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    Home ยป Recipes ยป Sides

    An Easy Coleslaw Recipe

    Published: May 25, 2022 by Sam Merritt ยท 66 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy.
    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video
    collage of coleslaw, top image of close up of slaw in white bowl. bottom image taken at different angle

    This quick and easy Coleslaw is made with freshly shredded cabbage and carrots and is tossed in a creamy homemade dressing. It’s perfect for picnics and barbecues! Recipe includes a how-to video.

    large bowl of homemade coleslaw full of shredded green and purple cabbage, carrots, and creamy dressing co

    The Best Homemade Coleslaw

    With Memorial Day just around the corner, a summer full of picnics and backyard barbecues is about to start (hooray!). I’ve got a plethora of refreshing side dishes for serving at cookouts, from my broccoli salad and shrimp pasta salad to my Texas caviar; however, I’ve been missing one very important and classic dish–coleslaw!

    My coleslaw recipe is packed full of freshly shredded cabbage and carrots tossed in a homemade dressing. The finished product strikes the perfect balance between creamy, tangy, and sweet. It’s a simple side that’s incredibly easy to make, and it absolutely deserves a place on your picnic table.

    If I’m being honest, I actually hesitated to share this coleslaw because it’s just so easy and basic. However, it’s definitely a staple and a must-have addition to any BBQ or cookout, and since I’m having a BBQ-themed week (BBQ sauce earlier in the week & pulled pork coming next), I felt it was worth sharing. I hope you’ll agree!

    What You Need

    overhead view of ingredients including cabbage, carrots, vinegar, mayo, and more

    I like my coleslaw a tad creamier and sweeter than other versions. If you prefer your coleslaw more tangy, less sweet, or less creamy, you can always adjust the ingredients to your liking. Here are a few worth highlighting:

    • Cabbage. A mix of freshly shredded red and green cabbage adds a colorful crunch.
    • Carrots. I recommend peeling your carrots before shredding; this makes the coleslaw look brighter and nicer.
    • Apple cider vinegar. If you don’t have apple cider vinegar on hand, you can use distilled, white wine, or red wine vinegar.
    • Sugar. This may seem like an odd addition, but trust me! Just a little sweetness makes the creamy dressing super flavorful and balances the tang from the vinegar.

    SAM’S TIP: If you’ve never shredded your own cabbage before, check out the video below where I demonstrate two easy methods.

    Remember, this is just an overview of the ingredients I used and why. For the full recipe please scroll down to the bottom of the post!

    How to Make Coleslaw

    collage of four photos showing cabbage being shredded and tossed with homemade dressing
    1. Shred your cabbage and carrots.
    2. In a separate bowl, combine your dressing ingredients.
    3. Drizzle your dressing over the cabbage mixture
    4. Toss until well combined, then cover and chill your coleslaw until ready to serve.

    SAM’S TIP: For best results, let your coleslaw chill in the fridge for an hour before serving; this helps the flavors marry and allows the dressing to really coat the veggies.

    white bowl full of shredded cabbage and carrots coated in a creamy dressing

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What goes well with coleslaw?

    Coleslaw is a great side at any potluck or picnic, but it’s especially popular with barbecue. Whether you’re enjoying BBQ chicken, pit beef, or pulled pork, coleslaw will be the perfect cool and crunchy accompaniment. It’s also great on sandwiches–particularly those made with homemade burger buns or potato buns!

    Can I use pre-shredded coleslaw mix?

    Yes! I’ve included instructions below on how to substitute pre-shredded, store-bought coleslaw mix, in case you need to save a few seconds. When I use pre-shredded mix, I always throw in a few more shredded carrots for some extra color and crunch!

    Why is my coleslaw watery?

    As it sits, the salt in the dressing will draw out the water in your coleslaw. This is perfectly normal and to be expected! If you don’t care for watery coleslaw, try eating it soon after preparing (within a day or so).

    white bowl full of shredded cabbage and carrots coated in a creamy dressing

    Stay tuned for my final installment of BBQ week: instant pot pulled pork!

    Enjoy!

    Let’s bake together! I’ll be walking you through all the steps in my written recipe and video below! If you try this recipe, be sure to tag me on Instagram, and you can also find me on YouTube and Facebook

    large bowl of homemade coleslaw full of shredded green and purple cabbage, carrots, and creamy dressing co

    Easy Coleslaw Recipe

    This quick and simple coleslaw is made with freshly shredded cabbage and carrots and is tossed in a creamy homemade dressing. It's perfect for picnics and barbecues!
    Recipe includes a how-to video!
    4.98 from 42 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Recommended resting time:: 1 hour hour
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6 servings (about ยฝ cup per serving)
    Calories: 206kcal
    Author: Sam Merritt

    Ingredients

    • ⅔ cup (160 g) mayonnaise
    • 1 ½ Tablespoons granulated sugar
    • 1 ½ Tablespoons apple cider vinegar may substitute distilled, white wine, or red wine vinegar
    • ¼ teaspoon table salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • 3 cups (240 g) shredded green cabbage (see note to use pre-shredded cabbage)
    • 1 cup (75 g) shredded purple cabbage
    • 1 cup (100 g) peeled, shredded carrots

    Recommended Equipment

    • Mixing bowl
    • Sharp knife
    • Mandolin

    Instructions

    • In a small dish, prepare the dressing by whisking together mayonnaise, sugar, vinegar, salt, and black pepper.
      ⅔ cup (160 g) mayonnaise, 1 ½ Tablespoons granulated sugar, 1 ½ Tablespoons apple cider vinegar, ¼ teaspoon table salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • In a large bowl, toss together green and purple cabbage and shredded carrots.
      3 cups (240 g) shredded green cabbage, 1 cup (75 g) shredded purple cabbage, 1 cup (100 g) peeled, shredded carrots
    • Drizzle dressing over cabbage/carrot mixture and toss/stir until ingredient are thoroughly combined and all cabbage/carrots are coated with dressing. Taste-test and add more salt and pepper as needed.
    • Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving (for best flavor).

    Notes

    Storing

    Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.

    Using pre-shredded cabbage mix

    You may substitute a 14oz bag of shredded coleslaw mix for the cabbage and carrots listed in the recipe.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 206kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 11g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 266mg | Potassium: 127mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 228IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1mg

    Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.

    Tried this recipe? Show me on Instagram!Mention @SugarSpun_Sam or tag #sugarspunrun!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Moe

      June 05, 2024 at 4:15 pm

      5 stars
      Very nice taste, easy to make.
      Thank you!

      Reply
      • Sam

        June 05, 2024 at 4:34 pm

        I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, Moe! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    2. Beverly

      May 23, 2024 at 7:49 pm

      Thank you so much my hubby loves this recipe as I do,Yummy!!

      Reply
      • Sam

        May 25, 2024 at 10:44 pm

        I’m so glad everyone enjoyed it so much, Beverly! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    3. Katanahamon

      May 17, 2024 at 4:24 pm

      5 stars
      Celery seed! Also goes well in macaroni salad..I donโ€™t see any onion type ingredient..I think coleslaw is best when very finely shredded, and feta it sits for several days in the fridge. Excellent on sandwiches on a hot summer day!

      Reply
    4. Shari Pearce

      May 14, 2024 at 1:12 pm

      5 stars
      I loved the dressing when I tried it in the bowl. It had too much vinegar when it was on the cabbage. Weird, I know. Next time I will reduce the vinegar to 1/2 tablespoon and add more if I want. It was an easy pantry pull dressing and is now the one I will continue to use. Thank you so much!

      Reply
      • Emily @ Sugar Spun Run

        May 14, 2024 at 1:33 pm

        Hopefully that adjustment does the trick for you! Enjoy, Shari ๐Ÿ˜Š

        Reply
    5. Lupe

      May 13, 2024 at 12:12 pm

      5 stars
      Hello Sam,

      Could I use pineapple or crush pineapple with some juice instead of using sugar in this recipe? Iโ€™ve tasted a pineapple coleslaw years ago and think it would be good in this recipe.
      What is the serving size measurement? I see on the serving size that it says one, but not sure how much that is. Thank you for all that you do and I love your recipes.

      Reply
      • Emily @ Sugar Spun Run

        May 14, 2024 at 1:10 pm

        Hi Lupe! We haven’t tried the recipe that way, so it’s hard to say how it would go. The serving size is ยฝ cup. Enjoy! ๐Ÿ˜Š

        Reply
    6. Marilyn Peight

      May 11, 2024 at 11:26 am

      5 stars
      We have been enjoying this coleslaw with pulled pork and roast beef sandwiches. I love how simple the recipe is!

      Reply
      • Sam

        May 11, 2024 at 10:26 pm

        Iโ€™m so glad you enjoy it so much, Marilyn! โ˜บ๏ธ

        Reply
    7. Shelly-ann Millwood-Biggs

      May 05, 2024 at 11:37 pm

      5 stars
      omg by far the best coleslaw recipe i ever tried, came out perfect. will be doing it again in a few days.

      Reply
      • Sam

        May 06, 2024 at 11:52 am

        I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    8. Heather

      March 22, 2024 at 8:19 pm

      This was great. I did not have cabbage on hand so I used broccoli slaw chopped into smaller pieces. Canโ€™t have hotdogs with slaw.

      Reply
      • Sam

        March 25, 2024 at 11:27 am

        I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, Heather! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    9. Julia Snyder

      March 17, 2024 at 4:25 pm

      5 stars
      The instructions were very clear, so it would be hard to go wrong. I would not have thought to include sugar, but it zips it up and I have to avoid salt so a tiny bit of sugar actually makes up for less salt in many recepies. The home made Cole Slaw cost me a fraction of what my grocery stores charges me, and is healthier. No odd oils and chemicals I can not pronounce.

      Reply
      • Sam

        March 17, 2024 at 8:51 pm

        I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, Julia! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    10. Richard H Senturia

      March 16, 2024 at 12:06 pm

      to keep from getting “watery”, put the finished cole slaw in a plastic bowl slightly larger than “snug”, then fold three or four paper towels tightly around the top, turn over, shake and leave in. refrigerator overniight.

      all the excess water is removed and the cole slaw is dreamy creamy

      Reply
      • Donna

        April 14, 2024 at 6:07 pm

        I’m very interested in trying this method, but not quite understanding the technique. Is the BOWL of coleslaw turned over another bowl, or the coleslaw just turned up onto paper towels?

        Reply
    11. Andrea J Laurie

      February 27, 2024 at 11:35 am

      5 stars
      it is so good. tastes like the one from KFC but better. thank you

      Reply
      • Sam

        February 27, 2024 at 1:01 pm

        I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, Andrea! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    12. Kim E Cawthon

      December 01, 2023 at 9:22 pm

      recipe needs to be edited. step 2 ingredients missing the word carrots

      1 cup peeled

      Reply
      • Sam

        December 03, 2023 at 9:44 pm

        Sorry for the confusion, Kim! I have fixed it. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    13. Ann Wing

      October 30, 2023 at 4:31 pm

      5 stars
      Very nice flavor, I might add jalapeรฑos

      Reply
    14. Misty

      December 01, 2022 at 3:36 pm

      5 stars
      We eat this several nights a week! Great & easy recipe!

      Reply
    15. Irene

      May 27, 2022 at 2:49 pm

      This is sooo similar to my mom’s basic salad recipe (she’d use the dressing with lettuce and tomato as well, as well as sometimes swapping oil for the mayo).The main difference is she used seasoned salt instead of the salt and sugar (it has sugar in it). It’s still the standard by which I judge all salads.

      Reply
    Newer Comments »
    4.98 from 42 votes (18 ratings without comment)

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    The author (Sam) in blue shirt holding donut Hi, I'm Sam! I'm dedicated to bringing you sweet, simple, and from-scratch dessert recipes. My life may or may not be controlled by my sweet tooth. Send help (or chocolate). Read more about me.

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