The Best Copycat Coleslaw Recipe We've Tried

2022-11-18
The Best Copycat Coleslaw Recipe We've Tried
Total Time:
4 hrs
Servings:
8
Yield:
5 cups

This copycat KFC coleslaw recipe tastes just like the real thing. When testing, our Test Kitchen found the longer the coleslaw chilled, the better it tasted. Go ahead and whip up a bowl and let the coleslaw sit overnight to really let those flavors develop.

Copycat Coleslaw Ingredients

This copycat KFC coleslaw starts with a packaged veggie mix and a sweet creamy sauce. Here's what you'll need to make it.

  • Cabbage Mix: To keep things easy, we used a bag of coleslaw mix for this copycat recipe. It contains pre-shredded cabbage and carrots. To mimic the restaurant-style texture, you'll need to chop it before combining it with the sauce.
  • Mayo: You can use your favorite mayo in this recipe. You'll need 1/2 a cup.
  • Sugar: Our Test Kitchen tested the recipe with plain granulated sugar. Many restaurant-style coleslaws are on the sweet side.
  • Milks: Thin the dressing with a combination of whole milk and buttermilk. Don't skip the buttermilk—it helps balance the sweetness and adds a little tanginess.
  • Onion: For the best texture, grate your onion rather than chopping it. We used a yellow onion when testing the recipe.
  • Vinegar: Just two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar gives this recipe for copycat coleslaw the signature flavor you know and love.
  • Lemon: Fresh lemon juice helps cut through the richness of the dressing and brightens up the dish.
  • Salt: Balance the flavors and sweetness with salt.

How to Make Copycat Coleslaw

Making this homemade coleslaw is as easy as chopping your ingredients and mixing the sauce. That said, our recipe testers found it tasted best once after chilling in the fridge overnight. The texture softens slightly and the flavors meld.

How to Store Coleslaw

If you have leftover prepared coleslaw, it will last in the fridge for up to 3 days. Store it in an airtight container. If the coleslaw has sat out at room temperature for more than 2 hours, discard. If you're unsure, err on the side of caution and toss it.

Ingredients

  • 14 to 16-ounce package coleslaw

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise

  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar

  • 1/3 cup whole milk

  • 3 tablespoons buttermilk

  • 2 tablespoons grated onion

  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

  1. Finely chop coleslaw mix.

  2. In a large bowl whisk together the next eight ingredients (through salt). Stir in chopped coleslaw. Cover and chill at least 4 hours or overnight. Stir before serving.

Any restaurant names or trademarks in the names of our recipes are included solely for reference and do not indicate any authorization or approval by their owners. All recipes were independently created and have not been reviewed or approved by any other parties.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

227 Calories
17g Fat
17g Carbs
1g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Calories 227
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 17.4g 22%
Saturated Fat 2.9g 15%
Cholesterol 11.5mg 4%
Sodium 361.3mg 16%
Total Carbohydrate 16.7g 6%
Dietary Fiber 1.2g 4%
Total Sugars 14.7g
Protein 1.2g 2%
Vitamin D 0.2mcg 1%
Vitamin C 8.6mg 10%
Calcium 40mg 3%
Iron 0.2mg 1%
Potassium 124.5mg 3%
Fatty acids, total trans 0.1g
Vitamin D 6.2IU
Alanine 0g
Arginine 0g
Ash 1.3g
Aspartic acid 0.1g
Caffeine 0mg
Carotene, alpha 148.6mcg
Choline, total 12.2mg
Copper, Cu 0mg
Cystine 0g
Energy 949.6kJ
Fluoride, F 0.2mcg
Folate, total 16.5mcg
Glutamic acid 0.1g
Glycine 0g
Histidine 0g
Isoleucine 0g
Leucine 0.1g
Lysine 0.1g
Methionine 0g
Magnesium, Mg 8.3mg
Manganese, Mn 0.1mg
Niacin 0.2mg
Phosphorus, P 32.5mg
Pantothenic acid 0.2mg
Phenylalanine 0g
Phytosterols 0.6mg
Proline 0.1g
Retinol 10.2mcg
Selenium, Se 2mcg
Serine 0g
Starch 0g
Theobromine 0mg
Threonine 0g
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) 0.9mg
Tryptophan 0g
Tyrosine 0g
Valine 0g
Vitamin A, IU 594IU
Vitamin A, RAE 38.3mcg
Vitamin B-12 0.1mcg
Vitamin B-6 0.1mg
Vitamin K (phylloquinone) 67.3mcg
Water 69.2g
Zinc, Zn 0.2mg

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

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