This crunchy Coleslaw is made with store-bought coleslaw mix and a simple homemade mayo and sour cream dressing. It comes together in under 5 minutes (just the time to make the dressing!) and is perfect for a summer side dish.
Looking for more easy summer side dishes? Try my creamy Macaroni Salad next!
About This Recipe
Make this coleslaw for your next barbecue or summer gathering- I guarantee it'll be one of the highlights on the table!
I've been making this coleslaw recipe for many years now, and it consistently gets rave reviews wherever I bring it. The secret really comes down to the dressing. I start with a base of mayonnaise AND sour cream. Many recipes use just mayonnaise, but I find the result to be too heavy. Sour cream gives the coleslaw a more refreshing taste, and if you use 0% fat sour cream, it's slightly healthier too.
One thing about coleslaw is that it tends to get soggy after sitting for a while. If you're planning on making this ahead of time, I suggest keeping the slaw and dressing separate, and just before serving, mix them together. This helps the coleslaw stay crisp and crunchy instead of soggy.
Key Ingredients
Coleslaw mix: I like using coleslaw mix because it's convenient, and I find it to be drier, so the slaw gets less runny after the sauce is mixed in. Also, it's already the perfect ratio of green cabbage to purple cabbage to carrots. When you buy those vegetables separately, you always end up with way too much purple cabbage and carrots.
Mayonnaise: Because mayonnaise is a prominent ingredient, make sure you get a good-quality one. I really enjoy Hellman's, Miracle Whip, or the Costco brand mayonnaise.
Sour cream: Sour cream is less greasy than mayonnaise, so it gives the slaw a lighter texture. You can use any percentage of fat sour cream you like, but 0% is my favorite for this coleslaw.
Apple cider vinegar + Dijon mustard: These acidic ingredients add brightness and tanginess to the creamy dressing. I love the flavor of apple cider vinegar, but lemon juice can be used as a replacement.
Sugar: A little bit of sweetness helps elevate the flavors.
Seasonings: All you need are celery seeds, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
Instructions
STEP 1: In a medium bowl, combine all the dressing ingredients. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper as needed.
STEP 2: Just before serving, toss together the coleslaw mix and dressing. If you prefer a softer coleslaw, you can mix it one hour beforehand, but keep in mind, coleslaw gets more runny the longer it sits.
📋 Recipe
Best Coleslaw
Ingredients
- 1 (14-16-ounce) bag coleslaw mix
For the dressing
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ¾ teaspoon celery seeds (optional)
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt (more or less to taste)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper (more or less to taste)
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine all the dressing ingredients. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper as needed.
- Just before serving, toss together the coleslaw mix and dressing. If you prefer a softer coleslaw, you can mix it one hour beforehand, but it is a bit more runny.
Leave a Reply