This Popeye’s Coleslaw is the best coleslaw to go with fried chicken! Crispy green cabbage tossed in creamy dressing, easily made in minutes.
Who says you can’t pair KFC Original Recipe Chicken with Popeye’s side dishes like Cajun Rice and this Coleslaw? One of the best parts of Copycat Recipes is that you can mix and match your favorite fast food restaurant dishes!
POPEYE’S COLESLAW
When it comes to a good fried chicken dinner, the sides can decide which fast food restaurant is your family’s favorite. While they all claim to have the best coleslaw, we think Popeye’s Coleslaw is really tasty and it’s one of our top picks.
The folks at Business Insider gave Popeye’s Coleslaw a win for their tangy, sweet side dish in a head to head with Kentucky Fried Chicken. Even if you are a KFC Coleslaw diehard fan, it’s hard to deny that Popeye’s has a deliciously sweet and creamy coleslaw.
Now, when it comes to coleslaw, family traditions of how it “should” be made can play a big factor in whether you will like it or LOVE it. It may not be the homemade coleslaw you grew up with but you will love this Popeye’s Famous Coleslaw Recipe.
Unlike some coleslaw recipes, Popeye’s Coleslaw dressing does not have any buttermilk or lemon juice. It’s still packed with flavor from sweet pickle relish, dill pickle relish, and white vinegar. A little sugar and lot of mayonnaise make it a slightly sweet, creamy coleslaw.
To make sure the coleslaw dressing and cabbage mix really come together, refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving. Coleslaw gets even better when you let it sit in the fridge overnight, so this is a great make ahead potluck side dish. The coleslaw dressing can be made separately up to a week in advance.
Popeye’s Coleslaw is perfect accompaniment for fried chicken, smoked meats like turkey or pork, and anything BBQ. Instead of a regular garden salad, serve this easy coleslaw with your favorite one pot dinner recipes like a casserole or slow cooker meal.
How to Serve Popeye’s Famous Coleslaw:
- Fried Chicken Dinner: Make a full fast food restaurant fried chicken dinner with KFC Original Chicken, Mac and Cheese and Mashed Potatoes.
- Pulled Pork Sandwiches: You’ll love to top a Pulled Pork Sandwich with a big scoop of creamy coleslaw and a side of Potato Wedges.
- Backyard BBQ: Serve this as a salad or appetizer along with your favorite BBQ dishes like Barbecue Ribs and Potato Salad.
MORE POPULAR RESTAURANT COPYCAT SIDE DISHES:
KFC Coleslaw (Copycat)
KFC Potato Wedges (Copycat)
Boston Market Mac and Cheese (Copycat)
El Pollo Loco BBQ Black Beans (Copycat)
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VARIATIONS ON POPEYE’S COLESLAW
- Miracle Whip: To make a lighter version of Popeye’s Coleslaw, substitute Miracle Whip for the mayonnaise. Since Miracle Whip is sweeter, adjust the sugar and sweet pickle relish to your taste.
- Vinegar: Instead of white vinegar, try substituting apple cider vinegar. Or use more lemon juice and leave out the vinegar.
- Veggies: Dice up crunchy green pepper or jicama for more crunch. Stir in some grated zucchini or summer squash right before serving to make it a healthier, veggie packed coleslaw.
- Spices: Season with celery seed to balance out the sweetness and give the coleslaw a savory bite. For a spicy kick, mix in your favorite Cajun seasoning.
- Sour Cream: Make your coleslaw dressing creamier and tangier by swapping ¼ cup of the mayonnaise with sour cream.
COPYCAT DINNERS TO SERVE WITH COLESLAW
HoneyBaked Ham (Copycat)
El Pollo Loco Chicken (Copycat)
KFC Original Recipe Chicken (Copycat)
Ultimate Beef Barbacoa
HOW TO STORE POPEYE’S COLESLAW
- Serve: This dish has a mayonnaise base so do not leave at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
- Store: Cover tightly with plastic wrap and keep refrigerated for up to 4 days. The coleslaw dressing can be kept in the fridge separately for up to a week.
- Freeze: It is not recommended to freeze this coleslaw recipe since it has mayonnaise in it. Mayonnaise separates while frozen and doesn’t come together again when thawed.
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
- 2 tablespoons dill pickle relish
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 6 cups green cabbage , chopped
- 1/2 cup carrot , shredded
- 1/4 yellow onion , minced
Instructions
- Add the mayonnaise, sugar, sweet relish, dill relish, white vinegar, vegetable oil and yellow mustard to a large bowl and whisk well together.
- Add the cabbage, carrot and onion and mix well.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
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Legit! Taste just like Popeyes to me
Great to hear. Thank you Lisa!
Love the poseyes cole slaw
I used to work for Popeye’s and tested coleslaw everyday. This was back before centralized commissary and prepackaged slurry. I also worked with the very secretive spice plant which led to the prepackaged slurry. This recipe here has WAY too many ingredients and is just wrong. Sorry guys only 5 ingredients in the true recipe. BTW three fast food restaurants used the exact same recipe, as one was original and the other two stole the recipe. KFC just had one additional ingredient. It was not a big secret like many of the other recipes. These copycats use just way too many ingredients.
This was fantastic! I’m diabetic/Keto so I nixed the carrots & used monk fruit instead of sugar but it turned out wonderful! This will definitely be my new coleslaw go to! Thanks for sharing your recipe ??
Just out of curiosity, could you use a bag of coleslaw mix instead of the chopped green cabbage and carrot?
Very good! I was hesitant because I really enjoy KFC and Popeye’s coleslaw. The stuff is addictive! Easy and delicious, will make again! Thank you!
Popeye’s is our favorite cole slaw – so nice to be able to make it myself. I didn’t have any pickle relish so just cut up some sweet and dill pickles instead. It was still delicious. Thank you!
Although very delicious, too much sweet relish compared to Popeyes. Still very good.
Fantastic recipe! We made BLT wraps and used the cole slaw in place of the lettuce. Such a great combo! Followed the recipe as written and it turned out perfect. Thank you so much for such a wonderful recipe!
Sounds so yummy!
I made this coleslaw exactly as written, and it was fantastic! Tasted just like Popeye’s recipe. I admit, I was worried with the ingredient list that it would taste like tartar sauce – but after sitting for three hours, the flavors melded and the magic happened. Will definitely be making this again!
The magic of patience, right?! So glad you enjoyed it.
If I left out the mustard and sweet pickle relish, will it change the flavor?
Yes
Love this coleslaw! It is even better than Popeyes!
So glad it was a hit!
Very cool! I have been to Popeyes, but didn’t have their coleslaw. This looks yummy and easy to make!
Enjoy!
my weakness. I love this cole slaw so much! it is sooooo good!
Glad you love it so much!