The Best Coleslaw Recipe (So Easy!) (2024)

Home Recipes Courses Side Dish Coleslaw

by Lisa Bryan

61 Comments

Updated Mar 18, 2023

This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.

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Aneasy coleslaw recipe that’s a perfect side dish for summer parties, potlucks and barbecues. My recipe is light, flavorful and has far less sugar than you’ll find in store-bought versions or from KFC.

This homemade coleslaw is amazing when paired with mySlow Cooker Pulled Pork, Honey Mustard Chicken orBBQ Ribs

The Best Coleslaw Recipe (So Easy!) (2)

Coleslaw is one of the quintessential summer salads and side dish recipes, along with Potato Salad, Cucumber Salad and Broccoli Salad. As a kid I ate the KFC version more often than not, but as an adult I realized how easy it was to make from home and I’ve never looked back.

The other bonus of making coleslaw at home? You can control the quality of ingredients, keep it healthy and make it as creamy (or less creamy) as you’d like. Personally, I prefer coleslaw that’s a little less creamy and more crunchy. But you can always tweak it to your liking!

Homemade Coleslaw Ingredients

Coleslaw is very easy to make at home and this version is “light” compared to most recipes. Traditional coleslaw has quite a bit of white sugar and many versions contain dairy, in the form of buttercream. My version is dairy-free and the only sugar is a smidge of honey.

As for the other coleslaw ingredients, everything else is fairly standard:

  • Green cabbage
  • Red cabbage
  • Carrots
  • My homemade mayonnaise (you can use store bought too)
  • Honey
  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Celery seeds
  • Salt and pepper

Watch my Coleslaw Recipe Video

In this quick video I’ll show you how to make both this classic coleslaw recipe and my vinegar based coleslaw. Give it a watch!

How to Make the Best Coleslaw Recipe

I recommend you use fresh cabbage and carrots, rather than a bag of pre-chopped coleslaw mix for the best flavor. Sure, it’s a little bit more work to slice everything, but it’s very fast. Promise.

To shred the cabbage by hand:

  1. Remove the outer leaves of the cabbage.Wash the cabbage (there can sometimes be a little dirt), then remove the outer leaves.
  2. Chop off the stem at the end. There’s more of the stem on the inside but we’ll get to removing that.
  3. Chop the cabbage in half, then into quarters. Then diagonally cut out the area where you see the stem or core on the inside.
  4. Thinly shred the cabbage with a knife. You can make the cabbage as thin or thick as you desire. I personally like my cabbage to be thin. If you feel the cabbage is a little too long, then cut the shredded cabbage in half.

Alternatively, you could use a spiralizer to shred the cabbage. You can view my post and video on how to spiralize cabbage (carrots too). A mandoline would also be a great tool for shredding cabbage and carrots.

If you don’t have a spiralizer or mandoline to shred the carrots, use the large hole side of a box grater. It works perfect for this coleslaw recipe.

Once the cabbage and carrots are shredded, just mix it with the Coleslaw Dressing and enjoy!

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Can Coleslaw Be Made the Day Before?

Yes, you can make coleslaw the day before! This is especially helpful when planning for an event. I personally love when my cabbage and carrots marinate in the dressing overnight. They seem to be so much more flavorful than the first day I tossed. However, you can also keep the veggies and coleslaw dressing separate and mix them the day of. Once mixed together,coleslaw lasts about 3 – 5 days in the fridge.

Is Coleslaw Bad For You?

While coleslaw is veggie-packed, many recipes are drowning in dressing that contain more sugar and fat than necessary. The base of my dressing is my Homemade Mayonnaise (linked in the recipe), which is made from higher quality oils and contains no sugar. It’s much healthier than store-bought. So if you’ve never made mayo at home, you must give it a try. I also don’t add any dairy or extra sugar.

You can see that my cabbage is coated in the coleslaw dressing but it’s not swimming in dressing. This also keeps it healthier and with a little more crunch. That’s why you should make my version (wink).Cabbage is extremely healthy for you, so let’s keep this version of coleslaw that way too!

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More Recipes Perfect for a Party

  • Potato Salad
  • Pico De Gallo
  • Guacamole
  • Egg Salad

More Coleslaw Recipes to Enjoy

  • Vinegar Coleslaw (No Mayo)
  • Cilantro Lime Bacon Coleslaw
  • Grilled Fish Tacos with Citrus Carrot Slaw

One last tip: this coleslaw recipes makes quite a bit of coleslaw (about 12 servings) which is perfect for a party. If you’d like less coleslaw, just halve the recipe.And use any leftover cabbage in my sautéedcabbage recipe.

The Best Coleslaw Recipe (So Easy!) (6)

The Best Coleslaw Recipe

5 from 30 votes

Prep: 20 minutes mins

Total: 20 minutes mins

Servings: 12 servings

Author: Lisa Bryan

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Description

Coleslaw is so easy to make at home. It's just a mix of cabbage, carrots and creamy coleslaw dressing. Watch the video above to see how quickly it comes together!

Video

Ingredients

  • 3/4 green cabbage, finely shredded
  • 1/4 red cabbage, finely shredded
  • 3 medium carrots, grated
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp honey, (or more for desired sweetness)
  • 1 tsp celery seeds
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions

  • Add the shredded green cabbage, red cabbage, and carrots to a large bowl.

  • Combine the mayonnaise, honey, apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, and celery seeds in a small bowl and whisk together. (If you want the dressing to be sweeter, add more honey.)

  • Pour about half of the dressing onto the cabbage and carrots and toss. Slowly add more dressing until you’ve reached your desired slaw to dressing ratio.

  • Serve and enjoy!

Lisa's Tips

  • This recipe makes approximately 12 cups of coleslaw (based on the size of the cabbage you see in my video). If your cabbage is larger or smaller, this may vary.

Nutrition

Calories: 159kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 193mg | Potassium: 191mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 2810IU | Vitamin C: 31.6mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 0.6mg

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Coleslaw, Coleslaw Recipe, Homemade Coleslaw

©Downshiftology. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.

Did you make this recipe?Mention @downshiftology or tag #downshiftology!

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About the author

Lisa Bryan

Lisa is a bestselling cookbook author, recipe developer, and YouTuber (with over 2.5 million subscribers) living in sunny Southern California. She started Downshiftology in 2014, and is passionate about making healthy food with fresh, simple and seasonal ingredients.

Read More About Me

The Best Coleslaw Recipe (So Easy!) (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between coleslaw and slaw? ›

Or coleslaws — what's the difference? Really nothing. Technically, coleslaw involves cabbage, whether green, red or napa, while the category of slaws can include all kinds of chopped or shredded crunchy vegetables. The two words are used interchangeably for the most part however.

How do I keep my coleslaw from getting watery? ›

With the shredded cabbage in a colander, mix in a tablespoon of salt per head of cabbage till it's evenly distributed. The salt will draw out excess water from cabbage while helping preserve the crispiness. After letting it sit for an hour or two, rinse it with water to remove the salt.

What is KFC coleslaw made of? ›

KFC coleslaw is a sweet and tangy side dish made with shredded cabbage and carrots, coated in a creamy dressing. The dressing is made with a blend of mayonnaise, buttermilk, vinegar, sugar, and spices, which gives it its distinctive flavor. The cabbage is finely chopped, so it has a crisp and refreshing texture.

What is creamy coleslaw made of? ›

Julienne cabbage and carrots using a mandoline (<- affiliate link). Place in a large bowl. Add in mayonnaise, sour cream, white wine vinegar, salt, sugar, mustard powder and white pepper. Stir everything together until thoroughly combined.

Why did KFC stop selling coleslaw? ›

The fast food chain was forced to stop selling its coleslaw tubs when a supply issue meant the slaw would have to be served up without the dressing. “We are currently experiencing a supply issue with our KFC coleslaw dressing,” a KFC spokesperson said. The slaw is made up of cabbage and carrots coated in mayonnaise.

Is coleslaw healthy or unhealthy Why? ›

Yes, coleslaw can be healthy! The base of coleslaw is shredded vegetables (traditionally cabbage), so inherently coleslaw is vitamin- and fiber-packed and good for you. The issue is the dressing. Most traditional creamy coleslaw dressing is made with high fat ingredients like mayo and has sugar added too.

Why does my homemade coleslaw taste bitter? ›

Cabbage Core:Issue: The core of the cabbage can be bitter, especially if it's not removed before shredding. Solution: Ensure that you remove the core of the cabbage before shredding it. Cut the cabbage in half, then cut out the triangular core from each half. Old Cabbage:Issue: Older cabbage may develop a bitter taste.

Is it better to make coleslaw the day before? ›

Coleslaw has the best texture and flavor the day it's made, but it still keeps well for several days in the fridge. If you're making this coleslaw more than a day ahead, don't skip the salting step above.

Why is my coleslaw turning GREY? ›

Signs to look out for might include the texture getting noticeably softer instead of crispy, any discoloration at all (areas or spots of gray or brown), and obviously anything growing on it.

What is Zaxby's coleslaw made of? ›

Fresh diced green cabbage and carrots with specialty dressing, made in-house daily. Small (8 oz.) serves 2.

What is traditional coleslaw made of? ›

What is traditional coleslaw made of? Traditional coleslaw is little more than shredded cabbage and a creamy dressing. This recipe adds a bit more flavor with shredded carrots and onion. The creamy dressing is made with mayonnaise, sugar, cider vinegar, salt, and pepper, for a just right tangy-sweet flavor.

What is Popeyes coleslaw made of? ›

This creamy, tangy Popeye's coleslaw recipe tastes just like what you would order at the popular American fast food restaurant. Zesty raw cabbage, carrots, and onions tossed with a creamy mayonnaise-based dressing makes a delicious side dish with only 15 minutes of prep time.

What is in Mary Brown's coleslaw? ›

Coleslaw

Mary Brown's shreds fresh cabbage and carrots in house, and tops it with a creamy dressing.

What race invented coleslaw? ›

The dish was initially created in the Netherlands. In fact, the term coleslaw originates from the Dutch expression koosla, which means “cabbage salad.” Recipes similar to coleslaw have been found and used in American homes from as early as 1770.

What is the difference between Eastern and Western coleslaw? ›

Unlike Lexington style, Eastern style contains no tomatoes. It is purely vinegar and pepper which is used to season after cooking. The coleslaw is also different, swapping out the red for a white mayonnaise-based sauce.

Why is coleslaw now called slaw? ›

Whatever the reason for the formation, people familiar with the food item began tinkering with its name. For instance, the Latin-based cole was substituted for cold and the spelling variant slaugh was used with cold or cole. The name was also chopped to slaw or slaugh.

Is cabbage slaw the same as cole slaw? ›

Coleslaw (from the Dutch term koolsla meaning 'cabbage salad'), also known as cole slaw, or simply as slaw, is a side dish consisting primarily of finely shredded raw cabbage with a salad dressing or condiment, commonly either vinaigrette or mayonnaise. This dish originated in the Netherlands in the 18th century.

What does slaw mean? ›

Slaw comes from the Dutch sla, short for salade, or "salad." Definitions of slaw. basically shredded cabbage. synonyms: coleslaw. type of: salad.

What is the difference between cole slaw and cabbage salad? ›

While cabbage salad often consists only of one vegetable seasoned and dressed, coleslaw can include a few other ingredients like shredded veggies, fruits, or seasonings to give some variety to the dish. While both feature cabbage as the star of the show, the different dressings set the two apart.

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