The Easiest Amish Freezer Slaw Recipe (With Thorough Instructions)

Amish Freezer Slaw is make-ahead sweet and sour coleslaw recipe that you prepare and then store in the freezer for later use. It will save you time on a busy night when you need a quick side dish.

Amish Freezer Slaw Recipe

Freezer Coleslaw is a vinegar-based slaw recipe that you prep ahead and store in the freezer until it’s time to serve. This is a great option for summertime when cabbage, green peppers and onions are abundant and cheap. Do yourself a favor, and make several batches for the colder months.

The freezer slaw dressing is a simple recipe consisting of four ingredients – vinegar, sugar, dry mustard and water. Boil it long enough to dissolve the sugar, and then let it stand on the counter until it cools to room temperature.

This type of slaw dressing is very similar to the one in Southern Vegetable Salad and Sweet and Sour Coleslaw recipes.  The sweetness of the sugar balances the acidity of the vinegar.

I found this recipe in my Bridal Shower Cook Book from my cousin Julia.  If you’re looking for a fun idea for a bridal shower, send each guest a blank recipe card, and ask them to bring their favorite recipe to the shower.  Then, tuck each recipe into the slot of a blank cook book. I promise you that it will be a cherished gift for the bride.  I love looking through mine, and I’ve been married for 12 years.

When you are in need of a quick side dish on a busy weeknight, it’s very convenient to pull out one of these pints of old fashioned freezer slaw to serve along your main dish.

Ingredient List

• Green Cabbage
• Green Bell Pepper
• Carrots
• Onions
• Salt
• Sugar
• Dry Mustard
• Water
• White Vinegar

How to Make Freezer Slaw

Step By Step Instructions

1. Shred cabbage, green peppers, carrots and onions; place in a large bowl, and sprinkle with salt and let stand for 1 hour.
2. In a saucepan, boil sugar, dry mustard, water, and vinegar for 3 minutes; let cool.
3. Drain any excess liquid from the vegetables; pour dressing over top and toss, and marinate for 5 minutes.
4. Cool cabbage mixture completely before transferring to freezer-safe containers or Ball jars.
5. Freeze for 3 – 6 months.
6. To thaw, place freezer containers in the refrigerator until thawed.

For the full recipe for freezer slaw, scroll to the bottom of this post.

Sweet and Sour Coleslaw Recipe FAQs

• This old fashioned freezer slaw recipe calls for 2 pounds of green cabbage which is approximately one head.  The great thing is that you can be flexible; if it’s a little more or a little less than 2 pound, it will be fine.
• Save yourself some by using a food processor to shred the cabbage, green pepper, carrots and onions. It’s a huge time saver.
• If you don’t have white vinegar on hand, apple cider vinegar will work.
• Let the freezer coleslaw dressing cool completely before pouring over the vegetable mixture.
• Pack the Amish freezer slaw tightly in 5 glass pint jars or freezer storage containers.
• Be sure to label the freezer coleslaw before freezing; you will thank yourself later.

Recipe Variations

• Use red bell peppers or yellow bell peppers instead of green, if desired.
• Love celery seed? Add a teaspoon to the mixture.
• Use apple cider vinegar for white vinegar, if needed.
• Replace dry mustard with mustard seed.

Our Favorite Summer Vegetable Recipes

I love recipes that use the plentiful summer vegetables from Indiana. Here are some of my favorites:

• Mom’s Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread
• Old Fashioned Cheesy Cabbage Casserole
• Kentucky Summer Squash Casserole
• Spicy Roasted Zucchini
• Italian Swiss Chard and White Beans
• Fried Zucchini Fritters
• Creamed Corn (Cheesy Crock Pot Version)

Can you freeze slaw mix?

Raw cabbage does not freeze well; however, there is a work around for this issue. Go ahead and make Amish Slaw, a coleslaw with a vinegar-based dressing (no mayonnaise). Once the slaw has marinated, you can freeze it for later.

Linking up to Meal Plan Monday!