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Home » Recipes » Salad Recipes

Homemade Coleslaw Dressing Recipe

Published: May 5, 2023 by Chef Dennis Littley

7.5K shares
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My delicious homemade coleslaw dressing is creamy, tangy, and easy to make using simple ingredients. You can make my easy coleslaw recipe in about five minutes with only four ingredients, salt, and black pepper.

cole slaw dressing in glass bowl

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After one bite, you’ll agree this is the best coleslaw dressing, even better than KFC coleslaw dressing!

shredded cabbage with coleslaw dressing in a glass bowl.

This is the dressing I used to make my easy homemade cole slaw.

Table of Contents:
  • Ingredients to make Coleslaw Dressing
  • How to make Coleslaw Dressing Recipe
  • How to make Coleslaw
  • Recipe FAQ’s
  • More Recipes You’ll Love!
  • Recipe: Homemade Coleslaw Dressing Recipe

Ingredients to make Coleslaw Dressing

ingredients to make recipe.

Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make my Creamy Coleslaw Dressing Recipe. In Chef Speak, this is called the “Mise en Place,” which translates to “Everything in its Place.”

Not only does setting up your ingredients ahead of time speed up the cooking process, it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.

Made with Basic Ingredients

  • mayonnaise
  • apple cider vinegar (or white vinegar)
  • fresh lemon juice
  • granulated sugar
  • salt
  • black pepper

For another delicious salad, add the dressing to shredded broccoli to make broccoli slaw.

How to make Coleslaw Dressing Recipe

Follow along with my simple step-by-step instructions to learn how to make coleslaw dressing in your home kitchen.

ingredients to make dressing in a glass bowl.

Add mayonnaise, sugar, vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and pepper to a large bowl. It really is that easy to make this mayo-based dressing.

coleslaw dressing in a glass bowl.

Once you see how easy it is to make my classic coleslaw dressing, you’ll never buy store-bought coleslaw dressing again. Making homemade dressings lets you control the ingredients.

Just shred a head of cabbage with a box grater or food processor, and add cole slaw dressing, shredded carrots, or red cabbage for the perfect balance of flavors with just a couple of minutes of work.

How to make Coleslaw

Mix the dressing with 6 cups of shredded cabbage and one shredded carrot to make delicious homemade coleslaw. Or use one 14-ounce bag of store-bought coleslaw mix for a quick and easy coleslaw, perfect for your next backyard barbecue or get-together. Add my homemade macaroni salad, and you’ve got a party!

shredded cabbage and carrots mixed with dressing in a glass bowl.

My easy recipe for coleslaw dressing makes the best coleslaw and the perfect side dish for hot dogs, hamburgers, pulled pork sandwiches, barbecued ribs, fried chicken, or just about anything you can think of.

Store the dressing in an airtight container, refrigerated for up to one week. You can also use slaw dressing as a sauce for sandwiches, a dip for vegetables or chicken tenders, or as a dressing for other types of salads.

Recipe FAQ’s

Can I make slaw dressing without mayonnaise?

Yes, you can make slaw dressing without mayonnaise. Instead of mayonnaise, you can use alternatives like Greek yogurt, sour cream, buttermilk, or a combination of these ingredients to achieve a creamy texture.

How can I make a healthier coleslaw dressing?

To make a healthier version of my slaw dressing, you can use reduced-fat or light mayonnaise, substitute some or all of the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt or sour cream, and reduce the amount of sugar or use a natural sweetener like honey or maple syrup.

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homemade cole slaw dressing in glass bowl.

Homemade Coleslaw Dressing Recipe

Chef Dennis Littley
My delicious homemade coleslaw dressing is creamy, tangy, and easy to make using simple ingredients. You can make my easy coleslaw recipe in about five minutes with only four ingredients, salt, and black pepper.
4.99 from 122 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Listen to the Post
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 0 minutes mins
Total Time 5 minutes mins
Course Salad Dressing
Cuisine American
Servings 12
Calories 149 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • ⅓ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 ½ teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon salt more or less to taste
  • ⅛ teaspoon pepper more or less to taste

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Instructions
 

  • In a medium bowl, combine mayonnaise, sugar, vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth and creamy.

Nutrition

Calories: 149kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 0.2gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 313mgPotassium: 7mgFiber: 0.01gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 12IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 2mgIron: 0.1mg
Tried this recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askchefdennis or tag #askchefdennis!

Comments

    4.99 from 122 votes (66 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Momma Donna says

    August 23, 2025 at 8:04 pm

    5 stars
    I always make cabbage slaw, but made coleslaw for a friend and this recipe was amazing. I did cut the sugar, which is what I always do, but it was fabulous. Thank you because I had no idea how to do the creamy version of coleslaw. I will definitely be watching more recipes from Chef Dennis.

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      August 24, 2025 at 8:05 am

      Thank for letting me know you tried my coleslaw dressing recipe, its been a family favorite for decades! I hope you find for recipes on my website to try.

      Reply
  2. Audrey K Hutter says

    August 19, 2025 at 4:50 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe for cole slaw dressing was very tasty. All my friends liked it a lot. I used white vinegar sine I was out of apple cider vinegar.

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      August 19, 2025 at 5:04 pm

      Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed my coleslaw recipe.

      Reply
  3. Marm says

    August 18, 2025 at 10:44 pm

    5 stars
    Made it as written. This is very very sweet. It’d be good paired with smokey BBQ but for my taste it was too much. I’m going to use this recipe again but with about a third of the sugar. The rest of it was just perfect though.

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      August 19, 2025 at 5:07 pm

      I’m happy to hear you enjoyed it, even though it was a too sweet for your tastes. Cutting back the sugar will be an easy fix, the next time you make it.

      Reply
  4. Glenn says

    August 14, 2025 at 5:48 pm

    5 stars
    Everybody has a different opinion on what’s “healthy,” but I am in the camp that the low-fat craze was wrong and that refined carbs (i.e., sugar, flour, and starches) are more harmful. As a result, I don’t shy away from the mayonnaise (although the soybean oil isn’t very good for you), and substitute a squirt of stevia instead of the sugar.

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      August 14, 2025 at 9:11 pm

      That is certainly the truth. I feel that most recipes are guidelines and can be adjusted to taste preference or dietary concerns.

      Reply
  5. Patty says

    August 11, 2025 at 8:14 pm

    5 stars
    I added a little celery seed, has great flavor!

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      August 12, 2025 at 7:43 am

      Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed our coleslaw recipe!

      Reply
  6. Elaine Birkhimer says

    August 10, 2025 at 7:49 pm

    5 stars
    Love this dressing. I use champagne vinegar in place of vinegar. Folks, try it, makes a great dressing even better. I use champagne vinegar in most of my salads instead of cider. Fantastic in potato and egg salads.

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      August 10, 2025 at 7:56 pm

      I love champagne vinegar too, I use it in many of my salad dresssings.

      Reply
  7. Draver says

    August 07, 2025 at 1:27 pm

    I like to add a slice of onion (thinly sliced) to the cole slaw dressing. It can be a red onion, for extra color, or white

    Reply
  8. Pierrette says

    August 02, 2025 at 11:08 am

    5 stars
    I used 1/2 cup Greek yogurt and 1/2 cup mayo,
    Delicious, thank you.

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      August 02, 2025 at 11:52 am

      You’re welcome and thank for letting me know the substitution worked well with the dressing.

      Reply
  9. Beverly Thompson says

    July 28, 2025 at 2:23 pm

    5 stars
    Best ever!

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      July 28, 2025 at 2:38 pm

      Thank you!!

      Reply
  10. Dardnella Rovaris says

    July 17, 2025 at 2:55 pm

    5 stars
    Absolutely delicious !

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      July 17, 2025 at 3:18 pm

      That’s what I like to hear!

      Reply
  11. Blanche says

    July 12, 2025 at 12:04 pm

    5 stars
    I love coleslaw. The recipe turned out delicious. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      July 12, 2025 at 2:33 pm

      HYou’re very welcome and I’m glad you liked it!

      Reply
  12. Monika says

    July 05, 2025 at 11:48 am

    5 stars
    Delicious! Right amount of sweetness!

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      July 05, 2025 at 2:43 pm

      That’s what I like to hear!

      Reply
  13. Claire Brunson says

    July 05, 2025 at 11:47 am

    5 stars
    Try putting halved grape tomatoes in your Cole slaw with this dressing. Takes it to a whole new level and it’s so pretty too!

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      July 05, 2025 at 2:43 pm

      That sounds like a nice addition to the cole slaw!

      Reply
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My name is Chef Dennis Littley, creator and owner of Ask Chef Dennis Productions. As a classically trained chef with 40+ years of experience in the kitchen, I share my time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen.

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