The BEST Coleslaw recipe (2024)

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We have the best coleslaw recipe and it is better than anything store bought. It is so easy to make with the perfect blend of tang and creaminess. This coleslaw is amazing paired with our Crock Pot Hot Dog Recipe, BBQ Chicken Sandwiches and much more.

The BEST Coleslaw recipe (1)

The Best coleslaw recipe

I have never been a fan of store bought slaw. It never seemed that good to me or maybe I’m just picky. Either way, I have perfected the best coleslaw recipe that is easy to make at home.

Once you try this, you will know why we love it so much. Plus, it is so much cheaper than store bought.

Those little containers are not cheap at the grocery store. This recipe makes a good amount for a fraction of the cost. Not to mention it tastes way better.

In less than 15 minutes, you can have this easy and delicious coleslaw ready to enjoy!

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How do you make coleslaw from scratch?

The ingredients are so simple but the recipe turns out fabulous. With a few fresh items and the best coleslaw dressing ever, this comes together so fast.

I doubt you ever buy store bought again once you see how easy homemade is. If you can toss and mix a few items, you can make this slaw from scratch.

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Tips for homemade coleslaw dressing:

  • If you want to save even more time, you can buy the coleslaw mix at the grocery store with pre shredded cabbage (next to the salad bags) and then finish the recipe. However, those can be pricey so I would only recommend it if you are short on time or if they are on sale.
  • If you prefer your coleslaw crunchy, serve this as soon as you make it. I like my coleslaw made in advance an hour before serving so it is a little softer. Just do what you prefer.
  • Try using a mixture of cabbage. Not only is this pretty but tastes good too. We like to mix in red cabbage with the green cabbage.
  • Change things up by using Dijon mustard instead of yellow mustard.
  • Substitute apple cider vinegar for the mustard.
  • It is optional but we love to use a good mandolin slicer for the veggies. Such a time saver!

What’s coleslaw recipe good with?

  • Grilled Lemon Pepper Chicken Recipe
  • Pulled Pork Sandwiches
  • Hot Dogs
  • BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
  • Baked Chicken Legs

This coleslaw recipe is not just for topping but a great side dish too. It is so delicious and really simple to prepare.

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Ingredients:

  • Shredded Cabbage (Green and Red )
  • Carrots
  • Sliced Green Onions
  • Mayonnaise (See The Best Mayonnaise Substitutes)
  • Yellow Mustard
  • Salt
  • Pepper
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How to make homemade coleslaw:

1. First, cut the cabbage and slice it. I prefer to use amandolin slicer.

There are several good mandolin slicers on sale. I use mine all the time and highly recommend it.

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2. Julienne carrots. If you are short on time, you can buy the carrots already julienned.

3. Next, mix the veggies together in a large bowl.

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4. Lastly, add the remaining ingredients and mix well. Make sure everything is coated.

How long does homemade coleslaw last?

Coleslaw will last 3-5 days in the fridge. Just make sure to use an airtight container with a good fitting lid.

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Enjoy!

I hope you try this delicious side dish or topping idea and come back and let us know how you like it. We personally prefer ours less crunchy so I make it in advance.

I like it to soften and the flavors to combine. If you prefer your slaw crunchy, don’t make it in advance and serve right away.

It is delicious either way and super easy to make work for how you like it best.

Print this homemade coleslaw recipe below:

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Review

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The BEST Coleslaw recipe

4.94 from 16 votes

This coleslaw recipe is easy to make and it is the best coleslaw recipe. You only need a few ingredients to make this easy side dish.

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Servings 6

Cuisine American

Course Side Dish

Calories 95

Author Carrie Barnard

Ingredients

  • 5 cup Shredded Cabbage (green, red or both)
  • 1 cup Julienned Carrots
  • 1/3 cup green onions sliced
  • 4 tbsp Mayonnaise
  • 1/2 tbsp Yellow Mustard
  • 1 tsp Pepper
  • 1 tsp Salt

Instructions

  • Cut off cabbage (leaving the core) and slice on mandolin slicer into thin strips.

  • Julienne the carrots.

  • Mix the mayonnaise, mustard, salt and pepper together in a large bowl.

  • Add in the cabbage, carrots and green onions. Stir thoroughly to coat the vegetables with the sauce.

  • Serve right away and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Making coleslaw is much more frugal than buying it at the store. Once you see how easy it is to make, I think you will agree that it is worth making it at home.

Notes: If you like creamier coleslaw, you can double the mayonnaise, mustard, salt and pepper for this recipe to create more sauce.

Also, to save time, you can also use a prepackaged coleslaw mix.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 95kcal, Carbohydrates 7g, Protein 1g, Fat 7g, Saturated Fat 1g, Cholesterol 3mg, Sodium 107mg, Potassium 248mg, Fiber 2g, Sugar 4g, Vitamin A 4390IU, Vitamin C 43.6mg, Calcium 40mg, Iron 0.7mg

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The BEST Coleslaw recipe (10)

More easy bbq recipes:

  • Quick and Easy BBQ Baked Beans
  • Foil pack grilled potatoes
  • Grilled Lemon Pepper Chicken Recipe.
  • London Broil Marinade
  • Easy Grilled BBQ Ranch Chicken Recipe
  • Grilled chicken kabob recipe

Try these other recipes

Easy Appetizer

Best Deviled Eggs Recipe

Easy Slow Cooker

Crockpot Ham and Cabbage

Quick Bread

Irish Soda Bread Recipe

Homemade Seasoning Blends

Easy Alfredo Sauce Recipe

Easy Side Dishes

What to Serve with Pancakes

Easy Salad

Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe

Easy Slow Cooker

Easy Crockpot Baked Beans Recipe

Quick and Easy Air Fryer

Air Fryer Asparagus

About the Author

The BEST Coleslaw recipe (19)

Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Eating on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you cook delicious meals without busting your budget. Together we are going to cook real food… for real families!

About Carrie Page
The BEST Coleslaw recipe (2024)

FAQs

When to add dressing to coleslaw? ›

Never dress slaws too early or too much or they'll lose their crunch. No more than 20 minutes before serving, add dressing in small increments; toss gently before adding more.

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.

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.

Should you salt cabbage before making coleslaw? ›

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 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 stop homemade coleslaw from going watery? ›

Salting the cabbage should be step one of any coleslaw recipe. 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.

How do you doctor up store-bought coleslaw? ›

It's sweet and sour, so thin the mayo with vinegar, white, apple cider or rice wine are the best choices. Sugar or agave nectar are good choices of sweeteners. Flavor wise, chopped pickle relish, celery seeds, a touch of Dijon mustard, salt, pepper and sour cream are all common.

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.

What is the best pre made coleslaw? ›

With its nice, thick dressing, Walmart's deli coleslaw is the best creamy coleslaw of the bunch. The dressing is heavy on the mayo, which makes it the best coleslaw to slather on a burger or pulled pork sandwich, and the copious amounts of shredded carrot will contribute some crunch, too.

What cancels out bitterness? ›

Sweetness: From sugar, honey, fruits or otherwise, sweetness will counteract bitter and sour flavours. It can also be used to cut down the heat of a particularly spicy meal. Saltiness: Salt plays two very important roles in flavouring a dish.

Is it better to make coleslaw the day before? ›

Store coleslaw in the refrigerator, covered, for up to three days. You can make this coleslaw ahead of time to help blend the flavors, but the dressing will become thin over time as liquid releases from the cabbage. Whisking in extra mayonnaise can help fluff up the dressing before serving.

What spice takes away bitterness? ›

Spices mask bitter flavors, so don't be shy. Add some spicy peppers or powders to your cooking, or sprinkle some onto your dishes for a little bit of extra heat. Black pepper in particular has compounds that counteract bitterness. Some other great spices include cayenne, red pepper, paprika, and chili powder.

How do you get the water out of cabbage for coleslaw? ›

Place salted cabbage in a colander over a bowl for 1 to 2 hours. The salt pulls moisture out of the cabbage, seasons it, and leaves you with a super-crunchy texture that isn't raw or tough-tasting. Rinse! Rinse well to purge the salt.

What is traditional coleslaw 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 ...

Why do you soak shredded cabbage in water? ›

Keep it bright: Red cabbage retains that vivid purplish color when you slice it with a stainless steel knife (rather than carbon steel), use a nonreactive pan (rather than cast iron or aluminum), and add an acid, like vinegar or lemon juice. Crisp it up: Shredded cabbage stays perky if it's soaked in cold water.

When should you add salad dressing? ›

For the best salads, start with your vinaigrette, then add lettuce and the other components. Once you're ready to eat, toss the salad just before serving. Be sure to leave any crunchy toppings (such as nuts or croutons) until the very last step.

When should you pour salad dressing on a fresh salad? ›

We simply toss all of the salad ingredients together in a serving bowl, then whisk up the vinaigrette dressing ingredients in a small jar or jug. The KEY thing here is not to pour the dressing on the salad until right before serving – otherwise the salad leaves will go soggy.

How long can coleslaw sit in dressing? ›

Coleslaw keeps well in the refrigerator for one to two days.

The coleslaw dressing lasts for up to two weeks when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

How much marzetti slaw dressing to use? ›

Marzetti's Famous Coleslaw
  1. 1/2 medium-size head green cabbage.
  2. 1/4 medium-size head purple cabbage.
  3. 2 large carrots.
  4. 1 cup Marzetti® Original Slaw Dressing.
  5. 3 tablespoons lemon juice, or juice of 1 lemon.
  6. 2 teaspoons poppyseeds, plus more for sprinkling on top.
  7. Salt and pepper, to taste.

References

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