This creamy coleslaw recipe is the picnic bowl: green cabbage, carrot, and a mayo-buttermilk dressing that is tangy, not sweet-soup. Mexican street corn coleslaw already lives on Flavors with cotija and chili. Keep them apart — this page is the diner slaw you put next to chicken or pulled pork.
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Creamy Coleslaw
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Description
Classic creamy coleslaw with cabbage, carrot, and mayo-buttermilk dressing. From Olivia at Flavors.
Ingredients
- 6 cups (420g) finely shredded green cabbage
- 1 cup (90g) shredded carrot
- 1/4 cup (25g) thinly sliced green onion
- 1/2 cup (120g) mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons (45g) sour cream
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) buttermilk or pickle brine
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon (12g) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon celery seed
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Toss the cabbage, carrot, and green onion in a large bowl.
- Whisk the mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, vinegar, sugar, Dijon, salt, celery seed, and pepper until smooth.
- Pour the dressing over the vegetables and toss until every shred is coated.
- Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours. Toss again and taste for salt before serving.
Notes
Salt draws water from cabbage. If you need it extra crisp for a party, salt the cabbage 20 minutes, squeeze, then dress. Leftovers keep 3 days; they get wetter each day.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Side
- Method: No-cook
- Cuisine: American
Classic slaw, not street corn
The Mexican street corn coleslaw on this site uses corn, chili, and cotija. This recipe stays mayo, cabbage, and celery seed so the two URLs do not compete.
Substitutions
Bagged coleslaw mix (about 14 oz) works. Greek yogurt can replace sour cream. Skip sugar if you want it fully savory. Red cabbage can replace up to half the green for color.
Mistakes to avoid
Do not dress it a full day ahead unless you like it soft. Do not drown it — start with most of the dressing and add more. Do not skip the rest; the flavors need 30 minutes.
Storage
Refrigerate in a covered bowl up to 3 days. Do not freeze.
Nutrition (estimated)
About 140 calories per serving. Estimate only, not a lab test.
FAQ
How do I keep coleslaw from getting watery?
Salt and squeeze the cabbage first, or dress it closer to serving time.
Can I make it the day before?
Up to 4 hours is best. Overnight works but the cabbage softens.
Is this the same as street corn slaw?
No. That recipe has corn, lime, and cotija. This is the creamy picnic slaw.
What do I serve it with?
Fried chicken, pulled pork, or the honey garlic chicken thighs already on Flavors.