Easy Cole Slaw, also known as Coleslaw, in just 5 minutes with the perfect homemade dressing, this is the ultimate side dish for summer because it gets even better the next day. Perfect for cookouts and planning ahead.
Easy Cole Slaw (Coleslaw) Recipe
Cole Slaw is the quintessential side dish for the summer. We love it so much we already have two versions on the site! Both are copycats, one is KFC Coleslaw (Copycat) and the second is my personal favorite unique cole slaw, Tony Roma’s Coleslaw with celery seeds.
What to serve with ColeSlaw:
Cole Slaw is a classic summer side dish best served with BBQ Pulled Chicken, BBQ Chicken, Barbecue Ribs or any other summer favorites you love including corn on the cob and Potato Salad.
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Why buy pre-shredded cole slaw mix? For us the time involved in chopping plus the leftovers of the cabbage make it an easy swap. In addition to that, for some reason we find buying the vegetables whole costs almost twice as much as buying the pre-shredded bag. For us in the summer we love to keep things easy. This recipe shouldn’t take you more than a few minutes to put together the morning of your bbq.
Important Note about Cole Slaw: YES, this recipe takes about five minutes, but one of the most important things about Cole Slaw is letting it sit, so that the dressing can soften the crunch of the cabbage. We give it at least 2 hours. Even better if you can do it the night before.
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This Cole Slaw recipe is your classic cole slaw. Think going to the grocery store, about to spend four dollars a pound on cole slaw, cole slaw. Instead of spending so much, you can make it at home and with ingredients you can control.
I’ve actually spoken to heads of deli departments who have told me that cole slaw comes in either pre-made or in two parts, mix and dressing. This is a way to have fresh cole slaw without the added preservatives you’ll find in packaged cole slaw dressings.
So why post a third cole slaw recipe on the same site? Well, it’s the CLASSIC summer side dish and I love options. So choose your favorite version.
Easy ColeSlaw Recipes:
- KFC Cole Slaw: Made with milk, buttermilk, lemon juice chopped cabbage, onion and carrots, this is the perfect KFC copycat. It has a bit of a bite from the onions.
- Tony Roma’s Cole Slaw: This recipe is the perfect higher end recipe with celery seeds and a bit less creamy texture. If you’re serving up a summer dinner menu, you can go a bit fancier with this version.
- Easy Cole Slaw: This recipe, this is the standard classic version made to take the place of buying pre-made.
Easy Cole Slaw Recipe (Coleslaw)
Ingredients
- 14 ounce coleslaw mix with red cabbage and carrots*
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons white sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
Instructions
- Add the mayonnaise, sugar, lemon juice, white vinegar, salt and pepper to a large mixing bowl and whisk together until fully combined.
- Add in the coleslaw mix and stir well to combine.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
Recipe Notes
* If you want to uses your own mix for the coleslaw, I use 8 cups shredded cabbage, 1 cup shredded red cabbage, and 4 julienned carrots.
Came out really well! Only change I made is I added a little bit chopped onions and let the coleslaw sit. I love onions so just had to incorporate them lol. Simple and delish! Perfect with crispy chicken sandwiches. Thank you.
Sounds amazing, Sar. Thanks for the 5 stars.
Best coleslaw dressing ever. This is the only one I will ever use! Thank you!
Thanks for the 5 stars, Lisa.
Thank you for sharing. It looks so yummy.
Looks yummy. I’ve tried to make this for my family, and my family really love it. I will introduce your recipe for my friends. Thank you so much. I love it.
Simple and excellent, making it with your bake beans as well, just tasted both, just perfect. I bookmarked this site to use as a future reference. Thank you Sabrina.
Thank you for the 5 stars, Michael.
Very easy recipe. Delicious whole family loved it . Never buy store bought again. It’s a keeper.
Thank you for sharing.
Anne.
This is a great staring base recipe. I’ve tweaked it a couple times. A little less sugar. Cut the Mayo a bit. Added some celery seed. But I use this as my go to every time. Thanks
Glad you were able to customize it more to your liking.
used this for our bbq today. thanks for the great recipe!
Made this tonight….love it! Just tart enough and not too mayonaisy. Will be my go to for slaw!!!
Best Coleslaw Ever! I usually dislike coleslaw intensely but I love this recipe. It has great seasoning.
wow im very interested to know cooking your recipe … thanks for sharing …
This is such a good base for a slaw. It is so easy and so good. I make this at least once a week. I adjust it a little: less mayo, apple cider vinegar rather than white, and I don’t put in black pepper because my daughter won’t eat it if she knows there’s pepper in it. If I have celery and a little time, I’ll shred some into it. Can’t thank you enough.
My husband is a coleslaw lover and absolutely loved this recipe. He loved the tanginess with a little sweetness in the background. Definitely saving this recipe. Thank you!!
Yummy!
Thank you for posting this easy and delicious recipe! Used the Trader Joe’s 9 oz. bag of organic green and red cabbage, and carrots. No white vinegar on hand so substituted apple cider vinegar. Add-ins were 1/2 grated honey crisp apple and 1/4 tsp celery seeds. Great summer side!
Easy and delicious
I made the Cole Slaw with store-bought mix of both white and red cabbage and carrots,
using your recipe for dressing. Exactly as written. My husband and I both enjoyed it
very much. It was creamy, great-tasting and very easy to make !
Next time, I will add even less Mayo and maybe try adding regular table or sea salt in
place of kosher one. To experiment a little. Mayo can be reduced for sure, to my taste.
It’s a great recipe ! Thank you very much, Sabrina !
Loved dressing . Used rice wine vinegar in place of white vinegar. I add black raisins , good handful, and one carrot and apple grated. B
Great