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.

After one bite, you’ll agree this is the best coleslaw dressing, even better than KFC coleslaw dressing!
This is the dressing I used to make my easy homemade cole slaw.
Ingredients to make Coleslaw Dressing
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.
Add mayonnaise, sugar, vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and pepper to a large bowl. It really is that easy to make this mayo-based dressing.
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!
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
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.
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 Coleslaw Dressing Recipe
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.
Granny says says
Delicious…it’s my go-to whenever I make coleolaw…
Chef Dennis Littley says
Thanks for letting me know you’ve been enjoying my coleslaw recipe.
Tom Creed says
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.
Chef Dennis Littley says
You’re very welcome and I’m happy to hear it reminded you of your moms recipes, thats high praise indeed.
Anna says
Like the tanginess
Chef Dennis Littley says
I’m happy to hear you enjoyed the dressing.
Pal says
Easy and delicious!
Chef Dennis Littley says
That’s what I like to hear!
Carla says
5* from Switzerland. I like cole slaw salad but with your dressing I love it :-).
Chef Dennis Littley says
Thank you Carla! I’m happy to hear you enjoyed my slaw dressing!
Phyllis says
Excellent! My family loves this dressing.
Chef Dennis Littley says
Thanks for letting me know everyone enjoyed my coleslaw dressing!
Mark Malone says
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 !!
Chef Dennis Littley says
Wow, now that’s the type of comment I love hearing. Food memories are some of my fondest memories.
Jade says
LOVED IT
Chef Dennis Littley says
Happy to hear that!