Some recipes stick around for a reason and this broccoli ramen slaw is one of them. It’s become a staple at just about every summer gathering. It’s easy, budget-friendly, and always a favorite. The ramen slaw is incredibly refreshing with the perfect crunch from toasted ramen noodles.This incredibly refreshing no mayo slaw is ideal as a vegetarian side dish or a quick, healthy lunch salad idea.The beauty of this dish is how flexible it is: you can switch up the nuts, onions, or even the dressing to make it your own. This is a perfect summer salad and also a great make-ahead option. Just keep the dressing separate until you’re ready to serve to avoid soggy slaw. Whether you’re heading to a picnic, planning a cookout, or just want something tasty to pack for lunch, this broccoli ramen slaw fits the bill every time.
Why You’ll Love This Broccoli Ramen Slaw
- The Ultimate Crunch: The combination of crisp broccoli slaw and toasted ramen noodles gives every bite an addictive crunch that you don’t get with traditional soft coleslaw.
- Light & Tangy (No Mayo): This recipe skips the heavy mayonnaise for a bright, refreshing apple cider vinaigrette. It’s a healthy, vegan-friendly side dish that pairs perfectly with heavy BBQ meats.
- Budget-Friendly: Using simple ingredients like a bag of broccoli slaw and a pack of ramen noodles makes this an incredibly affordable dish to feed a large crowd.
- Make-Ahead Magic: You can prep the dressing, the toasted noodles, and the veggies a day in advance. Just toss them together right before serving for a salad that tastes freshly made!
Here’s What You Will Need:
- 16 oz bag of broccoli slaw
- 1/2 a red onion
- 2 packs of ramen noodles
- 1 cup of sliced almonds
- 1/2 cup of sunflower seeds
- 1/2 cup of olive, avocado, or canola oil
- 3 tablespoons of sugar
- 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
Toast the Crunch
Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread the crushed ramen noodles, sliced almonds, and sunflower seeds on a baking sheet. Bake for 5-8 minutes until golden brown and fragrant. Let cool completely.
Preparing Your Make Ahead Slaw Recipe
This is a great make-ahead recipe making it an ideal crowd-pleasing side dish. The key is to not to dress the salad until you are ready to serve. If the salad sits for a day it will definitely become soggy. You can purchase the broccoli slaw in pre-made bags! This way you can just keep the slaw part in the bags until you are ready. When we are making this ahead of time we just keep the salad ingredients in large tupperware containers or in gallon ziplock bags. The dressing can be kept in cruets or large tupperware containers until the salad is ready to be served. Just toss them together when ready to serve!
To Use or Not to Use: Ramen Spice Packets
We usually throw away the spice packets from our ramen when making this dish. I like the spice packets in the ramen but sometimes they do not lend the right flavors to the salad. I have also found that using our own spice mixtures helps control the sodium levels, if that is needed.
We have made this broccoli ramen slaw recipe a staple for our summer gatherings. I do love this broccoli ramen slaw recipe, but not only because it is a great vegetarian side dish. I like it because I can take it to work with me the next couple of days for a healthy lunch!
FAQ
Yes, but keep the dressing separate until just before serving to maintain the crunch and freshness.
No. Many people discard them or replace them with their own spice mix to reduce sodium or control flavor.
Absolutely! Try using different nuts, onions, or dressings to make it your own.
Yes. Just store the salad and dressing separately and combine before eating. It makes great lunches for work!
Pre-packaged broccoli slaw is available in most grocery stores, typically in the produce section.
Please visit my sides and salads page for more ideas! Also try my Tahini Miso Slaw!
The broccoli ramen slaw goes great with the slow roasted pork shoulder recipe!
Crunchy Broccoli Ramen Slaw (Easy Potluck Recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 – 16 ounce bag of broccoli slaw
- 1/2 of a red onion diced
- 2 packs of crushed ramen noodles throw away the spice packets
- 1 cup of sliced almonds
- 1/2 cup of sunflower seeds
- 1/2 cup of oil olive, avocado, or canola
- 3 tablespoons of sugar or pure maple syrup
- 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon of crushed black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
Method
- Toast the Crunch: Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread the crushed ramen noodles, sliced almonds, and sunflower seeds on a baking sheet. Bake for 5-8 minutes until golden brown and fragrant. Let cool completely.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the oil, apple cider vinegar, sugar, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until the sugar is dissolved.
- Assemble: In a large bowl, combine the broccoli slaw mix and diced red onion.
- Serve: Just before serving, toss the slaw mix with the dressing. Top with the toasted ramen/nut mixture and toss again to combine. (To make ahead, keep the toasted topping, dressing, and slaw mix separate).
Nutrition
Private Notes
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Key Takeaways
- Broccoli ramen slaw is an easy, budget-friendly, and refreshing summer side dish.
- The recipe is flexible; you can modify nuts, onions, and dressings to suit your taste.
- Keep the dressing separate until serving to maintain the crunch and freshness.
- You can make this dish ahead of time and it works well for meal prep lunches.
- Feel free to discard ramen spice packets and use your own spices to control flavor and sodium.
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