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    You are here: Home / Recipes / Side Dishes / Best Easy Coleslaw Recipe

    Best Easy Coleslaw Recipe

    BY: Courtney PUBLISHED: Jun 21, 2017 14 Comments UPDATED ON: Mar 3, 2025

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.
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    JUMP TO RECIPE
    This simple coleslaw recipe is perfect for party food summer parties! You could even use our coleslaw dressing recipe for store-bought coleslaw mix.

    Try our Easy Coleslaw Recipe! Use pre-shredded coleslaw mix and toss it with our homemade coleslaw dressing for a quick, delicious side dish.

    easy coleslaw recipe

    Coleslaw is a versatile and refreshing side dish that pairs well with everything from barbecue to seafood. We love using it on cold hoagies or warm sandwiches like our slow cooker BBQ Pulled Pork.

    slow cooker bbq pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw on a kaiser roll and pickle on the side

    The combination of crunchy cabbage and carrots with a creamy, tangy dressing creates the perfect balance of flavors and textures. You can follow our coleslaw dressing recipe using any coleslaw mix or even making your own shredded blend.

    Letting it sit overnight enhances the taste, making it even better the next day. Whether you like it thick and creamy or prefer a lighter, tangier version, this coleslaw is easy to customize to your preference.


    homemade coleslaw recipe

    Coleslaw Ingredients

    • Coleslaw mix: I use the 32 oz bag at the wholesale stores or 2 bags from the regular supermarket.
    • Mayonnaise: Creates a creamy base for the dressing. A lighter swap would be using some plain greek yogurt.
    • Mustard: Just a bit for flavor.
    • White vinegar or apple cider vinegar: I typically use white vinegar, you can use either.
    • Sugar: I recommend using a super fine granulated sugar.
    • Salt: Just a little bit of salt enhances all the flavors.
    • Celery seed: This gives it the classic coleslaw flavor.
    creamy coleslaw recipe

    How to Make Coleslaw

    In a large bowl, combine the mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, sugar, salt, and celery seed. Stir everything together until well combined.

    Add in the coleslaw mix and stir again until completely combined.

    Place in the refrigerator and then stir every so often to allow the dressing to coat the coleslaw.

    Refrigerate until ready to serve.

    homemade coleslaw in a white bowl on a green napkin.

    Recipe tips and notes

    • Some coleslaw mixes will have red cabbage, we don’t mind it. There are some store brands and name brands do not contain the red cabbage.
    • Store coleslaw in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
    • For a thinner consistency, stir in 1/2 cup buttermilk or regular milk before serving.
    • For best results, we recommend refrigerating overnight or at least making 6 hours in advance for the flavors to develop.
    • For a tangier flavor, use more vinegar. My husband prefers it sweeter.
    • To make it lighter, swap some mayonnaise for plain Greek yogurt.
    • If you prefer a crunchier texture, mix in the dressing just before serving.

    simple coleslaw recipe

    Homemade Simple Coleslaw Recipe

    Easy Coleslaw Recipe

    Author: Courtney
    Try our Easy Coleslaw Recipe! Use pre-shredded coleslaw mix and toss it with our homemade coleslaw dressing for a quick, delicious side dish.
    4.84 from 24 votes

    click the stars to rate this recipe

    Print Pin Recipe 🖤 Save Saved!
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Servings: 20 servings
    Calories: 90kcal

    Ingredients

    • 2 16 oz coleslaw mix
    • 1 cup mayonnaise
    • 1/2 teaspoon mustard
    • 1/4 cup white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
    • 1/3 cup sugar
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon celery seed
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    Instructions

    • Place the coleslaw mix (shredded cabbage and carrots) into a large bowl.
    • Pour the remaining ingredients into the bowl.
    • Mix ingredients well and cover.
    • Keep in fridge, stir a few times to help marinate well in the dressing. Best if you let it sit overnight before serving, as so the flavor develops.
    • *If you like it a little more watery add in 1/2 cup buttermilk or regular milk.

    Tried this recipe?

    We’d love to know what you think! Please leave a rating and comment to share your thoughts on this recipe. Your feedback helps us continue sharing free, high-quality recipes with you. Thank you so much!

    Video

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 90kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 131mg | Potassium: 4mg | Fiber: 0.02g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 8IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.1mg

    The nutritional information is automatically calculated and can vary based ingredients and products used. If the nutrition numbers are important for you we recommend calculating them yourself.

    nutrition disclaimer
    Tried this recipe?Mention @courtneyssweets or tag #courtneyssweets!

     

     

     

    POSTED IN: Recipes Side Dishes

    About Courtney

    Family, Food, and Photography are Courtney's passions and you'll see all of that on this blog. She is happily married to her husband Chris and together they have two amazing kiddos!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. AudreyO

      December 05, 2011 at 6:22 pm

      I usually just buy the bags of already shredded cabbage. I don’t own a food processor like this but I own tons of other kitchen gadgets. I love your recipe. My mom takes a bowl and mixes the sugar, mayonnaise and vinegar until it tastes right. It’s nice to see a recipe with some base measurements.

      Reply
    2. Rachel

      May 27, 2012 at 4:11 am

      I adore coleslaw… Adore it!

      Reply
    3. Andriana

      April 21, 2018 at 7:44 pm

      I can’t wait to try this! Hitting the supermarket tomorrow ! ! I’m already salivating ! !!

      Reply
      • Courtney Lopez

        April 27, 2018 at 7:23 am

        It’s our favorite! We make it regularly 🙂

    4. Joy

      July 04, 2018 at 6:05 pm

      Love this recipe!! Definitely plan on using it again and again!!!

      Reply
      • Courtney Lopez

        July 10, 2018 at 11:00 am

        Thank you so much, Joy!! 🙂 Glad you like it!!

    5. Grances

      August 24, 2018 at 2:32 pm

      How do you cut cabbage for diced southern style slaw. The coleslaw dressing taste phenomenal!

      Reply
      • Courtney Lopez

        August 25, 2018 at 9:01 pm

        Hi, Grances!

        For diced I would basically cut the cabbage like I would chop and onion.

    6. Andrea

      May 02, 2019 at 6:07 pm

      This is the absolute most perfect coleslaw. I like the tangy of the apple cider vinegar. I’ve tried so hard to find a good one and never seem to nail it. This is awesome!

      Reply
      • Courtney Lopez

        May 06, 2019 at 4:06 pm

        Yay! We’re so glad you enjoyed!! 😀

    7. Terry

      July 24, 2019 at 12:42 pm

      So easy and delish! Will be my go to recipe for coleslaw.

      Reply
      • Courtney Lopez

        July 27, 2019 at 8:00 pm

        so glad you like it!! 🙂

    8. Kim

      February 19, 2022 at 8:46 pm

      The video shows lemon juice in the ingredients but it is not in the written recipe.

      Reply
      • Courtney

        February 20, 2022 at 2:34 am

        I occasionally make it with lemon juice as I like it tarter, but my family actually prefers it on the sweet side so we omitted it in the recipe after making it again for my family to compare. I always add to mine 🙂

    4.84 from 24 votes (20 ratings without comment)

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