Guys, this isn’t your average slaw—it’s coleslaw 2.0! We’re talking a vibrant, protein-packed masterpiece that combines tender chicken, crunchy cabbage, sweet apples, buttery pecans, and a zesty apple cider vinaigrette. It’s a slaw that hits all the right notes—savory, sweet, tangy, and super satisfying. Trust me, you’re going to love every forkful!

This recipe’s a hit!

I LOVE THIS RECIPE ! I almost ate the whole salad myself…SO delicious! I cant wait to make it again, and share a little more next time. Five stars for sure!

Michele
(5 stars) 11 ratings
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This dish is as versatile as it is delicious. Whether I’m whipping it up for meal prep, a quick weeknight supper, or serving as a colorful dish to wow guests, it’s always a hit in my house. And here’s the best part: it’s ridiculously easy to make! It uses simple ingredients that come together in minutes. Plus, it’s nutrient-packed—fiber from the cabbage, carrots, and apples; protein from the chicken; and heart-healthy fats from the pecans and dressing. It’s a slaw worth gushing over.

Here’s how it all comes together. I start with a base of crunchy cabbage and carrots (I typically grab a 12oz bag of pre-shredded slaw mix to save time, but you can shred it yourself if you’re feeling ambitious). Then I toss in a few cups of tender shredded chicken—poached, baked, or even leftover rotisserie chicken works perfectly here. I add a pop of sweetness and color with chopped red apples (skin-on for extra fiber), some freshness with chopped scallions, and a nutty crunch from pecans. Of course, you can feel free to change up the fruit, herbs and nuts!

Now let’s talk about the dressing! This apple cider vinaigrette is a keeper—it’s tangy, slightly sweet, and comes together in a flash. Just whisk up olive oil, apple cider vinegar, fresh lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Taste as you go and tweak it to suit your taste buds. If you prefer it sweeter? Add a little more honey. Prefer a tangy kick? Another splash of vinegar will do the trick. Oh, and you can swap the apple cider vinegar for any other vinegar (red wine works well) or even OJ or cranberry juice.

Once everything is prepped, it’s time to bring it all together – it’s basically a dump and stir situation. Toss the cabbage, carrots, chicken, apples, scallions, and pecans in a big bowl (bigger than you think you’ll need—trust me on this one!). Drizzle on the dressing and give it a good toss so every bite is coated in that delicious tangy goodness. This slaw is fabulous straight away, but if you can resist diving in, let it chill in the fridge for 30 minute or so—the flavors get even better as they mingle. And if you have any leftovers (you may, as it makes 10 full cups), stash ‘em in the fridge for a day or two, making it a perfect grab-and-go lunch. No surprise this one was featured on TODAY.com!

If you’re feeling creative, go wild with add-ins and swaps! Sprinkle in some fresh herbs like cilantro or parsley, or toss in a handful of dried cranberries for extra sweetness. And if you’re not a fan of pecans, swap them for chopped walnuts, almonds, peanuts or even pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds. Finally, if you like a little heat, a pinch of cayenne or some chopped jalapeño will do the trick.

Hoping you love this one as much as we do in my house!

Try my Buffalo Chicken Slaw, Thai Coleslaw with Peanut Sauce, or Creamy Coleslaw!

(5 stars) 11 ratings

Chicken Coleslaw with Apples, Pecans & Apple Cider Vinaigrette

This is coleslaw 2.0. It’s a vibrant, protein-packed chicken slaw that provides the perfect balance of crunch, sweetness, and savory goodness.
Yield: 5 servings (makes 10 cups)
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
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Ingredients
 

For the Coleslaw

  • 4 to 6 cups shredded cabbage, or 12-14 ounces prepackaged coleslaw mix
  • 1 cup shredded carrots
  • 3 cups cooked/shredded skinless chicken, ~2 medium chicken breasts
  • 1 large red apple, chopped
  • 1 bunch scallions, chopped
  • 1 cup pecans, roughly chopped

For the Dressing (Makes about ⅔ cup)

  • 4 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 3 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, from 1 medium to large lemon
  • 2 to 3 teaspoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Prepare the chicken. If you haven’t done so already, cook and shred the chicken. You can quickly poach, bake, or use leftover chicken. Just shred it into bite-sized pieces. You can also use a rotisserie chicken; remove the skin and shred the meat with your fingers.
  • Chop/shred the produce. Shred the cabbage and carrots if you’re not using a prepackaged slaw mix. Dice the red apple into bite-sized pieces. Slice the scallions and roughly chop the pecans.
  • Make the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning—add more honey for sweetness or vinegar for tang.
  • Toss everything together. In a large bowl, combine the shredded cabbage, carrots, chicken, apple, scallions, and pecans. Toss with tongs. Pour the dressing over the top and mix everything until well-coated. Season with salt and pepper to taste. This slaw holds up well for a day or two in the fridge.

Notes

  • For some heat, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or some finely chopped jalapeño.
  • Toss in fresh herbs like cilantro or parsley for added flavor.
  • If you don’t have pecans, try walnuts, almonds, cashews, peanuts, sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds for a different crunch.
  • You can swap in any other vinegar for the apple cider vinegar, or even use OJ or cranberry juice in its place.
  • Adjust the amount of honey to your liking, or swap for maple syrup for a slight flavor variation.
Author: Joy Bauer, MS, RDN, CDN

Nutrition Information per serving

Serving Size: 2 cupsCalories: 400Carbohydrates: 21gProtein: 17gTotal Fat: 29g— Unsaturated Fat: 26g— Saturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 450mgFiber: 5gTotal Sugar: 12g— Natural Sugar: 10g— Added Sugar: 2gVitamin A: 3716IUVitamin C: 41mg
Nutrition information is calculated using a leading industry software. That being said, brands can vary, and there may be slight fluctuations in the numbers.
I’m hoping you loved this recipe! If you made it and want to share feedback, I’d be so grateful to hear from you. Please leave a review below or tag @joybauer on Instagram!