Traditional Coleslaw Recipe

This traditional coleslaw recipe features finely shredded cabbage and carrots that are tossed in a sweet, creamy, and tangy dressing. The classic side dish is delicious alongside fried chicken, pulled pork barbecue, fried shrimp, crab cakes, and cornbread.

If you love coleslaw, be sure to try this vinegar coleslaw and this Chinese ramen noodle coleslaw, too!

How to Make this Traditional Coleslaw Recipe | 1-Minute Video

What to Know Before You Get Started

• This traditional coleslaw recipe is an easy KFC copycat! Just like Kentucky Fried Chicken’s signature side dish, the crunchy cabbage and carrots are chopped into small pieces, and then tossed in a light, sweet, and creamy dressing.
• You can use a combination of green cabbage and red cabbage if you like the variety.
• For the classic KFC coleslaw texture, use the shredding disc on a food processor to chop the cabbage and carrots very finely. The food processor also makes the job quick and easy! Just remove the tough outer leaves from the cabbage and cut out the core. Chop the cabbage head into wedges that will fit into the opening on your food processor. Then just shred and go! The carrots can be shredded in the same way, but make sure to peel them first.
• If you don’t have a food processor, you can use a box grater or a sharp knife to shred the vegetables.
• Grate the onion very finely. I use a microplane for this task, which creates an onion pulp that blends smoothly into the dressing.
• Just like KFC’s, this slaw dressing is very thin and will accumulate at the bottom of the dish. That’s normal! Just drain off any extra dressing or use a slotted spoon for serving.

Serving Suggestions

This classic Southern coleslaw pairs nicely with almost any of your favorite meat-based or seafood entrees, including grilled burgers or hot dogs, grilled bbq chicken, Crock Pot pulled pork, grilled steak, fried shrimp, grilled shrimp, and fried oysters.

More Classic Sides to Try

Jiffy Corn Casserole

50 minutes mins

Okra and Tomatoes — a Southern Classic

40 minutes mins

Easy Broccoli Casserole

30 minutes mins

Traditional Coleslaw Recipe

Prep: 15 minutes minutes

Chilling Time 2 hours hours

Total: 2 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Servings 10 people

Calories 133 kcal

Crunchy, sweet, creamy, and tangy — this traditional coleslaw recipe is the perfect side dish for all of your summer cookouts, picnics, and potlucks!

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Ingredients

  

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• 8 cups finely chopped or shredded cabbage (I use the shredding disc on a food processor)
• 1 cup peeled and shredded carrots
• ½ cup mayonnaise (I prefer Duke's brand)
• ⅓ cup granulated sugar
• ¼ cup milk
• ¼ cup buttermilk
• 2 tablespoons sour cream
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons grated onion
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¾ teaspoon celery salt
• Ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

• In a medium bowl or large measuring cup, whisk together the mayonnaise, sugar, milk, buttermilk, sour cream, vinegar, grated onion, lemon juice, salt, celery salt and pepper. Set aside.
  
• In a large bowl, toss together the cabbage and carrots.
  
• Pour the dressing over the cabbage mixture. Toss to coat.
  
• Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (or overnight) before serving.
  

Video

Notes

For the classic KFC coleslaw texture, use the shredding disc on a food processor to chop the cabbage and carrots very finely. The food processor also makes the job quick and easy! Just remove the tough outer leaves from the cabbage and cut out the core. Chop the cabbage head into wedges that will fit into the opening on your food processor. Then just shred and go! The carrots can be shredded in the same way, but make sure to peel them first.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/10 of the recipeCalories: 133kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 1gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 7mgSodium: 450mgPotassium: 162mgFiber: 2gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 2231IUVitamin C: 22mgCalcium: 45mgIron: 1mg

Keyword: easy coleslaw, homemade coleslaw, KFC coleslaw recipe, southern coleslaw, traditional coleslaw recipe

Course: Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: American, Southern

Author: Blair Lonergan

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Traditional Coleslaw Recipe Variations

• Add fresh herbs to the dressing, such as chopped parsley, chives, or dill.
• If you don’t have celery salt, you can substitute with celery seed and some additional kosher salt.
• I like a sweet Vidalia onion in the dressing, but you can use any white or yellow onion that you prefer.
• Swap out the apple cider vinegar and use distilled white vinegar, red wine vinegar, or champagne vinegar.
• Add some Dijon mustard to the dressing for a bit of zesty tang.
• Instead of shredding your own cabbage and carrots, use 9 cups of store-bought coleslaw mix.

This post was originally published in May, 2021. It was updated in July, 2024.