Classic Coleslaw
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Whip up the ultimate tangy, creamy, and crunch-packed coleslaw in just 10 minutes — the perfect sidekick for all your summer cookouts!
With a refreshing crunch and just the right amount of creaminess, this easy coleslaw recipe is my go-to for summer cookouts and potlucks. It’s the quintessential coleslaw as you know and love it, but tastier and more vibrant. The secret? Cutting some of the mayo in the dressing with sour cream to add tangy flavor and richness. Apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, sugar, and celery seed amp up the flavor even more.
The slaw is terrific with BBQ chicken or ribs, burgers, bratwurst, pulled pork sandwiches, and reuben sandwiches. Or pair it with classic side dishes like potato salad, broccoli salad, and macaroni salad for the ultimate summer picnic spread. Best of all, the recipe utilizes a store-bought coleslaw mix, one of the most practical items found in the produce section of the supermarket. With all the tedious chopping already taken care of, the slaw only takes 10 minutes to prepare. Plus, it can be made a day in advance, making your meal planning that much easier.
Table of Contents
“Bravo! This is the gold standard for coleslaw. It’s crispy, flavorful, made with readily available ingredients and delicious.”
What You’ll Need To Make Classic Coleslaw
- Mayonnaise : Forms the base of the creamy coleslaw dressing. When cooking with mayonnaise, always use a good-quality brand, like Hellmann’s or Duke’s—it makes a huge difference.
- Sour cream: Adds tanginess and creaminess to the dressing, balancing the flavors.
- Apple cider vinegar: Introduces acidity, brightening the taste of the coleslaw.
- Sugar: Adds a subtle sweetness to balance the vinegar’s acidity.
- Dijon mustard: Contributes a mild spiciness and tangy depth to the dressing.
- Celery seed: Adds a distinctive, slightly bitter flavor that complements the creamy and tangy elements of the dressing.
- Prepared shredded coleslaw: This cabbage mixture typically contains a blend of shredded green cabbage, red cabbage, and carrots. Some mixes may also include a small amount of other vegetables like kale or broccoli, depending on the brand. Not having to shred cabbage yourself with a mandoline or box grater is a huge time saver.
- Scallions: Add a mild onion flavor that adds freshness and a slight crunch to the coleslaw.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-by-Step Instructions
Begin by making the coleslaw dressing. In a large bowl, combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, apple cider vinegar, sugar, Dijon mustard, celery seed, salt, and fresh black pepper.
Whisk until combined.
Add the pre-shredded coleslaw and the dark green portion of the scallions. Toss until well combined.
Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours, or until ready to serve.
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Classic Coleslaw
Whip up the ultimate tangy, creamy, and crunch-packed coleslaw in just 10 minutes — the perfect sidekick for all your summer cookouts!
Ingredients
- ¾ cup mayonnaise, best quality such as Hellmann's or Duke's
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon celery seed
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 lb (about 7 cups) prepared shredded coleslaw
- 2 scallions, dark green parts only, thinly sliced
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar, sugar, mustard, celery seed, salt, and pepper. Add the coleslaw and scallions and toss until well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours, or until ready to serve.
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (8 servings)
- Calories: 266
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated fat: 4 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Sugar: 10 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Sodium: 258 mg
- Cholesterol: 14 mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Gluten-Free Adaptable Note
To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you're following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.
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Can red wine vinegar be used in place of the apple cider vinegar?
Yep that’s fine 🙂
Well I have to say that it’s the best I have ever made a tangy not sweet and very tasty my sisters and husband loved it.
Merci its a keeper
This is a near perfect coleslaw. Too often coleslaws are either overly sweet or bland. This is nice and tart, and the flavors become even a little more so overnight in the fridge. The celery seed adds a nice little pop of bitterness. I typically use tarragon vinegar for coleslaw, and add some very finely chopped raw kale. This is a great base to start with, and add your own favorites to. All of that said, I think I will likely halve the sugar the next time I make it. Thanks, as usual, Jen!
So good! Reminds me of the coleslaw I had growing up. I followed the recipe as written, no changes needed. Thanks Jenn for sharing another great recipe:)
I’ve been looking a long time for a coleslaw recipe I like and have had no luck so far. This sounded like it might be a winner so I gave it a try. As I was about to make it I decided it seemed like it would be creamier than I’d like so cut the mayo down to 1/2 cup and added another tablespoon of vinegar and another teaspoon of sugar. Flavors are still melding in the fridge but I like the first taste a lot. I also used light sour cream and light mayo – we just prefer lighter, less rich tasting foods.
WOW – this dressing is amazing and definitely a keeper!
I have been looking for a good cole slaw for a while. Made this tonight and it is now my go to recipe for coleslaw. I alway shred my own vegetables and never got the premade vegetables. Absolutely fantastic. Thank you for giving us such a great recipe. You never disappoint!
This is the identical coleslaw to mine …every ingredient. The only addition now and again has been celery for even more taste and crunch. It is really really good and ironically, I plan to make it tonight to go with cold ham.
You cant go wrong with this .
PS. You are my favourite chef . I use your recipes all the time . Thank you for your generous sharing .
I like adding a clove of minced garlic to the mix too.
Hey Jenn,
I noticed you put white wine vinegar in the instructions and apple cider vinegar in the recipe. Looking forward to trying your version! It’s similar to what I do, but I’ve never tried adding sour cream.
Thanks for catching that, Kerrie! It’s fixed 🙂