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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.

cooking basics — Jump to recipe

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:

  • Best Veggie Burger
  • Portobello Mushroom Burger
  • Quinoa Burger
  • Vegan BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches
  • Crispy Cauliflower Po’ Boy Sandwiches

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:

  • Homemade Caesar Dressing
  • Cilantro Lime Dressing
  • Green Goddess Dressing
  • Greek Salad Dressing
  • Lemon Vinaigrette
  • Classic Basil Pesto or Vegan Pesto
  • Tahini Sauce (4 ways!)

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Coleslaw Dressing

rate this recipe:
4.99 from 363 votes
Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
Serves 4 to 6
Save Recipe Print Recipe
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

  • Scant ¾ cup mayo , or Vegan Mayo
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
  • ¾ teaspoon celery seeds
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
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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.
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236 comments

Next Comments
4.99 from 363 votes (249 ratings without comment)

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Rate this recipe (after making it)




  1. Debbi
    07.15.2021

    Winner!

    Reply ↓
  2. Ted
    07.05.2021

    5 stars
    This tasted better than the store bought I was trying to replicate, and I added a little more syrup to taste. 5 stars

    Reply ↓
  3. Evelyn Jackson
    06.24.2021

    What if o dont have celery seeds? What can I use instead ?

    Reply ↓
    • Jeanine Donofrio
      06.24.2021

      you can just skip them

      Reply ↓
  4. Sandra Anadio
    06.12.2021

    5 stars
    Best coleslaw recipe ever! I think it is the maple syrup that does it. I can stop looking for the perfect coleslaw dressing…………I have found it!

    Reply ↓
    • Jeanine Donofrio
      06.13.2021

      Hi Sandra, I’m so glad you loved it!

      Reply ↓
  5. Doris Feher
    06.09.2021

    5 stars
    . The celery seed is a real punch to the recipe. Thank you!

    Reply ↓
  6. Doris Feher
    06.09.2021

    5 stars
    Just made it for Che first time. The celery seed is a real punch to the recipe. Thank you!

    Reply ↓
  7. Sue
    05.17.2021

    5 stars
    Everyone loved it! Will be our new go to coleslaw dressing. Thank you!

    Reply ↓
  8. Erin
    05.12.2021

    5 stars
    Easy and delish! The best coleslaw dressing I’ve tried!! Thank you for sharing. 🙂

    Reply ↓
  9. Vivian from Love%20and%20Lemons
    05.07.2021

    5 stars
    We loved the dressing! Creamy but not too Mayo tasting. So easy too make!

    Reply ↓
  10. Lisa
    04.25.2021

    5 stars
    Make this all the time! Excellent flavor! I leave out the celery seed and add grated fresh onion

    Reply ↓
  11. Doris Hannon
    04.23.2021

    5 stars
    So easy & delicious. I used a bag of broccoli coleslaw mix and added in some dried cranberries and slivered almonds. Topped our fish sandwiches with it. Very good and like that it calls for maple syrup instead of sugar. Will definitely make again.

    Reply ↓
  12. Martha
    04.14.2021

    5 stars
    Love this dressing ! Had extra left over how long is it good for?

    Reply ↓
    • Jeanine Donofrio
      04.14.2021

      So glad! I’d say about 4 days in the fridge.

      Reply ↓
      • Martha
        04.14.2021

        Thank you!

        Reply ↓
      • Kathy Conde
        05.05.2021

        I have a question…could I use 1-16oz bag of coleslaw mix? TY

        Reply ↓
        • Jeanine Donofrio
          05.06.2021

          yep, you can!

          Reply ↓
  13. Cheryl
    03.25.2021

    5 stars
    Best coleslaw and I can make easily and quickly! Thanks

    Reply ↓
  14. DM
    01.09.2021

    5 stars
    Used this with broccoli slaw – it was great!

    Reply ↓
  15. Marty D
    10.30.2020

    5 stars
    Great Cole slaw dressing. Took me three minutes to make. Perfect for tonight’s pulled pork sandwiches! Added celery salt to the mix for a little lift.

    Reply ↓
  16. Anthony B
    10.09.2020

    5 stars
    This is almost identical to my homemade coleslaw dressing recipe. The only difference is that I sweeten with orange blossom honey and add a splash of lemon juice and a few dashes of hot sauce to mine. It comes out spectacular.

    Reply ↓
  17. Joelma S.
    09.23.2020

    5 stars
    Just made it for my 11 year-old. He loved it!!!!

    Reply ↓
    • Jeanine Donofrio
      09.24.2020

      I’m happy to hear!

      Reply ↓
  18. Susan E
    08.23.2020

    5 stars
    This was so good! Thank you for sharing such a great and easy recipe.

    Reply ↓
    • Jeanine Donofrio
      08.30.2020

      I’m so glad you loved it!

      Reply ↓
  19. Denise
    08.12.2020

    5 stars
    Delish!! Tried to post a pic but kept getting error msg.

    Reply ↓
    • Jeanine Donofrio
      08.30.2020

      I’m so glad you loved it!

      Reply ↓
  20. Jeanine Donofrio
    07.04.2020

    thanks for your feedback!

    Reply ↓
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