Dear Crissy

Best Sweet Coleslaw

Friends, you’re never going to need another coleslaw recipe again. My mom makes the absolute best sweet coleslaw and I’m sharing her secret recipe with you today.

Best Sweet Coleslaw Recipe

Luckily, my mom isn’t super protective of her recipes. It didn’t take much arm twisting to get her to write her famous sweet coleslaw recipe down on an index card for me. I keep all of my favorite family recipes in a little tin recipe box and I was so happy to finally add this one to my collection.

Best Sweet Coleslaw Recipe | Restaurant Style Coleslaw | Easy Sweet Coleslaw

Restaurant Style Coleslaw

Coleslaw is one of those dishes that I sort of avoided as a kid. My grandma loved coleslaw and it was often on the family dinner table. I learned to love it when I became sort of hooked on the coleslaw at KFC and Frisch’s. I just love that sweet, restaurant-style coleslaw so much.

Of course, everyone loves coleslaw at family gatherings and cookouts, especially during the summer! You’re going to want to pin this fantastic sweet coleslaw recipe for easy retrieval when you need it. Or, you can jot it down on an index card and add it to your old school recipe box if you have one! :)

Best Sweet Coleslaw Recipe | Restaurant Style Coleslaw | Easy Sweet Coleslaw

This sweet coleslaw recipe is so simple to make. You start with a store-bought bag of slaw mix. You’re welcome to shred your own veggies, but this is such an easy solution and perfect for times when you need a tasty dish for a potluck.

Best Sweet Coleslaw Recipe | Restaurant Style Coleslaw | Easy Sweet Coleslaw

This coleslaw recipe is definitely on the sweeter side and it reminds me of coleslaw that I’ve had at some of my favorite restaurants like the ones I mentioned earlier!

It makes a great side dish, but this coleslaw is also a great topper for a pulled pork sandwich or even a hot dog. If you’ve never had coleslaw on a hot dog you’re missing out on something truly wonderful!

RELATED: Looking for more great summertime side dishes? Try our amazing classic potato salad recipe. It’s perfectly DELICIOUS! Also, my three bean salad or this unique dill pickle pasta salad are great bets.

Oh, and you can’t miss my favorite spaghetti salad recipe!

Best Sweet Coleslaw Recipe | Restaurant Style Coleslaw | Easy Sweet Coleslaw

I’m sort of picky about coleslaw and my mom’s recipe is truly the best I’ve ever had. I could eat a whole vat of this stuff which is why I usually try to pawn the leftovers off on someone else in the family when I take this to a cookout. Otherwise, I find myself at the refrigerator multiple times per day with a fork in my hand. Yikes. It’s just so yummy.

Be sure to let me know if you love my mom’s famous sweet coleslaw recipe as much as I do. I’ll be sure to pass along the feedback to her. :)

For another potluck classic, try this tasty German cucumber salad!

Best Sweet Coleslaw Recipe | Restaurant Style Coleslaw | Easy Sweet Coleslaw

Best Sweet Coleslaw Recipe

Yield: 10 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Additional Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes

This sweet and flavorful coleslaw will knock your socks off!

Ingredients

  • 1 ( 16 oz. bag) coleslaw mix
  • ⅔ cup mayonnaise
  • ⅓ cup white sugar
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon celery seeds

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl stir together the mayonnaise, sugar, vinegar, salt and the celery seeds until well blended. Add the coleslaw mix and stir until well coated.
  2. Cover and refrigerate 1 to 2 hours before serving.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 127Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 147mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 0gSugar: 7gProtein: 0g
Best Sweet Coleslaw Recipe | Restaurant Style Coleslaw | Easy Sweet Coleslaw

    61 Comments on “Best Sweet Coleslaw”

  1. I am really picky when it comes to cole slaw. This is the best recipr! Ive been making it for a while and everyone who tries it loves it, even my very picky mom. She now makes it too! Thanks for sharing this recipe!

  2. Delicious! Just a tad sweet for me, but great. Added a squirt of bleu cheese dressing and it was amazing.

  3. Hello – Thank you for the recipe. When you say Mayo, do you mean actual mayo, or do you mean Miracle Whip? I’m sorry to ask. Probably a crazy question, but want to make sure.

  4. Excellent recipe! Cut it in half as there are only 2 of us; used 1/2 head of small,cabbage, 1 small carrot, and 2 radishes grated;  had to skip,the celery seed as I didn’t  have any on ha d; it was still excellent.  Used GF Mayo (smart balance);  thanks for an easy slaw!

  5. This was very yummy! I couldn’t remember my coleslaw recipe as I hadn’t made it in forever and never wrote down my recipe so I searched for a sweet recipe and came up with yours which seemed very similar to how I used to make mine. I added dried pineapple to it which gives a little extra crunch and is delicious! (I also put dried pineapple in my chicken salad.) Thanks for a great recipe!

  6. Just like the cole slaw of my childhood. Thank yoy!

  7. Totally our go-to recipe for slaw!!! Simple and tasty – thank you!!!!

  8. This coleslaw is THE BEST I’ve ever had!!! I’d almost given up on trying to find one my husband and I really like.  I’ve made it twice and this time it was even better.  Goes great with our Maryland Crab Cakes.  Thanks sooo much! 👩🏻‍🍳 

  9. I have been searching for a coleslaw recipe that was perfect and I have found it! Hands down the best recipe out there. Love love love it! Thank you for sharing!!

  10. I prefer to eat my coleslaw the same day its made and my mother prefers to eat her coleslaw over the next couple days…when your 97,
    I guess you can eat it however you want :)
    …I have a problem with people who say they just love your recipe but they added this or they subtracted that…it isn’t your recipe any longer its their recipe they love…just my two cents…I just got an error message so if this doesn’t make sense, do please disregarded…

  11. Can you use white vinegar instead?

  12. I have been searching for years for a coleslaw recipe and this is it! My husband and I have enjoyed every ultimate bite!

  13. Absolutely the best coleslaw recipe I’ve tried!

  14. I do not put the vinegar in.

  15. Just made this today, and it’s the best coleslaw I’ve ever had!!! Delicious, with just the right amount of sweet and tang. My Husband raved about it! The only thing I changed was adding about a 1/2 of raisins. This is a keeper!!!!

    • Dawn, I am so glad you loved it as much as my family does!! Raisins sound like a yummy addition to this coleslaw, I’m going to have to try that. Thanks for the tip!

  16. I didn’t have any celery seed but would like to use it next time. I only put 1 Tbs and 1 tsp of apple cider vinegar in mine; I added a Tbl of milk and used a little pepper too; VERY GOOD!!! Thank you for the perfect slaw!!!

  17. This recipe is amazing..super easy and delicious.

  18. This is the same recipe my momma has made all her life and me and my daughter also make it momma’s way. She uses pickle juice instead of vinegar. You can use sweet pickle juice or for a little extra tang use dill pickle juice. 

  19. The title of this recipe is an accurate description. I, too, am picky about Cole Slaw and this recipe is perfect! Slightly sweet with a little twang and comes together so quickly. Thank you for posting. 

  20. Thank you for posting this delicious recipe!

  21. Coleslaw is very good and so easy to make!

  22. Coleslaw was is great. I loved it.

  23. Colleen below says that she grew up with this recipe. Well, we didn’t eat cole slaw while was growing up that I remember but later on after I got married etc. I thought for 40 years or so that cole slaw dressing only came in a bottle. Never was wild about it.

    So, brainiac that I am, I decided to ask Google…and I wound up here. Crissy..this is EXACTLY the one I was looking for. Making my second batch this evening. You did GOOD!!! Got you saved on my computer, I do! THANKS!

    • Glad you loved it! :)

      • Hiya Crissy!

        It’ now the start of 2021 and I’m leaving this note to get busy making your mom’s recipe for about the, I dunno…15th time? It’s only about 500 times better than that bottle stuff we thought we had to have.

        When you need coleslaw, it’s actually better to have coleslaw with actual GREAT taste! Thinking of you every time we go for it. You did good! A perfect coleslaw angel! Thanks again! Take care!
        Norm

  24. The same slaw I grew up with. Folks who say they don’t like Coleslaw have changed there minds after tasting this recipe! Our Moms jnew best! ❤️

  25. I love this coleslaw easy and tasty ? 

  26. Love this, so simple and soooo good!

  27. Made this yesterday and it was delicious! The recipe says to let it sit for 1-2 hours, but I made it early so I left it for 4-5. My husband could not get enough!! My new go to recipe!!! 

  28. I love this coleslaw! This is now my go-to recipe when wanting coleslaw. So simple and easy though I prefer to let it mingle overnight. It reminds me of my grandma’s coleslaw that she never wrote down. I’ve tried many coleslaw’s that left me always disappointed but not this one.

    • Samantha, glad you love it! Yes, it definitely tastes better with a little extra time to “mingle” in the fridge. :) Thanks so much for commenting!

  29. This is the best! The only recipe I use! My family loves it! Thanks for the recipe! ??❤️

  30. This is hands down the best coleslaw we have ever had. It is the ONLY one I make. It will not disappoint. Thanks you!

  31. I just made this, yum yum! I’m eating a dish of it now and it tastes great . I can’t imagine it could be better after two hours, but I’m looking forward to trying it out later
    .

  32. This is the BEST coleslaw I have ever made or tasted! I added just a little brown mustard and fennel seeds to give it an edge. Thanks for sharing this recipe.

  33. This is great I add feta and chopped peanuts – it takes it to the next level! 

  34. So good!! I tripled it for a BBQ and it was a hit!

  35. Yummy! I add raisins

    • Never thought about adding raisins to coleslaw but that sounds amazing. Maybe dried cranberries even?

      • Furr’s Cafeteria always served cole slaw with the raisins, I always ordered it ! So good.
        Just a note. There is a Mexican Restaurant in Midland Texas that serves their Chili Relenos topped with sour cream, pecans and raisins. It might sound awful, but it is just to die for if you like raisins and pecans. This is the only place where a person can find this.

  36. Old favorite recipe. Yes, this is the best.  Not restaurant recipe, but home style. 

  37. This really is the best coleslaw recipe I’ve made. Better than any restaurant coleslaw. My boyfriend loved it! Going to make it for a party this weekend. Pretty sure everyone will love it.

    • Julie, so glad you loved it!! Thank you for leaving a comment and a rating, it means so much to have feedback like yours. Have a great summer!

  38. Our whole family loves this coleslaw! Seriously amazing and perfect balance of flavours. We have made this so many times now – definitely our go to recipe.

  39. OMG!  This is the very best cole slaw I ever ate. I made 1 lb. and finished it overnight. Made 2 more lbs. for a friend and myself. Hope it last.  Thank you so much for the recipe. 

  40. I make mine the same way…but I add a tablespoon of horesrradish to the mix. Let sit in the frig for about an hour or so. Give it a final stir and its good to go 

  41. This is almost my Granny Rose’s recipe.  She added about a half tsp of mustard to dressing. I have used dark brown sugar in place of white sugar and it is a wonderful different taste as well. 

  42. The recipe is very good but I used miracle whip instead of mayonnaise and 2 tbs of sugar everything else is the same as your recipe stated.  Thank very much my husband really enjoyed it.

  43. My wife has the best Coleslaw ever. Store coleslaw mix,juice from Bread and Butter pickles,musturd,mayonnaise.

  44. Similar tho my mom’s.  Hers used Miracle Whip and only 1 1/2 Tbs sugar, 1tsp vinegar.  Very yummy!  I also add small cauliflower florets for added crunch.  Everyone always asks me how I make it.  I swear it’s the Miracle Whip.

  45. OHH… I love sweet cole slaw, I’ll be making this tomorrow !!

  46. This is exactly how my mom made her cole slaw and how I make mine today. Except we grated the cabbage and carrots, no pre-mix back in those days. :)

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