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Asian Slaw is the crunchy, craveable side that turns a bag of slaw mix into something everyone fights over, all thanks to a creamy sweet chili sesame dressing. I tossed this together in 10 minutes flat for a cookout and Maddie kept sneaking forkfuls straight from the bowl. If you love an easy, crowd-pleasing side, you will also love our ranch BLT pasta salad.
It comes together in minutes and gets better as it chills, making it the perfect make-ahead side.
Asian Slaw Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 0 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- 🍽️ Serving: 8 servings
- ⚡ Calories: 169kcal
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Crunchy and creamy with sweet, tangy, and savory sesame notes
- ✋ Difficulty: Very easy, just whisk and toss, like our ranch BLT pasta salad
Quick Answer
Whisk together mayonnaise, rice wine vinegar, sweet chili sauce, honey, soy sauce, garlic, sriracha, ginger, and sesame oil to make a creamy dressing. In a large bowl, toss slaw mix with sliced scallions and toasted almonds, then pour the dressing over and mix to coat. Chill for at least an hour so the flavors blend, then garnish with more scallions, crunchy chow mein noodles, and sesame seeds before serving.
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Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- Slaw mix is the ultimate shortcut. Starting with a bag of pre-shredded slaw mix means almost no chopping and a perfectly crunchy base every time.
- The dressing balances every flavor. Sweet chili and honey, tangy vinegar, savory soy, and a sriracha kick come together for an addictive sauce.
- Two kinds of crunch. Toasted almonds and crispy chow mein noodles add texture that keeps every bite interesting.
- It gets better as it sits. A chill in the fridge lets the dressing soak in and the flavors meld, so it is great to make ahead.
- It goes with everything. From grilled chicken to burgers to potlucks, this slaw is a versatile crowd-pleaser.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It comes together in about 10 minutes with no cooking required.
- The creamy sweet chili sesame dressing is restaurant-level delicious.
- It is a perfect make-ahead side for cookouts, right alongside our sweet and sour chicken.
Key Ingredients
Here is what makes this Asian slaw so good. See the recipe card below for exact amounts.
- Slaw mix: A bag of shredded cabbage and carrot slaw mix is the crunchy, no-prep base.
- Sweet chili sauce and honey: Together they bring the signature sweet-and-tangy flavor to the dressing.
- Mayonnaise and sesame oil: Mayo makes the dressing creamy while toasted sesame oil adds nutty, savory depth.
- Sriracha and soy sauce: A little heat and plenty of umami round out the dressing.
- Almonds and chow mein noodles: Toasted almonds and crispy chow mein noodles pile on the crunch.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
This Asian slaw is easy to customize. Here are a few ideas.
- Add protein: Toss in shredded rotisserie chicken or grilled shrimp to make it a meal.
- More veggies: Add edamame, bell pepper strips, or mandarin oranges.
- Make it lighter: Swap in light mayo or Greek yogurt for some of the mayonnaise.
- Turn up the heat: Add extra sriracha or a pinch of red pepper flakes.
- Serve it next to our sweet and sour chicken for an easy Asian-inspired dinner.
How to Make Asian Slaw
- Combine the dressing. Add the mayonnaise, rice wine vinegar, sweet chili sauce, honey, soy sauce, garlic, sriracha, ginger, and sesame oil to a bowl.
- Whisk the dressing. Whisk everything together until smooth and creamy.
- Toss the slaw. In a large bowl, toss the slaw mix with the scallions and toasted almonds.
- Add the dressing. Pour the dressing over the slaw.
- Mix to coat. Toss until everything is evenly coated in the dressing.
- Chill and serve. Cover and chill at least 1 hour, then garnish with scallions, chow mein noodles, and sesame seeds.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Toast the almonds. A few minutes in a dry skillet deepens their flavor and crunch.
- Chill before serving. An hour in the fridge lets the flavors meld and the slaw soften slightly.
- Add crunchy garnishes last. Stir in the chow mein noodles right before serving so they stay crisp.
- Taste and adjust. Add more sriracha for heat or more honey for sweetness to suit your taste.
- Use it as a topper. This slaw is fantastic piled on tacos, sandwiches, and burgers.
- Make it ahead. Mix the dressing and slaw separately and combine a couple hours before serving for max crunch.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
This Asian slaw is a versatile side that pairs with just about any main. Serve it next to grilled chicken, salmon, burgers, or ribs for a fresh, crunchy contrast.
It also shines at potlucks and cookouts. Set it out alongside our sweet and sour chicken or pile it onto pulled pork sandwiches and fish tacos for a flavor-packed crunch.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. The slaw will soften over time, so add fresh chow mein noodles and almonds when serving leftovers to bring back the crunch.
Asian Slaw FAQs
Yes. It actually tastes better after chilling for an hour or more. For the best crunch, you can mix the dressing and slaw up to a day ahead and stir in the almonds and chow mein noodles right before serving.
Most bagged slaw mix is shredded green and red cabbage with carrots. You can also shred your own or use a broccoli slaw mix for a different texture.
Add the toasted almonds and crispy chow mein noodles just before serving, and store any leftovers separately from those garnishes so they do not go soft.
Yes. Swap the mayo for Greek yogurt for a tangier, lighter dressing, or leave it out and use a bit more sesame oil and vinegar for a vinaigrette-style slaw.
It has a mild kick from the sriracha. Reduce or omit the sriracha for a milder slaw, or add more for extra heat.
It pairs beautifully with grilled meats, seafood, burgers, and Asian-inspired mains. It is also great as a topping for tacos, sandwiches, and rice bowls.
Need more easy sides? Try our ranch BLT pasta salad next.
Pair this with our one-pot chicken broccoli pasta.
Serve this alongside our shrimp bruschetta.
Asian Slaw
Ingredients
For the dressing:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons sriracha
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
For the slaw:
- 16 ounces slaw mix
- 4 scallions thinly sliced, plus more for garnish
- 1/2 cup toasted sliced almonds
- crunchy canned chow mein noodles for garnish
- sesame seeds for garnish
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, rice wine vinegar, sweet chili sauce, honey, soy sauce, garlic, sriracha, ginger, and sesame oil.1/2 cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar, 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 2 teaspoons minced garlic, 2 teaspoons sriracha, 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger, 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- In a large bowl, toss together the slaw mix, scallions, and almonds.16 ounces slaw mix, 4 scallions, 1/2 cup toasted sliced almonds
- Pour the dressing over the slaw ingredients and mix well to coat.
- Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for at least 1 hour to chill so the flavors can blend.
- Serve with a garnish of more scallions, chow mein noodles, and sesame seeds.crunchy canned chow mein noodles for garnish, sesame seeds for garnish
Notes
- For the brightest flavors, mix the dressing just before serving.
- Add a generous amount of fresh herbs like cilantro or mint for a bright flavor.
- Toast the almonds and sesame seeds to enhance their nutty essence.
- For an easy side, consider pairing with Chinese chicken salad or as a base for Buddha bowls.
- Keep a large mixing bowl handy for an easy toss of all ingredients.
- Incorporate a variety of crunchy veggies like bell peppers and snap peas for added nutrition and color.
Nutrition
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