The Best Easy Coleslaw
Coleslaw is the perfect crunchy and creamy side dish that pairs beautifully with just about anything, from barbecue to sandwiches. This super-easy recipe will help you make the perfect slaw!
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Why You Will Love This Coleslaw
Ingredients Needed for this Homemade Coleslaw Recipe
Ingredient quantities for this easy coleslaw coffee recipe are located in the recipe card at the end of the post.
These ingredients make up the base of this salad. You’re welcome to also add optional mix-ins, which include:
- Bag of coleslaw mix (green cabbage and carrots) OR fresh cabbage and carrots (see note below)
- Red onion
- Mayonnaise
- Sour cream
- Sugar
- Apple cider vinegar
- Lemon juice
- Salt and pepper
“Tri-color” or “3-color” bagged coleslaw contains green cabbage, carrots, and red cabbage. This recipe is based on tri-color coleslaw, but you are welcome to use classic coleslaw as well, which contains only green cabbage and carrots.
How To Make Coleslaw (Quick Overview)
The steps below are just a quick overview of how to make the side dish. The full process in detail is located in the recipe card at the end of the post.
To a bowl, add the red onion, mayonnaise, sour cream, sugar, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and pepper…
… and mix until everything’s well blended, like this:
Here’s how you customize your coleslaw: Scoop out about a third of the dressing and set it aside. By doing this, you’ll be able to make your perfect coleslaw.
Now add the coleslaw mix to the original bowl with the dressing (which has 2/3 of the dressing in it now)…
… and stir until it’s nicely coated.
Finish the customization process: If you want more dressing, mix in some or all of what you set aside earlier—it’s totally up to you!
Cover the bowl and pop it in the fridge for 1-2 hours before serving. Enjoy!
More Cookout Side Dishes
Ready for the perfect cookout? Give some of these sides a try:
- Steal the spotlight at your next gathering with this broccoli salad recipe. Packed with bold, crave-worthy flavors, it’s guaranteed to disappear in seconds!
- Don’t overlook the classic potato salad! Creamy, zesty, and endlessly satisfying, it’s a crowd-pleaser that’ll have your guests lining up for seconds.
- Your cookout just found its perfect match—macaroni salad! Easy to prep, bursting with flavor, and totally stress-free, it’s the ultimate crowd-pleaser for any backyard bash.
- Summer on a plate! This vibrant fruit salad is refreshing, flavorful, and ridiculously easy to make ahead. Prep it, serve it, and soak in the endless compliments!
- Bring the taste of the Mediterranean to your table with this Italian antipasto salad. Loaded with irresistible flavors, it’s a guaranteed hit that’ll vanish in no time.
- Stay cool and refreshed with this juicy chicken corn salad! Perfect for your next picnic or BBQ, it’s light, satisfying, and oh-so-delicious.
- Sweet, savory, and bursting with summer vibes—this strawberry chicken salad with maple balsamic dressing is a total showstopper. Trust us, it’ll be the star of the table!
- Up your BBQ game with this creamy, dreamy cucumber salad with ranch dressing. It’s a fresh, flavorful pairing for all your grilled favorites! And don’t forget this wonderful chicken cucumber salad for that added protein kick.
Enjoy! I would love to hear in the comments what you consider to be your perfect amount of dressing. I’m a 2/3-dressing gal myself, but my man always wants the full amount (he loves “sloppy coleslaw,” as he calls it). I’m not sure if we’ll ever fully agree on that one… 🙂
More Summer Side Dishes
When it’s summer, you want simple and refreshing sides! Give these a try:
- Love smoky flavors? The bacon and green beans recipe delivers savory, crispy perfection that pairs like a dream with grilled meats. Your taste buds will thank you!
- Meet your new summer essential: this zesty garbanzo bean salad. Cool, tangy, and full of flavor, it’s the perfect addition to any picnic or potluck.
- Roasted vegetables are the unsung hero of any cookout, featuring caramelized, rich flavors that no one can resist.
- Marshmallow fruit salad is the sweet, fluffy bite of joy your cookout needs. Kids love it, adults get nostalgic—a win-win for everyone!
- Zucchini casserole is a veggie sensation packed with flavor and guaranteed to steal the spotlight. It’s a grill master’s dream side dish.
- Yellow squash casserole is pure summer magic—cheesy, melty, and bursting with the best seasonal flavors. You’ll want this at every gathering!
- Baked macaroni and cheese is the ultimate comfort food. Creamy, cheesy, and absolutely irresistible, it’s a guaranteed hit.
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Coleslaw
Ingredients
- 14 to 16 oz bag tri-color coleslaw mix (see notes)
- 3 tbsp chopped red onion
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, mix the red onion, mayonnaise, sour cream, sugar, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and pepper until thoroughly combined.
- Remove and set aside approximately one-third of the dressing. (This allows you to dress the salad to your preference.)
- Incorporate the coleslaw mix into the mixing bowl with the dressing, stirring until well combined.
- Depending on your desired dressing thickness, add some or all of the remaining dressing to the mixture.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 1-2 hours prior to serving. Enjoy!
Notes
- You can also use a small head of cabbage (shredded), one carrot (shredded), and about 1/2 cup shredded red cabbage.
Nutrition Estimates (Per Serving)
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutrition Estimates are per serving and included as a courtesy only. They are accurate to the best of our knowledge based on the ingredients and brands used, but their accuracy is not guaranteed.
