This copycat KFC coleslaw recipe captures everything we love about the restaurant’s signature side dish. It also happens to be one of our favorite coleslaw recipes, period. The dressing is creamy and coats each bite of crunchy cabbage with a sweet tang. It’s the perfect side dish for potlucks, summer barbecues, tailgate parties or picnics—especially if fried chicken is involved.
How to Make Copycat KFC Coleslaw
KFC’s coleslaw stands out because of its sweet and tangy dressing, but the slaw’s texture is what makes it one of a kind. The very finely chopped cabbage and carrots are a stark contrast to the typical stringy shredded veggies found in bagged coleslaw mix. The best way to mimic this texture is to chop your veggies in your food processor. Simply place roughly chopped cabbage and carrots in the food processor bowl, then pulse the mixture until the pieces are nice and small. Voila!
Ingredients for Copycat KFC Coleslaw
- Green cabbage and carrots: We recommend chopping the green cabbage and carrots in a food processor. You can use bagged coleslaw mix in a pinch, but the texture won’t be the same.
- Onion: The key here is to grate the onion on a box grater. It removes the crunchy texture and helps the onion flavor melt into the coleslaw.
- Buttermilk: Buttermilk gives this copycat recipe its characteristic tangy flavor. No buttermilk on hand? Make a buttermilk substitute by mixing milk with a little vinegar or lemon juice. Powdered buttermilk works surprisingly well, too. It’s shelf-stable, so you can easily keep some on hand in the pantry.
- Mayonnaise: Mayonnaise adds the perfect level of extra-creamy richness to this coleslaw. Note that we don’t recommend using Miracle Whip for this recipe. It’s sweeter and spicier than mayonnaise, and it will alter the dressing’s flavor profile.
- Sugar: KFC’s dressing is definitely sweet, so don’t skimp on the sugar. It’s a huge part of what makes this KFC coleslaw recipe work.
- Lemon juice and white vinegar: Balance the sweetness from the sugar with these acidic ingredients. Lemon juice adds brightness, and white vinegar adds a bold tang.
Directions
Step 1: Make the coleslaw dressing
In a large bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, mayonnaise, sugar, lemon juice, white vinegar, salt and pepper.
Step 2: Combine the KFC coleslaw
Add the finely chopped cabbage, carrots and onion to the bowl. Toss to coat.
Step 3: Refrigerate
Refrigerate, covered, for at least two hours or as long as three days before serving.
Recipe Variations
- Add pineapple: Skip the onion, and make the coleslaw sweeter by adding pineapple tidbits (like we do in this pineapple slaw recipe).
- Make it spicy: Give this creamy coleslaw a spicy edge, and add horseradish to the dressing. Or, add finely chopped jalapenos to make a spicy coleslaw.
- Skip the buttermilk: Milk, sour cream and Greek-style strained yogurt are suitable substitutes for buttermilk in this recipe. To make a dairy-free copycat KFC coleslaw recipe, simply skip the buttermilk, and increase the mayonnaise. To make it vegan, use egg-free vegan mayonnaise. Depending on the substitute, you may need to thin out the dressing with a splash of water or increase the tangy vibes with extra vinegar.
How to Store Copycat KFC Coleslaw
This KFC coleslaw recipe tastes best when used within three days. Cover the mixing bowl tightly, or transfer the coleslaw to an airtight container. Refrigerate until you’re ready to serve.
We don’t recommend freezing this KFC coleslaw recipe. Mayonnaise-based coleslaws just don’t freeze that well.
Can you make KFC coleslaw ahead of time?
Yes, we absolutely recommend making KFC coleslaw ahead of time. The coleslaw gets creamier and softer as it sits in the refrigerator, and the flavors meld together. It’s one of those coleslaw recipes that definitely gets better with time! Make it at least two hours in advance or as long as three days before serving.
KFC Coleslaw Tips
What can you serve with copycat KFC coleslaw?
You can serve this copycat KFC coleslaw recipe with crispy fried chicken, buttermilk biscuits and other KFC copycat recipes. It would be a fantastic addition to a Friday night fish fry, or piled atop tacos or sandwiches made with slow cooker pulled pork recipes. It’s also a great picnic side when paired with other cold picnic foods or your favorite beach picnic recipes.
Can you use other kinds of cabbage to make copycat KFC coleslaw?
KFC uses finely chopped green cabbage in their famous coleslaw recipe. You can swap in red cabbage or savoy cabbage, or pick up a bagged coleslaw mix, but the recipe won’t look—or taste—like KFC’s.
How can you keep copycat KFC coleslaw from being watery?
You actually don’t want to prevent copycat KFC coleslaw from being watery. KFC coleslaw always has a lot of pooling in the bottom of the bowl. This is OK, since that liquid contributes to the dressing and helps evenly coat the coleslaw. If you don’t like so much liquid, you can easily drain it off before serving. Better yet, serve this coleslaw with a slotted spoon!
