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Our Simple Coleslaw Recipe is made with shredded cabbage, carrots and tossed in a creamy homemade coleslaw dressing. This is a delicious side that comes together in a pinch. If you’re looking for a easy coleslaw recipe to make, this is it.

Creamy coleslaw in a white bowl with serving spoons.

This has been our family’s go-to coleslaw recipe for as far back as I can remember. It’s a must-have side dish to serve at backyard BBQs, cookouts, and potlucks.

Why We Love This Recipe

  • Quick and Easy. This is a quick coleslaw recipe comes together in about 15-20 minutes. Then we refrigerate the slaw for up to 1 hour to chill before serving.
  • Flavor. The coleslaw salad dressing is what makes this slaw. We think it has the perfect combo of ingredients, and after it has had a chance to chill in the fridge for a bit, the dressing is deliciously creamy, light and has an amazing flavor.
  • Share Worthy. This is a recipe for basic coleslaw that you can pull together effortlessly for backyard barbecues, potlucks, game days, and summer get-togethers with family and friends. My mom loved coleslaw and this was the recipe she made for us through the years.

Recipe For Basic Coleslaw 

This is a quick coleslaw recipe to make using basic ingredients. 

  1. Cabbage. We use a mix of green cabbage and red (purple) cabbage, shredded fine.
  2. Carrot. You’ll need 1 medium size carrot, peeled and shredded on a box grater.
  3. Onion. We use just a little white onion which adds a little flavor to the mix.
  4. Coleslaw Dressing. We use our homemade coleslaw dressing for this recipe. It’s deliciously creamy and super easy to make.

Find printable recipe with the measurements below.

Variations

  • Add 1-2 teaspoons of celery salt to the dressing if you like.
  • Taste-test and adjust the sweetness and seasoning of the dressing before adding it to the slaw mix.
  • Use a package of prepared slaw mix if you are short on time.

Shredded cabbage in a clear glass bowl for basic coleslaw recipe.

Simple Coleslaw Dressing Recipe

  1. Mayonnaise. Use a good mayo like Best Foods, Hellmann’s or Duke’s.
  2. Sour Cream. We add just a little sour cream which makes this dressing so creamy and flavorful.
  3. Sugar. Just a little granulated sugar adds a bit of sweetness to the dressing.
  4. Vinegar. And just a little white wine vinegar adds a bit of tang. You can use apple cider vinegar or champagne vinegar if you like. We think white wine vinegar tastes the best.
  5. Seasoning. We season with salt and black pepper.

Shredded Cabbage with a simple coleslaw dressing poured on it.

How To Make Easy Homemade Coleslaw

  1. Make Dressing. Whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, diced onion, sugar, vinegar, salt and pepper in a bowl. Place plastic wrap over the bowl and refrigerate the dressing while you prep the other ingredients. This will give the dressing a few minutes to chill and have the flavors blend together.
  2. Shred Cabbage. Shred the cabbage using a knife, mandoline slicer, or food processor, and grate the carrot on a box grater.
  3. Mix Slaw. Add the shredded cabbage and grated carrot to a large bowl. Pour half of the chilled coleslaw dressing over the ingredients and mix well. Add the remaining dressing and mix again until well combined.
  4. Chill Coleslaw. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate 45-60 minutes before serving.

Easy homemade coleslaw in a white bowl.

How To Cut Shredded Cabbage For Coleslaw

  1. Remove the outer wilted cabbage leaves and then rinse the head under cold water.
  2. Cut the cabbage in half through the stem and then into quarters. Cut the stem away from the four pieces.
  3. Lay a quarter flat-side down on a cutting board, and with one hand hold the quarter and with the other hand hold the knife and slice the cabbage into thin strips in similar size. Repeat with the other quarter pieces of cabbage.

Storing Leftovers

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If properly stored, leftovers should last up to 5 days. 

Serving Suggestions

Serve this easy homemade coleslaw with grilled chicken, fish, or burgers at your next backyard bbq. It’s great with pulled bbq chicken sandwiches and fried fish or chicken tacos. Stuff it in wraps and add it to bowls. And it travels well for potlucks. Just be sure to keep it refrigerated since it contains sour cream.

Homemade coleslaw in a white bowl.

More Salad Recipes

Homemade coleslaw in a white bowl.
Yield: 8 Servings

Simple Coleslaw Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Additional Time 6 minutes
Total Time 26 minutes

Our Simple Coleslaw Recipe is made with shredded cabbage, carrots and tossed in a creamy homemade coleslaw dressing. This is a delicious side that comes together in a pinch. If you're looking for a easy coleslaw recipe to make, this is it.

Ingredients

  • 6 cups green cabbage, shredded
  • 2 cups red cabbage, shredded
  • 1 medium carrot, peeled and grated
  • 1 cup real mayonnaise (like Best Foods, Hellmann's, or Duke's)
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons white onion, diced
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, diced onion, sugar, vinegar, salt and pepper in a bowl. Place plastic wrap over the bowl and refrigerate the dressing while you prep the other ingredients. This will give the dressing a few minutes to chill and have the flavors blend together.
  2. Shred the cabbage using a knife, mandoline slicer, or food processor, and grate the carrot on a box grater.
  3. Add the shredded cabbage and grated carrot to a large bowl. Pour half of the chilled coleslaw dressing over the ingredients and mix well. Add the remaining dressing and mix again until well combined.
  4. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate. We like to chill it for 45-60 minutes before serving.

Notes

Variations

  • Add 1-2 teaspoons of celery salt to the dressing if you like.
  • Taste-test and adjust the sweetness and seasoning of the dressing before adding it to the slaw mix.
  • Use a package of prepared slaw mix if you are short on time.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 317Total Fat: 27gSaturated Fat: 5gUnsaturated Fat: 21gCholesterol: 22mgSodium: 236mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 5gSugar: 10gProtein: 4g

theharvestkitchen.com attempts to provide accurate information, however, this nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. The nutritional information provided comes from online sources and calculations. See full disclaimer on About page.

© Deborah Duncan
Cuisine: American / Category: Salads