Classic Coleslaw

We Give You, The Very Best Coleslaw Recipe

A total classic start to finish, this creamy coleslaw recipe is everything you want good coleslaw to be—crisp and crunchy and tossed in a totally traditional mayonnaise-based dressing. Yes, we are big on making our classic coleslaw recipe with mayo! It just seems like it’s a rule, you know? Truly simple, traditional, classic All-American coleslaw just has to have mayo in the dressing. Grab the ingredients—there aren’t many of them—and make (arguably) the most essential summer side dish ever! Oh, and did we mention that this coleslaw tastes best after a day in the fridge? That means it is ideal for making ahead of time and having on hand next time you make Huli Huli Chicken.

To Make the Best Coleslaw, Start With Great Coleslaw Dressing!

Good coleslaw is all about the dressing! And the best coleslaw dressing has a bit of creaminess—again, mayo is a must!—balanced out with a big of vinegar tang and a bit of sugar. Tie it all together with good old salt and pepper and you’ve got the best ever, most classic coleslaw dressing recipe we know of. To make the dressing, simply mix together:

• Mayonnaise

• Sugar

• Vinegar

• Lemon juice

• Onion powder

• Garlic powder

• Celery salt

• Salt

• Pepper

What Are the Ingredients of Classic Coleslaw?

You can totally buy a bagged coleslaw mix if you’re in a hurry and just toss the pre-prepped veggies with our coleslaw dressing. But the coleslaw will be a bit tastier if you chop the veggies yourself. Once you’ve mixed up the dressing, you’re most of the way there! To shred the cabbage, you can use a sharp knife or, if you really want to make it ultra-fine, you could break out a mandoline slicer. As for the carrots, grating them with a food processor’s grating attachment is probably the fastest way to do it. A box grater works well, though, too. To make classic coleslaw, all you’ll need is:

• Green cabbage

• Carrots

• Scallions

How to Make Coleslaw

Making our coleslaw recipe is really super simple. It’s also inexpensive and—despite the mayo-based dressing—pretty healthy, too! If you’re looking for a mayo-free alternative, we have a Miso-Ginger Chicken Slaw recipe for that! Cabbage is super good for you, and the creamy dressing doesn’t undo that. Be sure to get good-quality mayo—Hellmann’s is sort of the classic coleslaw mayo choice—and veggies that look fresh. Beyond that, a little slicing and a little stirring and that slaw is done! Here’s how to make it:

1. Prep the veggies!

2. Whisk together the coleslaw dressing.

3. Toss the cabbage, carrots and scallions with the dressing.

4. Let time work a little magic. This salad isn’t just possible to make ahead of time, it actually needs at least an hour to sit in the fridge, and can benefit from up to a 24-hour fridge rest before serving. The flavors meld and the dressing makes the cabbage a bit more tender, which is a good thing. In other words, this is the ideal summer side dish because it’s made for making ahead!

Tools You’ll Need

• Mixing bowl

• Sharp knife

• Cutting board

• Whisk

More Summer Side Dish Recipes

• Elote (Mexican Street Corn)

• Fruit Salad

• Classic Potato Salad

• Broccoli Salad

Summer Grilling Season, Come at Us!

We’re so ready for a summer of BBQ-ing, and while we love grilled everything, we’re kind of all about those summer sides. And good coleslaw has always been top of the list! We just truly adore this classic coleslaw recipe in all its simple greatness, and we hope it hits the spot for you and yours, too! If you make it, let us know how you like it! Share a photo and tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper so that we can see your stuff! Happy eating!