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Home » Recipes » Salad Recipes

Homemade Coleslaw Dressing Recipe

Published: May 5, 2023 by Chef Dennis Littley

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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


 

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.
5 from 103 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
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

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

    5 from 103 votes (66 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Granny says says

    June 14, 2025 at 11:08 am

    Delicious…it’s my go-to whenever I make coleolaw…

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      June 14, 2025 at 12:05 pm

      Thanks for letting me know you’ve been enjoying my coleslaw recipe.

      Reply
  2. Tom Creed says

    June 11, 2025 at 2:29 am

    5 stars
    Chef Dennis…. Great tasting dressing! Reminds me of my Mom’s Cole slaw.. I’m 75 and it brings back great family memories. I love the full mayo taste/flavor… however, I used 1/2 cup olive oil mayo and i/2 cup sour cream. At my age I can’t eat like I used to : ( Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      June 11, 2025 at 10:54 pm

      You’re very welcome and I’m happy to hear it reminded you of your moms recipes, thats high praise indeed.

      Reply
  3. Anna says

    June 10, 2025 at 5:21 pm

    5 stars
    Like the tanginess

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      June 11, 2025 at 10:56 pm

      I’m happy to hear you enjoyed the dressing.

      Reply
  4. Pal says

    June 04, 2025 at 4:44 pm

    5 stars
    Easy and delicious!

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      June 05, 2025 at 10:57 am

      That’s what I like to hear!

      Reply
  5. Carla says

    June 01, 2025 at 11:30 am

    5 stars
    5* from Switzerland. I like cole slaw salad but with your dressing I love it :-).

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      June 01, 2025 at 12:57 pm

      Thank you Carla! I’m happy to hear you enjoyed my slaw dressing!

      Reply
  6. Phyllis says

    May 27, 2025 at 11:22 am

    5 stars
    Excellent! My family loves this dressing.

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      May 27, 2025 at 11:48 am

      Thanks for letting me know everyone enjoyed my coleslaw dressing!

      Reply
  7. Mark Malone says

    May 26, 2025 at 2:25 pm

    5 stars
    Someone actually stopped me at a graduation picnic and complimented me on the this cole slaw. She said, this was so much like her great aunts’ recipe and enjoyed this preparation and appreciated the memory. So much better than grocery store !!

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      May 26, 2025 at 3:39 pm

      Wow, now that’s the type of comment I love hearing. Food memories are some of my fondest memories.

      Reply
  8. Jade says

    May 21, 2025 at 11:31 pm

    5 stars
    LOVED IT

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      May 22, 2025 at 6:32 am

      Happy to hear that!

      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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