If you’re a pickle lover, you’re going to love this quick and easy recipe for Dill Pickle Coleslaw! It’s the perfect blend of tangy and tart and is a great side for your next bbq or cookout!
Y’all, I just love pickles – by themselves, fried, in a delicious dip, and on just about anything. I just love them – Kosher, dill, half sour, all of them. One of my mom’s favorite stories to tell is about the time she caught me standing in the kitchen with the fridge door open drinking all of the juice out of a jar of pickles. So yeah, I like pickles.
A few years back, I did a bbq chicken slider that had a dill pickle slaw. And the truth of the matter is, the pickle slaw was way more popular than the sliders themselves. So, I decided that Dill Pickle Coleslaw deserved a little more recognition than just being tossed on a slider.
I got in the kitchen shortly after publishing that BBQ Chicken Slider recipe and began working on this recipe a bit more. And y’all, I think I stumbled onto something amazing.
I tweaked my original recipe a little and have come up with what I think is the perfect slaw. It’s a balance of tangy and tart, with TONS of pickle flavor that is super easy and convenient to whip up, with no fresh dill necessary. (But you could totally add some if you wanted!)
Do you have to love dill pickles to enjoy this coleslaw?
Now, you’ve got to be a pickle lover to appreciate this, but even my wife, who isn’t a huge pickle lover, absolutely loves this. She came into the kitchen as I was working on it and took one bite. She stopped in her tracks and said, “Ok, stop right there. Don’t do anything else. That stuff is amazing!” She knows I have a tendency to constantly tweak and change – sometimes doing more harm than good. She saved me from myself.
But to answer your question in short… no you don’t have to love a ton of dill pickle flavor to enjoy this coleslaw. Everyone takes a liking to this coleslaw recipe. Cause, y’all… this stuff is GOOD!
What kind of cabbage should I use for this recipe?
This recipe is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of one of those bags of shredded coleslaw mix with the cabbage, small slices of carrots, and all that good stuff. It is usually found in the produce section of the grocery store next to the salad mixes.
I really like to use the tri-color one for the additional color and texture, but the plain will work just as well. And yes, if you’re feeling super ambitious, you can shred your own cabbage if you’re so inclined. You’ll need between 7 and 8 cups of shredded cabbage – or about 1 pound.
How to Store Dill Pickle Coleslaw
As with many things, this dish gets better after it has a little time to let those flavors get happy together. An hour or two in the refrigerator will do. I just always suggest, especially with coleslaw, that you taste it after it has rested and adjust the seasonings as necessary. Many times the salt in the dressing will pull a little water out of the cabbage and dilute the flavors down a touch. So, just grab a taste before you serve it.
If you want to make this coleslaw ahead of time, you could store it in the fridge covered in plastic wrap or in an airtight container for up to 2 days, but keep in mind the longer it sits, the more it will wilt.
The USDA, which regulates food safety, advises that dishes like coleslaw can remain at room temperature for up to two hours once served. Beyond this period, the risk of bacterial growth increases, especially if the food enters the “Danger Zone”—temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit where bacteria rapidly multiply. Even if coleslaw is chilled beforehand, it can quickly reach unsafe temperatures once served.
However, this two-hour limit is more of a general guideline and can vary depending on the surrounding conditions. For instance, at outdoor events like picnics or cookouts, where food is displayed for guests to help themselves, the safe window can shrink considerably. In warmer settings, the time coleslaw can safely sit out may be reduced to just an hour.
Recipe Card
Dill Pickle Coleslaw
Ingredients
- 1 (16-ounce) package coleslaw mix
- 1/2 sweet onion, finely diced
- 1 cup finely chopped dill pickles
- 1 cup mayo
- 2 tablespoons pickle juice
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or more to taste)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, make the dressing by combining the onion, pickles, mayo, pickle juice, dill, garlic powder, and salt. Add the coleslaw mix and toss to combine.
- Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to combine. When ready to serve, taste and add additional salt if necessary, then serve.
Nutrition
* If nutritional values are provided, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used. The values do not include optional ingredients or when ingredients are added to taste. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, I recommend grabbing your favorite brands and plugging those ingredients into an online nutritional calculator.
Terry Jones
First time making this for my family – they all loved it . Just added a bit of balsamic vinegar for some tang
So glad to hear y’all enjoyed it! I’ll have to try it with the balsamic!
Deidre
The Dill Pickle Slaw is absolutely delicious
This one I shall make from now on instead of old dependable. Has that zip.
Thanks, Deidre! Glad to hear you enjoyed it!
Ann
I grew up with my mother making a similar coleslaw…. Pretty simple… grated cabbage, dill pickle cubes, fresh tomato diced up, mayo and salt and pepper…. So delicious…. She passed away last year at 97 and I occasionally make it “mama’s way”!
Mama’s way was the best! 🙂
Steve Smith
Pickle it and I’ll eat it. This is like my coleslaw except I use bread and butter pickles (my favorite pickle) and add some grated carrot, I also add fresh dill instead of dried just because it’s so easy to grow. BBQ’d ribs would not be complete without this slaw. Your recipes are always over the top delicious and eagerly looked forward to in my inbox.
Thanks so much, Steve! Your version sounds great! Thanks for sharing!
Delores Scarcella
Looks delicious, I will have to make it soon
Hope you’ll enjoy it!
Rosey
I made this today to go with pulled pork sandwiches. Delicious! Will definitely be making it again.
Thanks, Rosey! So glad y’all enjoyed it!
Jaclyn Elwood
This has been my go-to summer recipe for cookouts and gatherings. Everyone raves about and requests it. Also a great hot dog and burger topping!
Awesome! Love hearing that, Jaclyn!
Alania G Galyean
My mom always made homemade coleslaw with pickles in it but she also added carrots..This is the slaw that I grew up on and I’m 53 years old now…
Sounds great! Love the addition of the carrots!
Louise
I made this recipe the other day and it was AMAZING. I didn’t change a thing. I will definitely make this again.
Thank you so much Louise!
Rozella Moore
I have never liked a sweet Cole Slaw so I make it like this. I put the Spanish olives with the pepper stuffing in mine with a little crated carrot and Mayonnaise. A little salt and onion power for seasoning.
Sounds great!
I also love a very vinegar-y coleslaw!
Baby dd
I made This dill pickle coleslaw yumo
I also added 1/4 cut of lemon juice and 2 tablespoon of spicy mustard for a great saucy coleslaw
PS I never cut up anything I use the food processor for everything !
Very good even my dawg baby dd liked it
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Oh good!
Bonnie
For Stacy….this has onions in it which are TOXIC to dogs and can cause kidney failure. But…you are correct, this is an awesome salad.
Bonnie
….this has onions in it which are TOXIC to dogs and can cause kidney failure. But…you are correct, this is an awesome salad.
CK
Definitely making this again. Followed recipe to the T & it turned out perfectly!! Great change. It’s fun to try new coleslaw flavors. This is a keeper!
So glad you liked it!
Dianne
What type of mayo would be best. I usually prefer Miracle Whip but would this recipe be more of a Hellman’s mayo? Thanks!
I use Duke’s, but yes, mayo would be best. I wouldn’t recommend Miracle Whip here.
Nancy
Made this for our Memorial Day 2023/Husband’s Birthday Gathering. It was a great side with Burgers. Everyone enjoyed it. Will make again.
Glad to hear it turned out great for you!
Aileen
Stacey, do you remember Luby’s Cafeteria? Or was that only in Texas? They had a coleslaw with pickles similar to this. I loved it! Thank you for the recipe!
I’m guessing that it’s a Texas thing, as I’ve never heard of it. But if Aileen is recommending it, you know I want to try it now!!!
Baltisraul
I either lost my dill pickle coleslaw recipe or my wife threw it out, I’m thinking the latter. So since I’m charged with making the Boston Butt on Memorial Day, she will just have to accept it. haha Will make 1 day in advance and add 1/2 tea to 1 tea of tarragon vinegar. My secret weapon!!
That tarragon vinegar sounds like a great addition! Enjoy!
Leslie
I have a jar of dill pickle relish in the pantry. Could that replace the pickles & juice?
Sure could! Enjoy!
Koryn
So good! Had to try this asap and it’s my new favorite coleslaw.
Love it! So happy to hear that!
AKM
I’m going to make some keto Nashville hot chicken in my air fryer this week, and as you probably know, pickles are the preferred condiment/side for that, so this cole slaw is PERFECT.
Hope it turns out great for you!
Deborah
I’m not much of a coleslaw person but this was very good.
Glad to hear you enjoyed it!
Rebecca
I love it! I like pickles with pork barbecue and slaw is always too sweet. I said, this would be great with barbecue and it IS! It is my new side dish for picnics!
Awesome! I’m so glad you enjoyed this!
Tiina
This was brilliant! The pickles were something I had never imagined to add to coleslaw but when I saw your recipe I knew I was hooked even before tasting it ???? Thank you !
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Tina!!
Edgar Mathews
totally sold me… I love med some pickles, B&B or dill…. so now tomorrow at the store I’ll pick up some coleslaw mix (I have everything else) and whip a batch of this delicious looking slaw….. thanks so much Stacey!!
Thanks so much, Edgar! Sure hope you’ll enjoy it!
Edgar Mathews
So, I made some over the weekend…. and it was delicious!!! Easy to make and a great side dish. I made two changes… I left out the dry dill ( I don’t care for dry dill) and instead of coleslaw mix I use the broccoli slaw mix… just the best slaw recipe ever!! Thanks again!!
That sounds great, Edgar! So glad you enjoyed it!!
Anne
Thank you for this recipe. Sounds just about what I do. I also add some chopped up apple (with a little lemon juice to help prevent browning) and small diced green bell pepper. Love dill pickles in coleslaw. Sweet pickles are nasty! ????
Those sound like some great additions! Hope it turns out great for you!
Amye
This sounds wonderful! Can’t wait to try it.
Sure hope it turns out great for you!!
Bessie
Well, this sounded so good I wanted to try it. Woops no cabbage.. Still determined—lots of caluflower and broc in the frig. so I used them instead. It was WONDERFUL love that dressing. Thank you.
I think that sounds like an amazing substitution! So glad you enjoyed it!!