Learn how to make it at home with this KFC Coleslaw Copycat Recipe! Just like the delicious coleslaw served at your favorite fried chicken restaurant!
Reasons To Make This Coleslaw:
- It tastes JUST like the kind you get at KFC!
- This is a perfect summer side dish, it’s great for potlucks, BBQs and picnics.
- Quick and easy, you can whip this coleslaw up in a matter of minutes… yes, minutes!
- You can easily make this the day before you need it. It’s even better the next day!
KFC Coleslaw
If you’ve been to Kentucky Fried Chicken, chances are good that you’ve tasted their famous coleslaw. As a side dish for a chicken dinner or barbecue, it doesn’t get much better than a creamy crunchy slaw and KFC’s does theirs just right.
With summer weather arriving, I’m already planning ahead for all those picnics and barbecues on the horizon! Nothing goes better with a leg of fried chicken or a big plate of BBQ like a side of homemade coleslaw.
Lots of recipes have circulated over the years claiming to be the authentic KFC coleslaw copycat recipe. The one I’m sharing today, though, is by far the best! It tastes just like the slaw you love with your fried chicken order, all tossed with a creamy tangy dressing.
Best of all? This coleslaw recipe is super easy!
The most effort you’ll put into making KFC Coleslaw is chopping the cabbage. Other than the effort it takes to resist trying a bite before it’s had a chance to marinate in the fridge for a couple of hours, of course!
KFC Coleslaw Copycat Recipe
Made entirely from scratch, this easy coleslaw will be the perfect side dish for all your summer barbecues and picnics. Instead of making a trip to a Kentucky Fried Chicken and paying for such an easy slaw, stay home and make it yourself for pennies.
I use green cabbage for this slaw because I wanted to mimic the KFC coleslaw as closely as possible. You also can’t beat the price! If you prefer, I’m sure red cabbage (or a mix or both) would be delicious here as well.
While you can simply chop your cabbage, if you have a food processor, it really helps give that coleslaw texture you get at Kentucky Fried Chicken. I first rough chop my cabbage, then just pulse it in the food processor a few times. Works like a charm. That said, if you don’t have a food processor, no worries, just chop it as finely as you like.
KFC Coleslaw Dressing
What really makes this coleslaw stand out is the creamy dressing. Made with real buttermilk, the dressing gets a tangy kick from a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
For years I thought I disliked coleslaw because I wasn’t a fan of the dressings. They were either too heavy on the mayonnaise or too sweet for my taste. So I always skipped the coleslaw and brought Pasta Salad to outdoor potlucks instead.
This homemade coleslaw recipe is SO much better than the ones I was trying before! It’s full of creamy buttermilk flavor with just the right amount of sweetness to balance things out. While I’ll still bring my share of pasta salads to my summer potlucks, I might have to start mixing things up by showing up with copycat KFC coleslaw instead!
Make this coleslaw for your next picnic or chicken dinner along with other favorites like Macaroni and Cheese and Jiffy Cornbread or Easy Homemade Dinner Rolls, and you’ll have a perfect meal. Don’t forget the Crockpot Baked Beans, Mashed Potatoes, Buttermilk Biscuits, Ambrosia Fruit Salad and Creamed Corn, too! We love to serve this as a side with Air Fryer Cheeseburgers.
KFC Coleslaw Recipe
KFC Coleslaw Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 cups cabbage finely chopped about 1 head
- 1/4 cup shredded carrot about 1 carrot
- 2 tbs minced onion
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup buttermilk
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 1/2 tbs lemon juice
- 1 1/2 tbs white vinegar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together, the milks, mayonnaise, sugar, lemon juice and vinegar. Add the onion, carrots and cabbage with salt and pepper. Toss to thoroughly coat the vegetables in the dressing.
- Cover and let chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours (or as many as 8) before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Disclaimer
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Pamela Thompson says
Awesome taste! How do I make it a liitle more creamy? Great recipe!
Brian M says
This is easily the best coleslaw recipe I have ever used. This recipe without fail after trying so many recipes over the years before finding this gem. Everyone loves it.
Someone says
Pretty good.
Donna says
Christi is my favorite chef of all times. How she does it, I don’t know, but she comes up with all these recipes that are simply the best of the best. There has never been a recipe of hers that I don’t care for. She uses the right ingredients to make everything perfect. This slaw is so much like KFC, I feel like I am sitting in my car in the parking lot eating chicken and slaw, as opposed to my dining room table. THANK YOU CHRISTI. ANOTHER WIN WIN WIN RECIPE.
Christi Johnstone says
Oh my goodness, what a sweet message! Thank you so much, you made my day!!!
Rhonda Holloway says
KFC coleslaw is so good. I have looked around and tried several recipes and none of them seemed to be a close taste to KFC’s. I tried this recipe and wow, it is simply delicious. I will for sure only make this coleslaw. Thank you so much!
FeeStor says
This might be a daft question but is that 2T of dried minced onion orminced onion that I have chopped. I am tending to the former but want to make sure. KFC slaw is my hubby’s favourite.
Christi Johnstone says
Freshly minced onion is best!
Betty says
Soooooo delicious!!!
Try it with a little bit of celery seed
Dave Mann says
I’m one of the few people in my sphere of influence who likes KFC coleslaw, but it’s my favorite. First time I made this the strongest taste was the minced onion. I backed off to about one super sized (but not quite 2) tablespoons. I usually buy the bag of shredded cabbage with carrots and then I chop that up much finer. That quantity of cabbage plus the quantity of liquid ingredients in the recipe makes a nice, wet, slaw.
Julie Morris says
Perfect but KFC uses TARAGON vinegar. This recipe is good either way but the taragon makes it taste even more similar. Thanks for sharing your recipe.
Michelle says
Best home-made slaw I’ve ever made! I made cod sandwiches and this slaw was PERFECT on top the fish; Everyone loved it! Will definitely be making again soon!