Summer-Ready Dill-Yogurt Coleslaw

When summer hits and you’re enjoying weekends on the lake with your family, there’s likely one thing you’re craving: coleslaw. It’s such a classic side dish because it complements barbecue fare like hot dogs, sliders, and all those other warm-weather staples perfectly. This Greek yogurt coleslaw is extra delicious, with a few unexpected surprises. 

The full recipe is below, but here’s a quick overview: Imagine a world where slaw is made with yogurt instead of mayonnaise. Underneath that, you have your traditional coleslaw mix, but we upgraded it with dill pickles, scallions and celery seeds. That’s the kind of world we want to live in!

Once you start putting this slaw together and your stomach starts growling, you’ll see why we love this dish so much. You won’t be disappointed!

Coleslaw Gets an Upgrade

Maybe you tolerated coleslaw as a kid, but you weren’t exactly thrilled about it. Or maybe you loved coleslaw as a kid. Either way, this recipe will change your whole idea of coleslaw forever because it’s made with Greek yogurt. You can use any type of plain Greek yogurt you like, but we recommend the whole milk variety for a creamier dressing.

Now, we know coleslaw is traditionally made with mayonnaise but we were thrilled with how well this turned out. The dill pickle in this coleslaw adds a nice zing, too. When you add in the tiny celery seeds they add another satisfying layer of texture that brings the whole salad to a new level.

A Must-Have Dish for the Lake

This Greek yogurt coleslaw is a refreshing side dish that pairs well with so many classic summer meals. It’s also one less food item you need to actually cook which means you have more free space on the grill. This slaw is so easy to make that you can carry all of the ingredients in one cooler—perfect for summer getaways. Just pull everything out, toss it, and you’re good to go.

Lakeside Dining in Style

If you’re ready to change the way you eat coleslaw forever (or at least for now), go ahead and switch out your mayo for Greek yogurt. Then, add dill pickles to your shopping list and whip up this side dish for your next lakeside event. 

Stumped on the rest of your summer menu? We have some other delicious dishes that go exceptionally well with this slaw like our Fish Fry with Elote Dipping Sauce. We’ll show you how to fry up some crunchy fish filets that go hand in hand with the slaw. And what’s fried fish without hushpuppies? Try our Onion-Jalapeño Hush Puppies for a spicy side to round out the chill of this coleslaw.

Dill-Yogurt Coleslaw

Forget what you know about coleslaw, this is the only one that matters.

MAKES ABOUT 6 CUPS
ACTIVE: 20 MIN
TOTAL: 20 MIN

Ingredients:
1/2 cup plain whole-milk Greek yogurt
2 tbsp. dill pickle juice, plus 1/2 cup chopped dill pickles
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. celery seeds
1 package (14 oz.) coleslaw mix
1 bunch scallions, chopped
1/2 cup chopped fresh dill

Instructions
In a large bowl, whisk the yogurt, pickle juice, vinegar, and celery seeds; season with salt and pepper. 
Mix in the coleslaw, scallions, dill, and pickles; season. Let marinate for about 30 minutes. 
Toss before serving. Or cover and chill for up to 1 day before serving.

Recipe by Janet Taylor McCracken

This recipe originally appeared in the Summer 2020 issue of Reveal, Drew & Jonathan’s lifestyle magazine.