Coleslaw Dressing

This homemade coleslaw dressing recipe will take any coleslaw to a whole new level! Made with just 5 ingredients, it's creamy, tangy, and delicious.

Coleslaw Dressing Recipe

Once you learn how to make coleslaw dressing at home, you’ll never buy it at the store again! Here’s why:

  1. It’s super easy. This creamy coleslaw dressing recipe calls for 5 basic ingredients, and it only takes a few minutes to whisk together.
  2. It’s made with good-quality whole foods ingredients. When you make homemade coleslaw dressing, you know exactly what’s in it. There aren’t any additives or stabilizers here, and it’s sweetened naturally with maple syrup instead of processed sugar.
  3. And last but not least, it’s delicious! This creamy, tangy dressing makes fantastic coleslaw, but it’s darn good on other salads too. Toss it with lettuce, baby greens, or kale, or use it to make broccoli salad. Once you have it on hand, you’ll find all sorts of ways to use it.

If you like coleslaw, you’ll love this easy dressing recipe. Let’s cook!

Carrots and cabbage in a mixing bowl

Coleslaw Dressing Recipe Ingredients

You only need 5 simple ingredients to make this homemade coleslaw dressing:

  • Mayo – For the best flavor, use really good mayonnaise in this recipe. If I’m using store bought mayo, my first pick is Sir Kensington’s. My homemade vegan mayo is great here too!
  • Apple cider vinegar – It makes the dressing nice and tangy.
  • Dijon mustard – It adds extra tang and a mild peppery flavor.
  • Maple syrup – It balances the assertive vinegar and mustard.
  • Celery seed – If you’ve made my egg salad, deviled eggs, or creamy potato salad, you know that celery seed, mayo, and mustard taste fantastic together. These little guys add a delicious savory flavor that takes this dressing over the top.

Whisk these ingredients together, and season to taste with salt and pepper!

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

Homemade slaw with coleslaw dressing

How to Use Homemade Coleslaw Dressing

I most often use this coleslaw dressing in my homemade coleslaw recipe, but it works well with pre-shredded coleslaw mix too. Whether you shred the veggies yourself or use a mix, aim to have about 8 cups of shredded cabbage and carrot. That way, you’ll have enough dressing to lightly coat all the vegetables.

Once you toss the the dressing with the slaw mix, it’s time to eat! I love to serve my homemade coleslaw as a side dish with these classic cookout recipes:

Round out the meal with fruit salad, grilled vegetables, or corn on the cob, and don’t forget the brownies for dessert!

If you have leftover dressing, store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. It tastes great with any type of greens, but I especially love it in my kale salad recipe!

Homemade Coleslaw

More Favorite Sauces and Dressings

If you love this coleslaw dressing recipe, try one of these delicious dressings next:

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Coleslaw Dressing

rate this recipe:
5 from 356 votes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Serves 4 to 6
This homemade coleslaw dressing is creamy, tangy, and so darn easy to make. Use it in my creamy coleslaw recipe, or toss it with 8 cups of pre-shredded slaw mix.

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayo, apple cider vinegar, mustard, maple syrup, celery seeds, salt, and several grinds of fresh pepper.
  • Serve with about 8 cups cabbage coleslaw mix.

224 comments

5 from 356 votes (249 ratings without comment)

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Rate this recipe (after making it)




  1. Diane
    06.08.2025

    5 stars
    This is so good and versatile. I usually use it to marinade broccoli and cauliflower for lunches. It gets better and better each day it sits. I add pickled red onions.

  2. Marjanne from Love%20and%20Lemons
    06.06.2025

    5 stars
    Fabulous. Definitely recommend.

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      06.06.2025

      So glad you love it!

  3. Karen Wakelee
    06.03.2025

    5 stars
    Made it with broccoli slaw—delish!! Our new favorite!

  4. Roxanne
    06.01.2025

    5 stars
    So good and easy. Making it for a 2nd time. A favorite !

  5. Michelle
    05.26.2025

    Do you think substituting honey for maple syrup would work ok?

  6. Marianna
    05.25.2025

    5 stars
    Excellent taste!

  7. Christine
    05.12.2025

    5 stars
    Delicious and so easy. Jars in the fridge for future use too thank you

  8. Ashley
    05.04.2025

    5 stars
    Love it! I used it on a raw broccoli, sunflower seed, red onion and craisin salad.

    I use your recipes all the time! Never disappointed.

  9. Samantha
    04.30.2025

    would this recipe as is go well on cajun fried chicken sandwich that calls for coleslaw and dill pickle chip pieces? how would you change it for this sandwich?

  10. Laurel
    04.27.2025

    5 stars
    Super easy and delicious! So happy to find this one 🙂

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      04.30.2025

      So glad you loved the dressing, Laurel!

  11. Maria Todd
    04.26.2025

    5 stars
    The family loved this. Even my recipe snob husband!

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      04.30.2025

      Hi Maria, I’m so glad it was a hit!

  12. Libby
    04.19.2025

    5 stars
    8 cups of Cole slaw ? That has to be incorrect.

    • Tonya George
      05.05.2025

      5 stars
      I agree – I used one 14 oz package of coleslaw unthought the same

  13. Karin
    04.13.2025

    5 stars
    This is the best!! The apple cider vinegar and maple syrup are what steps it up over others

A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.