KFC Coleslaw is a five minute side dish you’ll enjoy all summer long with your favorite chicken and more! Tastes exactly like the original!
KFC Coleslaw is one of my most personal childhood food memories. As a young kid I would walk from my elementary school with my great aunt and we would stop at KFC (then Kentucky Fried Chicken) to get a chicken plate to share and a pudding cup to share. I just remember the most happy memories of our time together there, we would sit and talk and laugh.
To this day anytime I eat or make this KFC Coleslaw I think of her. I’m sure many of us have memories like this, which is why copycat recipes are also so personal. You want to recreate those memories or those long lost flavors (Like Pioneer Take-Out Fried Chicken) and anytime you succeed there is joy.
Speaking of KFC, you can also enjoy this coleslaw with KFC Original Fried Chicken and make your own chicken plate for a lot less money!
This KFC Coleslaw is probably one of the easiest copycats I have worked on in a long time. The ingredients were readily available online from so many sources it is hard to tell where the original came from. The version I found was from Food.com.
Looking for more recipes to serve with this easy coleslaw?
- The Obvious: KFC Original Recipe Chicken (Copycat) and Pioneer Take-Out Fried Chicken
- Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
- Super Creamy Macaroni and Cheese
- Loaded Baked Potato Salad
- Easy Mashed Potatoes + 10 Add-In Ideas!
Tools used in the making of this KFC Coleslaw:
Food Processor: This is the newer version of the one I have used and loved for ten years. It is a workhorse and the new model has similarly awesome reviews…and it is so affordable!
Buttermilk Powder: I stopped buying buttermilk years ago and keep this on hand for dressings, waffles, homemade ranch seasoning and more. One container has served over 100 recipes to date. You don’t have to throw away 50% full buttermilk containers anymore. I also love their all natural cheddar powder and sour cream powder (I use these to make Cheddar and Sour Cream Roasted Potatoes that taste just like the chips!) and Chicago Mix Cheddar and Caramel Popcorn.
Mayonnaise: I’ve tried a number of different brands, this one is the most spot on flavor.
Ingredients
- 8 cups diced cabbage (I used a food processor shredding disc)
- 1 carrot (also used the food processor)
- 2 tablespoons grated onions
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon white pepper
- 1/4 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup buttermilk (I used buttermilk powder to make mine)
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
Instructions
- In a large bowl add the cabbage, carrot, onion.
- In a second bowl whisk the rest of the ingredients together until combined and smooth.
- Toss together thoroughly and put in the refrigerator for 4-8 hours (the longer, the better).
Nutrition
What kind of onion do I use? & am I really “grating” an onion on a cheese grater?
thanks & I’m excited to try this!
You can use a yellow onion and yes, grate it using a grater. 🙂 It really helps to distribute the flavor more vs having bigger chunks throughout. Enjoy!
This is my favorite Coleslaw recipe. I heap it up on hot dogs,and pulled pork tacos.
So glad you love it, David. Thanks for coming back to let me know.
I heard a story from my cousin yesterday, that the original Cole slaw recipe for “Colonel Sanders Kentucky Fried Chicken” was my Aunt Alberta’s recipe. I have followed almost this exact recipe since I was young. I’m 69 yrs old now.
Not sure how I could prove it because I’ve never seen it written down, not that I recall. Just thought it was interesting and fun to share.
That’s so cool!
Ditch the white wine vinegar for your coleslaw and add great flavor with terigan vinegar. All you should need is about a cap full.
This is the absolute best recipe!Today I subsituted sour cream instead of buttermilk?
Wow! This is just like KFC’s coleslaw. Love it. Thanks for a great recipe.
You’re welcome, Wendy!
The look, flavor, and texture is spot on, even with black pepper!!
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the 5 stars.
I can’t wait to try this recipe!
I’ve made this so many times! In one comment someone said that KFC uses Tarragon vinegar. I’ve looked in a few stores and can’t find it so I sprinkle Tarragon in the slaw. I also use the buttermilk powder but I simply mix the powder into the whole milk since I like a thicker dressing. Thanks for sharing this recipe. Whenever we are invited for a cook-out they always ask me to bring this.
Thanks for the suggestions. So glad everyone loves it!
I am so anxious to try these recipes. Thank you for sharing them. I have been an avid fan of KFC ALL my life. Thank you so much.
I hope you love it! This recipe has always been spot on for me!
hi how much buttermilk powder would you use when you mix it with the milk? I also like my coleslaw a bit thicker too.
I am going to make this tomorrow, how much buttermilk powder do you put in your milk?
You’ll want to mix 1 tablespoon of buttermilk powder with 1/4 cup of water to make the buttermilk. Hope this helps!
absolutely delicious.. just like kfc.. i make this often now..
I know it makes 10 servings but how much in a serving is what I’m wondering?
1 cup
That is not kfc coleslaw recipe… i had it before and lost it but that is not it .
Did not have buttermilk used all milk and extra lemon juice used the slaw for Rueben sandwiches very good had left overs next day taste even better!!
Such a great kitchen hack to use! So glad you enjoyed it!
Just tried this recipe and it is SPOT ON EXACTLY the taste that our family is obsessed with!! By that comment, it is needless to say that our family LOVES Kentucky Fried Chicken and the coleslaw has been the scale tipper when we could not decide which take out we wanted on the nights we were too busy to cook at home. We have not cared much for the last 15 years the way KFC changed and can say that it is a far cry in portion and quality since the 1970’s ( a time when it was true quality). I will be making the KFC chicken recipe this week to try and will post the results asap… I have not been this excited about a recipe in years! Thank you Sabrina for posting them up, we are forever grateful 🙂
You’re welcome, Michelle!
Not true I worked there 4 yrs made coleslaw. All it is vinegar. oil .mayo .cabbage ,carrots, onions
Really? I can promise you there is sugar in it.
My parents owned KFC years ago & I my mom made the slaw dressing. I know it had sugar in it. I never had the recipe and mom does not know what she did with it. No longer own KFC.
I made it for New Year’s dinner. Exactly what I was hoping for. It is delicious.
I just made this today for Christmas and I have to say it’s so good. Taste like KFC. Thanks so much for the recipe.
Thanks for dropping by to let me know! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Will this be soggy if I make day before?
No, just keep it in an air tight container in the refrigerator.
What are you cooking? The ingredients you whisk together? I read and reread. Not addressed that I could see.
I’m not sure what you’re asking but the recipe card breaks down the ingredients and instructions for this dish.
I think she is referring to this line in the recipe above – it doesn’t seem to belong to this recipe: “Note: click on times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer while cooking.”
1. It gives the impression that we have to “cook” something in the recipe.
2. There are no times in the instructions to click on.
Thank you for clarifying.
I make this Cole slaw recipe all of the time! I love it!!
Easy to make and delicious! I used Kroger’s 16 ounce bagged slaw mix …and added a little less carrots than the recipe calls for .
This is the best Cole slaw! I’ve made it MANY times. I use one bag of Cole slaw mix and chop it up it saves alot of time.
Thanks, Rita!
How much buttermilk powder did you use? Also, which mayo (I prefer Kraft, myself).
I have not tried this recipe yet.
Mix 1 part powder to 4 parts water to make up 1/4 cup buttermilk. As far as the mayo, you can use whatever brand you prefer but I like Best Foods. Enjoy!
Is the buttermilk powder as good as the fresh? I have never tried to cook with it and will be buying it for fresh recipes as this (not just baked where it may not be as noticeable of a difference) thank you for the wonderful recipes!
The buttermilk adds to the flavor profile. You won’t want to use fresh buttermilk in this recipe as it’s a liquid and won’t give us the end result that we want. Hope this makes sense. I’m so glad you’re enjoying the recipes!
Yes that makes perfect sense! I thank you so much for the fast replies!
This is so good and tastes just like KFC. Made it last week and again today 🙂
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for coming back to let me know!
Delicious! I have made this about 5 times in the 2 months since I found the recipe. Everyone loves it. My mom (who lives KFC slaw) said “I’ve never had slaw this this delicious!”
Love it! Thanks for coming back to let me know!
I read somewhere online that a KFC employee suggested that tarragon vinegar is a key ingredient of their coleslaw dressing. I sprinkled just a little tarragon seasoning on Walmart’s deli coleslaw and I was surprised that the flavor was brought into the “ballpark” of KFC’s recipe.
I think I’ll try your recipe with tarragon vinegar in place of white vinegar. Thanks!
Thanks for the suggestion!
This recipe is TOTALLY wrong. I have THE recipe. I used to work at KFC & would make the coleslaw. There are WAY too many ingredients for a very simple recipe. And you are right about the Tarragon vinegar.
So, oil, mayo, black pepper, and tarragon vineger?
Delicious! Made this for a gathering and it is a hit! Didnt have lemon juice so I substituted with lume juice. Also used 2 precut cabbage & carrots. Perfect.
What brand of mayonnaise did you use?
I use Best Foods but you can use whatever brand you prefer. 🙂
Thanks for the recipe and wanted to add that I have never heard of buttermilk powder and thanks to you I have read a lot about it and I will be a convert going forward. I have always hated wasting regular buttermilk as you never use it all. Great tip!
You’re welcome!
Great recipe, make sure you make it in advance to allow the juices to combine. You can substitute Greek yogurt for the butter milk
This is by far my favorite recipe for KFC Coleslaw! Than you for providing such a great recipe! 🙂
You’re welcome Shelly!
came back from vacation in USA and missed this salat soooo much! Now I have America at home! Delicious!
Just made the dressing ahead of time but it seems a bit runny. I tripled the recipe for a 30-40 guests. Wondering if it will thicken a bit. Cant wait to try as KFC coleslaw is my favorite!
This recipe turned out great!
Not even close to the recipe. Enjoy it however . You have way to much going on it is simpler than that.
Can you sub red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar for the vinegar? And sub heavy cream for milk?
No, I’m sorry but all of those substitutions won’t work for this recipe.
Just a comment; the original Kentucky Fried Chicken cole slaw was also served dine-in and came on a real plate with a biscuit and a packet of honey as well as fries and, of course, several pieces of chicken. This would be circa 1960 where I live. Your recipe is almost the same copycat I have used for years and it is GOOD! But if you want to make this coleslaw and don’t have carrot, don’t fret because the original did NOT include carrot! Going to make some tonight!
I’m so excited to make this for my very best friend who totally adores KFC Cole slaw. And, I have to say that though I have not been a Cole slaw fan previously, the KFC version is yummmmmmy! Thank you for this recipe!
How sweet of you to make it for your friend!
as a chef i know how it is to do things right.. get every thing just right and u gotta respect the proper portions and ingredeints to make a true recipe just like the original.. im glad this works but they say that to use mirace whip instead of mayo.. i will see how it works.. gotta love cooking.. its just life and the way u make thngs but do it right and admire but apprevite it.. many plp dont appreitw what it means to give live to the art of cooking..
I have made this about 5 times in the last month. My man loves it. I can’t thank you enough, it is spot on perfect KFC. So simple and I feel better about making it homemade.
Thank you
That’s fantastic! Thank you so much for the 5 stars!
Do you think I could use 1/2 milk instead of any buttermilk?
It won’t have the same flavor. I can’t speak to how it would taste, sorry.
Found it and tried it right away because I Love the KFC coleslaw. I used more milk and the 1,5% one and it looks good and taste already great. I is in the fridge now and I am sute it will taste even better later
Thanks and greetings from Germany
I love that you wasted no time in making this! Enjoy!!
Thanx for the recipe. I made it yesterday and it was a smash hit. Now, a couple of notes for next time. I used a splenda-sugar blend to cut carbs. After sitting in refrigerator overnight, did taste test and it was too sweet for our liking. I added another tablespoon of lemon juice to cut sweetness. It was great. Next time, I will reduce the amount of sugar i put into it.
Fantastic! Thanks for the suggestions!
Did you reconstitute the buttermilk powder+water to make 1/4 cup?
Or did you use 1/4 cup of the buttermilk powder alone, added to the rest of the ingredients?
It doesn’t say buttermilk ‘powder’ in the ingredients, so I’m a little confused.
Thanks in advance!
So sorry for the confusion. I made the 1/4 cup of buttermilk using buttermilk powder plus water. I didn’t want you to think you had to use the buttermilk powder for this recipe though. It’s just a nice thing to have on hand to make the buttermilk vs buying buttermilk and wasting anything not used. I edited the ingredients so hopefully it’s clearer now. Thanks for letting me know.
how much butter milk powder do you use to make a 1/4 cup of buttermilk?
1/4 cup of water and 1 tablespoon of buttermilk powder if you are using the brand I linked to. If you use an alternate brand I would review the label. 🙂
Aaah. Such fond childhood memories of KFC for me, too! Love that you posted this.
Thanks for this awesome recipe! I have fond memories of KFC growing up. Can’t wait to give this recipe a try!
Enjoy!!
Coleslaw is one of my favorite salad! And this dressing sounds perfect! I need to try your recipe! Thanks
Thanks Catalina!
This looks exactly like the KFC coleslaw – you nailed it! Perfect for summertime barbecues.
Thank you so much!
YUM!! This coleslaw looks really, reeeally GOOD!! Can’t wait to give it a try!!
Awesome! You won’t be disappointed!!
That looks perfect, I love coleslaw!
This looks exactly like KFC — can’t wait to try it!