Hawaiian Coleslaw with Pineapple

This Hawaiian Pineapple Coleslaw with marshmallows is a super easy recipe to make, and it is crowd-pleasing! Everyone loves this sweet and creamy coleslaw. This tropical coleslaw is a delicious side dish perfect for summer cookouts.

A bowl of pineapple coleslaw and salad tongs behind it.


This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Coleslaw Recipe with Pineapple and Marshmallows

Coleslaw doesn’t need to be boring, and you can make a fantastic coleslaw in minutes. All you need to make this delicious pineapple coleslaw is freshly cut cabbage, marshmallows, a can of pineapple, and some Miracle Whip. This classic picnic side dish is a great addition to any family gathering. 

What Makes this Coleslaw Recipe with Pineapple and Marshmallows So Good?

Coleslaw is a classic side dish but can be a bit bland. Bring out this Hawaiian slaw recipe; no one will call it boring!

Please don’t reject this coleslaw immediately because it sounds a little weird. The distinctive sweet and tangy flavor is refreshing and an excellent accompaniment to backyard BBQs.

Pineapple Coleslaw Recipe Ingredients

To make Pineapple Slaw, you will need:

  • Cabbage – you could use a package bagged mix sold near the packaged salads sold in your grocery store.
  • Pineapple chunks or pineapple tidbits. You can use canned or fresh pineapple. Use crushed pineapple if you don’t want large chunks.
  • Miniature marshmallows
  • Miracle Whip Salad Dressing – do not use mayo, we are using the flavor of the Miracle Whip for this cole slaw.

In this recipe, most people like using green cabbage, also known as cannonball cabbage. However, you can make Hawaiian Coleslaw with savoy or Napa cabbage. It’s best to avoid purple cabbage as it can be bitter and turn other ingredients red.

Pineapple coleslaw ingredients.

How To Make Coleslaw with Pineapple

  1. Discard any damaged outer leaves and rinse the cabbage under running water.
  2. Quarter the cabbage. 
  3. Cut out the core with a knife.
  4. Use a slaw slicer or a chef’s knife to shred the cabbage. 
  5. An optional step is to salt the cabbage with a teaspoon of kosher salt and mix. Allow the salted cabbage to drain for 30 minutes in a colander in the sink. After 30 minutes, rinse and drain well.
  6. Place the shredded cabbage, drained pineapple chunks, miniature marshmallows, and Miracle Whip in a large mixing bowl.
Pineapple coleslaw ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
  1. Stir or toss until this becomes a uniform mixture.
  2. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and put it in the fridge for at least an hour to develop the flavors before serving. 
Pineapple coleslaw in a serving bowl.

Recipe variations 

​You can customize this coleslaw to make it your own. Here are a few mix-in ideas for you. 

  • Sesame seeds – Garnish your dish with two teaspoons, and you can add a crunchy flair to this recipe. 
  • Macadamia nuts – add a quarter cup of chopped crunchy Macadamia nuts for a beautiful pop of crunch. 
  • Green onions – if you want a delicate onion flavor, add a tablespoon of sliced green onions.

What Does Pineapple Coleslaw Go Well With?

I love to serve this coleslaw at a summer cookout for a barbeque. It is the perfect side dish and a wonderful take on the classic coleslaw recipe you may use. The sweetness and tang of coleslaw with pineapple in this Hawaiian coleslaw recipe pairs perfectly with grilled or breaded meat, particularly any with a creamy or sweet sauce, such as:

How to Store Pineapple Slaw

Always keep the leftover coleslaw covered in the fridge in an airtight container. To prevent the coleslaw from becoming too soggy from excess liquid, set an expandable metal steamer inside a large bowl and put the coleslaw on top. 

How Long Does Pineapple Coleslaw Last in the Fridge?

Finish within two to three days for the best flavor and texture. 

Hawaiian Coleslaw FAQ

What is the Difference Between Slaw and Coleslaw?

All coleslaw is slaw, but not all slaws are coleslaw. Are you confused? The ‘cole’ part of ‘coleslaw’ comes from the Dutch word for cabbage, ‘kool’.

You can refer to any shredded vegetable mixed with vinegar or mayonnaise-like sauce as a slaw. Popular slaws that don’t contain any cabbage often use broccoli or carrots. 

What Nationality is Coleslaw?

You just read that ‘kool’ means cabbage in Dutch, and since ‘salade’ translates as salad, you might expect coleslaw to originate in the Netherlands, but you would be wrong.

People have been preserving vegetables for thousands of years using the acidity of various kinds of vinegar. So, while the name may come from the Dutch, and the food may have been a favorite in Holland for hundreds of years, the history of slaw stretches back much further.

Although the name of this recipe has the word “Hawaiian” in it, the dish is as Hawaiian as a pizza topped with pineapple, bacon, and ham. That’s to say; it has nothing to do with Hawaii at all. 

What is Creamy Coleslaw Made Of?

Creamy coleslaw contains mayonnaise or a sauce similar to mayonnaise, like Miracle Whip

Overhead view of pineapple coleslaw and salad tongs on top of a yellow napkin.

Love Coleslaw? Try These Favorite Recipes

Favorite Pineapple Recipes

Check out more of the best side dish recipes and favorite family recipes here on CopyKat!

This recipe is by Virginia McDowell. Jefferson City, Mo. 1967.

A bowl of pineapple coleslaw and salad tongs behind it.

Pineapple Coleslaw

Hawaiian coleslaw with pineapple and marshmallows has a wonderfully sweet flavor.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate Add to Collection
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Cabbage slaw with fruit, Coleslaw, Pineapple Coleslaw
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 12
Calories: 185kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds cabbage grated
  • 20 ounces pineapple chunks
  • 16 ounces miniature marshmallows
  • 1 cup Miracle Whip

Instructions

  • Place all the ingredients into a large bowl.
  • Mix thoroughly.

Nutrition

Calories: 185kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 211mg | Potassium: 197mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 33g | Vitamin A: 110IU | Vitamin C: 32.1mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 0.6mg

About Stephanie Manley

I recreate your favorite restaurant recipes, so you can prepare these dishes at home. I help you cook dinner, and serve up dishes you know your family will love. You can find most of the ingredients for all of the recipes in your local grocery store.

Stephanie is the author of CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home, and CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home 2.

REVEALED: Copycat Secrets for 2023

free email bonus

Yes, you CAN make it at home! I'll show you how.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. SCV

    My mother and grandmother made this coleslaw but they always added Miracle Whip salad dressing,sugar, apple cider vinegar, bananas, and about and a little bit of pineapple juice. it was so good, you should give it a try this way. 🙂

  2. Patricia

    My mom made this in the ’60s and was my favorite coleslaw recipe. But instead of using one cup of Miracle Whip salad dressing, she used one cup of mayonnaise with 3 Tbs. sugar and 3 Tbs. vinegar.

  3. Bobbi gisler

    Do you have a recipe for coleslaw from the chain restaurant El Pollo Asado. It closed back in the late 80’s.

    • Groovy

      I’m thinking this pineapple slaw recipe is pretty close with the mini marshmallows, but I do believe it also had sunflower seeds in it. I’m gonna try it!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




homemade Olive Garden Asiago Torgelloni Alfredo with chicken on a plate

Copycat Recipe Secrets for 2024

REVEALED:

Yes, you CAN make it at home! 
I'll show you how.

FREE EMAIL BONUS