Coleslaw is a staple at pretty much every barbecue that we’ve ever been to. It’s cool, crisp, and goes well either as a side or atop our favorite barbecued meats. Coleslaw recipes are simple, yet many of us have a go-to combination of ingredients that makes our particular slaw extra special. Most coleslaw recipes call for mayonnaise, but we thought about keeping our recipe more light and fresh. We’ve kept the main staple ingredients but went for a coleslaw that’s more crisp than creamy. We love this dressing, but the extra flavor and crunch from some special ingredients really take this coleslaw to a new level of deliciousness.

The core ingredients are all here, like cabbage and carrots, but we went ahead and added a little bit of nuttiness with pumpkin seeds and pine nuts, lightly toasted for an extra layer of delicious flavor. But the dressing is where this all comes together, and we love this combination of slightly sweet with a little vinegar tang. Shake in a mason jar or whisk in a bowl and pour over top the cabbage and pumpkin seeds. Give everything a good toss, coating all of the cabbage with fresh dressing. Give the coleslaw a little time in the refrigerator to chill and absorb all that delicious flavor from the dressing. You can’t have a good barbecue without a bowl of coleslaw on the side!