Southern Coleslaw Recipe (2024)

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Southern Coleslaw also known as Cole Slaw is a classic southern side the goes well with bbq. Shredded cabbage, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice and sugar are just some of the slaw ingredients. Everybody loves how crunchy, creamy ,sweet and tangy it is. 5 mins prep and so tasty and easy! Check out the Pinterest reviews. And don’t forget to make this into a meal with instant pot or slow cooker bbq pulled beef sandwiches or my crispy tuna patties!

Southern Coleslaw Recipe (1)

Believe in yourself, take on your challenges, dig deep within yourself to conquer fears.
“Best slaw I have ever eaten!”~Ellie S.

HOW TO MAKE COLESLAW AND INGREDIENTS

If you’ve never made cole slaw before just know it’s super easy to make. In the warmer months, while my husband is on the grill making bbq chicken and ribs and whatever else, I’m usually whipping up a bowl of southern cole slaw and cold mint iced tea <—- stay tuned for that recipe.

The first step in making cole slaw is to add mayonnaise, sugar, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, a pinch of celery salt, salt and pepper to a small bowl and mix until combines. Secondly, pour the cole slaw dressing into the bowl with the cole slaw.

Mix well. Lastly, you can either eat it right away or refrigerate it for an hour or two. I actually like to eat it right away. Simple classic and very southern. Just how I like it. See notes below for more tips and how to make this cole slaw recipe ahead of time.

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS?

  • This cole slaw is gorgeous to look at plus. Secondly, it’s bursting with crunch, sweet and tangy AND it’s a huge crowd pleaser.
  • It will attract your guests because it’s bright and colorful and creamy.
  • The contrasting colors are eye catchy.
  • Celery salt gives the slaw a POW factor. A SMALL pinch is ALL you need.
  • Apple – cider vinegar and lemon juices gives it a bright tangy flavor.
  • Sugar– balance out the flavors. The sweetness of dressing will have guests coming back for seconds and thirds.

Southern Coleslaw Recipe (2)

WHAT GOES WELL WITH HOMEMADE COLESLAW

Cole slaw is usually eaten as a side dish with barbecued meats, fried fish, crispy airy hushpuppies or fried chicken. I like to eat mine a bit differently. By different, I mean, I love it topped on my fish tacos, pulled bbq chicken/brisket or bbq chicken sliders or on top of sandwiches. This cole slaw perks up any food and it’s best topped on bbq chicken sliders with homemade bbq sauce.

Southern Coleslaw Recipe (3)

SOUTHERN COLESLAW TIPS:

Make ahead dressing: Don’t mix the cole slaw dressing with the cabbage and veggies. Instead, it’s best to make the dressing ahead of time and store covered in the fridge for a couple of hours or until you need it. Stored and covered dressing can be refrigerated for a couple weeks. When you are ready to serve, add the dressing a bit to your vegetables at a time because you may not need to use it all.

  • Leftover dressing Use leftover dressing on hot dogs and again, you can top tacos, and bbq meats with cole slaw or serve it on the side.
  • Shortcut Cole slaw – No need to shred a head of cabbage. The bagged kind is quicker and easier. You can usually find bagged cole slaw in 10 to 16 oz bags.
  • Small family –use half a bag of slaw and save the rest for the following day to make a vinaigrette based cole slaw or an Asian slaw to serve with grilled chicken.
  • Vegan –to make this a vegan cole slaw, use your choice of vegan mayonnaise (egg free) and vegan (plant-based) milk.
  • Variations – Add sliced green onions, add thin slices of green or red peppers, as a mentioned in the post. Add jalapenos for a touch of heat.
  • Lightened up cole slaw –Use half sour cream and half regular mayonnaise or light mayonnaise for a healthier option.

Southern Coleslaw Recipe (4)

Southern Coleslaw Recipe

April Boller Wright

Creamy Southern Coleslaw Recipe also known as Cole Slaw with shredded cabbage, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice and sugar are just some of the dressing ingredients. Everybody loves this crunchy, tangy and creamy 5 minute slaw. So tasty and easy!

5 from 25 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Course Dinner, Lunch, Side Dish

Cuisine American, Southern American

Servings 6 people

Calories 79 kcal

Ingredients

  • 14 oz bag of coleslaw
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 1/2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 1 pinch celery salt small pinch
  • salt for taste I used about 1/2 tsp
  • 1/4 tsp pepper

Instructions

  • In a small bowl add the mayonnaise, sugar, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, celery salt, and salt and pepper. Mix to combine.

  • Pour the dressing into a bowl with the coleslaw. Mix well. Serve immediately or refrigerate for 1-2 hours.

Notes

Cook Tips:

Make ahead dressing:

For the best coleslaw, don't mix the dressing with the cabbage, instead, make it ahead of time and store covered in the fridge for a couple of hours or until you need it.

Stored dressing can be refrigerated for a couple weeks. When you are ready to serve, don't add all the coleslaw at once. Add a bit at a time then add more if you want the slaw creamier.

  • Leftover dressing -Use leftover dressing on hot dogs and again, you can top tacos, and bbq meats with coleslaw or serve it on the side.
  • Shortcut Coleslaw -No need to shred a head of cabbage. The bagged kind is quicker and easier. You can usually find bagged coleslaw in 10 to 16 oz bags.
  • Small family -use halfa bag of slaw and save the rest for the following day to make a vinaigrette based coleslaw to serve with grilled chicken.
  • Vegan -to make this a vegan coleslaw, use your choice of vegan mayonnaise (egg free) and vegan (plant-based) milk.
  • Variations - Add sliced green onions, add thin slices of green or red peppers, as a mentioned in the post. Add jalapenos for a touch of heat.
  • Lightened up coleslaw -Use half sour cream and half regular mayonnaise or light mayonnaise for a healthier option.

Follow Whisk it Real Gud on Instagram

Recipe was updated 3/4/2019

Nutrition

Calories: 79kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 1gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 158mgPotassium: 129mgFiber: 2gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 79IUVitamin C: 26mgCalcium: 29mgIron: 1mg

Keyword creamy coleslaw, creamy coleslaw recipe, southern coleslaw

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Smothered Chicken

Southern Coleslaw Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is traditional coleslaw made of? ›

It's packed with shredded cabbage and julienned carrots (for health!) and tossed in the holy triumvirate of coleslaw dressing ingredients: apple cider vinegar for acidity, honey for balance, and mayonnaise to tie it all together (feel free to substitute up to half the mayo for tangier Greek yogurt or sour cream for an ...

Why does my homemade coleslaw go watery? ›

Cabbage contains lots of water. Alton Brown suggests salting the cabbage and letting the water drain for two hours, then rinsing the cabbage and spinning it dry before dressing it. That purges the excess water out of the cabbage before it is dressed, so it doesn't get watery.

Should you salt cabbage before making coleslaw? ›

Salting the cabbage, carrot, and onion purges excess moisture that would otherwise turn the slaw into a soupy mess. Including sugar (another osmosis-inducing ingredient) balances the flavor. Limiting the purge to five minutes keeps the cabbage crunchy.

How do you reduce the bitterness in coleslaw? ›

For every 2 cups of sliced cabbage, mix it with about a teaspoon of salt. Kenji Lopez- Alt also found it was beneficial to add a teaspoon of sugar too. Both salt and sugar promote osmosis, which draws out any water from the cabbage. And the sugar can balance out some of the bitterness in the cabbage.

What is traditional coleslaw made of southern living? ›

What is traditional coleslaw made of? Traditional coleslaw is little more than shredded cabbage and a creamy dressing. This recipe adds a bit more flavor with shredded carrots and onion. The creamy dressing is made with mayonnaise, sugar, cider vinegar, salt, and pepper, for a just right tangy-sweet flavor.

What is the difference between Eastern and Western coleslaw? ›

Unlike Lexington style, Eastern style contains no tomatoes. It is purely vinegar and pepper which is used to season after cooking. The coleslaw is also different, swapping out the red for a white mayonnaise-based sauce.

What makes coleslaw go bad? ›

The more cut surface area a food item has, the more moist nooks and crannies there are for bacteria to thrive in. So when looking at a cookout staple like coleslaw, where the cabbage is shredded, there's plenty of opportunity for bacterial growth.

Why does my homemade coleslaw taste bitter? ›

Cabbage Core:Issue: The core of the cabbage can be bitter, especially if it's not removed before shredding. Solution: Ensure that you remove the core of the cabbage before shredding it. Cut the cabbage in half, then cut out the triangular core from each half. Old Cabbage:Issue: Older cabbage may develop a bitter taste.

What does soaking cabbage in salt water do? ›

But a simple treatment for raw cabbage — salting — makes it just a tad more tender and considerably more flavorful while preserving its distinctive crunch. When you salt any vegetable that has high water content, the salt draws out some of the water by simple osmosis.

Is it better to make coleslaw the day before? ›

Store coleslaw in the refrigerator, covered, for up to three days. You can make this coleslaw ahead of time to help blend the flavors, but the dressing will become thin over time as liquid releases from the cabbage. Whisking in extra mayonnaise can help fluff up the dressing before serving.

How do you get the water out of cabbage for coleslaw? ›

Place salted cabbage in a colander over a bowl for 1 to 2 hours. The salt pulls moisture out of the cabbage, seasons it, and leaves you with a super-crunchy texture that isn't raw or tough-tasting. Rinse! Rinse well to purge the salt.

What cancels out bitterness? ›

Sweetness: From sugar, honey, fruits or otherwise, sweetness will counteract bitter and sour flavours. It can also be used to cut down the heat of a particularly spicy meal. Saltiness: Salt plays two very important roles in flavouring a dish.

What spice takes away bitterness? ›

Spices mask bitter flavors, so don't be shy. Add some spicy peppers or powders to your cooking, or sprinkle some onto your dishes for a little bit of extra heat. Black pepper in particular has compounds that counteract bitterness. Some other great spices include cayenne, red pepper, paprika, and chili powder.

Why is my coleslaw bland? ›

Neglecting to add enough spices or seasoning

Perhaps the recipe you followed is just inherently bland. If your dressing is already applied, you only have one choice left to turn your coleslaw around. You've got to add some seasoning or spice. Start by adding salt and pepper to taste.

What is traditional coleslaw made of mayonnaise? ›

For the coleslaw, combine cabbage, onion, carrot, and chives in a large bowl. In a smaller bowl, stir together mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper. Pour over top veggies and toss to coat. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

What is the difference between cabbage slaw and coleslaw? ›

Or coleslaws — what's the difference? Really nothing. Technically, coleslaw involves cabbage, whether green, red or napa, while the category of slaws can include all kinds of chopped or shredded crunchy vegetables. The two words are used interchangeably for the most part however.

What are the ingredients in shop bought coleslaw? ›

INGREDIENTS: Cabbage (47%), Carrot (16%), Rapeseed Oil, Water, Single Cream (Milk), Pasteurised Egg Yolk, Spirit Vinegar, Onion, Sugar, Salt, Stabilisers (Guar Gum, Xanthan Gum), White Wine Vinegar, Concentrated Lemon Juice.

What is creamy coleslaw made of? ›

Julienne cabbage and carrots using a mandoline (<- affiliate link). Place in a large bowl. Add in mayonnaise, sour cream, white wine vinegar, salt, sugar, mustard powder and white pepper. Stir everything together until thoroughly combined.

References

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