Copycat KFC Coleslaw Recipe

Last Updated on January 16, 2020

Copycat KFC Coleslaw, everyone’s favorite fast food side dish made at home! This recipe is quicker than running through the drive-thru!  

Not many people can resist this popular side dish of diced cabbage, carrots, and onions mixed with just the right amount of dressing.  It’s a little sweet with a perfect balance of tanginess in the background.  In less than 10 minutes you can have it waiting in the refrigerator for your next meal!  

Vegetables

Cabbage

Green cabbage is used in this recipe and by KFC.  Using red cabbage in this recipe may cause some discoloration in the finished product.  The dressing will turn a shade of pink.

I generally need around 1/2 to 3/4 of a large head of cabbage.  If the head of cabbage is on the small side it may take the whole thing.  I start with half of a head.  If I need more then I go on and run a bit more through the food processor.  

The cabbage isn’t really useful for other recipes once it has been so finely diced.  

Remove any loose leaves and discard them.  Those leaves are great for stuffed cabbage, but they are really too limp for this salaf.

To be on the super-safe side you can rinse the cabbage well after chopping into large pieces but before processing.  When doing this, make sure that the cabbage is completely dry before using it. 

The cabbage is chopped into pieces about the size of grains of rice.  Pieces this size will produce the same texture as what you get from KFC.

I use the food processor for this. 

Cut the cabbage into large chunks before adding the cabbage to the food processor bowl. Only add 1 1/2 to 2 cups of cabbage chunks at a time.  Using any more than this just won’t chop evenly.

Pulse the cabbage for 1 to seconds and allow 1 to 2 seconds in between pulses.  If there are any large pieces of cabbage sticking to the sides of the bowl, open the food processor and scrape those down.

The second the cabbage pieces look like pieces of rice, STOP pulsing.

If the texture is not important, shredded cabbage or a bag of slaw mix can be substituted for the chopped cabbage. Finely shredding then dicing the shreds is another option for the perfect sized pieces.  

Carrots and Onions

I prefer regular carrots for this recipe.  They are more economical and easier to work with than baby carrots.

I grate my carrots using the small holes on a food grater.  It adds tons of color without adding hard crunchy pieces.

Carrots can be finely diced using a kitchen knife. 

A food processor can be used.  The problem with using this method is there are not enough carrots needed to be able to get a uniform dice.  Larger pieces don’t really fit in with the texture profile.

Onions need to be finely diced.  Grated onions are the best if you can stand the tears when the onion fumes hit your eyes. For diced onions, use 2 tablespoons. 

The Dressing

LEMON JUICE

I usually have fresh lemons so I use fresh juice, but with all the other flavors going on substituting with concentrated lemon juice would be fine.  

Using extra vinegar would also work in a pinch.  Vinegar will not add the same brightness lemon juice does and vinegar will slightly affect the finished product.  It will still be a darn close to KFC’s, but if you taste it and think it’s missing something this might be the problem.

Buttermilk

This recipe does use buttermilk.  I recommend buying some.  I have tried this with regular milk and while it tastes fine, it just isn’t as close as I like. Theirs has a certain tang that is only achieved by using a balance of different acids.

Mayonnaise

Make sure mayonnaise is used, not a salad dressing like Miracle Whip, it will be way too sweet.

Once the dressing has been added, don’t be tempted to add more. It may seem that there is not enough dressing.  Do not be fooled by this!  As it sits for a few minutes it will start to produce more liquid.  It may even seem a bit watery.  This is normal.  The cabbage gives off liquid as it starts to wilt.

See all the dressing in the bottom of the bowl after sitting for just a few minutes?

Stir the coleslaw occasionally to redistribute the dressing.  Give it one last stir before serving.  

A thicker dressing can be made by adding 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoons of xanthan gum. If using xanthan gum it must be mixed with wet ingredients while using a blender or food processor to avoid major goo from forming. I have never used it and have never had a single complaint.

Unless you do a lot of gluten-free baking or eat strictly vegan you aren’t likely to have any of this.  It’s pricey and I would not rush right out to by a lifetime supply, usually a single bag, just for this one recipe.

Can I make this in advance?

This can be eaten as soon as it has been made.  The flavor actually improves when allowed to sit for at least 4 hours.  

I try to make this as early in the day as possible.  The longer it sits the better it gets.  We actually prefer to flavor after it has been allowed to sit in the refrigerator for one day.

Storing Leftovers

This will last 2 to 3 days when refrigerated in an airtight container.  After that, it will begin to go limp and will not be very appetizing. 

To keep this for longer than a few days, store the vegetables and dressing individually and mix them together 4 hours or so before serving. Remove as much air as possible from the bag of diced cabbage to prevent browning. Stored properly, the diced, undressed cabbage will last about 2 days before it starts to turn brown.

Freezing

Don’t freeze this.  Cabbage only freezes well after it has been blanched and mayonnaise separates when it has been frozen. This recipe is so quick and easy we recommend just making a fresh batch.

What Else Should I Serve?

• Burgers
• Hot dogs
• Bratwurst
• Fried, grilled or smoked chicken
• BBQ ribs
• Fried fish
• Fried shrimp
• Pulled Pork or Chicken, you can even use it as a topping for pulled meat sandwiches and sliders!
• Sliced Brisket

Print Pin

5 from 3 votes

Copycat KFC Coleslaw

Tasty cabbage salad with a sweet and tangy mayonnaise based dressing that's a perfect side dish for BBQs and picnics.

Course Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword coleslaw like KFC, easy coleslaw recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes

Additional Time 4 hours

Total Time 4 hours 15 minutes

Servings 10 Servings

Author Beth Mueller

Equipment

• Food Processor
• Mixing Bowl

Ingredients

• 8 cups finely diced cabbage
• 2 tablespoon grated carrots
• 1 tablespoon grated onion
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup buttermilk
• 1 1/2 tablespoons white vinegar
• 2 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

• Place cabbage, carrots, and onions in a large bowl and stir to combine. Some of the shredded carrots may clump together. They will finish separating when mixing with the dressing.
• In a separate bowl, combine remaining ingredients and stir until smooth and creamy.
• Pour dressing over the cabbage and mix until all of the cabbage has been coated with dressing.
• Place coleslaw into a covered dish and place it into the refrigerator. It can be eaten immediately, but the flavor is greatly improved with at least 4 hours of refrigeration.

Notes

• Do not use salad dressing, like Miracle Whip, it's too sweet.
• Increase carrots to ¼ cup if using finely diced carrots.
• 1 medium head of cabbage or 1/2 of large head of cabbage will make 8 cups of diced cabbage.
• Thinly sliced cabbage or slaw mix can be substituted for finely diced cabbage. The texture will not be the same as KFC.
• Increase onions to 2 tablespoons if using finely diced onions.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5Cup | Calories: 133kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 199mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 10g