Quick and Easy Coleslaw Recipe - The Kitchen Girl (2024)

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This easy coleslaw recipe is tangy, sweet, and delicious with BBQ, especially pulled pork. Make this classic Southern coleslaw in minutes!

Why you'll love this recipe

This old fashioned coleslaw recipe is essential for every BBQ picnic, summer holiday, and game day gathering. It's creamy, flavorful, and festive, which is exactly what you want in a traditional coleslaw salad.

You only need a few simple vegetables like cabbage, carrots, and green onions, along with a few pantry ingredients for the super easy dressing. The recipe is as simple as combining shredded vegetables and dressing. The result is a refreshing coleslaw salad that goes with everything!

The tangy, sweet flavor and creamy texture of this classic recipe make it the best coleslaw for pulled pork or a cool-down side dish for hot wings. It's also a great salad for savory pork tenderloin, scrumptious whole chicken, and healthy grilled salmon.

What is coleslaw made of?

This traditional coleslaw recipe is made with green cabbage, red cabbage, shredded carrots, and green onions, all tossed in a creamy dressing. Of course it's customizable, but you'll find that this recipe holds its own as an old-fashioned coleslaw just like Grandma's recipe.

Ingredient notes

• cabbage - I recommend a combination of green cabbage and red cabbage for classic coleslaw colors and textures.
• carrots - These add flavor, texture, and a nice color contrast to the slaw.
• green onions - These add a hint of spice to the slaw, and of course, beautiful green color.
• mayonnaise - As with any traditional coleslaw, I recommend using an egg-based mayonnaise such as Hellman's, Duke's, or Best Foods for optimal texture and flavor. Homemade mayonnaise would take coleslaw to another level!
• apple cider vinegar - This adds acidity which brightens the flavor of the dressing.
• Dijon mustard - This adds a hint of spice which balances nicely with the vinegar and sugar.
• sugar - I prefer to use just enough sugar to balance the vinegar to make this recipe slightly sweet. If you prefer an extra sweet coleslaw, simply add more sugar to the recipe.
• celery seed - This is optional of course, but I recommend it because it creates a savory contrast to the tart and sweet slaw flavors.
• sea salt

How to make this recipe

These step-by-step photo instructions show just you how easy it is to make a coleslaw salad for any occasion. You'll find details in the printable recipe card below.

Step 1. Shred cabbage and carrots thinly, slice the green onions, and combine everything in a mixing bowl. Of course you can use coleslaw mix as a time saver or workaround if you don't have tools for shredding.

Step 2. Whisk together coleslaw dressing ingredients which consist of mayonnaise, Dijon, apple cider vinegar, sugar, celery seed, and salt.

Note: Alternatively at this point, you can store the salad mix and dressing separately and combine when ready to serve.

Step 3. Toss the cabbage slaw with with the dressing until well-combined.

Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate up to 5 days.

Recipe tips

• To make coleslaw ahead, prep the slaw mix and make the dressing. Store the two components separately in airtight containers up to five days and combine when you're ready.
• If you like crispy coleslaw with a firm texture, I recommend serving this slaw within 8 hours once dressed. Under refrigeration, the slaw softens because the dressing softens the cabbage. However, both methods result in delicious flavor.

Recipe variations

• Instead of shredding cabbage and carrots, use a bag of coleslaw mix for convenience. It's more expensive because the slaw is cut and ready to use, but it saves time and is especially useful if shredding vegetables isn't an option.
• You can add even more nutrition to classic coleslaw by substituting any portion of the mayonnaise with plain, nonfat Greek yogurt, which is one of my favorite mayo hacks for so many recipes.
• Substitute lemon juice for vinegar to create a bright citrus flavor.
• If using celery salt instead of celery seed, consider adding salt to taste instead of using the full amount listed in the recipe.

How long does homemade coleslaw last?

This slaw can last up to 5 days under constant refrigeration in an airtight container. As mentioned above, the cabbage and carrots will soften naturally over time.

Serving ideas

• side salad for Instant Pot pulled pork
• substitute for sauerkraut on a reuben sandwich
• topping for sloppy joe's
• as a side dish for chicken thighs, chicken legs, or broiled salmon
• an essential Super Bowl food salad, condiment, or topping

More salad recipes to love

• Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad
• Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad
• Asian Slaw Recipe
• Kale Salad Recipe

📖 Recipe