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Home » Holiday Recipes » Christmas Favorites

Easy Southern Red Barbecue Slaw

Published: May 25, 2018 · Modified: Jul 1, 2025 by Wendi Spraker · This post may contain affiliate links · 9 Comments

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Easy Southern Red Barbecue Slaw

If you have ever visited North Carolina, you are probably dizzy from the selections of both Barbecue AND Slaw. When you visit a barbecue establishment, you’ll be asked “white or bbq”? You’ll need to know right away which one you want or you’ll be looked at like you have three heads. The good news is that you can make Easy Southern Red Barbecue Slaw at home!

I want to save you from the embarrassment of not knowing what “white or bbq” means, so here’s the deal. “White or BBQ”, means, “Do you want white slaw (mayo based) or bbq slaw (vinegar based and a red color)”. Yes, that is a thing here in the South.

 


If you want to stick with what you know, then order white. Presuming you might want to have a little adventure, then order the barbecue slaw. It too is delicious, afterall.

An overhead shot of Easy Southern Red Barbecue Slaw with bowl in the right bottom corner
Easy Southern Red Barbecue Slaw

WHY IS IT CALLED RED BARBECUE SLAW?

Contents show
1 WHY IS IT CALLED RED BARBECUE SLAW?
2 WHAT DO YOU DO WITH RED BARBECUE SLAW?
3 WHAT GIVES RED BARBECUE SLAW ITS COLOR?
4 TOOLS I USE TO MAKE EASY SOUTHERN RED BARBECUE SLAW
5 IF YOU ENJOYED THIS RECIPE FOR EASY SOUTHERN RED BARBECUE SLAW, YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY….
5.1 YA'LL, HELP ME OUT, OK?
6 Easy Southern Red Barbecue Slaw
6.1 Ingredients
6.2 Instructions
6.3 Notes
6.4 Nutrition
6.5 A VERSE TO SHARE
6.6 PSALM 100: 1-5
6.7 You May Also Love:

For one thing, it is a red color. I’ve noticed that it is more red in some establishments than others, but the flavor is generally the same.

The red barbecue slaw goes very well with the lexington style barbecue which also has a vinegar base. You can find MY recipe for Lexington Style Barbecue RIGHT HERE.

An overhead shot of a BBQ sandwich with Easy Southern Red Barbecue Slaw
Easy Southern Red Barbecue Slaw

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH RED BARBECUE SLAW?

You didn’t really ask that, did you? The answer is that you put it on your sandwich or perhaps you’ll simply eat it up with your fork. Either way, this slaw is delish.

WHAT GIVES RED BARBECUE SLAW ITS COLOR?

The classic red color is due to the ketchup and hot sauce and there’s no doubt about that.

An overhead shot of Easy Southern Red Barbecue Slaw with bowl in the upper right corner
Easy Southern Red Barbecue Slaw

TOOLS I USE TO MAKE EASY SOUTHERN RED BARBECUE SLAW

If you don’t have a good Food Processor, you’ll need a good box grater. (These photos are affiliate links and you can click the photo to go straight through to Amazon so that you can compare prices)

Awesome rubber spatulas are always useful! (This photo is an affiliate link and you can click the photo to go straight through to Amazon so that you can compare prices)

IF YOU ENJOYED THIS RECIPE FOR EASY SOUTHERN RED BARBECUE SLAW, YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY….

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YA'LL, HELP ME OUT, OK?

Please leave me a 5 star comment below in the comment section, all right? I would LOVE to know if you made this recipe or even if you are planning to! Of course, head on over to Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram and tag me with some photos of your creation!

I can't wait!

Ya'll know I love your comments!! ❤

An overhead shot of Easy Southern Red Barbecue Slaw with bowl in the right bottom corner

Easy Southern Red Barbecue Slaw

This is a recipe for Lexington Style Southern Red Barbecue Slaw
5 from 3 votes
Print Pin SaveSaved! Rate
Course: Side
Cuisine: American
Keyword: red barbecue slaw, lexington style barbecue slaw
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 201kcal
Author: Wendi Spraker

Ingredients

  • 4 cups cabbage - grated or chopped small in food processor
  • ¾ cup ketchup
  • ½ cup apple cider vinegar
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon black ground pepper
  • 1 Tbs Sriracha Sauce

Instructions

  • Shred the cabbage with the grater or food processor and set aside.
  • Mix the ketchup, vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper and Sriracha together in a small bowl.
  • Pour the mixed ingredients over the cabbage and mix well. Add more salt and pepper to taste.
  • Stir well before serving (slaw tends to separate and the juices run out. Just mix it up again and it will be fine). Serve on your BBQ sandwich or as a side item. Awesome with hushpuppies.

Notes

Simple recipe for red barbecue slaw

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Easy Southern Red Barbecue Slaw
Amount Per Serving
Calories 201
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @loavesanddishes or tag #loavesanddishes!

A VERSE TO SHARE

Since I set the world on fire with my last verse to share (Lexington Style Crockpot Pulled Pork Barbecue), I'll be a little less intense. Okay? I'm not sure that I can be less intense, but here we go. Let's talk about something, YOU are a child of God. A precious child of God who's crown has already been paid for and all you have to do is to put it on. That's it. God Loves you and I do to.

PSALM 100: 1-5

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

   Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his[a];
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

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Comments

  1. Ginger says

    October 04, 2023 at 7:03 am

    5 stars
    Made BBQ slaw x10 for a group at church on Wednesday night this slaw is wonderful.Thannk you for sharing recipe.

    Reply
    • Wendi Spraker says

      October 04, 2023 at 1:43 pm

      Thank you for saying so! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  2. Jane Williams says

    July 30, 2021 at 7:41 pm

    I am from NC and live in the Western part of the state so to us white slaw isn't seen too much. This is a good recipe. I love our style of bbq especially with bread and butter pickles.

    Reply
    • Wendi Spraker says

      July 31, 2021 at 9:47 pm

      Glad you enjoyed the slaw.

      Reply
  3. moxie says

    May 29, 2018 at 9:18 am

    5 stars
    This is a beautiful recipe and just look at those photos! Barbecue slaw is the best (way better than white slaw), I'm sure your recipe is right on point.

    Reply
    • Wendi Spraker says

      May 29, 2018 at 9:32 am

      I hope you try it!

      Reply
      • Sultan Paksoy says

        November 09, 2019 at 10:40 pm

        **they ask "White or red?"

        Reply
  4. Jodie says

    May 28, 2018 at 10:40 am

    5 stars
    I feel like I've been living under a rock. Red BBQ slaw??? And to think I've been missing out all of these years! Well if that isn't the perfect dish for this holiday weekend, I don't know what is!!!
    XOXO
    Jodie
    http://www.jtouchofstyle.com

    Reply
    • Wendi Spraker says

      May 29, 2018 at 9:32 am

      lol! I don't think you live under a rock! You just live further out west where you probably don't have red barbecue slaw! Just like I can never find any Japanese White Sauce out there either. I think it is a Southern thang. 🙂

      Reply

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Welcome!

Hi! I'm Wendi and I believe that food made with love and passion has power. It can bring people together AND carry them home. I'll show you how to get amazing flavor from simple dishes. Your family and friends will exclaim, "WOW! Amazing! I NEED this recipe!" Join me and nourish your body and soul.

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