KFC Coleslaw Recipe - BEST Copycat (2024)

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

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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

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KFC Coleslaw Recipe - BEST Copycat

5 from 3 ratings

Servings: 10

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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

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

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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? ›

KFC's coleslaw stands out because of its sweet and tangy dressing, but the slaw's texture is what makes it one of a kind. The very finely chopped cabbage and carrots are a stark contrast to the typical stringy shredded veggies found in bagged coleslaw mix.

What does KFC coleslaw contain? ›

The KFC website lists all ingredients for its cole slaw. They include chopped cabbage; carrots; onions; sugar; water; soybean oil; distilled vinegar; corn syrup; food starch; whole eggs; salt; corn vinegar; spice; apple cider; vinegar; and paprika. It also contains natural and artificial flavors.

Why did KFC change the coleslaw? ›

In July, KFC fans were told that lettuce would be replaced with cabbage as a shortage of the leafy vegetable hit the country. Faithful customers questioned the move, with one admitting they would have to “rethink my whole meal”. “There are four or five other things I would eat before cabbage.

Does KFC coleslaw contain horseradish? ›

Does KFC Coleslaw Contain Horseradish? The answer is yes, and no. The original recipe had a touch of horseradish in it, and many people remember that version well. If that flavor is something you're looking for, try about one teaspoon of prepared horseradish in this recipe.

What is the most unhealthy thing from KFC? ›

Worst: Extra Crispy Tenders

It's no surprise that the extra crispy tenders don't top the list of healthiest items at KFC. As a battered, deep-fried food, they could contribute to increased health risks like cardiovascular disease.

Why does KFC taste better cold? ›

Those who eschewed heating up their chilled chicken in favor of chowing down right away would have seen how the chicken's breading remained crisp while the interior deepened in flavor. When fried chicken starts to cool down, the skin contracts and bonds itself to the meat.

Is KFC coleslaw healthy? ›

KFC coleslaw contains a moderate amount of calories, fat, and carbohydrates. It also provides some vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C and vitamin K. However, it is important to note that KFC coleslaw is high in sodium and sugar, which can be a concern for those on a restricted diet.

Does KFC use lettuce or 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.

Why is KFC using cabbage instead of lettuce? ›

KFC says change is due to a lettuce shortage after floods destroyed crops in New South Wales and Queensland. The fried chicken chain KFC has been forced to make menu changes in its burgers and wraps in Australia as the country faces the consequences of floods that destroyed lettuce crops.

Why does KFC taste different now? ›

They used to fry their chicken in lard using the Colonel's 11 herbs and spices. Now they fry it in vegetable oil with a microscopic amount of the 11 herbs and spices, enough to still make a valid claim that it contains the herbs and spices, but not enough to affect the taste. So it's no longer Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Can you still get coleslaw at KFC? ›

Freshly prepared, our Cole Slaw features a tasty blend of cabbage, carrots, onion and our signature dressing. This side dish pairs wonderfully with any KFC® combo or meal, but can be enjoyed on its own!

Why does KFC keep getting rid of popcorn chicken? ›

The truth about KFC's popcorn chicken

The simplest explanation, shared by Yahoo!, is that the company is removing underperforming food items to allow space for new ones that may do better, like the Spicy Slaw Chicken Sandwich, which the chain has begun testing in select restaurants.

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.

Does KFC coleslaw have a lot of sugar? ›

KFC, Coleslaw contains 161 calories per 112 g serving. This serving contains 9.7 g of fat, 1 g of protein and 18 g of carbohydrate. The latter is 15 g sugar and 2.2 g of dietary fiber, the rest is complex carbohydrate.

Have KFC changed their recipe? ›

KFC, also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, has changed their recipe multiple times over the years. However, the most notable change to their recipe was in 2016, when they announced that they were going to remove all antibiotics important to human medicine from their chicken supply by the end of 2018.

Is KFC coleslaw any good? ›

The coleslaw also contains shredded cabbage and carrots, which add a crisp and fresh texture to the dish. Overall, KFC coleslaw is a refreshing and tasty side dish that complements the savory flavors of their fried chicken.

Is coleslaw healthy from KFC? ›

Key Takeaways: KFC coleslaw is a nutritious and delicious side dish, providing essential vitamins, fiber, and probiotics. It's low in calories, high in vitamin C, and loved by many for its creamy and tangy flavor.

Is coleslaw healthy or unhealthy Why? ›

Yes, coleslaw can be healthy! The base of coleslaw is shredded vegetables (traditionally cabbage), so inherently coleslaw is vitamin- and fiber-packed and good for you. The issue is the dressing. Most traditional creamy coleslaw dressing is made with high fat ingredients like mayo and has sugar added too.

Why does KFC taste better? ›

KFC's distinct and delicious flavor can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, their signature blend of herbs and spices plays a significant role. The exact recipe is a well-guarded secret, but a combination of flavors like paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and other herbs and spices are believed to be used.

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