If you’ve ever had KFC Coleslaw you know it’s some of the best coleslaw around. But this copycat recipe is even Better Than KFC Coleslaw! You can recreate this famous recipe in no time at all! This will soon become your favorite coleslaw recipe, and you will think it’s the perfect side dish for your backyard barbecues.
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What makes KFC Coleslaw so good?
Do you love delicious coleslaw? Crunchy cabbage in a tangy dressing is perfect. And when you make it at home, you don’t need to go out to a chicken restaurant! You can make the KFC coleslaw dressing from whole heads of cabbage and more.
Sometimes coleslaw recipes aren’t well balanced, this recipe gives you just the right amount of creamy dressing, the crispy cabbage will not get too waterlogged with too much dressing. This recipe also balances the right amount of sweet and savory, so it’s always perfect. So the next time you make coleslaw, take this handful of ingredients, and you can make KFC copycat coleslaw and take it to your next picnic.
Why this Recipe Works
My recipe is an incredibly easy way to make homemade coleslaw. If you have never made one of my recipes before, never fear – there are no secret ingredients that are hard to find! You are going to love how good this tastes. This recipe quickly replaced my personal homemade coleslaw recipe when everyone gobbled at my summer bbq. This recipe tastes so close to the real thing, you aren’t going to need to run out to the KFC to get this when you have your next family gatherings. This is the most popular recipe at my summer potlucks
- Please note: There is no bell pepper in the KFC Coleslaw. This is an optional suggestion only to add the bell pepper to my recipe.
What is KFC Coleslaw made of?
America’s favorite coleslaw is made with these ingredients:
- Head of green cabbage (you could use a package or two of shredded coleslaw mix)
- White onion
- Carrots
- Miracle Whip Light
- Sugar
- Vinegar
- Vegetable oil
Tips & Variations:
- Please do not use mayonnaise: This Kentucky Fried Chicken coleslaw recipe is made with Miracle Whip This recipe requires Miracle Whip, which has a nice sweetness. If you use mayonnaise, your recipe will taste like every ordinary coleslaw in your grocery store. KFC Coleslaw became famous because it had less of a vinegary taste to it and more sweetness than other coleslaws. If you go changing it around, you can’t expect it to taste the same.
- Make ahead of time: It’s important to let the slaw sit and steep in its juices for a minimum of one hour before serving. The longer it steeps the better it’s going to taste. I like to make this coleslaw a day or two before I need to serve it because the flavors get the chance to marry and improve.
- Option to use tarragon vinegar: I am told by former KFC employees that you can use tarragon vinegar for a more authentic taste. However, I have made this more times than I can count with regular white distilled vinegar.
How to Make this KFC Coleslaw copycat recipe:
My recipe for KFC coleslaw is with Miracle Whip. This recipe starts with the food processor.
- Cut up the cabbage and place it in the food processor.
- Cut up the green pepper (if you decide to use it), onion, and carrots at this time. Use only 1/4 to 1/2 of the onion and green pepper but use all of the carrots.
- Add the chopped vegetables to the food processor.
- Pulse to chop the cabbage and vegetables.
- In a large bowl, stir the Miracle Whip, vinegar, oil, and sugar until smooth. Give it a taste and see if it’s sweet with just a hint of vinegar – then you know it’s right. If not, you can just add a hint of what you are missing.
- Add the dressing to the veggies and mix well.
- Let it stand at least one hour for the flavors to come together.
Make Better than KFC Coleslaw at Home
Yum – this is the perfect side dish for many dishes. I believe there used to be an ad saying something like: “Come to Kentucky Fried Chicken for food that is as good as you get at home!”
Now, you can make food at home that is even better than what you get at KFC – Col. Sanders better watch out! I love to bring this coleslaw to a special event; the bowl always comes home empty. And, even if you have a family member who doesn’t like coleslaw, they’ll come back for seconds.
How to store leftover coleslaw
Be sure to store the KFC coleslaw in the fridge. It will last for up to five days after you make it. Store your copycat KFC coleslaw in an airtight container in your refrigerator. I do not recommend freezing this Miracle Whip based coleslaw.
Want more great coleslaw recipes? Try these favorites!
- Homemade Coleslaw
- 7 Day Coleslaw
- Coleslaw Recipe with Cream
- Captain D’s Cole Slaw Recipe
- Chipotle Coleslaw
- Coleslaw with Pineapple
What to Serve Coleslaw With
- Barbeque Chicken Quarters
- Chipotle Pork Roast Recipe
- Boneless Pork Loin
- Oven Fried Chicken Recipe
- Chicken Leg Quarters Oven Recipe
- Smoked Whole Chicken
Love KFC? Try these other KFC Copycat Recipes
Find even more copycat restaurant sides and the best salad recipes.
Did you make and love this Recipe? Give your review below! And make sure you share your creations by tagging me on Instagram!
Better Than KFC Coleslaw
Ingredients
- 13 cups chopped cabbage This is about 1 large head of cabbage or 2 medium heads of cabbage
- 1 green bell pepper (optional, there is no bell pepper in the KFC recipe)
- 1/2 cup choped onion
- 1/2 cup chopped carrot 1 medium size carrot
- 2 cups Miracle Whip Light
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup vinegar
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
Instructions
- If you are lucky enough to have a food processor, get it out of your cupboard. Start to cut up the cabbage and place it in the processor. While cutting up the cabbage, also cut up small slices of green pepper, onion, and carrot and add to the processor.
- Mixing up the ingredients this way will help distribute the flavors throughout the slaw. You may want to use a little less of the onion, or green bell pepper, but do use all of the carrot.
- If you do not have a food processor, no problem, simply chop the cabbage, onions, and carrots into small pieces. Add chopped green bell pepper if desired.
- Now mix Miracle Whip, vinegar, oil, and sugar until you have a smooth mixture. The taste should be sweet with just a hint of vinegar.
- Amount of dressing may be increased or decreased according to the amount of slaw you are making. Add to cut up veggies and mix well. Let stand at least one hour to let flavors mix.
Video
Notes
- Green bell pepper is optional.
- The cole slaw tastes better the next day!
- To save time you can use pre packaged already chopped coleslaw.
- Tarragon vinegar can give this slaw extra flavor.
Carol
This tastes pretty good, but I just don’t see that it tastes like KFC. One problem that I have with it is that Miracle Whip has gotten so expensive, I might as well buy the prepared dressing. I might try it again but this time with mayo instead of Miracle Whip.
Stephanie Manley
Carol, I am sorry to hear that you feel Miracle Whip has gotten too expensive you won’t try the recipe as it was written. Mayonnaise is not sweet, so I do not think it would be a good substitute unless you added some additional sugar, and a tough of vinegar to the coleslaw dressing to make it closer.
The George
Is Miracle Whip LIGHT used for taste purposes (vs. regular Miracle Whip)? I use regular Miracle Whip (only) for making Pimento Cheese spread (Mayo for everything else). I really don’t want to store three different mayo-type bottles in my under-sized fridge unless necessary. Thanks!
Stephanie Manley
Yes, in this instance, the Miracle Whip light has a slightly different taste. You can use the regular Miracle Whip, but I do feel the light version is better.
Nana
I prefer mayo and it taste like KFC, I learn to follow my taste buds.