This classic Coleslaw Recipe is made with finely shredded cabbage, carrots, onions, and a tangy dressing. It’s crunchy, colorful, easy to prepare, and the perfect side dish to serve at summer BBQs and potlucks.
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Best Traditional Coleslaw Recipe
This Classic Coleslaw Recipe has the perfect combination of crisp, crunchy veggies and lightly creamy classic Coleslaw dressing. It comes together in minutes and can even be prepped ahead of time, making it one of my favorite summer side dishes.
Another reason to love this traditional Coleslaw recipe is that it is simple to dress up. Try adding a touch of dijon mustard, a pinch of cayenne, some green onions, or a little celery seed. Since it goes with just about everything and has a long shelf life, be sure and make plenty.
What's In Coleslaw?
- Shredded Cabbage - the easiest option is to use pre shredded cabbage or coleslaw mix. You can also shred your own cabbage using a sharp knife. I recommend using a combination of both red and green cabbage. Another tasty option is to substitute broccoli slaw mix for the cabbage mix.
- Shredded Carrots - either purchase pre shredded carrots or shred your own using a box grater or food processor.
- Onion - you will need about half of a diced white onion. You could substitute a red onion or a yellow onion as well.
- Mayonnaise - either full fat mayo or lite mayo will work well. To make this a more creamy Coleslaw recipe you can try substituting sour cream for the mayo.
- Sugar - you’ll only need a little bit of sugar to help balance the flavors. If you would like, try substituting an equal amount of maple syrup or honey for the granulated sugar.
- Lemon Juice - this helps keep the coleslaw tangy and the cabbage crisp. You can substitute either all or a portion of the lemon juice with apple cider vinegar, or another white vinegar.
- Salt and Pepper
Easy Coleslaw Add-Ins
- 1 teaspoon of Dijon Mustard.
- A pinch of cayenne pepper.
- Green onions and sesame seeds.
- 1 Tablespoon of horseradish.
- Celery seed or celery salt
How to Make This Coleslaw Recipe {Traditional}
- Mix the coleslaw dressing. In a small bowl, combine the mayo, sugar, lemon juice, black pepper, and salt. Whisk to combine.
- Combine the rest of the ingredients. In a large serving bowl, combine the coleslaw mix (or shredded cabbage), shredded carrots, and diced onion. Toss, then add the mayo mixture and mix well to combine.
- Refrigerate. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
- Serve. Enjoy!
Recipe Variations for Classic Coleslaw
Coleslaw is a versatile and refreshing side dish that pairs well with a variety of meals. Feel free to experiment with these variations to suit your taste preferences.
- Asian-inspired Coleslaw: Combine shredded cabbage, grated carrots, and thinly sliced bell peppers. Dress it with a mixture of rice vinegar, soy sauce, honey, and sesame oil. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and chopped cilantro for added flavor.
- Spicy Coleslaw: Add a kick to your coleslaw by mixing in some diced jalapenos or a dash of hot sauce. Balance the heat with a creamy dressing made from mayonnaise, sour cream, and a splash of lime juice. Garnish with diced red onion and chopped fresh parsley.
- Apple and Cranberry Coleslaw: Toss shredded cabbage with thinly sliced apples, dried cranberries, and chopped walnuts. Create a tangy dressing using apple cider vinegar, honey, and Dijon mustard. For extra crunch, add a handful of celery leaves or chopped celery stalks.
- Greek-inspired Coleslaw: Combine shredded cabbage with diced cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and crumbled feta cheese. Drizzle with a dressing made from lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, and dried oregano. Top it off with a sprinkle of black olives and fresh dill.
- Tex-Mex Coleslaw: Mix shredded cabbage with black beans, corn kernels, diced tomatoes, and sliced avocado. Create a creamy dressing by blending together mayonnaise, lime juice, cumin, and chili powder. Garnish with chopped cilantro and a squeeze of lime for a zesty flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
I love using pre shredded cabbage mix or a bag of Coleslaw mix because it’s such a timesaver. If you would rather shred your own cabbage, I suggest using a combination of both red cabbage and green cabbage. Savoy cabbage or Napa cabbage work great, too.
Yes! Coleslaw is a perfect make-ahead recipe. In fact, I recommend letting it sit in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving it. Coleslaw stores great overnight and lasts for up to 5 days in the fridge.
You want to make sure and shred cabbage pretty finely. If it’s too chunky, the cabbage will expel quite a bit of water as it sits which leaves you with a soupy mess. Using a very sharp knife, slice the cabbage into large wedges, then remove the inner core. Take each wedge and slice along the edge making long, thin shreds. You can also try using a mandolin if you have one.
If you are a fan of the creamy KFC Coleslaw, you can easily adapt this recipe to make a copycat version. Just add about ¼ cup of buttermilk and ¼ cup of milk to the rest of the coleslaw dressing. Season with additional sugar, salt, and pepper to taste.
Storing Coleslaw
- Refrigerator: store leftover coleslaw in the fridge for up to 5 days. Before serving, toss the salad again.
Best Classic Coleslaw Recipe
Ingredients
- 14 oz Coleslaw Mix or ⅔ green cabbage and ⅓ purple cabbage shredded
- ½ cup Carrots shredded
- ½ medium White onion diced
- ½ cup Mayonnaise
- 2 Tablespoons Sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the mayo, sugar, lemon juice, black pepper, and salt. Whisk to combine.
- In a large serving bowl, combine the coleslaw mix (or shredded cabbage), shredded carrots, and diced onion. Toss, then add the mayo mixture and mix well to combine.
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Nutrition
More Summer Side Dishes
- Baked Beans
- Zucchini Fries
- Fruit Salad
- Grilled Russet Potatoes
- Bacon Chicken Pineapple Kabobs
- Grilled Pineapple
- Homemade Flaky Biscuits
- More Side Dish Recipes
- More Easy Summer Recipes
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This homemade Coleslaw Recipe is an easy summer side dish that goes with just about everything. It's crisp, crunchy, and covered with a lightly creamy dressing.
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