Coleslaw is a favorite side for picnics or BBQs, and it’s easy to make ahead of time!
In this coleslaw recipe, crisp and colorful shredded cabbage is tossed in a very simple creamy dressing with a hint of sweetness.
With some cabbage (or coleslaw mix) and a few basic ingredients, this will be a go-to side dish for almost any occasion.
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Classic Coleslaw: Recipe Highlights
This is the best coleslaw recipe, perfect for parties and summer potlucks, and it is so simple to make.
- You need just a few ingredients, most of which you likely have on hand.
- Use green and red cabbage or coleslaw mix to make it even easier.
- The creamy coleslaw dressing takes just 2 minutes to make.
- This is great for gatherings since it is best made ahead of time.
Ingredient Tips
Cabbage: I use a mixture of regular green cabbage, a bit of red (or purple) cabbage, and shredded carrots. Any cabbage can be used; you can also swap it for a bag of coleslaw mix.
Dressing: The dressing is creamy and zesty, and what makes homemade coleslaw so good. If you’re short on time (or ingredients) store-bought dressing can be used, you’ll want something tangy and sweet.
How to Make Coleslaw
Colorful coleslaw can be made so quickly! Just 3 simple steps to the perfect creamy side dish.
- Shred Cabbage: Finely shred the cabbage. I use a mandoline but you can also shred with a food processor, or thinly cut it with a knife. Grate the carrots on the large holes of a box grater.
- Prep Dressing: Whisk the dressing ingredients. Mix it in a large bowl and add the slaw instead of washing an additional small bowl (per the recipe below).
- Combine & Chill: Add the cabbage and carrots to the dressing and toss to combine. Refrigerate for at least one hour.
Variations
- Swap the cabbage for pre-shredded cabbage or slaw mix in the produce section of the grocery store.
- Finely chop an apple (toss it in a bit of lemon juice) to make a Creamy Apple Slaw Recipe.
- Use the creamy dressing in the recipe below or the vinaigrette dressing in the notes.
- To make this recipe lighter, use yogurt in place of some or all of the mayonnaise.
Homemade Coleslaw Dressing Is SO Easy!
The creamy dressing for coleslaw is homemade and ready in about 2 minutes. It’s so much better than bottled! It’s creamy and a little tangy!
Don’t skip the celery seed, it adds a lot of flavor to this dish. This dressing is great on coleslaw, but can also be used on broccoli salad or as a salad dressing.
Serving Suggestions
We know that KFC coleslaw is great with chicken, but we love this fresh crisp version even more. We love it with any kind of BBQ dish, from ribs to chicken.
- Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks and Crispy Air Fryer French Fries.
- BBQ Chicken wouldn’t be the same without coleslaw!
- We also love serving a large scoop of creamy coleslaw with pulled pork sandwiches
- Use it in place of lettuce on burgers and other favorites!
Keep it Cool!
If serving at a potluck or summer event, ensure the slaw isn’t left out in the sun. Place the bowl of slaw in a larger bowl filled with ice to keep it chilled.
Storage
Store leftover coleslaw in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. After a couple of days, it may release a bit of water, drain it away (and add a tiny bit of mayonnaise if needed).
Unfortunately, coleslaw made with a mayonnaise base will not freeze well.
More Classic BBQ Side Salads
Did you make this Coleslaw recipe? Leave us a rating and a comment below!
Ingredients
- 4 cups shredded green cabbage
- 1 cup shredded red cabbage
- 1 cup shredded carrot
Dressing
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- ½ tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon celery seed
- salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine all dressing ingredients in a bowl.
- Toss with cabbage & carrots. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving to allow flavors to blend.
Video
Notes
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 4 tablespoons canola oil
- 3 tablespoons white sugar
- ½ teaspoon dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon celery seeds
- salt & pepper to taste
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Salad, Side Dish
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Like the title says “The Best Coleslaw Receipt”. The seeds make the difference. Thank you !
Very good and easy
Perfect slaw!! We were on vacation with limited spices, but the home we stayed in had celery salt so we used that instead of buying celery seed and it was delicious!
Spot on, simple and delicious
Never made coleslaw before and I don’t encounter it often, but I LOVED this recipe!!! I ate it for over a week with rolled up turkey and provolone on the side (leftovers from a campout) and I was always so satisfied and never got tired of it which I find to be very interesting. Thank you!!
This is a GREAT recipe! It’s the best coleslaw I’ve ever had. This will be my new go to recipe.
Very good! Didn’t have Dijon or celery seeds, so substituted with yellow mustard and dill. Was great!
This so easy and fast to make, and it was also so tasty! I invited my friends to come over and they loved it! :)
This was simple and great! Mixed in up in five minutes (used bagged cole slaw mix) and had it with pulled chicken sandwiches tonight. Yummy!
Hi, I am looking for recipes that are diabetic friendly,fast or easy. Love iceberg lettuce, cucumbers, celery, onion, tomato, bell peppers, radishes. Mushroom, carrots, Brussel sprouts, I like broccoli, cauliflower, green onion, chives
Hi Paula, I don’t personally maintain a diabetic diet so I am not sure if these recipes would work for you but we have some great salad recipes that match some of your favorite veggies! You might be able to enjoy this cucumber onion salad, cucumber dill salad, tomato salad or this broccoli cauliflower salad! There are so many other delicious ones that might work for you as well! We hope you can find something you love ❤️
This was the first time I’ve made homemade coleslaw from scratch! Everyone liked it.
Easy, fast, and very tasty!
Thank you!
Love this. Very easy, I divide in half and make half with vinaigrette (for me) and half creamy for husband. The celery seeds are key and I add generously! Thanks for this, so much better than store-bought.
Delicious!
One thing I always look for and cannot always find is the serving size. That is important to me being a diabetic. That would be a friendly suggestion for the future if possible. Thanks! I love your recipes!
Thanks for the suggestion, Nancy. And have definitely taken note! We are trying to add serving sizes to all of our newer recipes and working to add them to the older ones as well! If calculating the nutrition information we always recommend an alternative nutrition tracker like MyFitnessPal for more accurate information as it will depend on the ingredients/brands you choose to use as well. Hope that helps!
If I want to use the coleslaw mix in a bag, how many bags are equivalent to the ingredients listed in the recipe?
Coleslaw bags can come in different sizes but you’ll want about 6 cups of slaw mix.
I used one bag of cole slaw mix. It was equal to about 6 cups. If had regular cabbage, purple cabbage and carrots.
Great coleslaw recipe. I added half an apple because it was available. I have made it before and added dried cranberries… yum.
Sounds delicious, Edward.
2nd comment. Tried the vinaigrette dressing and like it, too. This recipe deserves the stars it gets.
Fantastic coleslaw recipe. I have even added some drained crushed pineapple to this as the husband like it in there, so once and while I make it his way. Great on a pulled pork sandwich also
Not the same recipe if you added crushed pineapple, just saying
The dressing is lovely. I didn’t have celery seeds so I used celery salt and just omitted the extra salt to taste. Perfect for pulled pork :)
Delicious , however to add some brightness I add a little fresh lemon juice.
Great recipe. Thank you !