Best Coleslaw Recipe

This easy coleslaw recipe really is the best! The creamy, flavorful dressing and crunchy veggies make it absolutely irresistible.

This coleslaw recipe is so good, it will be at the top of your “foods I love” list. It’s crunchy, it’s flavorful, it’s creamy, and it’s tangy and sweet. When we first made it, I realized: I don’t just like coleslaw, I do like Coleslaw. This recipe is a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors, with the fresh crunch of cabbage and carrot. It also has a healthy twist: There’s no refined sugar and less mayonnaise than most coleslaw recipes. We returned to the fridge for seconds and thirds. Here’s the recipe: and as a bonus, we have a video showing you how to grate cabbage: the To the right Away.

Related: 15 summer side dishes you need

What is the definition of coleslaw?

Coleslaw is simply shredded coleslaw with a dressing. It can be a vinaigrette (like in our pickled slaw) or a mayonnaise-based dressing. Here in the American Midwest, every family seems to have their own recipe for coleslaw! So making the “best” or “good” coleslaw is pretty subjective.

Strangely, my family didn’t make a lot of coleslaw when I was growing up. But it was quiet present at picnics and potlucks during my childhood. There are many versions of a coleslaw recipe: from the salad dressing version to the super-sweet version that’s so creamy it’s hard to eat a few bites.

Why is this the better coleslaw recipe

How about this easy coleslaw recipe that makes it the “best”? Well, Alex, and my favorite kind of coleslaw is creamy coleslaw. So we created this best coleslaw dressing: it’s loaded with flavor and has a healthy twist too. This is what makes it the “best”:

• There’s less mayonnaise than regular coleslaw. We love creamy coleslaw nostalgia, so we used mayonnaise here. But it’s less mayo than the standard recipe! It’s just enough to get that savory salty flavor.
• The sweetness is balanced. A great coleslaw recipe is a balance of salty and sweet, but not overly sweet! Some coleslaw recipes are loaded with sugar. This one has just the right amount.
• It has secret spices for victory: chili powder and dill! Using these two ingredients in a coleslaw recipe is not standard. But while they’re not part of the typical coleslaw, using them here adds a unique flavor undertone that really makes them stand out. the best.

What else can you do with cabbage? Access our best cabbage recipes.

How to make coleslaw

This homemade coleslaw recipe is ready in just a few easy steps! This coleslaw is great fresh, but you can keep it in the fridge for 3-5 days (the cabbage will become less crispy over time). Here are the basic steps:

1. Step 1: You need to grate the cabbage and carrots first (you can buy pre-shredded coleslaw mix if you like).
2. 2nd step: Whisk together the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, chili powder, and dill for the creamy coleslaw dressing.
3. Step 3: Mix everything in a large bowl.

Video: how to cut cabbage

The only tricky part about making a coleslaw recipe is knowing how to cut the cabbage! Alex and I recently learned a cabbage slicing trick that makes slicing much easier. Before I knew this trick, I was shredding a cabbage until I got “schnitzel.” Sometimes my knife slipped and they were super uneven. This trick makes this coleslaw or coleslaw recipe a breeze:

1. Remove and discard any outer layers of cabbage that appear tough or not fresh. Using a large chef’s knife, cut the root of the cabbage.
2. Halve the cabbage through the stalk. Then cut into quarters.
3. Remove the root from the cabbage by slicing it in two diagonally.
4. Using a knife, cut the cabbage lengthwise into thin slices in a circular motion.

Variants of coleslaw

Love coleslaw but want something a little different than the classic? Once you’ve made this coleslaw recipe, make all of these delicious variations:

• Red Cabbage Slaw This side dish has a short list of ingredients and is a snap to make.
• Simply Pickled Coleslaw This one has no mayonnaise! This flavorful vinegar dressing goes perfectly with crisp cabbage.
• Mexican Coleslaw Go Mexican with this coleslaw that includes lime, cilantro, and cumin. (It’s perfect in tacos!)
• Easy Coleslaw All you need is 6 ingredients, and the savory flavor makes it an absolute crowd pleaser.
• Broccoli Salad Why not make coleslaw… with broccoli stalks? This variant is irresistibly fresh and crisp.

Convinced to try our easy coleslaw recipe? Would you like to try our method of cutting cabbage? Let us know if you try it and what you think in the comments below!

This coleslaw recipe is…

Vegetarian, gluten free and dairy free. For vegans and plant-based, use vegan mayonnaise.

Looking for side dish recipes?

Aside from this coleslaw recipe, here are a few other side dish recipes that we love:

Last update: June 20th20