Best Coleslaw Recipe
Posted May 17, 2020, Updated Jun 14, 2024
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The best coleslaw recipe is easy to make in under 5 minutes! This homemade coleslaw is lightened up and only sweetened with honey, and is a delicious summer BBQ side dish!
Coleslaw is a classic, refreshing summer side dish that is a must-have at every summer BBQ (and you can’t forget the pasta salad with homemade dressing or easy stovetop mac and cheese)!
This easy coleslaw recipe take 5 minutes to prepare, and is the best coleslaw ever! It’s naturally sweetened with honey and is lightly dressed with a delicious homemade coleslaw dressing (instead of being drowned in it)! Nothing beats this homemade coleslaw!
Coleslaw Recipe: Ingredients & Substituions
- Mayonnaise. There really isn’t a substitute for mayonnaise in this coleslaw recipe. You can use light mayo or homemade mayonnaise. You can also use miracle whip but it will make the coleslaw significantly sweeter.
- Honey. granulated white sugar or maple syrup can be used in place of honey.
- Apple Cider Vinegar. Distilled white vinegar is a great substitute for apple cider vinegar.
- Lemon Juice. I don’t recommend making a substitution for the lemon juice.
- Celery Seeds. I love the authentic flavor celery seeds impart in the coleslaw recipe. However if you’d prefer you can very finely chop celery and add it to the mix for a similar flavor, and a little more crunch.
- Coleslaw Mix. If you prefer to make your own coleslaw mix instead of buying it bagged, simply use 6 cups green cabbage, 1 cup purple cabbage, and 1 cup shredded carrots.
How to Make Coleslaw
It only takes 5 minutes to prepare this homemade coleslaw recipe! Let’s walk through the steps together, and as always don’t forget to watch the video!
Make the dressing
To make the coleslaw dressing, start by adding all the ingredients (except celery seeds) into a medium bowl.
Whisk the ingredients thoroughly until the dressing is smooth and creamy.
Add celery seeds and whisk until they are evenly distributed. Then set the coleslaw dressing aside for a moment.
Assemble the Coleslaw
Mix this homemade coleslaw recipe in halves to ensure even distribution of the dressing. Start by adding half of the coleslaw mixture in a large mixing bowl. Then, pour half of the dressing over the coleslaw in the bowl.
Next, add the rest of the coleslaw mixture and pour the rest of the dressing over it.
Then, stir until all the ingredients are evenly distributed.
Chill
Transfer the coleslaw to a serving dish, cover with a lid or plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour.
Make your own Coleslaw mix
Finely chop 1 medium head of green cabbage (6 cups), half a head of purple cabbage (1 cup), and use 1 cup shredded carrots.
Serve
When you’re ready to serve, stir the coleslaw. Then garnish with salt, pepper, extra celery seeds, chopped onion, etc. Serve with your favorite BBQ recipes. Here are some suggestions:
- Lemon chicken kebabs and grilled BBQ Chicken.
- Feta watermelon salad, 3 bean salad and broccoli salad.
- The best hamburgers!
- Grilled flank steak
- Italian pasta salad or summer pasta salad
- Summer fruit salad
- Burrata salad
- Homemade mac and cheese
- Best Homemade Coleslaw
Store
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Homemade Coleslaw Recipe FAQs
Here are some commonly asked questions about this easy coleslaw recipe.
Homemade coleslaw lasts for three days stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
No. Do not freeze coleslaw. It will give is a gritty texture, make it soggy and all around inedible.
I prefer to finely chop my vegetables if I don’t use a store-bought bag of coleslaw mix. You can also use a hand held shredder or food processor to shred the cabbage and carrots.
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Best Easy Coleslaw Recipe
Ingredients
- 16 ounces coleslaw mix
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 3 Tablespoons honey
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon celery seeds
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, honey, lemon juice, vinegar, salt pepper until the mixture is combined and there are no lumps.
- Add celery seeds and whisk to combine.
- Place half of the coleslaw mixture in a large mixing bowl.
- Pour half of the dressing over the coleslaw in the bowl.
- Add the rest of the coleslaw mixture and pour the rest of the dressing over it.
- Stir until combined.
- Transfer to a serving dish, cover with a lid or plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour.
- Stir, then garnish with salt, pepper, extra celery seeds, chopped onion, etc.
- Serve.
Video
Notes
- Mayonnaise. There really isn’t a substitute for mayonnaise in this coleslaw recipe. You can use light mayo or homemade mayonnaise. You can also use miracle whip but it will make the coleslaw significantly sweeter.
- Honey. granulated white sugar or maple syrup can be used in place of honey.
- Apple Cider Vinegar. Distilled white vinegar is a great substitute for apple cider vinegar.
- Lemon Juice. I don’t recommend making a substitution for the lemon juice.
- Celery Seeds. I love the authentic flavor celery seeds impart in the coleslaw recipe. However if you’d prefer you can very finely chop celery and add it to the mix for a similar flavor, and a little more crunch.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
For me coleslaw is ‘just OK’. Standard side dish at a BBQ like potato salad. Until now that is! This was amazing and is one more ‘go to’ recipe I’ve acquired from the JoyFoodSunshine website. Thank you Laura.
PS I accidentally used lime juice one time and really liked how it came out.
I’m so glad you love it as much as we do, Jim!
Delicious!! I didn’t have celery seed so I used celery salt in its place and it worked really well!
Thank you for the recipe, I am planning on using this as my go-to coleslaw recipe from now on! 🙂
I’m so glad you love it! Celery salt is a great substitution suggestion!
The best! So easy to make and everyone loved it!
I made this recipe yesterday and it was delicious !!!! Honestly, chopping fresh cabbage and carrots helps it taste fresh and yummy ! This will be my new go to recipe !
Thank you !!!
Thank you so much Jenny! Nothing beats fresh veggies!