This fresh bright cilantro lime slaw is the perfect topping for tacos, adds big flavor to burrito bowls, and tastes delicious as a fresh side dish. Bonus? It’s naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo & vegan-friendly!

Close-up view of Cilantro Lime Slaw in a glass bowl

This Cilantro Lime Slaw recipe is one of the most frequently made recipes at my house. It shows up as a healthy side dish for Meatless Mondays, Taco Tuesday, weekend cookouts, and busy weekdays.

I make it as a side dish alllll the time, and while I’ve posted versions of it in several other recipes on the blog, I decided it was time that it gets it’s own spot to land.

What makes this cilantro lime coleslaw recipe one of our favorites? Well, it’s SUPER versatile, takes only a few simple, inexpensive ingredients, and tastes fantastic in all sorts of applications.

Here’s all it takes to make this easy slaw…(your tacos and burrito bowls will thank you!)

Ingredients for Cilantro Lime Slaw, ready to be mixed together

Gather Your Ingredients

Another thing to love about this fresh, crunchy slaw? It starts with simple ingredients! Let’s take a look:

GREEN CABBAGE OR COLESLAW MIX. I almost always used bagged coleslaw mix for my cilantro lime slaw. It’s SO convenient, usually inexpensive, and I can always toss leftovers into other recipes. Otherwise, you can make your own shredded cabbage!
SHREDDED PURPLE CABBAGE. Then, I typically mix it half and half with purple cabbage (red cabbage). It’s tough to beat that color, and color that deep and bright actually means it’s packed with good-for-you nutrients. Plus, as this slaw sits, the colors become even more vibrant. So pretty!
FRESH CILANTRO. Fresh cilantro gives a lovely pop of bright green and is one of the big flavors going on in this easy side dish. If you’re one of those folks who hate cilantro, this isn’t your recipe. 😉
FRESH LIME JUICE. Then, fresh lime juice brings its citrusy goodness and SO MUCH FLAVOR into the picture! I love how light and fresh the lime juice makes this tangy slaw. (I don’t recommend bottled lime juice for this recipe as it tends to run overly acidic and bitter.)
A LITTLE HONEY OR AGAVE (IF YOU WANT). This is optional, but I really love adding a tiny amount of honey or agave to this cilantro lime slaw. It gives it those honey-lime vibes I LOVE and helps break down the cabbage a bit to dress the cabbage salad. If you’re avoiding added sweeteners, feel free to leave it out!
SALT + PEPPER. Then, you’ll just finish things off with some kosher salt and black pepper. (Salt helps soften the cabbage and wakes up all the other flavors!)
PS – Prefer your slaw to be creamy? Check out the FAQ for our suggestions!

How to Make Cilantro Lime Slaw, Step By Step

As always, you can find the full recipe, with ingredient amounts, detailed instructions, and tips in the recipe card below!

Combine. In a large bowl, combine coleslaw mix (or green cabbage), purple cabbage, 1/4 cup cilantro, lime juice, 1 tsp. honey (if using), salt, and pepper.
Stir to combine well and coat the cabbage mixture evenly with the dressing. The slaw may still look a bit dry. Don’t add more liquid yet!
Let the mixture sit for 5-10 minutes on the counter or in the refrigerator. (The cabbage will soften, and the mixture will get “juicier”)
Stir again and taste. Add additional cilantro, salt, pepper, honey, or lime juice to taste.
Serve & Store. Enjoy with tacos, burrito bowls, and more, or refrigerate up to 2 days. (Slaw will continue to soften in the refrigerator.)

Chipotle Sweet Potato Burrito Bowl with green rice, black beans, honey lime slaw, avocado, and jalapeno

Delicious Ways To Use This Slaw

SPOONED INTO TACOS. I developed this cilantro lime slaw for my INCREDIBLE Fish Tacos recipe. The crunchy cabbage slaw is SO GOOD next to the spice-rubbed fish, avocado, and my tomatillo ranch. But it’s also a great topping for other taco recipes–Shrimp Tacos, Beef Carnitas, Honey Lime Shrimp, Sweet Potato & Black Bean Tacos, etc.
AS A TOPPING FOR TOSTADAS. One of our family’s favorite easy dinners is tostadas. They’re like open-faced hard shell tacos and we find them easier to eat. You can top them with all kinds of things, but these Black Bean Tostadas with Mango Salsa are our go-to.
FOR BURRITO BOWLS. I love building chicken burrito bowls with seasoned rice, beans, veggies, and more. This fresh slaw is a GREAT addition to burrito bowls, whether you use it as a garnish or as a base.
WRAPPED INTO BURRITOS. Or, wrap all those same goodies up into a flour tortilla or grain-free wrap for an amazing burrito. So good.
AS A FRESH SIDE DISH. All that fresh flavor makes this cilantro honey lime slaw a great side dish to things like Honey-Lime Tilapia, Honey Lime grilled chicken, steak, chicken sausages, and more. It’s SO easy to toss together, which makes it great when you’re short on time.

Fish Tacos with Cilantro Slaw and Tomatillo Ranch Dressing. Plated with sliced jalapeños and lime wedges.

FAQ + Tips For The Best Cilantro Lime Slaw

THE EASIEST WAY TO SHRED CABBAGE. If you are shredding your own cabbage, you can shred it with a knife fairly quickly, but using a food processor fitted with a shredding blade will do the job in a FLASH. We’re talking seconds. You simply cut sections small enough to feed into your food processor and the shredder blade does the rest. SO FAST.

HOW FAR CAN I MAKE THIS IN ADVANCE? Once you’ve mixed the cabbage and cilantro with the tangy dressing, it’ll start to soften. For the best texture, it works best if you make this slaw within a few hours of eating it, though it will keep in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Just know it’ll continue to soften as it sits.

MIX IT UP! TRY ONE OF THESE YUMMY VARIATIONS ON OUR CILANTRO LIME SLAW:

ADD A SPOONFUL OF YOGURT OR MAYO. If you prefer a creamy cilantro lime slaw creamy, add a spoonful or two of mayo or plain Greek yogurt to the mixture.
ADD A PINCH OF CHILI POWDER. A little pinch of chili powder adds a smoky note that’s really nice with the cilantro and lime!
ADD A LITTLE GREEN ONION. For another savory note, you can add some thinly sliced green onions to the slaw.
ADD SOME FRESH JALAPEÑO. Or, try adding a bit of kick with a bit of minced or thinly sliced jalapeño!

Black Bean Tostadas topped with Cilantro Slaw and Mango Salsa from One Lovely Life

Recipe Card

🌟 Did you make this recipe?

Leave a star rating below when you try our easy Cilantro Lime Slaw recipe! We can’t wait to hear how it goes!