Old Fashioned Coleslaw with Vinegar (No Mayo)

This tangy vinegar coleslaw recipe is the perfect slaw for barbecues! A sweet vinegar dressing with no mayo needed.

I think there’s a lot of comfort in making and eating a long-time family recipe like this Old Fashioned Coleslaw with Vinegar.  I’ve been eating this particular vinegar coleslaw recipe for almost 30 years, and I now serve it to my son. This is a very and sweet vinegar coleslaw recipe with no mayo used!

“This is my favorite recipe for coleslaw. I add jalapeños to it for a kick. Perfect for pulled pork or brisket sandwiches.” – Caron

This type of vinegar slaw is super popular in the area I grew up in. Well, church picnics and gatherings were popular in the summer months, and vinegar-based coleslaws help up good on a picnic table in the heat! This makes this classic coleslaw recipe a great addition to your summer barbecues.

Old Fashioned Coleslaw Recipe Origins

As I mentioned above, this is a family recipe! Most of my family is from the rural part of central Missouri, and growing up, my weekends in the summer and fall revolved around going to various church picnics with my parents. These picnics were an excuse to socialize and drink beer, no doubt, and were the main fundraisers for the church.

But they were also fun for kids. We bet on turtle races (seriously), played bingo, and got into mischief. My favorite part of these gatherings was no doubt the food! Groups of ladies and gentlemen would work away for days to prepare a feast.

“This is the only slaw I make now. The recipe is perfect every time. The slaw is very good on fish tacos. Thank you for a fresh side dish. Love it!” – Debra

The typical menu was fried chicken and country ham, homemade mashed potatoes with chicken gravy, and this crunchy cabbage salad. My favorite part of these picnics was this tangy vinegar coleslaw made with crunchy cabbage. Well, and of course, all of the homemade pie you could eat!

At these outdoor summer gatherings, they wouldn’t use mayo in the coleslaw because these dishes would sit out in the heat for long periods of time! Makes sense, right?

Another super popular dish at these picnics was a fresh cucumber salad that used the same vinegar-based dressing as this slaw along with onions and sometimes tomatoes.

“I left out the onions and we’re completely ok with this. My hubby is still singing my praises for such a tasty coleslaw. It’s a southern thang!” – Teri

Even at a young age, I knew I was experiencing something special. Something that you rarely see in larger cities, a strong sense of community that was brought together by games, great food and of course, traditional recipes like this!

“This was very good. I usually make mayonnaise-based coleslaw, so this was a nice change. Put it on a sliced pork sandwich. 👌 The only changes I made were cooked on the stove to dissolve sugar. And used celery salt.” – Kris

Vinegar Slaw Recipe Substitutions and Additions

Like any recipe, you can make changes as needed, especially when it comes to the delicious dressing! Here are a few suggestions:

• If you do not have tangy apple cider vinegar, use white vinegar or rice wine vinegar.
• Instead of vegetable oil, you can use canola oil, avocado oil or olive oil.
• Add additional shredded vegetables for extra nutrition.
• Add finely chopped green onion- it adds so much flavor!
• Add small carrots (shredded) or diced green pepper.
• Use red cabbage or mix red and green cabbage together for extra color.
• Add a teaspoon of poppy seeds or sunflower seeds for extra crunch.
• Add diced bell pepper for extra crunch and flavor
• Substitute red onion or sweet yellow onion for the white onion.
• If you don’t have powdered mustard, don’t worry! Just add a small squeeze of Dijon mustard to the dressing.
• Instead of sugar, try honey! You will want to gently heat the dressing mixture and whisk it vigorously to make sure it all comes together.
• Add chopped fresh parsley for extra color.

“Really good! Different than the usual kind I make. I used 4 oz coleslaw and made half the dressing. It’s a very light, sweet and tangy dressing. Goes perfect with a heavier/richer main dish. Would make again.” – Chelsea

Storing Leftover Vinegar Coleslaw

I think that this delicious recipe is even better the next day! Store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

This coleslaw recipe will not freeze well.

“This was great exactly as the recipe showed. I did add extra vinegar and celery seed, but the end result was just like my mom makes.”

Serving Suggestions for Vinegar Slaw

I think this tangy coleslaw is the BEST BBQ side dish for simple dishes like grilled burgers!

It balances out the savory flavors of BBQed meat perfectly. Serve this delicious vinegar coleslaw alongside Smoked Pulled Pork or BBQ Chicken Quarters or BBQ Pork Steaks! Or use it as a topping for a pulled pork sandwich or hot dogs!

If you need another BBQ-friendly side dish idea, try my Broccoli Salad, Pasta Salad, Grilled Corn or my Smoked Mac and Cheese.

Love this vinegar-based coleslaw recipe? Try my other homemade coleslaw recipes: Cilantro Lime Coleslaw | Radish and Apple Cole Slaw | Broccoli Slaw

I hope that you enjoyed this family recipe of mine! If you make it, I’d love to hear how it went for you in the comments below.