The Best Homemade Coleslaw Recipe (Easy Too!) (2024)

Inside: Keep reading to find out how you can make a delicious, homemade coleslaw (or cole slaw) recipe in less than 15 minutes. *Looking for Apple Slaw? Click Here*

The Best Homemade Coleslaw Recipe (Easy Too!) (1)

Jump to Recipe

I have to admit that I had never eaten coleslaw before coming to the United States. In Mexico, there are some similar recipes, like thisJicama and Cucumber Slaw with Sweet and Spicy Dressing, but even that is a bit different than your traditional American cole slaw.

The first time I saw it, I was a little bit hesitant to try it, because it was different from anything I had tried before. That said, after one bite, I realized why coleslaw is so popular!

I absolutely love the creaminess of the sauce, combined with the crunchiness of the veggies. Of course, I had to come up with my own version after trying a few and that is what I am going to share today.

What Ingredients Do You Need To Make Coleslaw?

Cole slaw is really a pretty simple recipe to make. You will need to have the following ingredients:

  • Shredded Carrots and Cabbage (I almost always buy the pre-shredded bags from the store to save time);
  • Homemade Coleslaw dressing (recipe below)

You can also mix it up a bit by making apple slaw instead – check out the recipe here.

How Do You Make Coleslaw?

As you saw above, you can make coleslaw with only a few simple ingredients. Making it is just as simple! All you have to do is add the shredded cabbage and carrots to a large bowl, and then slowly add the dressing, mixing it as you go.

The Best Homemade Coleslaw Recipe (Easy Too!) (2)

Some people like their coleslaw to be very saturated with the dressing. Since the cabbage and carrots are pretty crunchy, they can handle quite a bit of sauce. Other people like to go a bit easy on the dressing, and that is fine as well. That is why I suggest that you add just a little bit of dressing at a time so that you can ensure that it has the perfect amount for your individual tastes.

The Best Homemade Coleslaw Recipe (Easy Too!) (3)

The Best Homemade Coleslaw Recipe (Easy Too!) (4)

What Can You Serve Coleslaw With?

One of the reasons that cole slaw is so popular is that it is easy to make and is a great side dish. I personally like to serve it with fried chicken and grilled or smoked meats like this brisket. It also goes great as a side dish for burgers and chicken sandwiches.

The Best Homemade Coleslaw Recipe (Easy Too!) (5)

That said, by far, my favorite way to serve this is as part of a smoked pulled pork sandwich. The flavors complement each other perfectly, and it makes for a perfect bite. Check out our recipe for smoked pulled pork and you will see what I mean!

No matter how you serve your coleslaw, you can be certain that it will be popular if you follow this recipe.

Let me know in the comments below how it turned out!

Other Delicious Side Dishes That You Should Try

  • Extra Crispy Homemade Onion Rings
  • Extra Crispy Chorizo Potato Balls (Papas Rellenas)
  • Authentic Mexican Guacamole
  • Authentic Mexican Salsa Verde
  • Bacon and Garlic Asparagus
  • Brown Sugar, Bacon Wrapped Smokies
  • How To Make The Best Extra Crispy, Deep Fried Pickles

The Best Homemade Coleslaw Recipe (Easy Too!) (6)

Save Recipe Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe

Homemade Coleslaw

Keep reading to find out how you can make a delicious, homemade coleslaw (or cole slaw) recipe in less than 15 minutes.

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Chill3 hours hrs

Total Time15 minutes mins

Course: Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cole slaw, coleslaw

Servings: 10 1/2 Cup Servings

Calories: 145kcal

Author: Charbel Barker

Ingredients

  • 4 Cups Shredded Cabbage and Carrot Mix (Approximately two 14 oz bags of pre-shredded coleslaw mix)
  • 3/4 Cup Mayonnaise
  • 4 Tbsp Granulated Sugar
  • 1/2 Lime (juice)
  • 2 Tbsp White Vinegar
  • 1/2 Tbsp Black Pepper (can add more or less depending on individual tastes)
  • 1 Tsp Salt
  • 1 Tbsp Red Pepper Flakes (Optional)

Instructions

  • Combine all of the ingredients except for the shredded cabbage and carrots in a medium-sized bowl until completely integrated.

  • Add the Shredded Cabbage and Carrot mix to a large bowl and add the dressing made in the first step a little bit at a time, stirring as you go.

  • Once you have added the desired amount of the dressing, cover and refrigerate for 2-3 hours (technically, you can eat it right away, but it is better served cold)

Nutrition

Serving: 11/2 Cup Serving | Calories: 145kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 357mg | Potassium: 71mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 275IU | Vitamin C: 11.2mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 0.4mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @mylatinatable or tag #mylatinatable!

The Best Homemade Coleslaw Recipe (Easy Too!) (7)

You might also be interested in:

The Best Homemade Coleslaw Recipe (Easy Too!) (2024)

FAQs

What is the dressing made of in coleslaw? ›

What Is Coleslaw Dressing Made Of? This creamy, mayo-based dressing uses ingredients you likely have on hand: sugar, lemon juice, vinegar, salt, pepper, and of course, mayonnaise. The resulting dressing is just the right balance of sweet, tangy, creamy, and peppery!

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.

How do you reduce the bitterness in coleslaw? ›

For every 2 cups of sliced cabbage, mix it with about a teaspoon of salt. Kenji Lopez- Alt also found it was beneficial to add a teaspoon of sugar too. Both salt and sugar promote osmosis, which draws out any water from the cabbage. And the sugar can balance out some of the bitterness in the cabbage.

What is creamy coleslaw made of? ›

Combine the mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, maple syrup, celery seed, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Whisk until smooth! Then, combine the veggies. Add the scallions, red cabbage, green cabbage, and carrot to a large bowl, and toss to combine.

Why is KFC coleslaw so good? ›

Fresh ingredients are key to a good slaw, and KFC does alright for a fast food restaurant. You won't find any wilted cabbage pieces, and the carrots are nice and hard as well. What's more, KFC finely dices everything so you don't have to chew that much, and all the flavors and textures blend perfectly.

What is Amish coleslaw made of? ›

CABBAGE, MAYONNAISE (SOYBEAN OIL, EGG YOLKS [EGG YOLKS, SALT], HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, WHITE DISTILLED VINEGAR, MUSTARD [WATER, DISTILLED VINEGAR, MUSTARD SEED, SALT, SPICES], WATER, SALT), FRUCTOSE, SUGAR, CARROTS, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, GLUCONO DELTA LACTONE, PEA FIBER, ERYTHORBIC ACID (TO ...

What is a coleslaw mix made of? ›

It's packed with shredded cabbage and julienned carrots (for health!) and tossed in the holy triumvirate of coleslaw dressing ingredients: apple cider vinegar for acidity, honey for balance, and mayonnaise to tie it all together (feel free to substitute up to half the mayo for tangier Greek yogurt or sour cream for an ...

What is the difference between cabbage slaw and coleslaw? ›

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.

What can I add to store-bought coleslaw to make it taste better? ›

<br/><br/>Adding horse radish or onion or celery seeds or bacon bits or some other tasty flavors to make it your own is a really good idea.

Why does coleslaw go bad so quickly? ›

Like the cabbage, these veggie add-ins can also become breeding grounds for bacteria when left unrefrigerated. Coleslaw dressing often includes vinegar that acidulates the mixture, making it a less hospitable environment for those pesky bacteria. But unfortunately, it's not enough to halt bacterial growth completely.

Why does my homemade coleslaw go watery? ›

Cabbage contains lots of water. Alton Brown suggests salting the cabbage and letting the water drain for two hours, then rinsing the cabbage and spinning it dry before dressing it. That purges the excess water out of the cabbage before it is dressed, so it doesn't get watery.

How to make coleslaw Bobby Flay? ›

Directions. Combine the shredded cabbage and carrots in a large bowl. Whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, onion, sugar, vinegar, mustard, celery salt, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl, and then add to the cabbage mixture. Mix well to combine and taste for seasoning; add more salt, pepper, or sugar if desired.

How do you make coleslaw not soggy? ›

Salting the cabbage, carrot, and onion purges excess moisture that would otherwise turn the slaw into a soupy mess. Including sugar (another osmosis-inducing ingredient) balances the flavor. Limiting the purge to five minutes keeps the cabbage crunchy.

Why is my coleslaw bland? ›

Neglecting to add enough spices or seasoning

Perhaps the recipe you followed is just inherently bland. If your dressing is already applied, you only have one choice left to turn your coleslaw around. You've got to add some seasoning or spice. Start by adding salt and pepper to taste.

What is the difference between coleslaw dressing and mayonnaise? ›

What is coleslaw dressing made of? Coleslaw dressing is usually mayo-based. Then you add vinegar, sugar, Dijon mustard, and poppy seeds. A bit of salt and pepper finishes off a classic, creamy, tangy dressing.

What are the ingredients in shop bought coleslaw? ›

INGREDIENTS: Cabbage (47%), Carrot (16%), Rapeseed Oil, Water, Single Cream (Milk), Pasteurised Egg Yolk, Spirit Vinegar, Onion, Sugar, Salt, Stabilisers (Guar Gum, Xanthan Gum), White Wine Vinegar, Concentrated Lemon Juice.

What does coleslaw contain? ›

The only consistent ingredient in coleslaw is raw cabbage, while other ingredients and dressings vary widely. Some popular variations include adding red cabbage, pepper, shredded carrots, onions, grated cheese, pineapple, pears, or apples, and using salad dressings like mayonnaise or cream.

What are the ingredients in Kraft coleslaw dressing? ›

Ingredients. INGREDIENTS: SOYBEAN OIL, SUGAR, WATER, EGG YOLKS, VINEGAR, SALT, MUSTARD, POLYSORBATE 60 (PREVENTS OIL SEPARATION), POTASSIUM SORBATE (MAINTAINS QUALITY), PROPYLENE GLYCOL ALGINATE (THICKENER), XANTHAN GUM (THICKENER), SPICES AND SEASONINGS (CONTAINS CELERY), CALCIUM DISODIUM EDTA (MAINTAINS FLAVOUR).

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Merrill Bechtelar CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 5973

Rating: 5 / 5 (70 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Merrill Bechtelar CPA

Birthday: 1996-05-19

Address: Apt. 114 873 White Lodge, Libbyfurt, CA 93006

Phone: +5983010455207

Job: Legacy Representative

Hobby: Blacksmithing, Urban exploration, Sudoku, Slacklining, Creative writing, Community, Letterboxing

Introduction: My name is Merrill Bechtelar CPA, I am a clean, agreeable, glorious, magnificent, witty, enchanting, comfortable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.