kfc coleslaw {copycat}
I made a huge batch of this delicious “copycat” KFC coleslaw for my granddaughter’s birthday party! It makes a ton, so if you don’t need a vat of coleslaw, you can easily cut the recipe in half.
I’ve tried using a food processor to make this before and it didn’t achieve the very specific consistency of KFC coleslaw. If you’ve enjoyed KFC coleslaw before, you know what I’m talking about. The cabbage isn’t shredded, it’s chopped fine. Sharpen your chef knife for this recipe. You’re going to be doing some serious chopping. The end result is totally worth the effort! This coleslaw is the best!
Just use plain, green cabbage to make KFC coleslaw. No Napa… No purple… just green.
~ serves at least 20 people ~
2 heads green cabbage, chopped fine (approximately 20 cups)
1 cup carrot, chopped fine
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups buttermilk
1 cup whole milk
2 cups real mayonnaise
1/4 cup white vinegar
2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Remove outer leaves and cores from the heads of cabbage. Discard. Chop cabbage to the consistency of rice kernels. Peel carrots, remove ends and chop to the same consistency as the cabbage. Mix cabbage and carrots together until well blended. I do this right in the food container where I’ll be storing the coleslaw (such as an 8 quart Rubbermaid or Tupperware container.)
In a large bowl, combine: sugar, salt, pepper, buttermilk, whole milk, mayonnaise, vinegar, and lemon juice. Whisk until well blended and smooth. Pour over the cabbage/carrot mixture in the container. Mix very well. Cover and chill for at least two hours prior to serving. When ready to serve, give the coleslaw a good stir again.
*Note: This recipe can be halved for a smaller batch, or doubled and even tripled for a huge crowd.
Enjoy!
~Melissa
They also add green onions to there coleslaw !
They don’t. 🙂 The original, corporate KFC coleslaw doesn’t contain any type of onion.
You are correct, our slaw has no onions in it at all
Your right. I use to manage one. No onion
Exactly!I worked at one and had to make the slaw. No onion! 🙂
Everyone says no onions but according to the KFC website:
“Freshly prepared in store with cabbage, carrots, just the right amount of onion and our signature dressing. Our cole slaw can teach your family-reunion cole slaw a thing or two.”
It seems at least now they use onion but not sure of what kind. Any thoughts?
Hi John,
My copycat recipe is based on the original KFC coleslaw that I made then I worked for KFC in the 80s. I’ve heard they’ve changed the recipe, and not for the better. At least, according to a lot of people who have written to me, it’s not as good. I guess I really don’t know how they prepare it these days. I do know that sometimes people thought there was onion in the original recipe too, and I believe it was because we used the heart of the cabbage which is kind of spicy and has an onion (and sometimes even a slight horseradish) flavor. I wish I could help you, but I honestly haven’t had the new version of the slaw.
Thanks for stopping by,
~M
No KFC coleslaw Does Not contain onions at all!
correct! 🙂
Coleslaw doesn’t have onion in it
“Their” coleslaw!!!
Get a life
Says the troll who leaves nasty comments on blog posts. lol
I am not a big milk fan so can I use regular milk and not the buttermilk. What would be a good substitute for the buttermilk.
Hello there, Kathy! 🙂
Combine your favorite, unsweetened, unflavored non-dairy milk (such as plain almond) with a little cider vinegar. So for every cup of milk I’d do a Tablespoon of vinegar. Let it sit for a couple minutes before mixing into recipe. Hope that helps!
I use this buttermilk substitute all the time because u can just adjust the ratio as u need more or less than 1 C. Then you’re not stuck with 1/2 qt of buttermilk when you’re done!!
So you start with 1 C milk or milk substitute and add 1 T. Lemon juice or vinegar. Let stand for 5 min before using. But let’s say you only need 1/2 C buttermilk. Then u only use 1/2 T. Of lemon juice or vinegar.
Another substitute is, 1 C milk OR 1 C plain yogurt and add 1 3/4 tsp. Cream of tartar. Depending on the recipe, I actually prefer using the yogurt if my finished product needs a little more tang to it (like this coleslaw dressing).
Anyway, hope this helps!
No they don’t..but Bob Evans does.
Looks delicious
thank you! 🙂
I want it for 2 people not 20
lol!!! I hear ya 🙂 YUM!
1/2 the recipe or 1/4 it to get your amounts…
The amounts listed are what I actually made. I guess I don’t understand the question.
divide it by half four times that will give you a cup and a half of slaw
Use your math! I make it so I have extras for another meal. Cutting this recipe in fourth would make enough for 5, or for a generous helping for two for 2 meals.
Love the recipe, but mine gets runny. Am I doing something wrong?
KFC’s coleslaw dressing is a bit more liquid than other coleslaw dressings. If you like it thicker, feel free to add more mayonnaise 🙂
Yes!! That’s why I like it hate a thick Cole slaw. But there is something a little spicy in KFC’s what is it thank you
Time saver.. wash and chunk cabbage. Put some chunks into blender (DO NOT PACK TIGHT) fill with water. Press grate button then press ON button quickly press OFF button approximately 3 times each pour into colander REPEAT until all is grated. Leave in colander until fully drained. You will achieve a finely grated head of cabbage. Much faster than chopping.
The consistency of the coleslaw is finely chopped, not shredded. I have yet to find a blender/food processor that achieves the correct consistency of KFC coleslaw. 🙂
I’ve been using this recipe for years. I buy the bagged shredded slaw mix in the produce dept and then put it in my food chopper…perfect consistency.
I’ve had a small Hamilton Beach one for years and it will do the job just fine. This is the consistency of how my mom always did it and she used a food processor as well.
You need to get a Ninja. does a fantastic job. I have the food processor and blender, and they work much better than my previous Kitchen Aid appliances!
thanks for the tip. 🙂
Thanks for sharing; I have been debating on which one to go with 😊
This is how I do it also…works great!
For the perfect consistency you need a food chopper with a hand crank. I would add a picture if the comments would let me. I also have a attachment for the stand mixer that chops it fine. ☺
I havae one, and yes, that would work! Because I chop all my onions that way for a concession stand we have, for burgers!
What type of mayo? Dukes us our favorite but which do you recommend
Dukes is awesome! We also like Hellman’s 🙂
Having large bbq this weekend, will give it a go. My Braun processor makes fine work to carrots & cabbage….guess I’m lucky!!
SIMPLY THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!
Totally agree! Thanks, Eva! 🙂
I’m making it right now. I halved the recipe. KFC is my favorite coleslaw. Had to take a break with “chopping” lol. But I’m sure it will be worth it. Thanks for sharing
Enjoy! 🙂
THANKS, I’LL HAVE TO TRY IT. MY BROTHER ONLY EATS KFC COLE SLAW
Enjoy! 🙂
Is two cups of sugat correct? Seems lime way too much.
Hi Patty! 🙂
This recipe makes a GIANT batch of coleslaw. So 2 cups is correct for this. Feel free to cut the recipe in half for a smaller batch. Hope that helps! Also, if you want to, you can always add less sugar to the big batch. If you want it to taste like the original KFC slaw, that stuff is pretty sweet.
Should say like too much
Me too! I have never found any other coles slaw that I enjoy more than KFC’s.. Thanks for the recipe!
My pleasure! Enjoy 🙂
Melissa how many days can this recipe stay in the Frig?
It’s good for a week in the fridge 🙂
Can you freeze this?
I’ve never tried freezing it, Teresa.
Use sour cream instead of buttermilk if you find it too watery. Also, I have a mandolin that gives the perfect dice to replicate the KFC chop. Lucky me!
If you put clear wrap such as Saran Wrap over your coleslaw and press it down to get the air out , it will stay fresh in the fridge and keep its color of green,and not brown.
Can the butter milk be substituted with something Different?
I suppose you could use a bit of sour cream or plain yogurt mixed with milk? I’ve never tried it. Hope that helps! 🙂
Yes 1 C plain yogurt and add 1 3/4 tsp. Cream of tartar. Will be slightly less runny as well.
I’m not sure what type of food processors you all have but my mother and I have been doing our cole slaw like this for many years without any problems. We just use cabbage, mayo, salt & pepper, and a very small amount of sugar. It’s always a hit.
How long will this keep?
5 to 7 days, refrigerated and covered tightly 🙂
thank you so much for this recipe! we have always wanted it! and we are always disappointed when we get the slaw at kfc that doesn’t have enough juice in it![sometimes it is dry and sometimes not!] to each his own! but i find it interesting that people are asking you how to change a kfc recipe for them! lol
Usually I find there’s some “juice” in the bottom of the container. Stir It up well and it is yummy! 🙂
Always like this, people are nuts!
For those that only need a small portion of this recipe..I would suggest freezing the leftover chopped cabbage and carrot in freezer bags or sealed bags…will be good in the freezer for up to one year…Just take out of freezer and let defrost in the refrigerator for a few hours and then put in a colander to get rid of any excess moisture..then continue on with the recipe…eliminates waste and saves you another round (or two| of chopping again…:D
I know this isn’t used at KFC but I did learn that if you want a really yummy and easy addition to your coleslaw, add some little pieces of apple (no skin) It sounds small but the flavor it adds is WOW!
&
what is the spicy stuff in KFCs coleslaw?
I may be wrong Karen but I always thought it was because kfc put in the heart
of the cabbage in . I think the heart is bitter.
I like my coleslaw with a little bite and I sometimes
put a little bit of horseradish in mine. The bite that I sometimes taste in KFC coleslaw is the cabbage itself. The heavier pieces close To the core and the core itself has a bite to it and that’s what what tastes “spicy”.
I use cabbage, carrots, mayo, red wine vinegar and sugar and have been told it tastes like KFC.
Love KFC cole slaw and will be trying this recipe
Enjoy, John! 🙂
Melissa, i sure enjoy your recipes! we make a few types of cole slaw, and even a hot version. One time we lightly stir fried the cabbage and carrot mix alone in some olive oil, and added salt and pepper, and then sunflower seeds for a hot side in the autumn..easy and delicious!
I’m so happy you like my recipes, Claire! Thanks for stopping by and letting me know, and thanks for the slaw idea! I’ll have to give that a try 🙂
I use taragon vinegar it gives it just the little extra it needs
I use my meat grinder for the cabbage
I’ve had this recipe for ages. I buy the packaged coleslaw mix at the market, put it through my Ninja and get perfect cut.
thanks for the tip! 🙂
mine was kind of runny, what should I fix it with?
add more slaw 🙂
The old recipe for the coleslaw was awesome and then it went to hell in a handbasket. I won.t but it anymore. Its awful
Agree!
I must be a real classic. I worked at KFC ( corporate stores/not franchises) in the late 70’s and early 80’s,. I have had the privilege of working in two TRIPLE CROWN stores. Back in the day, everything was made from scratch, The coleslaw did NOT have buttermilk….the mayo was Miracle Whip, The only thing we used buttermilk for was the Home made buttermilk biscuits, Coleslaw definitely had yellow onions, and the core was cut away after 1/4 ering the cabbage, Insurance required all users of the Holbert Chopper to be a min 18 yo, I have seen many copy cat recipes and it lacks one ingredient to carry the milk to evenly coat every thing, and that is cotton seed oil. I know the franchisee’s ran different recipes but not legally in terms of KFC products. We also had a 9 piece cut chicken and that was changed several years ago to split the keel onto the side ribs. The quality of most everything has gone down drastically since the late 80’s.
I’ll have to try this sometime. KFC slaw is my favorite and my husband and I have a running joke about it…it involves him eating mine once when we got food there. We always have a laugh over that. By the way, my Mom made her coleslaw with the cabbage chopped very fine, but she always used the smallest holes on a box grater. Thanks for the recipe.
Best recipe of coleslaw that I’ve found! A-1
Yay! I’m so happy you like it! 🙂
excellent recipes!