This creamy side dish is perfect with bbq, fried chicken, or pulled pork sandwiches. Best of all, it's made entirely from scratch for that delicious homemade flavor.
Table of Contents
❤️ Why you'll want this on your table
- Homemade coleslaw is crisp and creamy.
- Excellent flavor with a bit of sweetness and a little tang.
- The perfect side dish for almost anything—I'm not exaggerating!
Copycat KFC coleslaw is the secret ingredient that'll take your cookout or fish fry to the next level.
Follow the classic Southern recipe and prepare to have your taste buds wow-ed. Just don't be surprised if your family starts looking around to see where you discarded those red and white buckets—this coleslaw is a dead ringer for the Colonel's!
🧾 Ingredients for Southern cole slaw
- Grabbing a bag of cole slaw mix from the produce section keeps this recipe super easy.
- Mayonnaise (Hellmann's or Dukes) is traditional but some people prefer Miracle Whip. Use what you like.
- Buttermilk adds a little tang that's irresistable.
- Sugar should be more-or-less to taste. It balances the vinegar.
- Onion powder adds more onion flavor than fresh onion.
- Cider vinegar is the first choice for this because it adds flavor but any vinegar will work in a pinch.
Want extra tips, faqs, storage info and more? Download this free cole slaw kitchen cheat sheet!
📖 Recipe
Southern Coleslaw
Print Pin Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- ½ cup onion, chopped - optional
- 14 ounces coleslaw mix
Dressing
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup cultured buttermilk, do not use milk + vinegar or lemon juice
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons cider vinegar, use less if you don't want it so tangy
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
- ½ teaspoon onion powder, optional
Cabbage Mixture (if you're not using the coleslaw mix)
- 6-8 cups cabbage, shredded
- 1 ½ cups carrots, shredded
Instructions
Cabbage Mixture
- Stir cabbage and carrots together gently to combine. It's pretty to use some purple cabbage for some of the green cabbage.
Dressing
- Whisk all the dressing ingredients together in a large bowl.
- Pour over the coleslaw mix.
- Stir well to be sure all the cabbage is coated with dressing.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
- Serve ice cold.
Notes
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- I think the best way to shred the vegetables is in a food processor. Pulse the blades a few times until you're happy with the size.
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- Use a box grater to quickly and finely dice the onion and shred the carrots.
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- This is one recipe where you don't want to use a buttermilk substitute. Put the lemon juice and sour cream away, and just spring for some good ol' buttermilk.
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- At parties, I like to fill a large bowl with ice, then nestle the smaller serving bowl of coleslaw into it.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
Does this taste like Popeye’s coleslaw?
Yes! While Popeye’s version is a bit sweeter and tangier, the base is nearly identical. This recipe gives you that same creamy, crunchy texture with just the right balance of sweet and tang.
Want it closer to Popeye’s? Stir in a little yellow mustard and sweet pickle relish to taste.
🔪 How to make easy Southern coleslaw
- In a large bowl, whisk the mayo, sugar, and spices together.
- Add the buttermilk and vinegar.
- Mix the mayo dressing until smooth.
- Stir the shredded cabbage mixture into the tangy dressing.
📚 Related recipes
- Cucumber Salad with Sour Cream is a super refreshing side dish on a hot summer day—the red onion and sugar give it a sweet, tangy finish.
- Use up the extra cabbage in this Southern Fried Cabbage recipe. With bacon and onions, this is one side that you'll crave as your main dish.
- Hot day forecast for your potluck? You need a cool, crunchy side that can withstand the heat. This Cucumber Salad doesn't have any dairy, so the only thing you need to worry about is getting sunburned.
- Broccoli Cauliflower Salad is creamy, crunchy, and lip-smackin' good—we love the subtle sweetness from dried cranberries, and the bacon? Can't forget the bacon!
🍽️ Serve with...
Classic cole slaw is a must with Chicken Fried Steak! I like to add Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad in the summer and then serve some easy bar cookies for dessert.
True confessions: I have an addiction to pulled chicken sandwiches with a pile of coleslaw on top.
This is so easy and it just gets better and better overnight.
Bill Bauer says
I can't believe I'm asking this question but I have forgotten how to access my saved recipes on your site. Must be that age thing creeping up on me. NO, NO!!!
Marye says
Bill ... it isn't you I don't think. There used to be one way of doing it then it changed so if you were using the old way you may not be able to access it anymore.
Deb says
Love it! Didn’t have any buttermilk, so I used plain Greek yogurt with good results.
Maureen Jiménez says
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"
Beverly Cameron says
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!!!
Marye says
I'm not familiar with it but I'll be looking.