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Home » Recipes » Side Dish Recipes

Creamy KFC Coleslaw Recipe Copycat: Colonel Approved

Published: May 9, 2019 Last Updated: May 10, 2022 by Marye 771 words. | About 4 minutes to read this article.

The creamiest coleslaw ever but it stays crisp thanks to the one little trick I'm sharing in the instructions! Be sure to keep it refrigerated or on ice if you're eating outside. This contains mayo and summer heat doesn't play well with it. 
Total time 15 minutes
Jump to Recipe

KFC Coleslaw is creamy, slightly sweet, a little tangy, and completely creamy! My version is Colonel approved - not necessarily THE Colonel...but A Colonel none-the-less. Make this memory invoking summer side dish recipe soon!

Recipe Ingredients: cabbage, carrots, (or a couple of bags of coleslaw mix) onions, sugar, salt, pepper, buttermilk, mayonnaise, cider vinegar, lemon juice

A mound of creamy coleslaw on a vintage jadite plate
Jump to:
  • KFC Coleslaw Is What Memories Are Made Of
  • What Do You Eat with Coleslaw?
  • More Great Summer Recipes
  • You May Need
  • Copycat KFC Coleslaw Recipe
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

KFC Coleslaw Is What Memories Are Made Of

Seriously. I love Chick-fil-a, I really do, but when it comes to coleslaw recipes KFC coleslaw wins hands down. It's creamy. It's tangy. It's sweet. It's even crispy...

And what I always wanted to know is how in the world do they DO that? Well, if you wondered, too, wonder no more because (thanks to a cookbook that was published in the 1930s) I know how to keep the veggies crisp!

What do you bet that the Colonel HAD the same cookbook as my vintage collectable? I mean, it's possible.

The USDA has their own opinion about keeping it crisp and suggests chopping the cabbage a day ahead of time, then putting the dressing on just before serving.

What Do You Eat with Coleslaw?

Oh my goodness, come and sit next to me and let's talk!

Coleslaw is the most versatile summer side dish ever known to man. It goes with all kinds of grilled meats so you'll want it at all of your cookouts! Here are some more things I like to eat with coleslaw:

  • Fried chicken of course!
  • Fried catfish (or any fish - but I don't usually eat anything other than catfish)
  • BBQ Brisket
  • Pulled pork or root beer chicken
  • BBQ Chicken
  • Wings of all kinds
  • Pile it on top of hamburgers, sloppy joes, and bbq sandwiches
  • Top chicken tacos or fish tacos
  • Burgers
  • Chicken fried steak
  • Chicken or Shrimp Po'Boys
A closeup of a dish of coleslaw

More Great Summer Recipes

Man (or woman) does not live by creamy KFC coleslaw alone! Here are more of my favorite summer recipes.

Close up of black eyed pea salad in a blue bowl.
  • Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad with Hellman's was on the table almost every day in the summer when I was growing up!
  • BBQ Macaroni Salad is kind of updated. It's still creamy but it's also a little tangy and spicy.
  • Cauliflower Salad is crunchy and deliciously different.
  • Fried Green Tomatoes are one of my favorites! I love them on burgers.
  • Black Eyed Pea Salad is sometimes called Cowboy Caviar.
  • Creamy Cucumber Salad was always on our table in the summer. I love this stuff.
  • Grilled pear salad is quick and easy plus it is SO delicious!

You May Need

What’s new? Check out my Restless Chipotle & Co. Store on Amazon where you'll find all kinds of nostalgic goodness!  Thanks so much for being a part of Restless Chipotle!

There's not a lot stuff necessary for making this KFC Coleslaw Recipe Copycat - you can certainly make it super easy on yourself and buy bagged coleslaw mix. HOWEVER a great food processor like this Cuisinart. The only complaint I have with it is that it's not red! Once you've got your coleslaw made store it in one of these cute Pyrex glass storage bowls with tops that fit!

A pile of creamy coleslaw on a plate

Copycat KFC Coleslaw Recipe

I love this creamy, classic coleslaw recipe! Make it once and you'll be toting it to potlucks and church picnics the rest of the summer.

📖 Recipe

Small image of cole slaw recipe for the recipe card.
4.38 from 8 votes

Copycat KFC ColeSlaw

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The creamiest coleslaw ever but it stays crisp thanks to the one little trick I'm sharing in the instructions! Be sure to keep it refrigerated or on ice if you're eating outside. This contains mayo and summer heat doesn't play well with it. 
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American - Southern
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Chilling Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings:10
Calories:148
Author:Marye Audet-White
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Ingredients

Dressing

  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • ½ cup cultured buttermilk, do not use milk + vinegar or lemon juice
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground

Cabbage Mixture

  • 8 cups cabbage, shredded
  • 1 ½ cups carrots, shredded
  • ½ cup onion, chopped - optional
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ¼ cup kosher salt
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Cabbage Mixture

  • Combine cabbage, carrot, and onion in a large colander.
  • Sprinkle with sugar and salt.
  • Stir gently to combine and make sure all the cabbage is covered in the sugar/salt mixture.
  • Place the colander in the sink and leave for 10 minutes.
  • Rinse thoroughly with cold water, stirring the cabbage mixture around with your hands to get all sides.
  • Drain well and dump the vegetables on a clean tea towel.
  • Gently press as much liquid out as possible.
  • Set aside.

Dressing

  • Whisk all the dressing ingredients together in a large bowl.
  • Add the cabbage mixture and stir well to be sure all the cabbage is coated with dressing.
  • Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
  • Serve ice cold.

Notes

Some people say that original KFC Coleslaw does not use mayo or buttermilk - it uses Miracle Whip. If you prefer that just substitute the Miracle Whip for the Mayo and leave out the buttermilk.... The ORIGINAL original KFC Coleslaw had a little horseradish in it - you can try about 1-½ teaspoons if you remember that version.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 148kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 572mg | Potassium: 184mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 3290IU | Vitamin C: 22.4mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 0.3mg

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    About Marye

    With a 40 year focus on the importance of family and a passion for southern comfort food, Marye Audet-White is an expert in melding the two together effortlessly. Marye's a NY Times Bestselling author with 10 cookbooks under her belt and her recipes have been featured in Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Today, House Beautiful, Texas Living, Food & Wine, and many more.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Maureen Jiménez

      December 19, 2020 at 12:48 pm

      5 stars
      Me encantan tus recetas especialmente los panes Muchas gracias por compartir tu sabiduría.

      "
      I love your recipes especially the breads Thank you very much for sharing your wisdom"

      Reply
    2. Beverly Cameron

      November 21, 2019 at 12:25 pm

      Hi, I can't wait to get your e-mails. I just put the slaw in the fridge. I just wanted to know if your vintage cookbook has a recipe for gumbo that utilized four cans of Campbell souos, chicken gumbo,tomato,chicken broth and clan chowder? I have also for over ten years tried to find a recipe for deviled eggs that utilized shrimp and celery. The recipe was either in metropolitan home or apartment life magazine. I am just about to give up hope for these recipes,but I thought I would try you. Thank you!!!

      Reply
      • Marye

        November 22, 2019 at 10:54 am

        I'm not familiar with it but I'll be looking.

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