I am not here to say that there is anything wrong with basic, classic coleslaw. It’s great! But what if you could make a slaw that has serious zest, some serious crunch, and would wow your guests every time? That’s this Crunchy Cowboy Slaw. It’s the kind of side that brings on numerous requests for the recipe, but that makes sense because no one can resist it!

What Ingredients Do You Need for Crunchy Cowboy Slaw?

It’s not a terribly long list for this much flavor! You’ll need:

• A bag of coleslaw mix. (Because we want to keep it easy!)
• A can of black beans.
• A can of corn kernels.
• A can of diced green chiles OR jalapeños depending on what level of spice you’d like.
• A bell pepper.
• Some green onions.
• Cilantro.
• Taco seasoning.
• Chipotle powder.
• Mayo.
• Lime juice.
• And most importantly, Fritos.

What is Chipotle powder? It’s basically ground up chipotle peppers. Like chili powder, but smokier. If you can’t find it, you can sub in another chili powder or even smoked paprika.

How do You Make Crunchy Cowboy Slaw?

One thing I really love about this slaw is that there’s very little chopping but you still get a ton of fresh flavor. Since it relies on a bag of coleslaw mix and a couple of canned ingredients, most of the work is done for you. The small amount of chopping for the bell pepper, green onion, and cilantro is well worth it and adds a bright freshness. Here’s all you have to do:

I like to make the dressing first to give the flavors time to meld. In a small bowl or just the bowl you plan to serve this in, whisk together the mayo, taco seasoning, chipotle powder, and lime juice. Give it a taste, season it with salt and pepper, and feel free to give it a little more lime juice or a little more chipotle powder if you think it needs it.

After that just add in the rest of the ingredients except for the Fritos! You want to save those until just before you serve so that they retain their crunch. And this slaw is all about crunch!