Name: Southern Coleslaw Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 70 min
Ingredients: 4 cups shredded coleslaw mix; 1 cup shredded red cabbage (Optional. I love to add it for color.); 1/4 cup finely chopped onion; 1/2 cup mayo; 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (I suggest you start with 1 tablespoon. Taste repeatedly and adjust as necessary.); 1 teaspoon mustard (I use Dijon.); 2 tablespoons sugar or sweetener (I suggest you start with 1 tablespoon. Taste repeatedly and adjust as necessary.); 1 teaspoon celery salt; salt and pepper to taste

This Easy Southern Coleslaw Recipe has the best sweet and tangy flavor. It’s served creamy and chilled. Perfect for loading onto pulled pork sandwiches or served as a side dish for any BBQ or cookout spread.

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FOR THE FULL LIST OF INGREDIENTS AND COMPREHENSIVE INSTRUCTIONS, PLEASE SEE THE RECIPE CARD AT THE END OF THIS POST. BEFORE YOU SCROLL, THERE’S IMPORTANT INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG POST.

fresh coleslaw mix, red cabbage, onions in glass bowls

What’s the Difference Between Southern and Northern Coleslaw?

The debate on how to serve coleslaw is one that exists regardless of geographical region. I have noticed there are two ways to prepare the dish: sweet and tangy or just tangy.

This recipe is served with both sweet and tangy flavor. Other coleslaw variations are made with a vinegar dressing and are only tangy.

apple cider vinegar, mustard, sweetener, celery salt, salt, pepper, and mayo in separate bowls

Ingredients You Will Need

See measurements in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Coleslaw Mix
Red Cabbage (Optional)
Onions
Mayo
Mustard
Apple Cider Vinegar
Celery Salt
Sugar or Sweetener
Salt
Pepper

red cabbage, coleslaw mix, and chopped onions in a glass bowl

How to Make Southern Coleslaw

Get the exact measurements used in the recipe card below at the bottom of the post.

Add mayo, finely chopped onion, apple cider vinegar, sweetener, celery salt, salt and pepper to taste in a small bowl. Stir to combine.
Add the coleslaw mix and red cabbage to a large serving bowl. Drizzle the mayo mixture throughout. Stir to combine.
Cover and refrigerate.

chopped red cabbage, coleslaw mix, chopped onions, mayo, and seasoning in a glass bowl

How to Make it With No Mayo and Substitute

You can substitute mayo for sour cream or plain Greek yogurt.

How to Make it Taste Like KFC

To get this coleslaw just like the KFC side, you will need to finely chop the coleslaw mix. Theirs is served with small bits of cabbage and veggies. You will also need to add more mayo and sweetener or sugar. Their recipe is really creamy and sweet.

Can You Make it Ahead

Although you can safely make coleslaw three to four days ahead of serving it, you may not be happy with the quality. Coleslaw should be made ahead and refrigerated to meld the flavors, but if you make it more than 24 hours ahead, it becomes watery and limp. Get more tips on How Far in Advance You Can Make Coleslaw here.

How to Store It/How Long it Will Last in the Fridge

Store the coleslaw tightly sealed. It will last 3-4 days, but the longer it’s stored the watery it becomes.

Recipe Tips

Decide how you prefer your coleslaw. Some prefer a really creamy coleslaw. If you like the KFC coleslaw, you may prefer yours to be really creamy. If so, add additional mayo as needed.
If you prefer yours to be somewhat dry, start with 1/4 cup of mayo and adjust as needed.
If you like sweet coleslaw, adjust and add more sugar or sweetener.
If you prefer a very vinegar-based slaw, add more vinegar and start with a teaspoon of sugar/sweetener and adjust as necessary.

Pair This Dish with These Main Dishes

Air Fryer Ribs
Air Fryer Catfish
Air Fryer Fish Sticks
Instant Pot Ribs
Instant Pot Pulled Pork
Air Fryer Chicken Sandwich
Homemade BBQ Seasoning

More Southern Side Dishes

Air Fryer Hush Puppies
Southern Soul Food Baked Mac and Cheese
Instant Pot Southern Green Beans
Instant Pot Collard Greens
Instant Pot Potato Salad
Southern Mustard Greens
Southern Homemade Cornbread
Southern Baked Beans
Easy Spaghetti Salad
Southern Macaroni Salad
Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
Air Fryer Corn on the Cob

Check out a listing of all Southern Soul Food Recipes here.

Print Pin

5 from 1 vote

Southern Coleslaw Recipe

This Easy Southern Coleslaw Recipe has the best sweet and tangy flavor. It's served creamy and chilled. Perfect for loading onto pulled pork sandwiches or served as a side dish for any BBQ spread.

Save this recipe here.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine southern

Keyword best coleslaw recipe, southern coleslaw recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes

chill 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Servings servings

Calories 133kcal

Author Brandi Crawford

Ingredients

4 cups shredded coleslaw mix
1 cup shredded red cabbage Optional. I love to add it for color.
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup mayo
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar I suggest you start with 1 tablespoon. Taste repeatedly and adjust as necessary.
1 teaspoon mustard I use Dijon.
2 tablespoons sugar or sweetener I suggest you start with 1 tablespoon. Taste repeatedly and adjust as necessary.
1 teaspoon celery salt
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Add the mayo, finely chopped onion, apple cider vinegar, sweetener, celery salt, salt and pepper to taste in a small bowl. Stir to combine.
Add the coleslaw mix and red cabbage to a large serving bowl. Drizzle the mayo mixture throughout. Stir to combine.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to serve chilled.

Video

Notes

You can double or triple the recipe by doubling the ingredients, etc.
Coleslaw mix is essentially shredded cabbage and carrots. You can make your own mix if you wish.
I like for my coleslaw to have a taste of both vinegar and sweetness. To make the perfect slaw, modify ingredients to fit your taste.
Decide how you prefer your coleslaw. Some prefer a really creamy coleslaw. If you like the KFC coleslaw, you may prefer yours to be really creamy. If so, add additional mayo as needed.
If you prefer yours to be somewhat dry, start with 1/4 cup of mayo and adjust as needed.
If you like sweet coleslaw, adjust and add more sweetener.
If you prefer a very vinegar-based slaw, add more vinegar and start with a teaspoon of sweetener and adjust as necessary.

Recipe Tools Used in this RecipeAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Mixing Bowl

Nutrition (displayed with net carbs)

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 133kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 13g

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Nutrition DataMacros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.