Copycat KFC Coleslaw

It’s a crowd-pleaser.

By
Nick Evans
Nick Evans
Nick Evans

Nick has been creating recipes for home cooks for almost 15 years. He is the author of Love Your Leftovers and has contributed to Simply Recipes since 2017.

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Updated June 04, 2025
Nick Evans
copycat KFC coleslaw in a bowl at a table setting with a glass of iced tea, a pepper grinder, and a plaid table napkin

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Coleslaw is the quintessential side dish for any summer party. All summer long, I feel like I’m constantly making a batch for weekend events. Sometimes I’ll even snag a cup of it from KFC in a pinch! Out of all the grab-and-go coleslaws on the market, I find KFC to make the tastiest (and most popular) version of the summer dish. 

What Makes KFC’s Coleslaw Different

I’ve never worked at KFC and don’t know exactly what makes their recipe unique, but I have eaten it many times. One thing that makes their coleslaw stand out is the texture of the vegetables. They use a very fine mix of cabbage and carrots in their coleslaw and it gives the slaw a special something that is hard to mimic with most recipes. 

So, how do we get that texture at home? The key is a handy-dandy box grater. Use it to grate all your vegetables: the carrots, cabbage, and onion. The dressing for this coleslaw is tangy and a bit thinner than I would make for a thicker-cut slaw since it more easily coats the fine veggies.

copycat kfc coleslaw (close-up)

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Using Bagged Coleslaw Mix

I don’t use bagged coleslaw mixture for this recipe because A) I can save some money by buying the ingredients whole and prepping them, and B) I can nail the texture by starting with whole vegetables.

But I get it. Some people find the bagged coleslaw to be a lifesaver. If this is you and you want to start with a bag or two of coleslaw, you can do that. One bag of coleslaw mix (usually 14 ounces) will roughly work out to the amount of the recipe below. 

If you are using bagged coleslaw mix, take the time to finely chop the mixture since the bagged mixture has much larger pieces of vegetables. 

Make Ahead and Storage Information

If you make this coleslaw right before your party and serve it up, you’ll be a tad bit disappointed. The flavors need a little time to work into the vegetables. The good news is that the texture is so fine that even letting the coleslaw sit in the fridge for 10 minutes will leave you with great results. 

You can make this coleslaw a day or so in advance, but note this: Because this coleslaw has a finer texture than some, it breaks down faster than other recipes. I found that after 2 days in the fridge it was pretty soggy and sad. I suggest making the coleslaw as much as a few hours before serving but not days before.

More Summer Sides

Copycat KFC Coleslaw

Prep Time 15 mins
Total Time 15 mins
Servings 6 servings
Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise

  • 2 tablespoons sugar

  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from about 1/2 large lemon)

  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

  • 1 pinch paprika

  • 1 medium carrot

  • 1/2 medium green cabbage, cored

  • 1/2 small yellow onion

Method

  1. Make the dressing:

    In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sugar, lemon juice, vinegar, salt, pepper, and paprika.

  2. Prepare the vegetables:

    Use the large holes of a box grater to grate the cabbage. You should have 4 cups of grated cabbage. Grate the carrots; you should have 1/2 cup. Finally, grate the onion; you should have about 1/4 cup grated.

  3. Combine and mariante:

    Stir the vegetables into the dressing and stir well to combine. Place in the fridge and chill for at least 10 minutes (or up to an hour) before serving. Toss again before serving.

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
175 Calories
14g Fat
12g Carbs
2g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 175
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 14g 18%
Saturated Fat 2g 11%
Cholesterol 8mg 3%
Sodium 345mg 15%
Total Carbohydrate 12g 4%
Dietary Fiber 3g 9%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 41mg 205%
Calcium 59mg 5%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 266mg 6%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.