Easy Coleslaw Recipe with a Creamy Homemade Dressing

Coleslaw is a budget cook’s best friend. Or at least it should be.

Now, before you say you don’t like coleslaw, I’d like to say, “Have an open mind.” Especially if you’ve never had homemade coleslaw. It’s just not the same as the over-sweetened, gloppy stuff you might buy at the store or get from a food truck or fast food.

Homemade coleslaw with crunchy cabbage and a creamy dressing is the bomb dot com. And so easy and budget-friendly to make.

All you need is green cabbage, green onions, and a small handful of pantry staples for the dressing.

Why Make My Coleslaw Recipe

?It’s an easy coleslaw recipe. Seriously, one bowl, a few ingredients, and 15 minutes are all you need from start to finish.

The haters turn to lovers. My husband never liked coleslaw — until the first time I made this recipe for him. Now, he gobbles the stuff down.

It’s cheap to make. Cabbage is generally a cheap veggie all year round and it keeps for a long time. Add in a few veggies from the crisper and a homemade coleslaw dressing with a few basic ingredients and you’re good to go.

It’s a perfect classic side dish for so many things. Hot dogs, burgers, sandwiches, fish and chips – there are so many things made better with a little bit of homemade creamy coleslaw on the side.

Coleslaw Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this easy coleslaw recipe:

shredded cabbage – This can be from a packages coleslaw mix or a small head of cabbage that you cut into thin slices yourself. Typically I use green, but you can use purple cabbage if you like. Just keep in mind that the dressing will turn pink from the natural coloring of purple or red cabbage. If you have a bag of broccoli slaw or shredded brussels sprouts, you can use those instead of the cabbage. To be honest you could use any shredded vegetables in this easy recipe.

green onions – I love the light bite that green onions give to cole slaw, but you can also use sliced red onion or sweet onion if you prefer.

fresh cilantro – Chopped fresh cilantro gives this homemade coleslaw recipe extra brightness. If you don’t love cilantro, you can use fresh chopped parsley instead. Some folks even add mint to their coleslaw which is a fun twist.

mayo – I prefer Best Foods (aka Hellman’s) or homemade mayonnaise, but use whatever mayo you prefer, or even Miracle Whip or sour cream if you prefer.

apple cider vinegar – I’m not a fan of sweet coleslaw, so you’ll notice there’s no sugar in this easy coleslaw recipe. I find that apple cider vinegar has enough sweet without being overpowering. If you like your sweeter, you can add honey or maple syrup when you make the dressing.

spices – I love the combination of ground cumin, ground ancho chile powder, salt, and black pepper. These add enough spice to keep things interesting and allow me to serve this classic coleslaw recipe with tacos just as easily as with fried chicken strips or a pulled pork sandwich.

Step-by-Step Instructions

I love how this easy coleslaw recipe comes together in one bowl! Just a few simple steps.

• In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, vinegar, cumin, and chile powder. Whisk until smooth.
• Add the coleslaw mix, scallions, and cilantro.
• Toss the cabbage mixture gently in the dressing to coat. Taste and adjust seasonings as desired. Serve immediately.

Serving Suggestions: This classic creamy coleslaw is perfect for serving at a summer potluck, but it’s also great to serve in the winter months when other salad greens aren’t in season. It’s delicious with any cooked meats or fish as well as in an array of other cold salads.

To Make a Meal Prep: Store prepared coleslaw in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days. By the third day, it may get weepy as the cabbage will lose water over time. For best results store the dressing and cabbage mixture separately; then combine right before serving.

Make a Plan for Leftovers: Promptly refrigerate leftover dressing and use it up within 3 days.