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.
George says
I used this recipe to make my pineapple coleslaw. It’s the perfect recipe as is and the pineapple was just a little twist.
Thanks!
ron coale says
I hope I can get my wife to try this.
Rebecca says
Need a buttermilk substitute. I have almond milk, which I can sour with vinegar, but there is already some present. I have half n half, but I don’t keep cows milk on hand. I have lemon too.
Elkay says
Yay! So glad I finally looked up a copycat recipe for KFC’s coleslaw and glad this is the one I tried. This is the taste I’ve been craving. Made a batch this morning and it’s in the fridge now to be served with dinner. Approximated everything to about half for the amount of slaw I needed and started with 1 tbs sugar thinking I might add more as I go but left it at that after taste testing everything combined. Thank you for posting this recipe!
Benter says
We tried it 10/10.Yummy
Jeff Brothers says
This is the “real deal”…..love this recipe….hate when folks serve coleslaw that tastes like mayonnaise….
Susan says
This is the BEST slaw recipe I’ve found yet, super crunchy, sweet and yummy!! Very easy to make, also, and I always have all the ingredients in the kitchen anyway. Thank you!!
Deacon says
I lived next to a kfc for 5 years in 1968, and ate ther 3-4 times a week. I have to laugh at all the comments that I read, most of the no nothing about kfc except back then they served good food.
Joyce Warner says
love the taste, did not change anything
Stefan says
The SECOND time I made this delicious recipe:
– I doubled the pepper to 1 tsp. instead of 1/2 tsp. (because I always used KFC’s little pepper packets on the slaw anyway)
– I took the sugar down to 1/4 cup instead of 1/3 cup (because I always felt the real thing would be better if it was just a tad less sweet)
– I added 1/2 tsp. tarragon (because KFC’s real recipe does use tarragon vinegar instead of white vinegar; plus, I love tarragon)
For me, these tiny adjustments just zeroed it in a bit more, for the reasons I mentioned. But either way… this tastes excellent on my pulled pork sandwich! Thanx!