How to Make Coleslaw From Scratch

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Looking for the perfect coleslaw recipe for this summer? Let me show you how to make coleslaw from scratch! It’s so easy and you only need a few ingredients!

How to make coleslaw from scratch with an incredibly simple and easy coleslaw recipe that only uses four ingredients. Simple and delicious! #homemade #fromscratch #coleslaw

How to Make Coleslaw From Scratch

It’s THAT time of year!! Yes, backyard barbeques with friends and family, church picnics, easy meals….and of course, the main season of….don’t heat up your house unless absolutely necessary!

— Here are some delicious No Cook Meal Ideas for Hot Summer Days.

It’s also gardening season, with lots of fresh vegetables coming from the garden, and the perfect time to make an easy, healthy coleslaw from scratch. This is a pretty basic recipe, but it is so good and easy!

It’s a great recipe to make in a hurry if you are like me and panic when you have to furnish something for a picnic or backyard barbecue. That’s one of the great things about coleslaw; you can easily have these ingredients on hand. Cabbage and carrots don’t go bad quickly on you so that you can keep them in your crisper drawer and whip together a recipe fairly quickly.

Ingredients for Coleslaw

Ingredients in the Easy Coleslaw Recipe

  • Homemade Mayo. I’ve found that homemade mayonnaise works best in this recipe because the flavor is so good. However, store-bought mayo will also work if you are in a time crunch.
  • Carrots. If you have carrots in your garden these will add the best flavor!
  • Cabbage. You will need approximately one medium-sized head to make enough shredded cabbage for this recipe. I like to use a combination of red cabbage and green cabbage, but use what you have.
  • Salt and Pepper. These are just added for taste. You might also want to add a splash of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar for a little acid and tang. Some also might want to add a touch of honey for a bit of sweetness.

The ingredients in this recipe are naturally gluten-free and dairy free!

Want to make something other than the classic coleslaw recipe? Add in a bit of dijon mustard OR finely diced onion OR a bit of celery seeds OR a different kind of shredded veggies, and see how that changes up the flavor! Experimenting with a basic recipe is fun; you might find a new favorite variation!

Shredded Cabbage for Coleslaw

How to Make Coleslaw From Scratch

First, wash all of your vegetables.

Then cut the cabbage into manageable pieces and peel the carrots.

Next, shred or chop your vegetables up. I use a BOSCH shredder attachment and run everything through it. If you don’t have one, don’t worry… shred everything up in the size or shapes you prefer. You can shred the carrots with a cheese grater and cut the cabbage into shreds with a sharp knife.

How to Make Coleslaw From Scratch

Dump the carrots and cabbage in a large bowl. Make sure you grab an extra-large bowl so that you have enough room to stir things up well without tossing cabbage shreds out all onto your counter. You can always transfer it to a prettier bowl once it’s mixed.

Next, make your Homemade Mayo batch or have one already prepared. Add this to your cabbage and carrots and toss well. That’s it! This is an easy recipe that even your kids will enjoy helping to make.

Easy Coleslaw

It is best to mix your coleslaw up ahead of time and let it set in the fridge for a couple of hours before servings. It’s not absolutely necessary, but it seems to taste better when all the flavors have a little more time to marry together.

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Easy Coleslaw Recipe

Calories 1850 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 batch of Homemade Mayo Or 1 cup mayo from the store
  • Carrots 4 medium size
  • Cabbage approximately one medium-size head (I like to use a combination of red and green cabbage)
  • Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. First, wash all of your vegetables. Then cut the cabbage into manageable pieces and peel the carrots.
  2. Next, shred or chop your vegetables up. I use a BOSCH shredder attachment and run everything through it. If you don't have one, don't worry...just shred everything up in the size or shapes that you prefer. You can shred the carrots with a cheese grater and then just cut the cabbage into shreds.
  3. Dump the carrots and cabbage in a large bowl.
  4. Next, make your Homemade Mayo batch (or have one already prepared).
  5. Add the mayo to your cabbage and carrots and stir well.

Recipe Notes

It is best to mix your coleslaw up ahead of time and let it set in the fridge for a couple of hours before servings. It's not absolutely necessary, but it seems to taste better when all the flavors have a little more time to marry together.

Nutrition Facts
Easy Coleslaw Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 1850 Calories from Fat 1521
% Daily Value*
Fat 169g260%
Saturated Fat 27g169%
Trans Fat 0.4g
Polyunsaturated Fat 101g
Monounsaturated Fat 38g
Cholesterol 94mg31%
Sodium 1754mg76%
Potassium 2369mg68%
Carbohydrates 77g26%
Fiber 30g125%
Sugar 42g47%
Protein 16g32%
Vitamin A 41798IU836%
Vitamin C 347mg421%
Calcium 462mg46%
Iron 5mg28%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Shredded Beef Recipe

What to Serve the Homemade Coleslaw Recipe With

I just made this easy coleslaw recipe again and served it as a side dish with ribs that were made in the crockpot, and I used this Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe for the ribs. It made a delicious meal that left everyone wanting more.

Some other good things to serve with it might be:

  • Pulled Pork Sandwiches
  • BBQ Chicken
  • Roast Beef
  • Burgers

How to Make Coleslaw

This is a perfect salad to share at a backyard barbeque or serve at home as the perfect side dish with your favorite meal. The creamy coleslaw dish that it produces is hard to beat!

More Summertime Recipes

Enjoy your summer picnics!

Have you ever tried to learn how to make coleslaw from scratch? What additions would you make to this recipe?

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This post on How to Make Coleslaw from Scratch was originally published on Little House Living in May 2016. It has been updated as of April 2023.

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25 Comments

  1. My addition to this basic coleslaw is onion. Just shred in your cuisinart and add along with some pepper and celery seed. Just to spice it up a notch!

  2. We love coleslaw, but we eliminate the mayo and add olive oil and fresh squeezed lemon juice..

  3. We love coleslaw and your recipe sounds great!
    Thank you for stopping by the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop this week. We hope to see you drop by our neck of the woods next week!

  4. I always add a little celery seed. By the way, bought your book and I’m loving it. Great job!

  5. Just in time for summer family events. Thank you! I look forward to trying your mom’s recipe.

  6. I may try this recipe this weekend. It looks similar to my current favorite recipe, but even easier. 😉 Thank you for the chance to win the Hoss cultivator!

  7. I love your blog, I get so many good ideas. Keep up your terrific ideas thanks for all you have helped me.

  8. I add a bit of sugar, and some red wine vinegar to pop the flavor! Sometimes I add some minced onions too… Just made a bowl this evening. I love your emails.

  9. I make slaw dressing with about 1 cup of jarred mayo, mixed with about 1/3c. sugar, 1/3c. apple cider vinegar, a splat of ground red pepper. The balance of sweet to sour is what is important. Sometimes I like to add finely chopped white onion, too, like a previous reader suggested. I can’t wait to try your homemade mayo recipe!

  10. We love oil and vinegar dressing on ours. Add a little sugar and salt. We always have it for Christmas dinner.

  11. WOW! Never heard of a coleslaw recipe without onions! But, to each his own, of course! I think onions give it what it needs. Rather than mayo (I don’t use it anymore in anything), I prefer to use Miracle Whip in anything that calls for mayo – just has that extra “something”. I also add a “splash” of white vinegar to add the tang needed in coleslaw. Bon apetit!!!

  12. I add a touch of cider vinegar a a little tang & a touch of agave nectar for a touch of sweet.
    Can be added to taste..It’s refreshing.

  13. I wouldn’t use plain mayo – it would taste bland. Always put in a splash of rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar and a tsp. of brown sugar to mix with the mayo.