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This Easy Coleslaw Recipe makes a classic, creamy coleslaw that compliments all sorts of summer dishes! It’s a fresh and healthy 15-minute side dish you’ll fall in love with.
The Best Coleslaw Recipe
Coleslaw is essentially a salad composed of chopped-up vegetables and a creamy vinnaigrette dressing. This recipe uses standard coleslaw veggies like cabbage and carrots as well as flavorings like lemon juice and Dijon mustard. If you’re looking for a simple, classic coleslaw that everyone will rave about, you’ve come to the right place.
This well-loved side dish is a stellar choice for special occasions, but it also makes a great last-minute recipe to make thanks to how quick and easy it is! Whether it’s a relaxed family dinner of Instant Pot Ribs or a mid-summer potluck, you’ll want to make some room at the table for this coleslaw.
Is Coleslaw Healthy?
This dish is centered around the vegetables, making it a fresh and healthy option that will offset some of the more caloric summer dishes you may indulge in. Balance is key! One superfood that this coleslaw utilizes is apple cider vinegar, which has anti-bacterial properties and helps control your blood pressure, among other benefits. Plus, its zingy flavor elevates the taste of the dish!
What You’ll Need
These are the ingredients that make this creamy coleslaw come to life:
- Apple Cider Vinegar: You’ll need 1 tablespoon.
- Granulated Sugar: Don’t worry, this won’t make your coleslaw taste sweet – it’s there to balance out the flavors so it’s not too bitter.
- Lemon Juice: Fresh, from half a lemon.
- Dijon Mustard: To flavor the dressing.
- Salt: A teaspoon of salt keeps your coleslaw from coming out too watery.
- Mayonnaise: This will be the base of your creamy dressing.
- Milk: 1/4 cup of milk also makes for an ultra creamy vinaigrette.
- Cabbage: 1 head, shredded.
- Carrots: Shredded.
- Onion: Finely diced.
- Chopped Fresh Parsley: 1/4 cup, plus a little extra to garnish the dish.
Instant of shredding the cabbage and carrots, you can substitute one 14-16 oz. bag of coleslaw mix.
How to Make Coleslaw from Scratch
Making homemade coleslaw is as easy as a salad should be! You just have to combine the ingredients, make the dressing and mix it up.
Make Dressing: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the vinegar, sugar, lemon juice, mustard, salt, mayonnaise and milk until well combined.
Make Salad: In a separate bowl, combine the cabbage, carrots, onion and fresh parsley.
Toss: Once combined, pour over the mayonnaise mixture and toss together.
Garnish & Serve: Garnish with extra chopped fresh parsley and enjoy!
How to Store Homemade Coleslaw
Leftover coleslaw can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for no longer than 2 days. The dressing itself can be made up to 3 days in advance and refrigerated on its own, then added to a fresh salad – an easy meal prep idea!
Tips for Success
This straightforward recipe couldn’t be more beginner-friendly. Here’s some extra advice that’ll help you make the best coleslaw ever!
- Chill Before Serving: If you keep your coleslaw in the fridge for about an hour before you serve it, the flavors will intensify, the texture will be just right, and every bite will feel even more cool and refreshing!
- Shred & Dice Veggies Finely: I find that the smaller the pieces of vegetables are in the salad, the more flavor you get in each bite. Shred and dice the veggies to the size that works for you.
- Adjust to Taste: If you try your coleslaw and it seems too bitter, add a bit more sugar to taste. If it’s too sweet, add more lemon juice. Play around with the seasonings until it tastes just right!
- Make Additions: Want to incorporate more flavors and textures into your coleslaw? Try adding sliced nuts, seeds, different herbs or more diced veggies! We love making Pineapple Coleslaw with macadamia nuts.
What Goes with Coleslaw?
If you don’t already have a lineup of potential main dishes in mind for this coleslaw, be sure to check out the delicious pairing ideas below.
Serve with Fried Chicken: This crispy Air Fryer Fried Chicken is the perfect match for your cool and creamy coleslaw.
Bake Some Biscuits: You really can’t go wrong when you add a batch of flaky Gluten Free Buttermilk Biscuits to the meal. Make sure you melt some butter on them while they are still warm.
Serve with Ribs: Pair your coleslaw with a hearty, filling dish like my Thai Style Ribs. They’re perfectly seasoned and served alongside an addicting homemade sweet and sour sauce.
Make Some Rice: With the Asian-style flavors, you can definitely round out the meal with simple Cilantro Lime Rice.
Serve with Steak: The cool and creamy slaw will definitely balance the heat of some perfectly grilled Blackened Steaks with Blue Cheese.
Pair with Potato Salad: You know what else tastes great with a classic summer side dish like coleslaw? Another classic side like Potato Salad! And my recipe makes the creamiest, most flavorful one ever.
Things You’ll Need
- A handheld citrus juicer is the easiest way to squeeze those lemons fast. I use mine all the time.
- A good pair of tongs is perfect for tossing and serving that slaw.
- There are lots of liquids in this recipe. These little measuring beakers are not only super cute, but also super convenient when you want to measure all of your ingredients quickly.
- I love having little spatulas for so many uses around the kitchen, whether it’s scooping the mayo out of the jar or stirring together that dressing.
Easy Coleslaw Recipe
Equipment
- Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon dijon mustard
- juice of half a lemon
- 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 head cabbage, shredded
- 3-4 carrots, shredded
- 1/2 onion, finely diced
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley plus extra for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, milk, vinegar, mustard, lemon juice, sugar, and salt, until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, combine the cabbage, carrots, onion and fresh parsley.
- Once combined, pour over the mayonnaise mixture and toss together.
- Garnish with extra chopped fresh parsley and enjoy!
Notes
Did you make this?
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