KFC Coleslaw Recipe - BEST Copycat (2024)

Home » 30 Minute Meals » KFC Coleslaw Recipe – BEST Copycat

by Stephanie on May 26, 2020 (Updated February 2, 2023)11*This post may contain affiliate links. Read more »

Jump to Recipe

If you love the famous KFC Coleslaw recipe,you’ll love knowing how to make it at home with some simple ingredients and an easy hack for extra crispy slaw!This is a great BBQ Side dish idea to feed a crowd.

Be sure to pair this with a batch of Cheddar Bay Biscuits!

KFC Coleslaw Recipe

Guys, I did a lot of testing and research to bring you this recipe, and trust me. This is the best copycat that you’ll find for KFC’s famous coleslaw recipe.

The ingredient list is important, so try to stick to it.

What is KFC Coleslaw Made Of?

Ingredient quantities and full written instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

  • Green Cabbage
  • Carrots
  • Tarragon
  • Miracle Whip
  • Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Vegetable Oil
  • Sugar
  • Celery Salt

PRO TIP: Using Miracle Whip is one of the secrets to KFC’s Coleslaw recipe. It’s sweeter, spicier, and contains less oil content than mayonnaise.

KFC Coleslaw Recipe - BEST Copycat (2)

How to Make it

1. Salt and Drain the Cabbage:Optional, will yield crispier results.

  • Add 1 Tablespoon of salt per head of shredded cabbage.
  • Let it sit in a colander for 1-2 hours. The salt will draw out a lot of the water in the cabbage.
  • Squeeze out the excess moisture with paper towels or a cheese cloth.

2. Prepare the Dressing

  • Combine the oil, sugar, and celery salt. Stir in the vinegar and tarragon. Fold in the Miracle Whip.
  • Add the carrots and the cabbage, toss well.

3. Serve immediately or marinate.

  • Ideally, you’ll allow the coleslaw to marinate for 12-24 hours, especially if you salted the cabbage first. This will taste most like KFC’s version.
  • Otherwise, serve immediately.

PRO TIP! This nifty cabbage shredder makes the shredding process easier and helps to ensure that your slices are all thin and evenly sliced!

KFC Coleslaw Recipe - BEST Copycat (3)

Will Coleslaw Get Soggy?

In a word? Yes. But you can prevent it.

Green cabbage contains 93% water which can separate when coleslaw is stored for longer periods of time.

To prevent this, it’s recommended that you salt and drain your cabbage prior to making this recipe.

How Long Will Coleslaw Last in the Fridge

Coleslaw should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge and is best if used within 3-5 days.

Chilled Coleslaw should be kept at room temperature for no more than 2 hours.

KFC Coleslaw Recipe - BEST Copycat (4)

What to Serve with Coleslaw

Homemade Sloppy Joes
Texas Roadhouse Steak Rub
Island Chicken Marinade

Get My Free Meal Plan!

I’ve got a Free Meal Plan with 7 of my super popular recipes (complete with grocery list)! Sign up for my email list and I’ll send it over now along with weekly dinner recipes!

And follow me on Facebook,Instagram, andPinterest!

KFC Coleslaw Recipe - BEST Copycat

5 from 3 ratings

Servings: 10

Tap or hover to scale

Print recipe Pin Recipe Leave a Review

This easy KFC Coleslaw recipe tastes just like the original! It's made with Miracle Whip and without buttermilk, just like the classic version!

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

  • 6 ½ Tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 ½ cups sugar
  • ½ teaspoon celery salt
  • 6 Teaspoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon dried tarragon
  • 2 ½ cups Miracle Whip
  • 2 carrots, finely diced
  • 2 heads green cabbage, finely shredded

Instructions

Salting and Draining Your Cabbage (Optional)

  • If time allows, salt and drain the shredded cabbage prior to assembling to ensure your coleslaw is super crisp. To do this, add 1 To do this, add one tablespoon of salt per head of shredded cabbage and let it sit in a colander for 1-2 hours.

  • After sitting, the cabbage will appear wilted, but will crisp back up once you squeeze out the excess moisture, which can be done with paper towels or a cheese cloth.

Assembling the Coleslaw

  • Combine the oil, sugar, and celery salt until uniform in consistency.

  • Stir in the vinegar and tarragon until well-combined.

  • Fold in the Miracle Whip.

  • Add the carrots and cabbage and toss well to fully combine.

  • Refrigerate for at least 12 hours prior to serving, although 24 hours is ideal.

Notes

2 diced whole carrots is equal to about 2 cups .

This nifty cabbage shredder makes the shredding process easier and helps to ensure that your slices are all thin and evenly sliced!

Nutrition

Calories: 300kcal, Carbohydrates: 52g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 6mg, Sodium: 660mg, Potassium: 385mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 43g, Vitamin A: 2270IU, Vitamin C: 67.3mg, Calcium: 83mg, Iron: 1mg

Did you try this recipe?Mention @TheCozyCook on Instagram or tag #thecozycook!

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Author: Stephanie

Copycat Recipes Make Ahead Recipes Meatless Side Dishes Summer Recipes

posted by Stephanie on May 26, 2020 — 11 Comments »

Order The Cozy Cookbook!

Easy Recipes. Extra Comfort.

Order your copy today!

« Previous PostGrilled Potatoes

Next Post »PF Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Leave a Comment & Rate this Recipe

11 comments on “KFC Coleslaw Recipe – BEST Copycat”

  1. Bubbles March 27, 2023 @ 3:17 pm Reply

    Turned out great! I had to sub Mayo for miracle whip and basil for terragon but it got my husband the ultimate coleslaw critic to remark “And THAT’S how coleslaw should taste!”😋 Served on southern night with some bbq shrimp, the cozy cook’s mashed potatoes of course, and chedder jalapeno biscuits, it helped pull everything together!♥️

    • Stephanie March 27, 2023 @ 8:18 pm Reply

      Wow that’s so amazing your husband said that! People can take their coleslaw verrrrry seriously! Sounds like a yummy meal overall, thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment and review💗

  2. GrammyPammy February 2, 2023 @ 2:41 pm Reply

    Haven’t tried the recipe yet, but look forward to it. I love KFC coleslaw! Just want to mention a little spelling issue in your recipe for coleslaw. Marinade is a noun. Marinate is a verb. If you are soaking cabbage in dressing, it is marinate. The dressing then becomes the marinade. I very much enjoy your site and your recipes. You are wonderfully detail-oriented and that’s so helpful for cooking instructions. Your photos are beautiful and I love your writing style. Thanks for your blog.

    • Stephanie February 2, 2023 @ 2:46 pm Reply

      I have *always* had a problem with that specific word!!! I can’t tell you how many times I have caught myself making that mistake, thank you so much, I will fix it now! I’m so happy that you are enjoying the recipes! Thank you for your support!!

  3. Debbie B October 8, 2022 @ 1:28 pm Reply

    Can I use the bagged, already shredded, cabbage & carrots

    • Stephanie October 8, 2022 @ 3:06 pm Reply

      Yes you can 🙂

  4. Gail August 20, 2021 @ 7:38 am Reply

    Love the recipe however I chopped the cabbage insteaded of shredding because KFS’S coleslaw is chopped –

    • Stephanie August 20, 2021 @ 9:11 am Reply

      Happy to hear you enjoyed it Gail!😍 Thanks for taking the time to comment!

  5. Yolanda Bitzel September 20, 2020 @ 4:04 pm Reply

    This is how my grandma always made her coleslaw. I used to think that KFC stole her recipe. 😁😁

  6. Sally Montgomery September 10, 2019 @ 10:32 pm Reply

    I served this for my family over the weekend and everyone enjoyed it more than the main course! We had no leftovers, thanks for the great recipe!

KFC Coleslaw Recipe - BEST Copycat (2024)

FAQs

Why is KFC coleslaw so good? ›

Fresh ingredients are key to a good slaw, and KFC does alright for a fast food restaurant. You won't find any wilted cabbage pieces, and the carrots are nice and hard as well. What's more, KFC finely dices everything so you don't have to chew that much, and all the flavors and textures blend perfectly.

What is KFC coleslaw dressing made of? ›

ingredients
  1. 2 -3 tablespoons lemon juice.
  2. 1 -2 tablespoon white vinegar.
  3. 1 pinch salt.
  4. 1 pinch ground pepper.
  5. 1 quarter of a cup milk.
  6. 1 quarter of a cup buttermilk.
  7. half a cup mayonnaise.
  8. 1 third of a cup granulated sugar.

What happened to KFC Coleslaw? ›

The fast food chain was forced to stop selling its coleslaw tubs when a supply issue meant the slaw would have to be served up without the dressing.

Does KFC coleslaw contain horseradish? ›

The ORIGINAL original KFC Coleslaw had a little horseradish in it - you can try about 1-½ teaspoons if you remember that version.

What is the most unhealthy thing at KFC? ›

Worst: Extra Crispy

Here's where "crispy" is a code word for "steer clear." The extra crispy recipe is by far the least healthful of KFC's chicken options. A single breast will set you back 530 calories, 35 grams of fat, and 6 grams of saturated fat.

Why is KFC recipe a secret? ›

The recipe is not patented, because patents are published in detail and come with an expiration date, whereas trade secrets can remain the intellectual property of their holders in perpetuity. KFC uses its Original Recipe as a means to differentiate its product from its competitors.

What is Popeyes coleslaw made of? ›

Made with cabbage, red pepper, carrot and onion, this awesome recipe for coleslaw has all of the ingredients you love about traditional coleslaw and is topped with a slightly sweet dressing that sets it apart from many other coleslaw recipes…

Who makes good coleslaw? ›

With its nice, thick dressing, Walmart's deli coleslaw is the best creamy coleslaw of the bunch. The dressing is heavy on the mayo, which makes it the best coleslaw to slather on a burger or pulled pork sandwich, and the copious amounts of shredded carrot will contribute some crunch, too.

Does KFC still use cabbage? ›

KFC outlets, excluding those in the Northern Territory and South Australia, currently uses a 60/40 blend of lettuce and cabbage – but this will soon no longer be necessary, O'Malley said. “The crop got decimated. We do think it's short term in nature,” he told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.

What is the KFC secret menu? ›

Menu constantly changing

The KFC Secret Menu currently includes three items: the Zinger Stacker Twister, the BBQ Bacon and Cheese Twister, and the Kentucky Snack Box, but this menu changes regularly with snacks so exclusive they've never made it to the regular menu.

How long does KFC coleslaw last in the fridge? ›

Stir a few times before serving. Slaw best if made several hours before serving. It will get watery after several hours but that is normal. It will keep for 3 day in the fridge.

What did KFC discontinue? ›

Yahoo Finance reports, the soon-to-be discontinued items include Kentucky Fried Chicken Wings, Popcorn Chicken Combo, Nashville Hot Sauce, Strawberry Lemonade, and Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Which mayonnaise is used in KFC? ›

Q. Which mayonnaise does KFC use? The company produces peppercorn mayo by removing the yolks of pasteurised eggs and combining it in a food processor with red pepper, lime juice, mustard, and garlic. Then stir in the oil, pepper, and salt.

What is Kentucky Fried Chicken Coleslaw made of? ›

There are only 3 vegetables: You can buy a bag of pre-shredded coleslaw and finely chop that, if you prefer. But keep in mind that true KFC Coleslaw only contains green cabbage, carrots, and onions, so don't use the packaged cabbage that has red cabbage or any herbs.

Is it okay to eat coleslaw every day? ›

Yes. Coleslaw can absolutely be part of a healthy eating plan as long as you choose your dressing carefully.

Why does KFC taste better cold? ›

When fried chicken starts to cool down, the skin contracts and bonds itself to the meat. This process causes the top part of the skin to separate slightly from the crust, which prevents moisture absorption and sogginess, allowing the breading to maintain its satisfying chomp.

What are the benefits of KFC coleslaw? ›

Key Takeaways:
  • 01Low in Calories.
  • 02Rich in Fiber.
  • 03Excellent Source of Vitamin C.
  • 04Contains Essential Micronutrients.
  • 05Low in Saturated Fat.
  • 06Provides Antioxidants.
  • 07Offers a Creamy and Tangy Flavor.
  • 08Contains Probiotics.
May 19, 2024

Why is KFC original recipe so good? ›

KFC Uses A Special Signature Blend Of Herbs And Spices

A big part of what makes KFC's chicken so tasty is its highly coveted blend of herbs and spices. The restaurant's chicken is savory and herbaceous with lingering notes of pepper. The flavoring is simple but it hits all the right notes.

Is coleslaw healthy or unhealthy Why? ›

Improves Gut Health

Coleslaw salad is rich in fiber because of the presence of raw cabbage. The RDA of fiber for an adult is 30g per day. It can become challenging to consume this much amount of fiber per day. However, 120 g portion of cabbage is sufficient to meet 10% of daily fiber needs.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Saturnina Altenwerth DVM

Last Updated:

Views: 6214

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (44 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Saturnina Altenwerth DVM

Birthday: 1992-08-21

Address: Apt. 237 662 Haag Mills, East Verenaport, MO 57071-5493

Phone: +331850833384

Job: District Real-Estate Architect

Hobby: Skateboarding, Taxidermy, Air sports, Painting, Knife making, Letterboxing, Inline skating

Introduction: My name is Saturnina Altenwerth DVM, I am a witty, perfect, combative, beautiful, determined, fancy, determined person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.