Creamy, crunchy, and tangy - this Best Coleslaw for Pulled Pork stays crisp and pairs perfectly with BBQ or pulled pork sandwiches.
This classic coleslaw recipe has the ideal texture combination of crunchy slaw and a creamy coleslaw dressing, ready in under 10 minutes with just a few simple ingredients.
💡 Updated for 2025: Retested the dressing ratio for better balance and added an easy make-ahead tip for extra-creamy texture.
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Looking for a simple, creamy coleslaw that's crisp, balanced, and perfect with BBQ? This Midwest-style slaw comes together in minutes with pantry ingredients and stays crunchy after chilling. It's our go-to for pulled pork sandwiches, cookouts, and easy family dinners.
⭐️ Reader Review: "Great recipe! I made it for our pulled pork sandwiches on game day!" - Audry
A true community favorite - featured in our Top 10 Recipes - this creamy coleslaw adds the perfect crunch and flavor to every BBQ plate.
It pairs beautifully with Perfect Pulled Pork, BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders, and a slice of Honey Butter Jiffy Cornbread - the kind of meal that brings everyone to the table.
Featured in 25 Summer BBQ Recipes on SeasonalCravings.com.
Quick Look at the Recipe
🥄 Prep Time: 10 minutes
🥬 Main Ingredients: green cabbage, carrots, mayonnaise, sugar, vinegar, celery seed, salt & pepper
🧊 Make-Ahead: Mix the dressing and toss with cabbage up to 2 hours before serving-it gets creamier as it rests.
🍖 Pairs With: Pulled pork, BBQ ribs, fried chicken, or anything grilled
❤️ Why You'll Love It: Old-fashioned flavor that reminds you of backyard cookouts and church picnics.
Why it works: The acid-to-sweet ratio keeps the dressing bright, while a brief chill lets the cabbage stay crisp instead of soggy.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's creamy and crunchy in all the right ways - that perfect tangy-sweet balance every good slaw should have.
- Comes together fast, with ingredients you already have in your kitchen.
- Stays fresh and crisp even after chilling (no soggy cabbage here).
- A total crowd favorite alongside pulled pork, ribs, or burgers.
- You can make it ahead, and somehow it tastes even better the next day.
- Keep It Crisp: For extra crunch, sprinkle a pinch of salt over the shredded cabbage and let it rest 10 minutes, then pat dry before dressing. This draws out excess moisture so your slaw stays fresh and snappy even the next day.
Love cabbage? You've got to try our Hearty Ground Beef and Cabbage Soup - Just like Mom used to make! So Good!
Ingredients for Coleslaw
This traditional coleslaw is made from a mix of shredded cabbage, shredded carrots, and a creamy coleslaw dressing.
- Mayonnaise - Classic creamy texture. For a lighter taste, replace up to half with Greek yogurt. For a vinaigrette slaw, see the vinegar-based variation below.
- Granulated sugar - Adds sweetness. Use white sugar; brown sugar gives deeper flavor.
- Vinegar - Balances sweetness. Apple cider is best; red or white vinegar or lemon juice work too.
- Celery seed - Classic deli flavor. If using celery salt, reduce added salt elsewhere.
- Cabbage - Green cabbage gives that classic crunch; Savoy is softer and sweet; a little red cabbage adds color and a peppery note. For an ultra-light texture, try Napa or finely sliced coleslaw mix.
- Carrots - Finely shredded for natural sweetness.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Flavor Twists & Regional Slaws
You can make so many different variations of cold slaw with this easy coleslaw recipe. Substitute in your favorite flavors or swap out the cabbage and add some veggies.
- Southern Vinegar Slaw: Skip mayo and add a dash of hot sauce.
- Red Slaw (NC Style): Mix ketchup with vinegar for a tangy barbecue version.
- Asian-Inspired: Add ginger, soy sauce, and sesame oil for a fresh spin.
How to Make Coleslaw
Here's how to make this creamy coleslaw. Start by shredding the cabbage and carrots until they're light and crisp. Whisk together the dressing-it should taste a little tangy and just sweet enough-then toss everything until the cabbage is coated and glossy. Chill it for a bit so the flavors come together.
✨Every time I make it, someone asks for the recipe!
Prepare Cabbage Mixture
STEP 1. Using a food processor, shred 4 cups of cabbage and ¼ cup of carrots. Place shredded cabbage mixture into a large bowl and set aside.
Note: This also works using a 16oz bag of bagged coleslaw mix.
Make Easy Coleslaw Dressing
STEP 2. Put all dressing ingredients into a medium bowl. Whisk together to combine.
Mix To Combine
STEP 3. Pour the dressing over the cabbage mixture and mix well.
Chill and Serve
STEP 4. Cover the coleslaw and chill in the refrigerator. Serve with your favorite BBQ recipes.
We love to serve this with our Perfect Pulled Pork. It's a great way to top off a BBQ sandwich, or pork tacos.
🥄 Recipe Tips
- Keep it crisp. Sprinkle a little salt over the shredded cabbage and let it rest for about ten minutes before tossing. It draws out just enough moisture to keep the slaw crunchy and fresh.
- Make it ahead. Whisk the dressing early, then toss it all together an hour or two before serving. The flavors settle in and the texture turns extra creamy.
- Taste and tweak. Give the dressing a quick taste before mixing. Add a pinch more sugar if it needs sweetness, or another splash of vinegar if you like a little extra tang.
- Store it right. Keep leftovers covered in the fridge for up to two days. If it gets a bit watery, pour off the liquid and stir in a spoonful of dressing to bring it back to life.
- Serve it with everything. It's a natural with pulled pork, ribs, or fried chicken-and just as good tucked inside sliders or fish tacos.
Tested Ratios Quick Guide
| Cabbage | Mayo | Vinegar | Sugar | Taste Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 cups | ½ cup | 2 Tbsp | 1 Tbsp | Classic |
| 6 cups | ¾ cup | 3 Tbsp | 1½ Tbsp | Creamier |
| 8 cups | 1 cup | ¼ cup | 2 Tbsp | Tangier |
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Recipe FAQs
Coleslaw is the quintessential side dish to go with pulled pork. But there are so many other easy sides that are the perfect complement. Here are a few of our favorites:
coleslaw
baked beans
fried corn
oven roasted potatoes - Crisp on the outside, pillowy soft on the inside.
peach dump cake - It's fabulous! 😃
greek salad
potato salad
honey butter cornbread - Gooey, honey butter dessert-like fan favorite. Not to be missed.
They're the same thing - coleslaw is the standard spelling for a cabbage slaw. "Cold slaw" is a common misspelling you might see, but it's not a different dish.
The easiest way to shred cabbage is in a food processor or a rotary grater.
Salt and dressing draw moisture from cabbage. Toss close to serving, or drain a little liquid after chilling. For extra crunch, lightly salt shredded cabbage, rest 10 minutes, then pat dry before dressing.
Drain off the liquid and add a spoonful of extra dressing. Next time, try salting the cabbage lightly before mixing to draw out moisture first.
🔥 More BBQ Favorites
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📖 Recipe
Best Coleslaw For Pulled Pork and BBQ
Equipment
- food processor optional
Ingredients
Cabbage Mixture
- 16 ounces cabbage shredded
- ½ cup carrot optional, shredded
Dressing Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons sugar (granulated) white
- 3 tablespoons vinegar white
- 1 tablespoon horseradish sauce
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt kosher salt or sea salt
- ½ teaspoon celery seed
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper ground
Instructions
Prepare Cabbage Mixture
- Using a food processor, shred 4 cups of cabbage and ¼ cup of carrots.Note: This recipe also works using 1-16oz bag of bagged coleslaw mix.Place shredded cabbage mixture into a large bowl and set aside.16 ounces cabbage, ½ cup carrot
Make Easy Coleslaw Dressing
- Put all dressing ingredients into a medium bowl. Whisk together to combine.½ cup mayonnaise, 3 tablespoons sugar (granulated), 3 tablespoons vinegar, 1 tablespoon horseradish sauce, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon celery seed, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Mix To Combine
- Pour the dressing over the cabbage mixture and mix well.
Chill And Serve
- Cover the coleslaw and chill in the refrigerator.
Video
Notes
- For a sweeter slaw: add an extra ½ teaspoon sugar.
- For more tang: add another teaspoon of vinegar or a squeeze of lemon juice.
- For lighter texture: swap half the mayo for Greek yogurt.
Eva says
Delicious dressing. I didn't have horseradish sauce, so I substituted 1/4 tsp horseradish....perfection! I was scared to add the horseradish, but it really enhances the flavor. Thank you for sharing this.
Seanna Borrows says
So great to hear Eva! Yeah, the horseradish adds great flavor but not overpowering. So glad you liked it!
Kelly says
What is the ideal time to refrigerate before serving?
Seanna Borrows says
Hi there Kelly! Ideally, refrigerate freshly made coleslaw for an hour before serving.
Norine says
I’m not a big fan of coleslaw until this recipe.
Seanna Borrows says
Thanks Norine. I appreciate you taking the time to comment and rate this recipe. So glad you enjoyed it!
Bonnie Thompson says
This is the best tasting coleslaw ever. Put it beside and in pulled pork sandwiches. Soooooo delicious I will make this year round. Fabulous recipe. Thank you so much.
Seanna Borrows says
Thanks Bonnie! So happy to hear you enjoyed it!!
Laura says
Great recipe for pulled pork sandwiches!!! Yum 🤗
Seanna Borrows says
Thanks so much Laura! So happy you enjoyed this recipe. Thanks for taking the time to let us know and for leaving a 5 star rating! So appreciated!!
Jan San says
This is the best coleslaw dressing ever! I've made others that always need to be tweaked, but this one has been consistent and a hit every time. The little kick from the horseradish and dijon are perfect!
Seanna Borrows says
Thanks Jan! So glad you like it! Thanks so much for letting me know.
Melissa Hannant says
Loved this dressing! I’m a fan of the horseradish in it.
Seanna Borrows says
Thanks so much Melissa! So glad you loved it!
Carole C says
Love this coleslaw for BBQ; not too sweet. The recipe makes enough so that the cabbage is well coated.
Seanna Borrows says
Great to hear Carole! Thanks so much for commenting.
Michele Buchanan says
This recipe is so tasty..I left out the sugar and it was delicious.
Thanks for sharing
Seanna Borrows says
Thank you so much Michele! I'm so happy you enjoyed it and took the time to let me know. I appreciate you!
Russ B says
Awesome with the pulled pork!
Seanna Borrows says
The perfect sweet & tangy compliment. 😊