BBQ Coleslaw
A great change to a classic recipe, my BBQ coleslaw has a bit of extra tang and a hint of extra sweetness that's great as a side dish or on a sandwich.
GLUTEN FREE SIDE
Lauren Vasnelis
8/12/2026
Barbecue Coleslaw
This Barbecue Coleslaw is a fun twist on traditional creamy coleslaw, with fresh cucumber and tomato adding extra crunch and color and barbecue sauce giving the dressing a smoky, slightly sweet flavor. It comes together quickly with a bag of coleslaw mix, making it an easy side for summer cookouts, picnics, or weeknight dinners.
Serve it on its own as a side dish, or pile it onto a sandwich with my Crispy Crock Pot Pulled Barbecue Chicken. Check out that recipe below!
Servings: 10
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Assembly Time: 10 minutes
Chill Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Ingredient Breakdown
Coleslaw Mix
I use a bag of prepared coleslaw mix because it makes this recipe incredibly quick and easy. Most mixes contain shredded green cabbage, red cabbage, and carrots, so all of the chopping is already done for you.
If you’d rather make it yourself, you can finely shred green or white cabbage, red cabbage, and carrots instead.
Cucumber
Cucumber isn’t something you normally find in coleslaw, and that’s part of what makes this version different. It adds a cool, fresh crunch that works especially well with the creamy barbecue dressing.
Make sure to deseed the cucumber before dicing it. Removing that watery center helps prevent excess liquid from thinning out the dressing as the coleslaw chills.
Tomatoes
Fresh diced tomatoes add color, sweetness, and another layer of fresh summer flavor.
Remove the seeds and as much excess liquid as possible before adding the tomatoes to the bowl. Just like the cucumber, this helps keep your finished coleslaw from becoming watery.
Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise creates the creamy base for the dressing and gives this coleslaw its familiar rich texture.
Use your favorite mayonnaise here. If you have dietary restrictions, choose whichever variety works best for you.
Barbecue Sauce
Barbecue sauce is what takes this from regular coleslaw to Barbecue Coleslaw. It adds smoky, sweet, and tangy flavor while also giving the creamy dressing its slightly reddish-brown color.
Use your favorite barbecue sauce since its flavor will come through in the finished dish.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar gives the coleslaw a bright, tangy bite and helps balance the richness of the mayonnaise and sweetness of the barbecue sauce.
I recommend keeping it in the recipe, but if you prefer a sweeter and noticeably less tangy coleslaw, you can leave it out and use the honey instead.
Dijon Mustard
A small amount of Dijon mustard adds another layer of tang and depth to the barbecue dressing without making the finished coleslaw taste overwhelmingly like mustard.
Honey
Honey is optional, but I really like a small drizzle over the finished coleslaw just before serving. It gives you a little sweetness against the tangy dressing without making the entire bowl overly sweet.
If you prefer a much sweeter and less tangy version, you can also omit the apple cider vinegar and use the honey instead.
Ingredients
1 (14-ounce) bag coleslaw mix
1 cup cucumber, deseeded and diced
1 cup tomatoes, diced, seeds and excess liquid removed
⅓ cup mayonnaise
¼ cup barbecue sauce
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
Salt and black pepper, to taste
1 teaspoon honey, optional
Instructions
Dice the cucumbers and tomatoes. Deseed the cucumber and dice it into small pieces. Dice the tomatoes, removing the seeds and as much excess liquid as possible.
Combine the ingredients. Add the coleslaw mix, cucumber, tomatoes, mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to a large bowl.
Toss everything together until the vegetables are evenly coated and the mayonnaise and barbecue sauce have completely combined into a creamy barbecue dressing.
Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour to allow the coleslaw to chill and the flavors to come together.
Add the honey, if desired. Drizzle approximately 1 teaspoon of honey over the coleslaw just before serving for a touch of extra sweetness.
Serve cold and enjoy!
Lauren’s Tips 💛
Remove the Extra Moisture: Deseeding the cucumber and removing the seeds and excess liquid from the tomatoes makes a difference. Both vegetables release water as they sit, and removing that extra moisture helps your barbecue dressing stay creamy instead of becoming watery.
Add the Honey at the End: I like the tanginess from the apple cider vinegar, so I prefer to keep it in the dressing and add just a small drizzle of honey immediately before serving. You get a little sweetness without losing that tangy barbecue flavor.
Choose a Barbecue Sauce You Love: Since there are only a few major components in the dressing, you’ll actually taste the barbecue sauce you use. Pick one you already enjoy rather than buying something specifically for this recipe.
Notes
A 14-ounce bag of prepared coleslaw mix is the easiest option, but you can make your own by finely shredding green or white cabbage, red cabbage, and carrots.
If you prefer a less tangy, sweeter coleslaw, you can omit the apple cider vinegar and add the honey instead. I personally recommend keeping the apple cider vinegar and finishing the coleslaw with a light drizzle of honey.
You can eat the coleslaw immediately after mixing, but chilling it for an hour gives the flavors time to come together.
This coleslaw is especially good piled onto a sandwich with my Crispy Crock Pot Barbecue Pulled Chicken and your favorite gluten-free bread.
My favorite gluten-free bread right now for a barbecue chicken and coleslaw sandwich is Promise Gluten Free Sourdough.
Give the coleslaw another good toss before serving, especially after it has been refrigerated.
Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator.
Please check ingredient labels carefully. While all of my recipes are designed to be gluten-free, not every product I use is certified gluten-free. Always verify ingredient labels to ensure they meet your dietary needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make my own coleslaw mix?
Absolutely. Instead of buying a bag, finely shred green or white cabbage, red cabbage, and carrots. A bagged mix is simply my shortcut for making this recipe as quick and easy as possible.
Do I have to deseed the cucumber?
I recommend it. The center of the cucumber contains quite a bit of moisture, which can release into the coleslaw as it sits and thin out your dressing.
Why should I remove the tomato seeds and liquid?
Tomatoes can release a surprising amount of liquid. Removing the watery center helps keep the coleslaw creamy, especially if you’re preparing it ahead of time.
What kind of barbecue sauce should I use?
Use your favorite. The barbecue sauce is one of the primary flavors in the dressing, so this is a good place to use one you already know you enjoy.
Is the honey necessary?
No. The honey is completely optional. I like a small drizzle over the finished coleslaw because it balances the tanginess without making the entire dressing overly sweet.
Can I leave out the apple cider vinegar?
Yes. If you prefer sweeter coleslaw with less tang, leave out the apple cider vinegar and use the optional honey instead. For my preferred version, though, I keep the vinegar.
Can I make Barbecue Coleslaw ahead of time?
Yes. In fact, giving it about an hour in the refrigerator allows the flavors to come together. Just give everything another good toss before serving.
What can I serve with Barbecue Coleslaw?
It’s an easy side for barbecue chicken, pulled pork, burgers, grilled meats, sandwiches, or just about anything you’d serve at a summer cookout or picnic.
Can I put Barbecue Coleslaw on a sandwich?
Definitely. One of my favorite ways to use it is on top of my Crock Pot Barbecue Chicken with gluten-free bread. The cool, creamy crunch of the coleslaw works especially well against the warm barbecue chicken.
How should I store leftovers?
Keep leftover Barbecue Coleslaw covered in the refrigerator. Because the vegetables will continue releasing some moisture as they sit, give it a good stir before serving again.
(Recipe Linked Below)
