Creamy Coleslaw Pasta Salad That Everyone Will Love
This creamy coleslaw pasta salad is the ultimate side dish for any occasion. After making it countless times, I’ve perfected the balance of crisp vegetables and creamy dressing that everyone will love. The secret is using a combination of mayo and sour cream for a tangy, velvety dressing. Jump to the recipe or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Pork Tenderloin with Creamy Dijon Sauce and Broccoli and Chicken Pasta Salad.
Why This Creamy Coleslaw Pasta Salad That Everyone Will Love Is Pure Comfort
- The perfect balance of crisp vegetables and creamy dressing
- Easy to make ahead for potlucks or meal prep
- Customizable with your favorite add-ins
- Better than store-bought and full of fresh flavors
What You'll Need for Creamy Coleslaw Pasta Salad That Everyone Will Love
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- 1 lb (450g) pasta (like rotini or fusilli)
- 1 small head cabbage, thinly shredded
- 1 small red onion, finely chopped
- 2 carrots, peeled and grated
- 1 cup (150g) frozen peas, thawed
- 1 cup (240g) mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup (120g) sour cream
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp celery seeds
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Optional: Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
- Optional: Crumbled bacon, for topping
- Optional: Shredded cheese, for topping
📝 Ingredient Notes
- pasta: Any small, twisty pasta shape will work well.
- cabbage: Green or red cabbage can be used. You can also substitute with coleslaw mix.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Food processor — Saves time and effort in shredding cabbage and grating carrots. → See on Amazon
- Mixing bowls — Keeps ingredients organized and makes prep work easier. → See on Amazon
How to Make Creamy Coleslaw Pasta Salad That Everyone Will Love
- Cook pasta: Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water. Set aside.
- Prepare vegetables: Thinly shred the cabbage, finely chop the red onion, and peel and grate the carrots. Thaw the frozen peas.
- Make dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, celery seeds, salt, and pepper.
- Combine: In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, shredded cabbage, chopped red onion, grated carrots, and thawed peas. Pour dressing over the pasta salad and toss to combine.
- Chill and serve: Chill the pasta salad in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve with your favorite main dish.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Creamy Coleslaw Pasta Salad That Everyone Will Love
- : For a lighter version, substitute half of the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt.
- Common mistake and fix: If your dressing is too thick, add a tablespoon or two of milk to thin it out. If it's too thin, add more mayonnaise or sour cream.
- : To make this recipe gluten-free, use a gluten-free pasta and ensure all other ingredients are certified gluten-free.
- : For a spicy kick, add a finely chopped jalapeño or a pinch of cayenne pepper to the dressing.
Storing & Reheating Creamy Coleslaw Pasta Salad That Everyone Will Love
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Make-ahead tip: This recipe can be made up to 24 hours in advance. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Freezing Creamy Coleslaw Pasta Salad That Everyone Will Love
This recipe does not freeze well due to the creamy dressing.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Not applicable. Microwave: Not applicable.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a quicker version, use store-bought coleslaw mix and a store-bought dressing.
- Best substitution: Substitute the pasta with cooked couscous or quinoa for a gluten-free option.
- Make-ahead: This recipe is perfect for meal prep or potlucks. Make it up to 24 hours in advance and store in the refrigerator.
- Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for larger crowds.
- Troubleshooting: If your pasta salad is too dry, add a little more dressing. If it's too wet, drain off some of the liquid before serving.
Want to level up this recipe?
Pasta pot with strainer — Makes draining and rinsing pasta a breeze, saving time and effort. → Check price on Amazon
Creamy Coleslaw Pasta Salad That Everyone Will Love
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb (450g) pasta (like rotini or fusilli)
- 1 small head cabbage, thinly shredded
- 1 small red onion, finely chopped
- 2 carrots, peeled and grated
- 1 cup (150g) frozen peas, thawed
Seasonings
- 1 cup (240g) mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup (120g) sour cream
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp celery seeds
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Optional Toppings
- Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
- Crumbled bacon, for topping
- Shredded cheese, for topping
Instructions
- Cook pasta: Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water. Set aside.
- Prepare vegetables: Thinly shred the cabbage, finely chop the red onion, and peel and grate the carrots. Thaw the frozen peas.
- Make dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, celery seeds, salt, and pepper.
- Combine: In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, shredded cabbage, chopped red onion, grated carrots, and thawed peas. Pour dressing over the pasta salad and toss to combine.
- Chill and serve: Chill the pasta salad in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve with your favorite main dish.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a quicker version, use store-bought coleslaw mix and a store-bought dressing.
- Best substitution: Substitute the pasta with cooked couscous or quinoa for a gluten-free option.
- Make-ahead: This recipe is perfect for meal prep or potlucks. Make it up to 24 hours in advance and store in the refrigerator.
- Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for larger crowds.
- Troubleshooting: If your pasta salad is too dry, add a little more dressing. If it's too wet, drain off some of the liquid before serving.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: This recipe does not freeze well due to the creamy dressing.
- Oven reheat: Not applicable.
- Microwave reheat: Not applicable.
- Make ahead: This recipe can be made up to 24 hours in advance. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 450
- Protein: 12g
- Fat: 22g
- Carbs: 55g
- Fiber: 4g
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Cholesterol: 20mg
- Sat. Fat: 4g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Creamy Coleslaw Pasta Salad That Everyone Will Love FAQs
Yes, this pasta salad can be made up to 24 hours in advance. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
If your pasta salad is too dry, add a little more dressing. If it's too wet, drain off some of the liquid before serving.
This recipe does not freeze well due to the creamy dressing.
This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for larger crowds. Simply multiply the ingredients by the desired factor.
Add cooked chicken, shrimp, or hard-boiled eggs for extra protein.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Creamy Coleslaw Pasta Salad That Everyone Will Love and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
