Any one of these coleslaw recipes will add extra crunch and color to your next cookout, barbecue or weeknight dinner.
23 of the Best Coleslaw Recipes Ever
Updated on Aug. 16, 2024
1/23
Creamy Coleslaw
Total Time
10 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
For me, this is the best coleslaw recipe because a package of shredded cabbage and carrots really cuts down on prep time. This coleslaw recipe is great for potlucks or to serve to your family on a busy weeknight. —Renee Endress, Galva, Illinois
The best place to start is with a classic creamy coleslaw. Make the dressing with both mayo and sour cream, plus dried mustard, sugar and salt. It’s super easy, whether you use bagged coleslaw mix or shred cabbage yourself.
2/23
Nutty Broccoli Slaw
Total Time
15 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My daughter gave me the recipe for this delightful salad. The sweet dressing nicely coats a crisp blend of broccoli slaw mix, onions, almonds and sunflower kernels. Crushed ramen noodles provide even more crunch. It's a smash hit wherever I take it. —Dora Mae Clapsaddle, Kensington, Ohio
The beauty of a slaw is its versatility and ability to take on any number of ingredients. This one starts out as a broccoli slaw, but gets added flavor and crunch from onions, almonds, sunflower kernels and crushed ramen noodles. The dressing is a simple olive oil and cider vinegar blend.
3/23
Ruby Raspberry Slaw
Total Time
25 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Give ordinary coleslaw a "berry" tangy twist. It's sure to get raves at your next picnic or potluck. —Deborah Biggs, Omaha, Nebraska
Sometimes all it takes is one extra ingredient to give ordinary coleslaw some pizzazz. In this case, it’s a tangy raspberry vinaigrette and fresh berries.
4/23
Farmhouse Apple Coleslaw
Total Time
20 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A friend from church gave me this apple coleslaw recipe that her grandmother handed down to her. The flavors complement each other well, while the fruit creates a refreshing change of pace from the usual coleslaw. —Jan Myers, Atlantic, Iowa
Crisp apple offers a nice contrast to shredded cabbage in this coleslaw. Raisins add sweetness, but you can also leave them out.
5/23
Copycat KFC Coleslaw
Total Time
20 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
We love going to Kentucky Fried Chicken. Although we enjoy the chicken, we actually go for the coleslaw. We buy several pints at a time. I tried for several years before getting the recipe right. If you are in a hurry get a bag of the preshredded slaw mix. —Donna Gribbins, Shelbyville, Kentucky
Thanks to its buttermilk and mayo dressing, this sweet and tangy coleslaw is a perfect side dish for fried chicken and biscuits. Grate the cabbage by hand for best and freshest consistency, but you can certainly use bagged coleslaw mix in a pinch.
6/23
Red Cabbage Slaw
Total Time
15 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This colorful red cabbage slaw recipe is a great alternative to traditional coleslaw. It's tossed with a homemade honey-mustard dressing for refreshing results. —Gladys De Boer, Castleford, Idaho
Red cabbage can sometimes turn creamy coleslaws pink, but when used on its own with a vinegar-based dressing, it stays crips and vibrant. Pile this sweet slaw high on slow-cooker pulled pork sandwiches.
7/23
Spectacular Overnight Slaw
Total Time
15 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
To come up with this dish, I used a number of different recipes, plus some ideas of my own. It's great for a potluck because it's made the night before and the flavor keeps getting better. Whenever I serve it, I'm inundated with recipe requests. —Ruth Lovett, Bay City, Texas
Like a lot of great salads, the flavors in this coleslaw get even better when you let them meld overnight. There’s a lot of savoriness in this one: shredded cabbage, thinly sliced onion, sweet bell peppers, pimento-stuffed olives and a mustardy dressing.
8/23
Mom’s Chopped Coleslaw
Total Time
20 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
For Friday dinners, my mother made coleslaw to go with our fish. It’s still a family tradition, and the tangy dressing even works on a tossed salad. —Cynthia McDowell, Banning, California
Buttermilk is a classic addition to coleslaw dressing, favored for its tanginess and zest. Serve this chopped slaw with a good old-fashioned Friday fish fry, at your summer potluck parties or any time.
Make your own coleslaw dressing to put on any kind of coleslaw mix.
9/23
Island Mango Slaw
Total Time
25 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
The cooling effect of tropical fruit and Greek yogurt meets jalapeno spice in this snappy mango slaw. To ensure ripeness, you may want to buy your mango a day or two ahead. —Jenn Hall, Collingswood, New Jersey
Savoy cabbage is a type of cabbage with softer, frilly leaves that lends well to a coleslaw like this one. There’s fresh mango in both the slaw and the dressing, which gets a kick of heat from jalapeno. Before you get started, learn how to peel a mango with out any special equipment.
10/23
Campers’ Coleslaw
Total Time
20 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Crispy and crunchy, this old family slaw recipe makes a refreshing side dish for picnics and parties. —Kimberly Wallace, Dennison, Ohio
A good basic crunchy coleslaw should be in everyone’s repertoire. You can shred the cabbage or run it over a box grater for a choppier consistency. Because it isn’t creamy, this is a great recipe for picnics and outdoor potlucks.
11/23
Coleslaw with Poppy Seed Dressing
Total Time
20 min
Servings
12 servings (3/4 cup each)
From the Recipe Creator:
This is the kind of salad you can keep in the fridge for a couple days and it just gets better. I just add the sunflower seeds before serving to keep the crunch. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho
If you prepare poppy seed coleslaw ahead of time, make sure to leave the sunflower seeds off until you’re ready to serve. Add those just before it hits the table so they stay crunchy and add texture.
12/23
Macaroni Coleslaw
Total Time
25 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My friend Peggy brought this coleslaw to one of our picnics, and everyone liked it so much, we all had to have the recipe. —Sandra Matteson, Westhope, North Dakota
A coleslaw that doubles as a macaroni salad is a great accompaniment to any barbecued rib recipes. Use traditional macaroni or other small shapes like ditalini for easier eating.
13/23
Pennsylvania Dutch Coleslaw
Total Time
15 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My mother used to make this salad on holidays. With all the cabbage that is grown here, this coleslaw recipe is a real natural for us! —Deb Darr, Falls City, Oregon
This coleslaw may turn a bit pink since it uses both green and red cabbage, but it doesn’t change the flavor. Made with a traditional mayo-cider vinegar-sugar dressing, this one works great as a sandwich topper or as a side dish.
14/23
Pineapple Coleslaw
Total Time
15 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
When I was a child, my mother often served this salad with multicolored marshmallows sprinkled on top, much to my delight. The marshmallows added a touch of sweetness that really complemented this salad's tangy flavor. —Betty Follas, Morgan Hill, California
Pineapple chunks add just enough sweetness to this creamy coleslaw, especially with its tangy dressing. You can easily add more cabbage or less pineapple to fit your own taste.
15/23
Fiesta Coleslaw
Total Time
20 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Coleslaw with a touch of heat makes a zesty side for barbecued chicken or pork. I also pile it on fish tacos and po'boys. —Fay Moreland, Wichita Falls, Texas
When you add crisp vegetables like jicama and radishes to cabbage, you get a cool and crunchy slaw that pairs with everything from smoked pork to barbecued chicken. Thanks to jalapeno and cilantro, it’s also a perfect topper for fried fish tacos.
16/23
Christmas Coleslaw
Total Time
15 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
In our family, this is a must-have side dish for Christmas dinner. The colorful slaw combines sweet, crunchy and nutty ingredients with tongue-tingling results. It's such a refreshing counterpoint to our meaty main course. —Lyndsay Wells, Ladysmith, BC
With apple, cherries, almonds and mandarin oranges, it’s like a holiday in a bowl. Reserve the oranges for folding in right before serving so they don’t get too mushy.
17/23
Kale Slaw Spring Salad
Total Time
25 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My parents and in-laws are retired and like to spend winters in Florida. This tangy spring salad welcomes the snowbirds back for our Easter celebration! —Jennifer Gilbert, Brighton, Michigan
Move over kale salads! This slaw-salad hybrid using bagged cabbage along with the leafy greens is a welcome change of pace from everyday slaws. Toss in salty feta cheese and crunchy sunflower seeds at the table.
18/23
Blue Cheese Slaw
Total Time
40 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
“I'm apt to add blue cheese to anything I can think of, including this tangy slaw. I make it ahead of time because the longer it sits, the better it tastes.” —Nicole Clayton, Prescott, Arizona
Combine carrots and green and red cabbage in a bowl, then add a tangy mustard-vinegar dressing and lots of blue cheese chunks. Let it all sit in the fridge for at least two hours before serving so the flavors meld.
19/23
Jicama Slaw
Total Time
15 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This jicama slaw is a nice change of pace from traditional cabbage coleslaw. The jicama adds a sweet, nutty flavor and lots of extra crunch.
Instead of cabbage, let jicama add a sweet, nutty flavor to coleslaw. When buying jicama, choose one that is firm with a dry skin. It shouldn’t look too wrinkled or shriveled, and should be free of large blemishes.
20/23
Summertime Slaw
Total Time
35 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
As a change from mayonnaise-laden slaw, I created this refreshing alternative. It uses many of the garden vegetables I grow, so it's also economical. I serve it at our family reunion each Fourth of July, and it's always a big hit at get-togethers. —Sharon Payne, Mayfield, Kentucky
A refreshing change from creamier slaws, this one uses garden vegetables like tomatoes and onions along with shredded cabbage. Sweet pickle relish is the secret ingredient to the dressing!
Spicy brown mustard is the preferred choice for this tangy, creamy dressing, but any variety will do the trick. Bagged coleslaw mix takes a lot of the prep work out of this slaw, but you can shred your own if you have the time.
22/23
Caraway Coleslaw with Citrus Mayonnaise
Total Time
20 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
The combination of caraway and orange keeps this slaw from being anything but run-of-the-mill. I always get requests to bring a big batch to potlucks—proof positive that it's a keeper! I like to make it a day ahead so the flavors can truly blend. —Lily Julow, Lawrenceville, Georgia
Caraway seeds and a citrusy, orange dressing make this coleslaw super unique. Make it a day in advance to let the flavors come together. This would taste great with grilled bratwursts or other sausages.
23/23
Zesty Coleslaw
Total Time
15 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This simple slaw tastes best when it's refrigerated for at least one hour. The mixture seems to get creamier as it sits. —Michelle Gauer, Spicer, Minnesota
Bell peppers add some extra zing to this creamy coleslaw. Everyone has their favorite way of cutting a bell pepper, but we like to slice off the top, pull out the seeds, cut it in half and commence slicing.
