage is kind of a cross between regular, green cabbage and lettuce, with a great crunchy texture! It’s less dense than cabbage, but still holds up to dressing well and adds great crunch to so many meals. I also use it in my 5-minute Chinese chicken salad recipe for the best texture.

What You’ll Love About Napa Cabbage Slaw

Quick and bright side
Always a favorite
Pairs with almost anything
Takes just 15 minutes to make
Made with simple ingredients
No mayonnaise
Easy to prep ahead

Napa Cabbage Coleslaw Ingredients

The ingredients to make this slaw are pretty basic:

Napa Cabbage – Napa cabbage has a longer shape than traditional cabbage and its leaves are a little bumpy.
Blue Cheese Crumbles – Crumble the blue cheese for best flavor,
White Onion – Slice the onion as thinly as you can. If raw onions are a little strong for you, soak the sliced onions in ice water before using them in the slaw.
Garlic – Use fresh garlic for best flavor.
Olive Oil – Use high quality olive oil for best flavor.
Apple Cider Vinegar – This gives great flavor, but you can also use white balsamic vinegar, white vinegar, or even red wine vinegar.
Dijon Mustard – Dijon is a classic ingredient in vinaigrettes, don’t skip it as it gives great flavor and also acts as an emulsifier.
Honey– You could also use granulated sugar or even maple syrup.
Spices – Celery seed, sea salt, black pepper

How to Make Napa Cabbage Slaw

This crunchy napa cabbage slaw is so easy to make and requires just 8 ingredients and about 10-15 minutes of prep.

Prep napa cabbage. Wash and thinly slice napa cabbage. Layer in serving bowl with thinly sliced onions (use a mandoline for super thin slices) and blue cheese crumbles and chill.

Make coleslaw dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients until emulsified.

TIP: I like to make the napa salad dressing in a jar – no whisk required and perfect storage.

Assemble napa cabbage coleslaw. Combine cabbage mixture and dressing and toss together the napa cabbage and dressing. Top with freshly cracked pepper if desired.

How To Cut Napa Cabbage for Slaw

Don’t worry, it’s easy too cut napa cabbage for slaw. Simply hold the middle or bottom of the napa cabbage with one hand, and use a knife to slice with the other.

Storage Instructions

Even though this is a coleslaw, in terms of storage, think more like salad! It’s best fresh as the napa cabbage will wilt.

How to prep ahead

However, if you want to prep the napa cabbage slaw recipe in advance, you can easily do so.

Layer the napa cabbage, onions, and blue cheese in a serving bowl and store in the fridge. Make dressing and store at room temperature if using it within the day. Toss together 5-10 minutes before serving.

Substitutes + Nutrition

This napa cabbage slaw recipe is pretty forgiving, so if you’re missing an ingredient or need to make a swap, here are few ideas:

Napa Cabbage – This is obviously the star of napa cabbage coleslaw recipe, but if you can’t get it, try using savoy cabbage, it’s a little denser, but very similar.
Celery Seeds – This ingredient gives the napa cabbage slaw dressing a distinct flavor, but if you don’t have any, you can use celery salt 1/2 teaspoon of celery salt and omit the salt in the dressing. Add more salt to taste if necessary.
Apple Cider Vinegar – Anything with a sweeter flavor, like a white balsamic or white wine vinegar will work here.

What to Serve with Napa Coleslaw

This coleslaw is the perfect side dish to one of these main dishes:

Air Fryer Salmon
Shrimp Boil
Crockpot Chicken and Potatoes
Slow Cooker Brats
Air Fryer Brats (or Air Fryer Cheddar Brats!)
Breaded Pork Tenderloin Sandwich

More Easy Salad Recipes

If you like this napa cabbage slaw recipe, you might also like some of these other easy salad recipes:

Summer Quinoa Salad
Watermelon Arugula Salad with Feta
Greek Potato Salad
Simple Green Salad
Garbanzo Bean Salad
Quinoa Arugula Salad

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