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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first time I made coleslaw salad love this recipe. thank you.
It was amazingly the best of all the coleslaws I’ve made, so thank you so much!
I don’t even like coleslaw, this is delicious thank you for sharing!
How do you get nutrition values? Is there a website that will do this?
Using an app like MyFitnessPal often provides the most accurate results. I hope that helps!
loved it… used preshredded cabbage to save time
Could you substitute mayonnaise with avocado mayo?
I haven’t personally tried but I think that would work well.
Yes, you can! I always use avocado mayo. Doesn’t change the flavor at all.
Seems like the one my mom made.lovely
Wow- This is so good and so simple. Not too sweet. Not too sour. Creamy perfection!
I’ve made this now 3 times and like one of the others said, I’m not a coleslaw person but I can’t get enough of this! One question, the carrots turn the coleslaw orange. It doesn’t change the taste but I wonder why it does that? Thanks.
Hi Kathy, it’s the beta-carotene in the carrots that causes it to turn orange. You can pat the carrots dry after shredding to help prevent them from turning the coleslaw orange.
Thanks, I’ll try that.
just made it and delicious! just needs to sit abit!
there’s NO RECIPE
Hey April, to find the recipe you can use the jump to recipe button at the top or you can scroll towards the bottom of the post. I hope that helps!
I added some chopped red onions and a dash of garlic powder. This coleslaw dish is so good! I’m not a coleslaw person like my hubby, but I liked this recipe. He couldn’t leave it alone. I caught him numerous times, sneaking a taste, before dinner was done!
Be sure to rinse the red cabbage unless you want a pink colored coleslaw. Also, the creamy slaw sauce recipe is not enough for that much cabbage mix.
Thanks for sharing that tip, Melinda!
great job holly!
I made this as a side for my son’s birthday gathering earlier this summer, and even his very picky great grandma commented on how good it was. ;) I highly recommend subbing kewpie mayo for standard mayo for even more flavor. The 2 tsp. of sugar are just right paired with a more tangy mayo.
Delicious! Quick and easy to make. I did not add any additional salt to make is lower sodium. It tasted great. Thank you.
Made this recently to go with slow cooker pulled pork sandwiches! Really good starter recipe with the flexibility to adjust to your liking! I did just that, added quite a bit more sugar because we like a sweet coleslaw here! My husband is super picky about his coleslaw and normally will only eat a certain major restaurant chains coleslaw. However he always gives things I make a try and he actually said it was pretty good and I can make it again. That’s a win in my book!
this was so easy and was perfect. a great recipe that you can easily modify to your liking or go with it as is and it’s super good.
I loved the simple recipe. I also added some spice to it since I also like salty & sweet. I added 3 shakes of Tobacco and a couple tablespoons of Cilantro. BAM! Mic Drop!!
WOW!!! A true show stopper. Love it.