This is a quick and easy salad made with coleslaw mix, crunchy ramen noodles, mandarin oranges, slivered almonds and nutty sesame seeds. Perfect for a potluck or as a side dish! Ready in 15 minutes from start to finish.
Strapped for time but still want something yummy to eat? Try this ramen noodle coleslaw, I promise you won’t regret it!
If you are a fan of Asian salads, this recipe is right up your alley because the flavors are very similar- It’s nutty, salty, sweet, tangy… and crunchy and crispy…. The list goes on. It’s perfect!
It’s also cheap to make and can be served in just under 15 minutes.
There are many different fun and tasty elements in this ramen noodle coleslaw recipe – and nothing goes to waste. Even the seasoning packet that comes with the instant ramen noodles gets mixed into the dressing to give it that unique Asian flavor we all love so much.
What I love about this salads is how it’s packed with so many different textures and flavors. There’s so much going on that every bite is fun to eat!
And I’ve added one extra step to level up the nuttiness – I’ve toasted the slivered almonds and sesame seeds to bring out their natural taste and give them more crunch. There’s something about canned Mandarin oranges and the mix of nuts and seeds I find hard to resist. It’s such a complimentary flavor combination!
The reason why this ramen slaw takes little time to make is because I’m using pre-shredded coleslaw. I’m usually not big on buying pre-made or canned goods but I always make an exception for this Asian salad. I’ve made it both ways, with fresh ingredients and with pre-cut and canned ingredients, and didn’t notice a big difference.
Easy Dish Idea For Potluck and Barbecue
This is a fun salad to bring to a potluck because it’s coleslaw recipe with a twist!
What’s also great is you can make it on the spot since no chopping is required. Just toast your almonds and sesame seeds before heading to your potluck or barbecue and once you’re there, throw everything into a bowl, toss and serve!
The dried ramen noodles will stay crunchy for about 30 minutes.
This is a super versatile recipe that can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be.
As I previously mentioned, there are no specific recipe for making an Asian salad. So you can make it healthier by swapping cabbage for kale, adding dried fruits like cranberries, or topping it with grilled tofu. The options truly are endless!
Tasty Dressing
I’m using a mix of vegetable oil, sesame oil, rice vinegar, sugar and soy sauce. Pretty much the classic list of ingredients to make a Japanese vinaigrette. I love the mix of tangy, sweet and nutty and I think it pairs beautifully with the cabbage, Mandarin oranges and crunchy ramen noodles.
I always make extra and keep it in the fridge since I use it for more than just a ramen slaw. I’ll pour over fresh tomatoes, zoodles, silken tofu, etc…
Ramen Noodle Coleslaw Shelf Life
This ramen noodle coleslaw is best eaten fresh because of the dried ramen noodles. Once they start to absorb liquid and expand, they will become mushy. If you’re not making this for a party, I suggest serving the salad without the dried ramen tossed in. Then once the salad is divided into servings, top each plate or bowl with the dried ramen.
This way, if you have leftover salad, you can keep it in the fridge and won’t have to deal with mushy bits when you eat it later.
This Asian ramen salad makes enough for four people when served as a side, or can be turned into a main dish for two people. If you are very hungry, I recommend topping this oriental salad with chicken or salmon. You’ll be feeling full and satisfied!
Other yummy recipes using ramen noodles:
- Miso ramen
- Ramen noodle salad
- Shoyu ramen (soy sauce)
- Spicy miso tsukemen (dipping noodles)
- Miso kimchi ramen
- Shio ramen
Did you like this recipe? Are there changes you made that you would like to share? Share your tips and recommendations in the comment section below!
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Ramen Noodle Coleslaw
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salads
- Method: Tossing
- Cuisine: Asian
- Diet: Low Calorie
Description
This is a quick and easy ramen noodle coleslaw recipe using dried ramen noodles, canned mandarin oranges and toasted almonds. Delicious!
Ingredients
- One 14 ounce package coleslaw mix
- 3 ounces instant ramen noodles packages with seasoning (spicy chicken or vegetable flavor are my favorites)
- 3 green onions, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
- 11 ounces canned mandarin oranges, drained
Dressing
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons plain rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
Instructions
- Make the dressing: Put all the ingredients for the dressing in a bowl and whisk until dressing has emulsified. Set aside.
- Toast the almonds: In a small pan over low medium heat, toast sesame seeds and sliced almonds for a couple of minutes until they turn golden brown. Transfer to a plate and let cool to room temperature.
- Make the coleslaw: Put coleslaw mix, mandarin oranges, scallions, almonds and sesame seeds in a bowl and break ramen noodles on top using your fingers. Pour dressing over and toss until the salad is well coated.
- Serve: Transfer the salad to a bowl and serve immediately.
Notes
This salad is best enjoyed immediately before the crunchy ramen noodles get soft and mushy. The crunchiness will last about 30 minutes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 279
- Sugar: 9.9g
- Sodium: 389.7mg
- Fat: 15.3g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30.1g
- Fiber: 2.3g
- Protein: 6.9g
- Cholesterol: 63.9mg
This is delicious.
I was looking for a re ipe that included noodles AND soy sauce AND sesame oil. I will use yours .. will report back!
BUT, you have NOT said in your recipe whether or not to add the flavour packet. I had to read the Reviews plus your Answer to find out .
Please add that info to your recipe ingredients. …
Why is the sodium count so high? This sounds absolutely amazing, but I have to watch my sodium intake. Did you use low sodium soy sauce or is there a tasty substitute?
Hi Judy! The seasoning packets are quite high in sodium so I would suggest using less and switching regular soy sauce for low sodium as you mentioned. This should cut the sodium level down quite a bit 🙂
Quick question: Are we supposed to add the ramen flavor pak to the salad dressing? It doesn’t say in the recipe, yet you suggest specific flavors.
Thanks for your help, Cathy
Hi Cathy! Yes you add the seasoning packet to the dressing and any flavor is great! I personally like chicken or vegetables 🙂
Thank you for this recipe! I wanted something different than the normal coleslaw and this was a hit. I actually enjoyed it more the next day when the noodles were softened.
What spices could I use to substitute for the ramen seasoning packet? It has MSG in it and family member is allergic… Should I just leave that out and not add anything else? Thanks!
Hi Suz!
I would substitute the ramen seasoning with powdered chicken stock (or beef if you prefer) and a little garlic seasoning.
Thanks Caroline! Yum
Do you cook the noodles first. Mine aren’t
Getting softened up. And they have been
In the dressing for quite. awhile.
Hi Sandy, the noodles are supposed to be crunchy to add texture to the salad. I hope you like it!
It looks beautiful! And I love how simple it actually is to prepare although it looks more complicated!
I made this as a layered salad in mason jars for lunch… I only recommend making 2 days worth at a time or the noodles will go soggy. But for 2 days its perfect and soooo delicious!
Good point Kassandra, I will add your recommendation to the recipe! Thanks!