• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipes
  • Events & Workshops
  • Nav Social Menu

The Salted Pepper

Real Life~Real Food~Real Simple

Free Recipes & Tips Delivered Directly To You!

Yes, I want Free Recipes & Tips!
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Events & Workshops
  • Follow me HERE!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Events & Workshops
  • Follow me HERE!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    • Pulled ham on a wood platter.
      Pulled Ham (Smoker, Oven, or Slow Cooker)
    • peach bbq sauce on a spoon resting in a bowl.
      Peach BBQ Sauce
    • fruity pebble squares on parchment.
      Fruity Pebbles Marshmallow Treats
    • one-pot fettuccine alfredo on platter garnished with parsley.
      One-Pot Fettuccine Alfredo ~ Easy 4 Ingredient Dinner
    • Lemon Bars Cut on white plank boards.
      Old Fashioned Lemon Squares
    • Smothered Cabbage with crispy bacon on top on platter.
      Smothered Cabbage
    • Smoked Corned Beef sliced on cutting board.
      Smoked Corned Beef in the Ninja Woodfire
    • Sliced Home Cured Corned Beef on white plate.
      Home-Cured Corned Beef from Brisket (step-by-step guide)
    • cheddar broccoli soup in a bread bowl.
      Cheddar Broccoli Soup (Slow Cooker Recipe)
    • three homemade bread bowls on a wood platter. One is whole, one is hollowed out and one is filled with cheddar broccoli soup.
      Homemade Bread Bowls (Ninja Combi or Oven Recipe)
    • Chicken Paprikash on a platter with a bowl of nokedli noodles behind it.
      Chicken Paprikash (Braised or Slow Cooker Recipe)
    • homemade nokedli noodles in a bowl garnished with parsley.
      Homemade Nokedli (Hungarian Egg Noodles)
    Home » Side Dish Recipes

    Creamy Coleslaw Dressing

    Published: March 31, 2021Updated: July 18, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking a link, I may earn a small commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See Our Full Disclosure Policy for More Information

    Save for later!

    13842 shares
    • Share8457
    • Flip it!
    Recipe Time :5 minutes mins
    Servings: 8

    Recipe Rating

    Add to FavoritesSaved! Jump To Recipe

    This creamy coleslaw dressing is the perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and creamy! It's the best coleslaw dressing I've ever had! It only takes a couple of minutes to whip up and is so much better than the store-bought kind.

    There are two main types of coleslaw dressings: vinegar coleslaw and mayonnaise based. Of course there are tons of variations and combinations of flavors and I encourage you to play around with the ingredients until you have the perfect coleslaw dressing that you and your family love.

    creamy coleslaw dressing being poured over shredded cabbage and carrots

    Would you like to save this recipe?

    I will email this recipe page to you, so you can come back to it later!

    My preference is a mayo-based dressing that has the perfect amount of sweetness paired with just enough tang to be completely balanced and makes an absolutely delicious homemade coleslaw.

    This is the coleslaw dressing recipe that I used when I owned my BBQ restaurant and it was a customer favorite. It is great on pulled pork sandwiches! If you have a pressure cooker with a crisping lid, try this recipe for Pulled Pork with my 10-minute BBQ sauce! You will love it!

    Find The Information You Need Quickly

    Toggle
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • How to make coleslaw mix
    • Ingredients & Substitutions
    • How to Make Creamy Coleslaw Dressing
    • Homemade Creamy Coleslaw Dressing

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I use a sugar substitute instead of the sugar?


    Yes, you can. I suggest using something like Swerve, which is a 1:1 sugar replacement, so you end up with the same volume of dressing.

    How much coleslaw dressing per bag of coleslaw mix?


    The sizes vary on bagged coleslaw mix, so a better way to determine how much coleslaw dressing you need is to go by cups of the coleslaw mix AND your personal preference.

    If you like your coleslaw lightly coated with the dressing, I would use about ⅓-½ cup of dressing to 4 cups of coleslaw mix. Remember, you can always add more if needed.

    If you like your coleslaw with a lot of dressing like I do, use about ¾-1 cup of coleslaw dressing to 4 cups of of the cabbage mix.

    As the cabbage mix sits in the refrigerator, it will give off liquid which combines with the dressing, so use less than you think of the dressing and add more if needed just before serving.

    How much coleslaw mix do I need per person?

    The average serving size is about ⅓-½ cup of coleslaw per person. It is important to keep in mind that the cabbage will reduce in volume as it sits and the longer it sits, the more it reduces.

    My rule of thumb is to use 1 full cup of the raw cabbage mix per person.

    How long will homemade coleslaw dressing last?


    This mayonnaise-based coleslaw dressing will last 3-5 days in the refrigerator.

    If the dressing or the coleslaw with dressing on it is left at room temperature for longer than 2 hours, it must be discarded due to potential bacteria growth.

    How to make coleslaw mix

    There are tons of way to make your own coleslaw mix and it's very easy to do, but first you need to decide the type of coleslaw mix you want to make.

    The main ingredient in a coleslaw mix is cabbage and it is usually green cabbage. I suggest using at least 75%-80% green cabbage in your mix, but you can make a simple coleslaw with 100% green cabbage.

    You can also use different varieties of cabbage, like nappa cabbage, red cabbage and even savoy cabbage.

    I like to add some color to my coleslaw mix by adding in shredded carrots and sometimes red cabbage.

    You also need to decide if you want a finely chopped coleslaw or a shredded coleslaw. Both are delicious, but I usually prefer a shredded coleslaw.

    If you have a food processor that has a shredding or chopping blade, that will be the fastest way to make your coleslaw mix, but if you don't (I don't have one), no worries.

    You can chop or slice everything by hand or if you want a very fine coleslaw, you can use a box grater. For the carrots, you can use a vegetable peeler or simply grate them.

    slicing cabbage with a knife

    I always use my vegetable strip maker from Pampered Chef and was so disappointed when they stopped carrying it. It had large holes on the grating surface and made shredding cabbage so easy! I tried to find something similar on Amazon, but haven't. You can buy the Vegetable Strip Maker on Amazon, but the prices are outrageous.

    shredding cabbage using the vegetable strip maker from Pampered Chef

    The ingredients and ratios I use are:

    • 7 cups of shredded green cabbage (or 8 cups of shredded cabbage if you aren't using the purple/red cabbage)
    • 1 cup of shredded purple/red cabbage (use 8 cups of shredded green cabbage if you aren't using the purple/red cabbage)
    • 1-2 carrots shredded

    There aren't any right or wrong ways to make your coleslaw mix, make it how you like it or buy the bagged kind at the grocery store!

    The most important thing to remember when making your mix is the amount you need per person. Plan on 1 cup of mix per person because the volume will reduce as it sits in the refrigerator.

    You can make your coleslaw mix several days in advance, but for the best quality, I recommend adding the coleslaw dressing the night before you want to serve it or for a crunchy coleslaw add it 2 hours before serving and refrigerate.

    Ingredients & Substitutions

    Making your own creamy dressing for coleslaw is so easy and uses just a few simple ingredients.

    Mayonnaise

    This is the main ingredient in the dressing, so I suggest using a good quality mayo.

    While there is not a direct substitution for mayo in this recipe, you can use a combination of mayonnaise and sour cream or even a thick Greek yogurt. This will alter the flavor.

    If you wanted to substitute all of the mayo for sour cream and/or Greek yogurt, I suggest testing a very small amount at first to make sure you like the flavor.

    Sugar

    You can replace some or all of the sugar with a sugar substitute and I recommend using a 1:1 replacement like swerve. Replacing the sugar may have an impact on the consistency of the coleslaw dressing.

    If your dressing is too thin, you can use a little xanthan gum mixed in with the sugar substitute to thicken it. Xanthan gum doesn't require heat to thicken, so it works great in dressings.

    If you are keto or eating low carb, I really recommend you pick up some (affiliate link)xanthan gum for thickening. It also works great with hot foods, but you must add the xanthan gum to either a dry ingredient or a fat before adding to the sauce/dressing you want thickened or it will clump.

    Vinegar

    I use white vinegar in this recipe, but you can use whatever kind of vinegar you like. White wine, red wine, or apple cider vinegar will all work. The only type of vinegar that I don't suggest using is balsamic. Although I love the flavor of balsamic vinegar and it might add a really nice flavor to coleslaw, I doubt anyone would want to eat brown coleslaw!

    You can also use a combination of vinegar and lemon juice if you prefer. I would recommend only using 1 Tablespoon of lemon juice to 3 Tablespoons of vinegar.

    Mustard

    I use a spicy brown mustard, like this one: (affiliate link)Spicy Brown Mustard. You can use any style mustard you like, dijon mustard is also a great choice.

    You can also omit the mustard if you like.

    Spices

    The spices in this recipe are very simple; salt, pepper, and a little celery seed. These three spices balance this coleslaw dressing perfectly, but like anything else, it's up to you to use the spices and amounts that you like or fit your dietary restrictions.

    You can use a salt substitute or adjust the amount of salt to your taste.

    The black pepper can be decreased, increased, or omitted.

    When it comes to the celery seed, I recommend either using it or omitting it. I would not substitute celery salt.

    How to Make Creamy Coleslaw Dressing

    The great thing about making your own coleslaw dressing is it only takes about 5 minutes and you only need a bowl and a whisk or fork. Super simple. You can also use this same dressing for making a broccoli slaw or broccoli salad.

    This recipe makes about 1¾ cups of coleslaw dressing which is plenty for 8-12 cups of coleslaw mix.

    Combine all the ingredients in a medium size mixing bowl and whisk until combined.

    whisking the coleslaw dressing

    Once the ingredients are well-incorporated, transfer the dressing to an airtight container, like a mason jar and store in the refrigerator for 3-5 days or pour enough dressing over your coleslaw mix to cover the top and toss if you are making your coleslaw immediately.

    tossing the coleslaw dressing with the coleslaw mix

    I recommend using between ¼-⅓ cup of dressing per 4 cups of coleslaw mix for a lightly-dressed coleslaw or ¾-1 cup per 4 cups of coleslaw mix if you like a lot of dressing like I do.

    I used this entire recipe for 8 cups of coleslaw mix and it was perfect for me.

    If you want to add a special touch to your coleslaw, try adding in about 1 cup of pineapple tidbits (drained) to 8 cups of coleslaw mix. It's absolutely delicious!

    adding pineapple to coleslaw

    Refrigerate the coleslaw for at least 2 hours or overnight for the best flavor. Serve & Enjoy your delicious homemade coleslaw!

    bowl of coleslaw mixed up

    If you enjoy making your own sauces and salad dressings like I do, you may also enjoy these recipes.

    • Homemade Marinara Sauce with a spoonful being taken out
      Easy Homemade Marinara Sauce
    • Blue Cheese Vinaigrette in a bowl next to a salad
      Creamy Blue Cheese Vinaigrette
    • Homemade Peanut Sauce
    • pineapple sweet and sour sauce in a white bowl with a spoon and a pineapple in the background
      Pineapple Sweet & Sour Sauce
    creamy coleslaw dressing being poured over shredded cabbage and carrots

    Homemade Creamy Coleslaw Dressing

    Recipe By: Louise
    Easy to make coleslaw dressing with only a few ingredients
    4.83 from 40 votes
    Add to My Favorites Saved! Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 5 minutes mins
    Course dressing, Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8
    Calories 242 kcal
    Turn this on when cooking to prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup mayonnaise
    • ½ cup sugar
    • ¼ cup white vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon spicy brown mustard
    • 1 teaspoon fine grind sea salt
    • 1 teaspoon black pepper
    • ½ teaspoon celery seed

    Would you like to save this recipe?

    I will email this recipe page to you, so you can come back to it later!

    Instructions
     

    • Combine all ingredients in a medium size mixing bowl and whisk to combine. Refrigerate until use.

    To make Coleslaw

    • Pour the dressing over 8-12 cups of coleslaw mix and toss to combine. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.

    Video

    https://youtu.be/wlTjbb7yeNA

    Nutrition

    Serving: 3tablespoonCalories: 242kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 1gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 476mgPotassium: 12mgFiber: 1gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 20IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 7mgIron: 1mg
    Course dressing, Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    About the Recipe Author, Louise Long

    Louise is a full-time recipe creator and food blogger @ The Salted Pepper. She has over 30 years of experience with cooking and recipe development. She owned a restaurant for several years and was a full-time RN until retiring to blog full-time.

    Picture of Louise.

    She published her first cookbook in the Fall of 2018 and is very interested in writing several more.

    Louise is also the creator of an online Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooking Course with over 100 instructional step-by-step videos. People absolutely rave about the course and all the value they have received from it.

    Louise has several very active Facebook groups that help people with the basics of cooking and learning more about the appliances they love.

    Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker & Air Crisper 101

    Simply Cooking with Louise

    Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill & Smoker

    Ninja Combi Recipes & Tips

    Louise is also a YouTube creator and you can find most of her recipes in video format on The Salted Pepper YouTube channel.

    She is very responsive to messages and eager to help in any way she can. Get more Information about Louise & contact information

    I WOULD LOVE TO SEE WHAT YOU ARE COOKING UP IN YOUR KITCHEN! TAG ME @THESALTEDPEPPER ON YOUR FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM WHEN YOU MAKE A DISH!

    BE SURE TO FOLLOW THE SALTED PEPPER RIGHT HERE ⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓

    • YouTube
    • Pinterest
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Amazon
    • TikTok
    « Braided Cherry Brioche Bread (Easter Bread)
    Ninja Foodi Pulled Pork ~ Pressure Cooked & Air Crisped »

    Save for later!

    13842 shares
    • Share8457
    • Flip it!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jaycee

      August 07, 2024 at 1:28 pm

      5 stars
      I love this recipe! I add generous sprinkle of garlic powder when making at home and that brings the coleslaw to another level. Give it a try! 🙂

      Reply
      • Louise

        August 08, 2024 at 9:41 am

        I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    2. Ashley

      May 01, 2024 at 2:39 am

      5 stars
      I made this to pair with my pulled pork. Delicious! I did make it with plain greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise. Turned out great!

      Reply
      • Louise

        May 01, 2024 at 9:56 am

        That's great!

        Reply
    « Older Comments
    4.83 from 40 votes (33 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Find Me On

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Find Your Favorite Recipe Here!

    The Salted Pepper is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure Policy
    • Contact & Support

    Resources

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates
    • The Salted Pepper's Amazon Store
    • Pampered Chef Website

    Facebook Groups

    • Ninja Foodi 101- Pressure Cooker & Air Crisper
    • The Salted Pepper Recipe Sharing Group
    • Ninja Combi Recipes & Tips
    • Ninja Foodi Possible Cooker Pro Recipes & Tips
    • Simply Cooking with Louise

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2024 The Salted Pepper

    Copyright © 2025 · Foodie Pro On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.