The Ultimate Copycat KFC Coleslaw Recipe: Creamy, Tangy & Just Like the Original!
Craving the iconic taste of KFC coleslaw but prefer to whip up delicious dishes in your own kitchen? Look no further! This comprehensive guide will show you how to create the most authentic copycat KFC coleslaw recipe at home, using simple, readily available ingredients. While the preparation is quick and easy, the secret to achieving that signature KFC flavor lies in proper chilling time. So, plan ahead and start early in the day to allow the flavors to meld beautifully, delivering a creamy, tangy, and perfectly balanced side dish that will fool even the most dedicated KFC fans.
Why This Homemade KFC Coleslaw Recipe Is a Must-Try
For many, the unmistakable taste of KFC coleslaw holds a special place, often outshining other fast-food coleslaw options. Its perfect blend of sweetness, tang, and creamy texture makes it an ideal accompaniment to virtually any meal. This particular copycat recipe stands out because it meticulously replicates that beloved flavor profile, making it effortless to enjoy your favorite coleslaw whenever the craving strikes.
One of the primary reasons this recipe is so successful is its simplicity and adaptability. With easy-to-find ingredients and straightforward steps, you can create a large batch of this delightful side, making it perfect for potlucks, family dinners, or any backyard barbecue. It’s not just a dish; it’s a crowd-pleaser that consistently receives rave reviews.
The magic truly happens after the initial mixing. Upon first taste, you might notice a pronounced fresh cabbage flavor, which is completely normal. However, don’t let this deter you! The crucial step to achieving that authentic KFC taste is allowing the coleslaw to chill thoroughly in the refrigerator for several hours. This extended resting period is where the finely chopped cabbage and carrots fully absorb the rich, tangy, and subtly sweet dressing. As the ingredients meld, the individual flavors harmonize, transforming into the distinct, balanced, and utterly addictive KFC coleslaw you know and love. Overnight chilling yields the absolute best results, ensuring a depth of flavor that is truly indistinguishable from the original.
Essential Ingredients for Your Copycat KFC Coleslaw
Crafting this beloved side dish requires a thoughtful selection of fresh vegetables and a perfectly balanced dressing. All specific measurements, ingredients, and detailed instructions can be found in the printable recipe card at the conclusion of this article. For now, let’s explore the key components that bring this iconic coleslaw to life:
For the Slaw Base:
- Green Cabbage: The cornerstone of any good coleslaw. We specifically recommend using fresh green cabbage for its crisp texture and mild flavor, which perfectly complements the creamy dressing. Avoid red or purple cabbage, as its stronger flavor and color won’t yield the authentic KFC taste or appearance. Ensure the cabbage is finely chopped for optimal texture and absorption of the dressing.
- Fresh Carrots: Grated carrots add a touch of sweetness, vibrant color, and a subtle earthy note. It’s crucial to grate them very finely. If you’re concerned about a slight pink tint appearing in your coleslaw (which can happen if carrots release too much moisture), gently squeeze out any excess liquid from the grated carrots before incorporating them with the other slaw ingredients. This small step helps maintain the classic pale yellow hue of KFC coleslaw.
- Onion: A small amount of finely minced onion provides a gentle pungency that cuts through the richness of the dressing, adding a layer of complexity without overpowering the other flavors. Use a yellow or white onion for the best results.
For the Creamy Dressing:
The dressing is arguably the most critical component, delivering that signature sweet and tangy kick.
- Mayonnaise: This forms the creamy base of our dressing. Use a good quality, full-fat mayonnaise for the richest flavor and best texture. A common question arises regarding Miracle Whip vs. mayonnaise in this recipe; we strongly recommend mayonnaise. Miracle Whip has a significantly different, tangier, and sweeter flavor profile that will alter the final taste. If you *must* use Miracle Whip, be sure to reduce the granulated sugar in the recipe by at least half, and understand that the outcome will not be an exact replica of the KFC original.
- Granulated Sugar: Essential for balancing the tanginess and providing that characteristic sweetness found in KFC coleslaw. Adjust to your personal preference, but the specified amount in the recipe card is designed to mimic the original closely.
- Milk: A splash of regular milk helps to thin the dressing slightly, ensuring it coats the cabbage evenly without being too thick.
- Buttermilk: Buttermilk is a secret weapon in many creamy dressings, lending a distinctive tangy note and a smoother consistency. If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, don’t worry! You can easily make your own substitute: simply add ½ teaspoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to ¼ cup of regular milk and let it sit for 5-10 minutes until it slightly curdles. This quick hack works wonderfully.
- Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice brightens the dressing, adding a zesty, tart element that is key to the overall flavor balance.
- White Vinegar: Providing a sharp, clean tang, white vinegar is a traditional component. Interestingly, some former KFC employees claim that tarragon vinegar was used in the original recipe. Tarragon vinegar offers a milder, slightly anise-like flavor. If you wish to experiment or have tarragon vinegar readily available, it can absolutely be substituted for the white vinegar to explore a slightly different, yet still delicious, flavor dimension.
- Salt and Pepper: These humble seasonings are vital for enhancing all the other flavors in the dressing. A good pinch of salt brings out the sweetness and tang, while a dash of black pepper adds a subtle warmth and depth.
Gathering these ingredients ensures you’re well on your way to creating a truly authentic and incredibly tasty copycat KFC coleslaw that will impress everyone!
Step-by-Step Guide: Crafting Your Own KFC Coleslaw
These step-by-step photos and detailed instructions are provided to help you visualize each stage of making this delicious recipe. For a convenient printable version, complete with precise measurements and instructions, please Jump to Recipe at the bottom of this post.
- Prepare the Cabbage and Carrots: Begin by preparing your cabbage. Chop the green cabbage into manageable chunks. Then, run these chunks through your food processor, or finely chop them by hand. The key to authentic KFC coleslaw is a very fine, almost confetti-like chop, rather than thick shreds. The size is ultimately up to your personal preference, but finer pieces absorb the dressing more effectively. Grate the fresh carrot finely using the food processor or a box grater. If you prefer, gently press the grated carrot between paper towels to remove excess moisture, especially if you want to avoid any pink tint in your finished coleslaw.
- Whisk the Dressing Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine all of your dressing ingredients: mayonnaise, granulated sugar, milk, buttermilk (or its substitute), lemon juice, white vinegar (or tarragon vinegar), salt, and pepper. Use a whisk to thoroughly combine everything until the dressing is completely smooth and all the sugar has dissolved. This ensures a consistent flavor throughout your coleslaw.
- Combine Slaw and Dressing: Add your finely chopped cabbage, grated carrots, and minced onion to the bowl with the prepared dressing. Gently toss all the ingredients together, ensuring every piece of cabbage and carrot is thoroughly coated with the creamy dressing. Take your time to mix well, but avoid overmixing, which can bruise the cabbage.
- Chill for Flavor Development: This is the most crucial step! Once everything is combined, cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving. This chilling period allows the cabbage to soften slightly and fully absorb the rich flavors of the dressing. The longer it chills, the better it tastes, with overnight refrigeration yielding the most authentic and delicious results. The initial strong cabbage flavor will mellow out, transforming into that perfectly balanced KFC taste.
Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips for Perfect Coleslaw
To help you achieve the best possible results and answer common queries, here are some frequently asked questions and expert tips for making your copycat KFC coleslaw:
While a food processor certainly makes quick work of finely chopping the cabbage and grating the carrots, it’s not absolutely essential. If you don’t have one, you can achieve a similar result using a sharp chef’s knife to finely mince the cabbage and a box grater for the carrots. The key is to get the vegetables as finely chopped as possible to mimic the authentic KFC texture and allow for maximum flavor absorption.
While you technically *can* use Miracle Whip, we highly recommend sticking with mayonnaise for the most authentic KFC coleslaw flavor. Miracle Whip has a tangier, sweeter, and more spiced flavor profile than mayonnaise, which will significantly alter the taste of your finished coleslaw. If you choose to use Miracle Whip, you should definitely reduce the amount of granulated sugar in the dressing by at least half, as Miracle Whip itself is quite sweet. However, be aware that the final result will not be an exact replica of the original KFC taste.
No buttermilk on hand? No problem! It’s incredibly easy to make your own buttermilk substitute. Simply add ½ teaspoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to ¼ cup of regular milk (any fat percentage works). Give it a gentle stir and let it sit for about 5-10 minutes. The milk will curdle slightly, and you’ll have a perfect buttermilk substitute ready for your dressing.
That’s an interesting point! Our recipe uses white vinegar for its clean, sharp tang, which creates a fantastic copycat flavor. However, it is indeed true that some former KFC employees recall tarragon vinegar being used in the original recipe from years ago. Tarragon vinegar has a milder, more aromatic, and slightly sweet flavor compared to white vinegar. If you have tarragon vinegar available and wish to experiment with this historical nuance, it is absolutely acceptable to substitute it for the white vinegar in the recipe. It will lend a slightly different, perhaps more complex, flavor profile that some might find even closer to an older version of the KFC coleslaw.
It’s completely normal for your homemade KFC coleslaw to have a pronounced, almost overwhelming, fresh cabbage flavor right after you mix it. Do not despair! This is precisely why the chilling time is so critical for this recipe. Allowing the finished coleslaw to sit in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours (and ideally overnight) gives the finely chopped cabbage ample time to soak up all the delicious flavors of the creamy, tangy, and sweet dressing. This process softens the cabbage slightly and allows the flavors to meld and harmonize, transforming that strong cabbage taste into the mellow, balanced, and signature flavor of authentic KFC coleslaw. Eating it too soon will result in a less developed, heavily cabbage-flavored dish, so patience is truly a virtue here!
Properly stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, this copycat KFC coleslaw will stay fresh and delicious for 3-4 days. In fact, many people find that the flavor actually improves on the second day as the ingredients continue to meld. Just give it a good stir before serving, as the dressing can sometimes settle at the bottom.
Absolutely! This is an excellent make-ahead dish, which is one of its many appeals. As highlighted, the chilling time is essential for flavor development. Making it the day before your event or gathering will ensure it has ample time to chill, resulting in the most flavorful and authentic KFC coleslaw possible. It reduces stress on the day of your event and guarantees a delicious side dish!
Delicious Serving Suggestions for Your Homemade KFC Coleslaw
This fantastic copycat KFC coleslaw is more than just a side dish; it’s a versatile accompaniment that pairs wonderfully with a wide array of meals, instantly elevating your dining experience. Naturally, it’s the perfect partner for any fried chicken, but its creamy, tangy profile makes it suitable for so much more. Here are some inspired serving suggestions:
- The Classic Combo: Recreate the ultimate KFC-inspired meal by pairing your coleslaw with our incredibly Crispy Fried Chicken, healthier Oven Fried Chicken, tender Oven Fried Chicken Breasts, or juicy Oven Fried Chicken Legs. Add some fluffy homemade biscuits and sweet grilled corn on the cob, and you’ll have a complete, comforting feast that tastes just like your favorite fast-food joint, but even better!
- BBQ Bliss: Coleslaw is an indispensable staple at any barbecue. Serve it alongside pulled pork sandwiches, grilled ribs, brisket, or hot dogs and hamburgers for a refreshing contrast to smoky, savory meats.
- Picnics and Potlucks: Its robust nature and ability to hold up well make it an ideal candidate for outdoor gatherings. Pack it along with other picnic favorites like potato salad, pasta salad, or fruit salads.
- Fish Fry Favorite: The creamy texture and tangy dressing cut through the richness of fried fish beautifully, making it a natural fit for fish and chips or any seafood dish.
- Sandwich Enhancer: Add a dollop of this coleslaw to your favorite sandwiches or wraps for an extra layer of crunch and flavor. It’s particularly delicious in a chicken sandwich or a barbecue beef sandwich.
No matter how you choose to serve it, this homemade KFC coleslaw is guaranteed to be a hit, offering a burst of flavor and a satisfying texture to any plate.
Discover More Crowd-Pleasing Potluck Recipes
Looking to round out your meal or need more ideas for your next gathering? Here are some other popular recipes that are perfect for sharing and sure to be a hit:
- Hearty Ham Salad
- Refreshing Pineapple Yogurt Dessert
- Vibrant Salsa Fresca
- Creamy Corn Dip
- Nana’s Classic Macaroni Salad
If you enjoy the efficiency and ease of using kitchen gadgets, particularly for chopping vegetables, then you’ll love these additional food processor recipes that make meal prep a breeze!
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KFC Coleslaw Recipe
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
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Ingredients
DRESSING:
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup milk
- ¼ cup buttermilk
- 2 ½ tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 ½ tablespoons white vinegar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
SLAW:
- 2 pounds cabbage (medium head of green cabbage)
- 2 ounces carrot (about 1/4 cup, or one medium carrot, finely grated)
- 2 tablespoons minced onion
Things You’ll Need
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Food processor (or a sharp knife and box grater)
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Large mixing bowl
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Whisk
Before You Begin & Tips for Success
- For the best texture and to prevent a pink tint in your slaw, ensure fresh carrot is grated very finely. You can also gently squeeze out any excess moisture from the grated carrots before mixing them with other slaw ingredients.
- The chilling time is paramount for this KFC coleslaw recipe. When you first combine the ingredients, the flavor of fresh cabbage will be quite dominant. Don’t worry! Allow the coleslaw to refrigerate for at least 4 hours—or even better, overnight. This gives the cabbage enough time to properly absorb the rich, tangy, and sweet flavors of the dressing, resulting in that perfectly mellow, authentic taste. Serving it too soon will result in a less developed, more “raw” cabbage flavor.
- If you find yourself without buttermilk, creating a quick substitute is simple. Just add ½ teaspoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to ¼ cup of regular milk, stir, and let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until it slightly curdles. This will work perfectly in the dressing.
- While we strongly recommend using mayonnaise for the authentic flavor, if you absolutely must use Miracle Whip, be sure to reduce the granulated sugar in the dressing by half. Please note that using Miracle Whip will result in a different flavor profile, and we cannot guarantee the same taste as the classic KFC coleslaw.
- For the most authentic texture, aim for very finely chopped cabbage, almost like confetti. A food processor excels at this, but a sharp knife can also achieve it with a little patience.
Instructions
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Chop the green cabbage into small chunks, then process them in your food processor until finely minced, or chop finely by hand. Grate the carrot using your food processor or a box grater.
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In a large mixing bowl, combine all the dressing ingredients: mayonnaise, granulated sugar, milk, buttermilk, lemon juice, white vinegar, salt, and pepper. Whisk thoroughly until the dressing is smooth and well combined.
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Add the finely chopped cabbage, grated carrots, and minced onion to the bowl with the dressing. Gently toss everything together until all the vegetables are evenly coated with the creamy dressing.
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Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving. For the very best flavor and texture, chilling overnight is highly recommended, allowing the flavors to fully develop and meld.
Nutrition
The recipes on this blog are tested with a conventional gas oven and gas stovetop. It’s important to note that some ovens, especially as they age, can cook and bake inconsistently. Using an inexpensive oven thermometer can assure you that your oven is truly heating to the proper temperature. If you use a toaster oven or countertop oven, please keep in mind that they may not distribute heat the same as a conventional full sized oven and you may need to adjust your cooking/baking times. In the case of recipes made with a pressure cooker, air fryer, slow cooker, or other appliance, a link to the appliances we use is listed within each respective recipe. For baking recipes where measurements are given by weight, please note that results may not be the same if cups are used instead, and we can’t guarantee success with that method.
This post was originally published on this blog on June 27, 2010, and has since been extensively updated with enhanced tips, more detailed instructions, and fresh photos to provide the most comprehensive guide to your favorite homemade KFC coleslaw.