Crunchy Creamy Sweet

menu icon
go to homepage
  • All Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • About Me
  • Contact
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • All Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • About Me
  • Contact
×
You are here: Crunchy Creamy Sweet / Recipes / Side Dish

Easy Creamy Coleslaw

Published: Jul 1, 2019 · Modified: Mar 7, 2020 by Anna 10 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.

Jump to Recipe Print Pin Recipe Comment

This Easy Creamy Coleslaw is perfect for potlucks and BBQ dinners! The creamy dressing is simple and delicious!

We love this coleslaw served with my Fried Chicken or Pulled Pork and alongside with Baked Potatoes or Potato Salad.

Creamy Coleslaw in large white salad bowl.

One of the most popular side dishes for potlucks or BBQ dinners is hands down coleslaw. This easy, homemade Creamy Coleslaw is my go-to recipe. It's easy and delicious! You can make it on the morning of the day you will serve it or a day before. It's creamy, slightly sweet and tangy, just all around perfect. I love serving it with air fried or grilled chicken as well as in pulled pork sandwiches.

Ingredients

  • 6 cups shredded green cabbage (one small head)
  • 1 cup shredded carrots (2 medium size)
  • mayonnaise
  • sour cream
  • apple cider vinegar
  • salt and pepper
  • onion powder
  • yellow mustard
  • celery salt or fresh leaves

Instructions

  • Start by chopping the cabbage and combine it with shredded carrots in a large bowl.
  • Make the dressing in a small bowl and pour over slaw.
  • Toss everything together, cover bowl with plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours.
Shredded cabbage and carrots in a glass bowl.

The dressing

  • In a small bowl, whisk mayo, sour cream, mustard, apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, onion powder and chopped celery leaves.
  • Pour over cabbage and carrot mix.
  • Toss well to coat.
Ingredients for creamy coleslaw dressing in glass bowl.

Would you like to save this recipe?

We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

Fresh vegetables vs. coleslaw mix in a bag

You can use either one in this recipe, but if you can, go with fresh cabbage and carrots. Simply chop cabbage and shred the carrots and toss them together. You can use a mix of green and purple cabbage for an added pop of color.

Can I make it ahead of time?

Yes, you can make this coleslaw one day ahead and keep in the fridge, in a covered container. I make it in the morning of the day I will be serving it and by dinner time, it's absolutely perfect. The next day, the coleslaw can turn watery so read the next tip to learn how to avoid that.

How to keep it from being watery?

If you know you won't be serving the coleslaw the same day you make it, take this simple step to prevent it from turning watery. After you chop the cabbage, place it in a colander and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of salt. Let it sit like that for 1 hour (more if possible) to draw out the liquid. Squeeze out as much liquid as possible and dry cabbage with a paper towel. Follow the recipe below to make coleslaw, except skip the salt.

Creamy Coleslaw in white bowl on marble top.

More easy side dish recipes

  • Instant Pot Baked Beans
  • German Potato Salad
  • Deviled Egg Macaroni Salad
  • Easy Broccoli Salad

For more recipes, feel free to browse our Side Dish Category.

If you like this recipe and make it, snap a photo and share it on INSTAGRAM! Tag me @crunchycreamysweet so I can check it out! 😀

Creamy Coleslaw in large white salad bowl.

Easy Creamy Coleslaw

Author: Anna
This Easy Creamy Coleslaw is perfect for potlucks and BBQ dinners! The creamy coleslaw dressing is simple and delicious! Use fresh shredded cabbage and carrots or one bag of coleslaw mix.
5 from 7 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 15 minutes mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 5 servings
Calories 219 kcal
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients
 
 

!for the coleslaw:

  • 6 cups shredded green cabbage
  • 1 cup shredded carrots

!for the coleslaw dressing:

  • ½ cup mayonnaise I used olive oil mayo
  • ¼ cup sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1.5 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
  • 1 tablespoon fresh leaves chopped (see note)

Instructions
 

  • In a large mixing bowl, stir together shredded cabbage and carrots.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together all dressing ingredients. Pour over coleslaw. Toss to coat.
  • Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Notes

You can use 16oz. bag of coleslaw mix for this recipe.
If you don't have fresh celery leaves, use ¼ teaspoon of celery salt.

Nutrition

Calories: 219kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 429mg | Potassium: 241mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 4470IU | Vitamin C: 32.4mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 0.7mg
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment with rating below!

More Side Dish Recipes

  • Square image of macaroni and cheese in a cooking pot.
    Best Homemade Mac and Cheese Recipe
  • Square image of four muffins made with stuffing on a gray plate.
    Leftover Stuffing Muffins
  • Square image of cooked rice in freezer bags.
    How to Freeze Rice
  • Square image of cooked long-grain rice in a blue pot on a gray board.
    How to Cook Rice on the Stove

Comments

    5 from 7 votes

    Did you make this recipe? Let me know! Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Mark says

    February 14, 2025 at 1:31 pm

    5 stars
    Coleslaw and shredded pork from your recipe is absolutely what I love

    Reply
  2. Amy says

    August 09, 2019 at 11:35 am

    5 stars
    This is an awesome side dish to my fried chicken!

    Reply
  3. Becky Hardin says

    July 01, 2019 at 9:40 pm

    5 stars
    Love everything about this coleslaw! So good! I have to make it soon!

    Reply
  4. Trang says

    July 01, 2019 at 7:30 pm

    5 stars
    Five stars for being easy to make and delicious!

    Reply
  5. Natasha says

    July 01, 2019 at 3:59 pm

    5 stars
    So creamy!! This is the perfect side dish for a potluck!

    Reply
    • Anna says

      July 01, 2019 at 5:42 pm

      I agree! It's delicious!

      Reply
  6. Stephanie says

    July 01, 2019 at 3:24 pm

    5 stars
    So delicious! This is my favorite go-to recipe for summer BBQs!

    Reply
    • Anna says

      July 01, 2019 at 5:42 pm

      Same here! We love it! Thank you, Stephanie!

      Reply
  7. Erin says

    July 01, 2019 at 3:00 pm

    5 stars
    This is a must for summer so easy and so good!

    Reply
    • Anna says

      July 01, 2019 at 5:42 pm

      I could eat it every day! 😀

      Reply
Profile photo of the author of Crunchy Creamy Sweet website.

Hi! I'm Anna!

Thank you for stopping by! Here you will find easy and delicious recipes for busy people. My recipes are made with everyday ingredients and all of them are family-approved!

read more...

Easy Dinners

  • Square image of chicken in teriyaki sauce, rice and broccoli in a white bowl.
    Quick Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowls Recipe
  • Asian chicken on rice.
    Easy Sesame Chicken Recipe
  • Square image of creamy garlic chicken in a skillet.
    Creamy Garlic Chicken
  • Lemon garlic chicken in a skillet.
    Creamy Lemon Garlic Chicken Recipe
  • Chicken in mushroom garlic sauce in pan.
    Creamy Mushroom Garlic Chicken
  • Beef noodle casserole in a baking dish.
    Cheesy Beef Noodle Casserole

Popular Recipes

  • Cooked shrimp on a white plate.
    Air Fryer Shrimp
  • Square image of four Russet potatoes on a rack in the Instant Pot pressure cooker.
    Instant Pot Baked Potatoes Recipe
  • Noodles with peanut sauce and green onions in a white bowl with chopsticks.
    Thai Peanut Noodles Recipe
  • Square image of chicken nuggets with parsley on a white plate.
    Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets Recipe
  • Pasta salad with tomatoes and bacon in a glass serving bowl.
    BLT Pasta Salad Recipe
  • Square image of KFC coleslaw in a white bowl with red plaid napkin.
    KFC Coleslaw Copycat Recipe

Featured in

Logos of publications like yahoo, Parade magazine, MSN.

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 Crunchy Creamy Sweet All rights reserved.

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.