Creamy Coleslaw Recipe

By Becky Hardin

Published Jun 17, 2019

homemade creamy coleslaw pinterest photo - 2

Coleslaw is the perfect summer side dish, and this Creamy Coleslaw Recipe is my favorite! It’s easy, it’s simple, it’s quick, and it goes with my go-to best summer recipes. This homemade coleslaw dressing is so flavorful; it’s the perfect thing to eat with burgers, BBQ, or sandwiches!

Coleslaw in a blue and white bowl with a fork. - 3

What’s in This Creamy Coleslaw Recipe?

This creamy coleslaw recipe is my favorite one to make. The combination of ingredients is so flavorful, with just a little hint of sweetness mixed in. The crisp cabbage slaw mix with the creamy mayo-based dressing is perfect!

Mayonnaise : The not-so-secret to extra creamy coleslaw.
Vinegar: Balances the creaminess and sweetness of the slaw. I like apple cider vinegar because it a great balance of sweet and sour flavors. Rice wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, or even red wine also work well, but I don’t recommend white vinegar (the flavor is too sharp).
Mustard: Dijon mustard adds depth, tanginess, and spiciness to the slaw.
Sugar: Granulated sugar adds just a touch of sweetness to balance the acidic vinegar and mustard.
Coleslaw Mix: I love anything that makes a recipe easier, and pre-shredded store-bought tricolor coleslaw mix is a godsend. No tedious chopping required!

Variations To Try

I love the simplicity of this creamy coleslaw recipe! It takes just minutes to throw together, and it’s so good! When I’m feeling fancy, I’ll sometimes add diced apples and walnuts or chopped pineapple. It’s also good with crumbled bacon !

Overhead view of coleslaw in a blue and white bowl with a fork on a dish towel. - 4

How to Store and Reheat

If you have any leftovers, be sure to save them! Store homemade coleslaw in an airtight container and refrigerate. It will be best if eaten within about 3 days, but typically lasts up to 5 days. Toss to refresh before serving.

Closeup view of coleslaw in a white and blue bowl with a fork. - 5

Serving Suggestions

Serve this creamy coleslaw with jollof rice for a cool, crunchy contrast. I’ll also be serving this alongside with fried chicken and hot dogs all summer long!

Notes from the Test Kitchen

Now that summer is here, everyone needs a coleslaw recipe. It’s the quintessential side of the season. This recipe is so easy– like, no cooking, no chopping, just mix some things together kind of easy.

5-Star Review

“This coleslaw was a hit at our dinner the other night! Thank you for another delicious recipe!” -Jocelyn

Ingredients1x2x3x

▢ 1 cup mayonnaise
▢ ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
▢ 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
▢ ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
▢ 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
▢ ¼ cup granulated sugar
▢ 14 ounces tricolor coleslaw mix
▢ Chopped fresh parsley optional, for garnish

Video

Instructions

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, salt, pepper, and sugar. Whisk until incorporated and smooth. 1 cup mayonnaise, ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, ¼ cup granulated sugar
Pour the slaw mixture into a large bowl and ¾ of the dressing on top. Toss to coat and add additional dressing, if needed. Season to taste with additional salt, pepper, sugar, and/or vinegar, if desired. 14 ounces tricolor coleslaw mix
Garnish with chopped fresh parsley Chopped fresh parsley

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

How to Make Coleslaw Step by Step

Make the Dressing: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of mayonnaise, ⅓ cup of apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons of Dijon mustard, ¼ teaspoon of kosher salt, 1 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper, and ¼ cup of granulated sugar. Whisk until incorporated and smooth.

Toss the Slaw: Pour 14 ounces of tricolor coleslaw mix into a large bowl and ¾ of the dressing on top. Toss to coat and add additional dressing, if needed. Season to taste with additional salt, pepper, sugar, and/or vinegar, if desired. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley.

Not particularly! Coleslaw is relatively high in fat, sodium, and sugar, so enjoy it in moderation as part of a balanced diet. Substitute some or all of the mayonnaise in the dressing with Greek yogurt for a lighter option

I don’t recommend freezing mayonnaise-based coleslaw because mayonnaise doesn’t freeze well . It tends to curdle once thawed, although it’s still safe to eat.

Older cabbage tends to taste more bitter than fresh, so make sure to choose a fresh package with a late ‘best by’ or ‘use by’ date to avoid a bitter taste.

Because there is salt in the coleslaw dressing, and salt draws the water out of vegetables (through a process called osmosis ), this slaw can turn watery if left to sit for too long. Simply drain off the excess liquid or stir it back in before serving.

More Side Dish Recipes To Try

Cucumber Salad
Cheesy Baked Tomatoes
Mashed Potatoes
Crockpot Sweet Potato Casserole
Home Fries
Twice Baked Potatoes
Shoestring Fries
Crockpot Green Bean Casserole
… Browse all our Side Dishes !

Creamy Coleslaw Recipe

Ingredients

1 cup mayonnaise
⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
¼ cup granulated sugar
14 ounces tricolor coleslaw mix
Chopped fresh parsley optional, for garnish

Instructions

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, salt, pepper, and sugar. Whisk until incorporated and smooth. 1 cup mayonnaise, ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, ¼ cup granulated sugar
Pour the slaw mixture into a large bowl and ¾ of the dressing on top. Toss to coat and add additional dressing, if needed. Season to taste with additional salt, pepper, sugar, and/or vinegar, if desired. 14 ounces tricolor coleslaw mix
Garnish with chopped fresh parsley Chopped fresh parsley

Video

Nutrition

By Becky Hardin

Published Jul 12, 2017

This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.

Essential Grocery List

It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!

It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.

However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.

In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.

I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.

Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List

What to Buy at the Grocery Store

This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.

When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.

So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!