This classic American Cole Slaw comes together quickly and easily with a few simple ingredients and a tangy homemade dressing for a dish that is perfect for cookouts and potlucks.
Homemade Cole Slaw is a classic American dish showing up at cookouts, potlucks and barbeques. This Southern-style cole slaw recipe has a dressing that is the perfect balance of creamy, tangy and sweet resulting in a delicious slaw that pairs well with a variety of meals. This recipe is gluten-free and grain-free and can easily be made vegan or keto by following the variations listed below.
Serve this delicious American Cole Slaw with Pulled Pork, BBQ Sauce, watermelon and corn on the cob for a quintessential summer meal.
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Ingredients
Here's what you need to make American Cole Slaw:
- bagged cole slaw mix
- green onions
- mayonnaise
- white vinegar
- sugar
- salt
- ground black pepper
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Here's how to make American Cole Slaw:
Use a cutting board and knife to slice the green onions.
In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper.
Add the cole slaw mix and green onions to the bowl.
Give everything a good stir. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes and up to 6 hours prior to serving.
Hint: Refrigerating the cole slaw prior to serving isn't essential, but it allows the flavors to meld and the dressing to break down the cabbage a bit.
Substitutions
Want to substitute an ingredient in American Cole Slaw? Here's how:
- Cole slaw mix - use ¼ head shredded red cabbage, ¼ head shredded green cabbage and 1 shredded carrot in place of the cole slaw mix.
- Mayonnaise - use an equal amount of plain Greek yogurt or sour cream in place of the mayonnaise.
- White vinegar - use an equal amount of red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar in place of the white vinegar.
- Sugar - use an equal amount of a sugar substitute such as honey, monk fruit or coconut sugar.
Variations
Try one of these variations of American Cole Slaw:
- Herby - add ½ teaspoon of celery seeds and some chopped fresh parsley or dill to add some freshness to this cole slaw.
- Dijon - add 1 Tablespoon of Dijon mustard to the dressing to give it some extra flavor.
- Vegan -use a vegan mayonnaise to make your slaw vegan.
- Keto/ low-carb - use an equal amount of monk fruit sweetener in place of the sugar.
Equipment
This equipment comes in handy when making American Cole Slaw:
Storage
Safely store leftover American Cole Slaw in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The cole slaw does get increasingly soggy as it sits so I prefer to eat it within 24 hours of putting it all together. I do not recommend freezing leftover cole slaw as the texture of the cabbage will be compromised.
Top tip
If you'd like to prep this a day or more in advance, mix up the dressing and slice the green onions, then store everything separately in airtight containers, tossing together 30 minutes-2 hours prior to when you'd like to serve the cole slaw.
FAQ
Cole Slaw is a classic American side dish made of shredded cabbage and carrots tossed in a creamy and tangy dressing made of mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper.
Related
Looking for other easy side dish recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
Serve this American Cole Slaw with one of these dinner recipes for a balanced meal the whole family will love:
Recipe
American Cole Slaw
Equipment
- 1 knife
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- 4 Tablespoons white vinegar
- ½ Tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 16 oz bag cole slaw
- 1 bunch green onions
Instructions
- Use a cutting board and knife to slice the green onions.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper.
- Add the cole slaw mix and green onions to the bowl.
- Give everything a good stir. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes and up to 6 hours prior to serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Food safety
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
Shannon
Such a classic!