Name: 5 Minute Creamy Coleslaw
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: ¾ cup mayonnaise; ¼ cup apple cider vinegar; 2 tablespoons white vinegar; 1 teaspoon sugar; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1 teaspoon black pepper; ½ teaspoon celery seeds; 16-ounce bag of coleslaw mix

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This creamy coleslaw uses a bagged mix of pre-shredded cabbage to save time. A quick homemade dressing makes sure there are no compromises in flavor! No cooking, no chopping, no trouble at all. Simple, delicious, and great for feeding a crowd. Did I mention it’s ready in 5 minutes?

Close up view of a bowl of coleslaw with green cabbage, red cabbage, and carrots.

Coleslaw is a staple around here. It shows up at almost every gathering and takes on many forms. This version is as quick and easy as it gets.

The secret to getting it ready fast is using a bag of pre-shredded coleslaw mix. Once upon a time, I would have laughed at the idea of buying a bag of coleslaw mix. My days as a mama of a 2-year-old and a newborn showed me that every minute counts! A shortcut to getting veggies on the table? Yes! Count me in!

Slaw is a perfect side dish to serve at almost any gathering. It falls into that broad category of cold deli salads and is so versatile! No barbeque is complete without it.

It’s absolutely necessary to serve with pulled pork. The crunchy, tangy coleslaw cuts the richness of the pork without being overpowering. They’re as iconic together as peanut butter and jelly! Serve it with some homemade BBQ sauce like my Carolina Vinegar Sauce or South Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce.

It’s also a great topping for chicken sandwiches and hot dogs!

This recipe is gluten-free and dairy-free. I love recipes that fit that bill without making special modifications. It makes them perfect for sharing!

Ingredients for 5 minute coleslaw

Pre-shredded coleslaw mix is located in the produce aisle with the pre-packaged salad greens. There are a few kinds to choose from. I love using the tri-color coleslaw mix. It includes shredded green cabbage, purple cabbage, and carrots. There are also finely chopped and thin shredded options that are only green cabbage.

The easy homemade dressing is fuss-free and quick. No chopping or blending. Just mix a few staple ingredients to form a creamy and tangy dressing.

This may be a controversial opinion, but use whatever type of mayo you like. Whatever floats your boat, honey. The mayo is here to add creaminess and act as a carrier. For this occasion, you can take your mayonnaise wars somewhere else. Duke’s, Hellmann’s, Miracle Whip, vegan, primal…

They’ll all work to make this coleslaw dressing.

A bag of tri-color coleslaw mix and the ingredients for dressing on a wooden table.

Variations

Vegan: Use your favorite vegan mayonnaise.
Low carb: Skip the sugar!
Primal: Skip the sugar and use a primal-approved mayonnaise.
From scratch: If you want to cut the veggies yourself, use 6.5 cups shredded cabbage and 1 cup shredded carrots.
Feed a crowd: It is easy to double or even triple this recipe to feed a crowd. Use the scale button on the recipe card for easy calculations!

Pro-tip: If you multiply the recipe, make sure you have a bowl big enough to mix it in. I have one of these 40-cup Rubbermaid containers for big crowds.

How to make quick and easy coleslaw

Make the coleslaw dressing by whisking together all the dressing ingredients.

Mix it with the pre-shredded coleslaw mix.

Easy Peasy!

Creamy slaw dressing in a glass measuring cup.

Storage Tips

Store in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator. I have this 3-quart party bowl that can serve and store. Use within 3 days.

If you use the tri-color mix with red cabbage, the red color will bleed after a day and give your slaw a purple tint. It’s fine to eat! If you’re making this a day ahead for a gathering, you might want to buy a mix without the red cabbage.

Ideas for serving coleslaw

No BBQ dinner is complete without coleslaw!
Serve it as a quick veggie side for an easy weeknight supper.
Use it as a topping for hot dogs and pulled pork or chicken sandwiches.
It makes a perfect easy side dish for potlucks and gatherings.

Looking for more deli-style salad recipes?

Did you try making this quick and easy coleslaw? Let me know in the comments below!