• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Earthly Provisions
  • Recipe Index
  • Meet Megan
  • Vegan 4th of July Recipes
  • Work with Me
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • Meet Megan
  • Vegan 4th of July Recipes
  • Work with Me
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • Meet Megan
    • Vegan 4th of July Recipes
    • Work with Me
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Easy Vegan Side Dish Recipes

    Cilantro Lime Red Cabbage Slaw

    Published: Jan 18, 2024 by Megan Calipari · This post may contain affiliate links · 3 Comments

    Tweet
    Share
    Share
    Pin844
    844 Shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Cilantro Lime Red Cabbage Slaw recipe is quick and easy and is the perfect slaw for tacos. This recipe only requires 5 ingredients and 10 minutes to make and it adds brightness, freshness and flavor to any taco filling. Its a bright and tangy slaw with no mayo, making it vegan and gluten-free!

    Cilantro Lime Red Cabbage Slaw for tacos in a white bowl with a gold spoon.

    Tacos and burrito bowls are always in my weekly dinner rotation. They are easy to make and super versatile. So, I love to have a few taco topping recipes in my back pocket to make them a little more special.

    Sometimes I make a batch of Vitamix Salsa, or Avocado Crema, but lately I've been loving this Cilantro Lime Red Cabbage Slaw.

    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredient Notes
    • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Expert Tips and Tricks
    • Other Recipes to Serve with Tacos
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    There are so many reasons to love this recipe! Here are my top five:

    • It only requires 5 ingredients to make.
    • And this recipe is ready in just 10 minutes.
    • Its vegan and gluten-free, so anyone can enjoy it.
    • This red cabbage slaw recipe is delicious on tacos, burrito bowls or any other Mexican inspired meal.
    • And its bright, crunchy and fresh!

    Ingredient Notes

    Ingredients needed to make this recipe on a marble board.

    Red cabbage: Or sometimes called purple cabbage! I like to slice my own, but you can also use store-bought shredded cabbage.

    Red Onion: This gives the slaw a ton of flavor.

    Cilantro: If you don't like cilantro, you can leave it out, but I think its delicious, especially if you are using this red cabbage slaw for tacos.

    Lime Juice: Lime juice adds brightness to this slaw. And it helps break down the cabbage making it easier to chew.

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    Red Cabbage, red onion, cilantro, lime juice and salt in a large bowl.

    Step 1. Combine red cabbage, red onion, cilantro, lime juice and salt in a large bowl.

    Finished red cabbage slaw in a marble bowl ready to top tacos.

    Step 2. Use your hands to squeeze the cabbage until the mixture is purple and the cabbage starts to release its liquid. And serve!

    Recipe FAQs

    How should I store this Red Cabbage Slaw?

    To store, place the slaw in an airtight container. Then, place in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

    Can I use green cabbage in this recipe?

    Yes! Just swap in an equal amount of green cabbage for the red cabbage.

    Expert Tips and Tricks

    You will know its time to stop squeezing the red cabbage slaw because the mixture will look vibrant purple and the cabbage will start to release its liquid.

    Close up of cilantro lime red cabbage slaw in a white bowl.

    Other Recipes to Serve with Tacos

    • A wide bowl full of Easy corn salsa on a white cloth with a lime and a jalapeño in the foreground.
      Easy Corn Salsa Recipe
    • straight-on shot of a sparkling margarita with a lime salt rim.
      Sparkling Margaritas with Lime Salt
    • Vegan Gluten Free Mexican Rice in a bowl with a spoon in it with ramekins in the background.
      Vegan Mexican Rice (Gluten-Free!)
    • Mango Avocado Cucumber Salad in a bowl topped with cilantro.
      Mango Avocado Salad

    If you tried this Cilantro Lime Red Cabbage Slaw recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting today!

    📖 Recipe

    Cilantro Lime Red Cabbage Slaw in a white bowl with a gold spoon.

    Cilantro Lime Red Cabbage Slaw

    Megan Calipari
    Cilantro Lime Red Cabbage Slaw recipe is quick and easy and is the perfect slaw for tacos. This recipe only requires 5 ingredients and 10 minutes to make.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 10 minutes mins
    Course Condiment, Side Dish
    Cuisine Mexican
    Servings 3 Cups
    Calories 51 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 Cutting Board
    • 1 Knife
    • 1 Large Bowl
    • Measuring Cups and Spoons

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 Cups Finely Sliced Red Cabbage about ½ of a small red cabbage
    • ½ Cup Sliced Red Onion about ¼ of a large red onion
    • ½ Cup Cilantro, chopped
    • 2 tablespoon Lime Juice
    • ½ teaspoon Kosher Salt half this amount if using table salt.

    Instructions
     

    • In a large bowl, combine sliced red cabbage, red onion, cilantro, lime juice and salt.
      4 Cups Finely Sliced Red Cabbage, ½ Cup Sliced Red Onion, ½ Cup Cilantro, chopped, 2 tablespoon Lime Juice, ½ teaspoon Kosher Salt
    • Massage with your hands, squeezing the cabbage for about 3 minutes. This helps break the cabbage down a bit, making it easier to eat. (See note)
    • Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

    Notes

    You can also use store-bought shredded cabbage!
    When squeezing the cabbage, it is ready when the color has turned into a deep reddish purple and the cabbage has started to release its moisture. This takes about 3 minutes of squeezing.
    To store: transfer the slaw into an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1CupCalories: 51kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 2gFat: 0.2gSaturated Fat: 0.03gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.02gSodium: 421mgPotassium: 339mgFiber: 3gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 1330IUVitamin C: 73mgCalcium: 61mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    Tweet
    Share
    Share
    Pin844
    844 Shares

    More Easy Vegan Side Dish Recipes

    • A plate with Orzo Pesto Pasta Salad on it next to a gold fork.
      Orzo Pesto Pasta Salad
    • Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad on a plate topped with feta cheese and parsley.
      Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad
    • Greek Village or Horiatiki Salad topped with feta cheese chunks on a small plate.
      Greek Village Salad (Horiatiki)
    • Green Bean Potato Salad in a white bowl.
      Green Bean Potato Salad

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jo

      June 11, 2023 at 1:25 am

      5 stars
      I was looking for something to put a little more color and flavor in my vegan burrito bowls. This recipe is just what I needed. The mild acidic bite worked perfectly. I like to top BBQ jackfruit sandwiches with it too.

      Reply
    2. Helen

      September 16, 2024 at 9:12 pm

      I used this recipe to have volunteers make slaw for a church picnic for 300 people. You didn't state how many people the basic recipe ( 4 cups) would serve. I planned the basic recipe for 10 people but more likely it would serve 12. The recipe was well received by many at the picnic. They liked the simplicity of the dish and the great nutrition - I did two lots of slaw - one with Cilantro and one with flat leaf parsley as not all people like cilantro. The slaw paired well with all the other offerings at the picnic

      Reply
    3. Aisha

      June 12, 2025 at 4:46 pm

      5 stars
      I just made this slaw to put on my tacos. I tasted a bit before refrigerating and it was delicious. I added a tiny bit more seasonings to it because that's just what I tend to do, but it would've tasted great with just the salt.

      Reply
    5 from 3 votes (1 rating without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Headshot of me in a white shirt

    Hi, I'm Megan! I'm a trained pastry chef who is passionate about creating vegan desserts and meals for everyone. My recipes use simple ingredients and methods to create delicious results.

    More about me →

    4th of July Recipes

    • Vegan Strawberry Shortcake Cake on a white cake stand. The cake is a two-layer cake with strawberries and whipped cream in between the layers and on top.
      Vegan Strawberry Shortcake Cake
    • Peach cobbler on a plate topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
      Vegan Peach Cobbler
    • Green Bean Potato Salad in a white bowl.
      Green Bean Potato Salad
    • Chickpea Sweet Potato Burgers (Vegan!)
    • Vegan Fruit Tart topped with strawberries, blueberries and kiwi slices on a white cloth with strawberries in the foreground.
      Vegan Fruit Tart
    • Close up of a strawberry and cream cupcake on a white cloth
      Vegan Strawberry Cupcakes

    Popular Recipes

    • A slice of Vegan Banana Bread on a white plate on a linen coth.
      Vegan Banana Bread
    • Mango Pico de Gallo in a bowl with a tortilla chip stuck into the salsa.
      Mango Pico de Gallo
    • Mediterranean Chickpea Couscous Salad in a bowl.
      Mediterranean Couscous Salad
    • Two Pineapple Mojito Mocktails garnished with mint with limes and sliced pineapple on the table.
      Pineapple Mojito Mocktail
    • A blackberry hand pie with puff pastry cut in half to show the the interior.
      Blackberry Hand Pies with Puff Pastry
    • A slice of vegan vanilla layer cake on a plate with a fork to the left and the rest of the cake in the background.
      Vegan Vanilla Cake

    Newsletter

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Recipe Index

    • Recipes

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 Earthly Provisions

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.