Easy Carrot Slaw (One Bowl)

Quick and easy carrot slaw recipe without mayonnaise, homemade with simple ingredients in one pot (bowl) in 30 minutes. Loaded with fresh matchstick carrots, toasted nuts (walnuts, pecans) and tangy lemon orange vinaigrette. Great for Summer bbq and tacos.

Fresh veggies are a Summer favorite around our house. We love the bright colors, and vibrant flavors and I think your family will too. This Apple Colelsaw (One Pot) and Oil And Vinegar Coleslaw (One Bowl) and Asian Slaw or Coleslaw (One Bowl) and Creamy Coleslaw (One Bowl) will add even more variety to your bbq season side dish choices.

How To Make Carrot Slaw Recipe From Scratch?

1. Make vinaigrette- By whisking together olive oil, orange juice, lemon juice, honey, lemon zest, orange zest, parsley, salt, and pepper.
2. Add carrots, nuts- And toss until combined.
3. Chill- In fridge for 15-20 minutes to allow the flavors to marinate and enjoy.

Slaw Dressing Without Mayonnaise/ Slaw Vinaigrette

Make this lemon orange vinaigrette by whisking together the following ingredients. Use immediately or store in an air-tight mason jar or container in the fridge for up to 1 week.

• ¼ cup Olive oil
• 3 tbsp Orange juice Preferably freshly squeezed
• 2 tbsp Lemon juice
• 2-3 tbsp Honey Or maple syrup, Adjust according to your preference
• ½ tsp Lemon zest
• ½ tsp Orange zest
• 2 tbsp Parsley Fresh, Finely chopped
• Salt To taste
• Pepper To taste

How To Make Shredded Carrots/Grated Carrots? How To Make Matchstick Carrots?

You can buy matchstick carrots and skip the whole process of shredding them yourself, or you can use a mandolin slicer to matchstick or shred or grate the carrots. You can also use a very sharp knife to cut the carrots into matchsticks yourself. Another option is grating or shredding with a food processor.

What To Serve With Carrot Coleslaw For BBQ?

This is one of those side dishes that can easily be served on its own or you can use it as a filling/ topping in:

• Sandwiches- Try it in this Loose Meat Sandwich (One Pan)
• Wraps
• Quesadillas- Such as Ground Beef Quesadilla (One Pot) or Chicken Quesadilla (One Pan) or Best Cheese Quesadilla (One Pot)
• Tacos- Try it in Instant Pot Flank Steak Tacos or Ground Beef Tacos (One Pot)or Shredded Chicken Tacos (One Pot)
• Burgers
• Hot dogs
• Pizza
• Stuffed potatoes- Such as these Stuffed Sweet Potatoes (One Pan)

Serve it alongside protein such as fish, beef, ham or chicken:

• Grilled Chicken Breast 
• Instant Pot Whole Chicken (Rotisserie Chicken)
• Garlic Butter Steak Bites (One Pan) 
• Instant Pot Shredded Chicken
• Instant Pot Shredded Beef 
• BBQ Shredded Beef (One Pot)
• Slow Cooker Ham.

Variations

Cabbage carrot slaw- Mix in a bag of shredded cabbage for even more veggies packed flavor.

Add raisins or cranberries- For a sweet addition. The orange flavored cranberries are incredible in this dish!

Apple cider vinegar slaw- Add some apple cider vinegar in addition to or instead of lemon juice to add flavor and tanginess.

Pickled slaw- Mix in some pickled carrots and veggies or this Homemade Kimchi for a fermented version.

Add apples- For more sweetness.

Add other nuts- Such as pine nuts or cashews.

Add other vegetables- Such as broccoli, bell peppers, cauliflower, or brussel sprouts.

Add seeds– Such as roasted pumpkin, pepita, or sunflower seeds.

Add shredded coconut– For added texture and sweetness.

Add herbs– Such as fresh cilantro, basil, chives, dill e.t.c.

Add cheese crumbles- Such as Gorgonzola or feta.

Try onions– Such as thinly sliced green onions, shallots, yellow or white onions for a different flavor.

Tips And Techniques

Why is my slaw soggy? The vegetables will begin to release water, as the slaw sits. Serve it immediately to prevent this from happening.

Why is my slaw dry? This means you need more dressing or it has all settled to the bottom of the bowl. Mix it up first, and if it is still dry, add more dressing.

Serve a crowd– Make a bigger batch by doubling or even tripling all the ingredients.

Honey substitute– You can use maple syrup, agave, brown sugar, or granulated sugar. The flavor will change slightly, depending on the sweetener being used.

Use high quality olive oil- This provides the best flavor in the vinaigrette.

Chill the slaw- This resting time is very important because it allows the flavors to marinate and truly develop.

Adjust the amount of vinaigrette- Add more or less depending on your preference.

Adjust seasoning– Add more or less of whatever ingredients you like or dislike.

Storage

Make ahead instructions– Make the dressing and keep it separately from the carrots in the fridge until you are ready to serve. Then, toss everything together and enjoy.

Refrigerate– In a sealed container for up to 2 days, but the carrots won’t be as crunchy anymore.

Freeze– You cannot freeze coleslaw because of the water content in the veggies. They will not thaw well, and the texture will be very unappetizing and it will become a soggy mess.

More One Pot Side Dishes

• Easy Pear Salad (One Bowl)
• Best Creamed Corn (One Pot)
• Candied Carrots (One Pot)
• Sauteed Sugar Snap Peas Recipe (One Pot)
• Marinated Tomatoes (One Bowl)
• Quick Pickled Vegetables (One Pot)

Recipe