4.99 from 52 votes

An Easy Coleslaw Recipe

Name: Easy Coleslaw Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 65 min
Ingredients: ⅔ cup 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 shredded green cabbage ((see note to use pre-shredded cabbage)); 1 cup shredded purple cabbage; 1 cup peeled, shredded carrots

By Sam MerrittPublished May 25, 2022

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89 Comments

Servings: 6 servings (about 1/2 cup per serving)

1 hr 5 mins

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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

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

Shred your cabbage and carrots.
In a separate bowl, combine your dressing ingredients.
Drizzle your dressing over the cabbage mixture
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).

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

4.99 from 52 votes

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!

Prep: 5

Recommended resting time:: 1

Total: 1 5

Servings: servings (about 1/2 cup per serving)

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Equipment

Mixing bowl
Sharp knife
Mandolin

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

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).