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My Mama’s Easy Coleslaw Recipe is the best homemade coleslaw with a perfectly creamy dressing! Not too sweet, finely chopped, perfect for summer!
Just like mama makes.
This might just win the award for the most times I’ve been told someone doesn’t like a food (coleslaw) and then tries my mama’s recipe and changes their opinion entirely.
Seriously.
I’ve been told so many times “I don’t like coleslaw, but I gave it a try and it’s so good!”
The secret? Chopping everything super fine in a food processor so you get creamy, flavor-packed bites instead of those big, crunchy chunks that slide off your fork.
It takes 5 minutes to make and goes with everything from barbecue to fried chicken.
We serve this easy coleslaw recipe as a side dish at summer dinners regularly, but I adore it piled on a pulled pork sandwich.
Another thing people love about this recipe…it’s not overwhelmingly sweet like a lot of coleslaw recipes. It has a bit of sweetness there to balance things out, but it’s not a sweet coleslaw.
3 Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe:
- It’s ridiculously quick. Dump everything in a food processor, pulse a few times, and you’re done. No knife work, no tedious chopping.
- The texture is perfect. Finely chopped cabbage means every bite is creamy and flavorful. Perfect for piling on sandwiches or eating with a fork.
- It’s a crowd-pleaser. This is the coleslaw that gets people asking for the recipe. Even picky eaters go back for seconds.
More Coleslaw Recipe:
Ingredient Notes:
Coleslaw Mix – You can use any standard coleslaw mix from the store or prepare your own with shredded cabbage.
Dressing – For the dressing you’ll need some mayonnaise, heavy cream, and yellow mustard. We add a bit of sugar as well.
Seasoning – You don’t need much for seasoning here, we just use some garlic salt and black pepper!
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Food Processor
We use our Breville food processor in all kinds of recipes! It makes short work of chopping veggies and many other other tasks. This is our favorite food processor because it is so heavy duty and it will last!
Step by Step Instructions:
Add all of the ingredients to the bowl of a food processor and process in short bursts until finely ground.
Scrape the coleslaw out of the food processor and pop it in your serving dish. Chill for an hour for the best flavor.
Serving Ideas:
This easy coleslaw is perfect alongside pulled pork sandwiches, air fryer fried chicken, or smoked baby back ribs.
It’s also great as a topping for fish tacos or served with sweet cornbread and beans for a simple summer dinner.
For potlucks, this recipe easily doubles or triples.
Helpful Tip!
Storage Instructions:
You can keep this coleslaw recipe stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 3 days.
The cabbage will release more liquid as it sets, so we do prefer this best the day it’s made. If I know we’ll be keeping it for longer, I’ll cut down on the heavy cream.
I would not recommend trying to freeze this recipe.
More Family Favorite REcipes
- Fried Tacos: My kids will never stop asking for fried tacos!
- Crockpot Potato Soup: We make this weekly in our house!
- Amish Egg Noodles: My daughter’s favorite food!
- Crockpot Pork Chops: So simple and we like to serve them over those Amish egg noodles up there.
- Mississippi Pot Roast: This roast is big on flavor!
Mama’s Classic Coleslaw
Ingredients
- 14 ounces bagged coleslaw mix
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon sugar optional, to taste
- 1 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to the bowl of a food processor and process in short bursts until finely ground.
- Chill for 1 hour before serving.
Elena says
Made this to go with a s smoked pork butt, and it was delicious!
Spot on, love your recipes <3
Karly Campbell says
Thank you so much! <3
Stacey S. says
Love this! It was devored and I doubled it too.
Dee says
Can you make this a dy or two ahead of time?
Karly says
You sure can! 🙂
Carla Skidmore says
In fact, high fat is healthier than high carb.
Sharon says
I LOVE that this recipe has no added sugar. There is WAY too much sugar in our diets as it is. I absolutely love to find recipes that do not call for it.
I cannot imagine making this with skim milk instead of the cream. It I said just not going to be as good. It will last quite a while in the fridge… the higher the fat content, the longer dairy will last. You can use the remainder in all kind so of recipes and it is great in coffee.
Stacy says
for sure! You are right.
Wilhelmina McGarity says
Perfect! My roommate likes his unsweetened, I like mine sweet so I save his just like the recipe states and I add an envelope of Splenda to mine. The first recipe ever I have not had to tweak:) can’t wait to fix this for cook-outs, church dinners and weddings. Finally, a wonderful slaw recipe and so quick too. Thank you so much!
Sandra Henderson says
I find it hard to believe that people will do things like substitute skim milk for half/half and/or Olive oil for butter, etc. and expect it to be the same delicious food. Theres a reason the original is so good and theirs is not, it is because of those “forbidden” foods are what makes the original so delicious. Don’t make the recipe if you can’t use the correct ingredients. Or treat yourself occasionally and enjoy ! After all, BUTTER makes everything better !
Gail says
All recipes are great but recipes are recipes as written. I once had a friend that made a great seafood chowder made with half and half, a bit of heavy cream and a bit of bacon plus the other things. A friend of his said it was so good he wanted the recipe. A couple of days later we ran into this friend that said he made the chowder and it just was not as good. Turns out he used skim rather than half and half, Olive oil instead of butter and Canadian bacon rather than bacon. The point is, yes you can change up a recipe but don’t expect it to taste the same
Sandra Henderson says
A tablespoon of sugar would be a great addition also. Makes a new/refreshing slaw.
Amber says
Is there anything I can use in place of the cream? Like OP I don’t usually have that 😉
Karly says
I would probably just add a tiny splash of milk. Milk is much thinner, so you won’t need as much.
Brenda says
click to print button not working.
Karly says
Hi Brenda! The button seems to be working fine on my end. Can you try again from another browser or device and see if that helps?