Cilantro Lime Coleslaw is deliciously light and refreshing. This twist on your traditional coleslaw is perfect for tacos, barbecues, or as a salad.

This Cilantro Lime Coleslaw is an easy coleslaw recipe made with red and green cabbage, cilantro, green onion, and limes, proving that cabbage can be the star of any meal. Whether you are serving this up for an outdoor barbecue, a quick, easy meal, or at a fiesta, everyone will love this coleslaw.
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So, I can’t even begin to tell you how much our family loves this Cilantro Lime Coleslaw recipe. It is a big deal for me even to post a coleslaw recipe on my blog because I wouldn’t typically like coleslaw. My personal opinion is that it tends to be overdressed.
It is way too creamy that it takes away the crispiness of the cabbage. It is like a watered-down drink that just isn’t right. Don’t get me wrong, I love the dressings on coleslaw, that is, if it isn’t too much and has a big flavor.
Best Cilantro Lime Coleslaw
This coleslaw recipe was first published in May 2014, and every time I make it, I am amazed by how much I love it.
It’s not your average store-bought coleslaw; you can thank me later. It’s packed with flavor, thanks for adding lime and cilantro; of course, salt and pepper help out too!
Stunning – I love the color that the purple “red” cabbage brings to the dish, and the dark green contrast of the cilantro and green onions to the green cabbage is just gorgeous.
I love to play around with the amount of dressing – I can make it a little more dry or creamy depending on what I am making.

Ingredients
- Thinly sliced green cabbage
- Chopped purple cabbage
- Scallions
- Roughly chopped fresh cilantro
- Sour cream
- Mayonnaise
- Sugar
- Lime juice and zest
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
What to Serve this With
How to Make It
Combine the green cabbage, purple cabbage, scallions, and cilantro in a large salad bowl.
Combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, sugar, and zest in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper and finish with a squeeze of lime juice. Pour the dressing over the cabbage mixture and toss to combine.
You can serve it right away or chill it to serve later.
Coleslaw Recipe Tips
This Cilantro Lime Coleslaw is a must-make for the spring and summer months. Whether you’re hosting a party or having dinner with your family, whip up a batch of this coleslaw, and you will have everyone oohing and aahing. Enjoy friends!
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Cilantro-Lime Coleslaw

Ingredients
- 1 head green cabbage thinly sliced
- 1/4 purple cabbage chopped
- 4 scallions
- 1/2 bunch fresh cilantro roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 limes
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Instructions
- Cut the green cabbage using a sharp knife or I used my mandolin to make thin ribbons. Roughly chopped the purple cabbage until you have 1 cup. Chop the scallions Toss the green cabbage, purple cabbage, scallions and cilantro in a large salad bowl.
- Make the dressing by combining the sour cream, mayonnaise, sugar and the zest from one of the limes in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper and finish with a squeeze of lime juice from the remaining lime. Pour the dressing over the cabbage mixture and toss to combine.

Oh my – there are SO MANY things I would pair this with. LOVE LOVE LOVE!
Wow, cilantro lime in coleslaw! So darn tasty!
Delicious! The taste is so fresh and bright.
I love coleslaw and this sounds like an absolute game changer!
Cilantro lime coleslaw is a refreshing side that I can’t get enough of! The zesty lime and the freshness from cilantroโit’s the perfect accompaniment to so many dishes!
So sorry to bother you with thisโฆVERY picky coleslaw eaters in my family, so I want to get this rightโฆyou zest 1 lime, but juice the other lime into the dressing? Canโt I just juice the 1st lime into the dressingโฆor do I juice both limes into the dressing?
TIA
Oh, sorry, thank you for asking, I juiced both limes into the dressing. I will make that more clear.
Thank you!