Copycat KFC Coleslaw
Copycat KFC Coleslaw
Anyone who reads this blog often knows I’m a huge fan of coleslaw. My favorite version is my Classic Creamy Coleslaw – a mix of red and green cabbage, carrot and onion, all dressed with a creamy mayonnaise dressing and chilled to perfection.
But if I had to name a second favorite, I’d go for the coleslaw from KFC. They dress it there with a lighter, thinner dressing that’s spiked with lemon, buttermilk, and vinegar to make it extra tangy. It’s also got a dash of pepper to give it extra zip. And the coleslaw itself is cut much finer, so it can really soak up the tangy-sweet dressing and give you loads of it in every mouthful.
So I decided to try whipping up my own version of KFC’s coleslaw at home. The hardest part was cutting the cabbage as fine as the Colonel does it, but I finally realized the secret is to slice it twice – once in the food processor, and then again with a knife to get the bits extra small. Now, even if we can’t get to KFC – or if we know it’d be healthier not to – we can still enjoy their slaw any time we like.
I don’t have a food processor. Is there a way to get this extra-fine slaw without it?
- You can do it with a knife by making multiple passes over the cabbage. Start by cutting the whole head into halves, then quarters, and slicing off the tough core at the end. Place each wedge face down on your cutting board and cut it into thin strips. Then turn the strips 90 degrees and cut across them again, making the pieces equally thin in the other direction. And if the pieces still aren’t tiny enough, make one more pass over the whole thing with the knife to get them even smaller. For this slaw, it’s almost impossible to make them too small.
Can you chill the slaw for longer than 2 hours?
- Yes, absolutely! The longer you chill it, the better those flavors will blend. You can even make it in the morning and leave it in the fridge all day. But 2 hours is the minimum.
I’m in mood for a whole KFC copycat meal, what could I make to go with the coleslaw?
- If you want to be really authentic, make a batch of my extra-special Buttermilk Ranch Fried Chicken. Or get the same flavor in a simpler, healthier form by making my Parmesan Oven Fried Chicken. Either way, my Easy Homemade Biscuits are perfect to round out the meal.
How to make Copycat KFC Coleslaw
- Using a food processor, dice the cabbage, carrots and onion. I shredded them in the food processor and then diced them with a knife for those small bits that KFC uses.
- In a medium bowl combine the sugar, salt and pepper, mayonnaise, buttermilk and whole milk, vinegar and lemon juice. Whisk well till smooth.
- Pour over the cabbage mixture and chill for 2 hours before serving.
Copycat KFC Coleslaw
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Ingredients
- 6 cups of diced cabbage
- 1 carrot
- 2 TBSP finely chopped onion
- 1/3 cup of granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp of ground pepper
- 1/2 cup of mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup of whole milk
- 1/4 cup of buttermilk
- 2 TBSP of white vinegar
- 3 TBSP of lemon juice
Instructions
- Using a food processor, dice the cabbage, carrots and onion. I shredded them in the food processor and then diced them with a knife for those small bits that KFC uses.
- In a medium bowl combine the sugar, salt and pepper, mayonnaise, buttermilk and whole milk, vinegar and lemon juice. Whisk well till smooth.
- Pour over the cabbage mixture and chill for 2 hours before serving.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer: Family Fresh Meals is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
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Hi!
Please show me exactly which blade to use for making the cabbage, onion, and carrots for the cfc slaw! Can’t wait to make it! I want it really small! I have the kitchenaid processor. Thank you!!!
smiles
Linda
I used the standard Mulitpurpose Blade, to start with, but the fine-hand chopped with a kitchen knife is what gets you that fine KFC style slaw.
It was delicious It tastes exactly like KFC and everybody at the picnic loved it
So happy everyone love it
The Colonel uses horse radish in his slaw. That is what makes it outstanding.
My first batch, was done without buttermilk. Tasted a bit strong on the vinegar. Second batch, instead of the milk & buttermilk, I substituted with Miracle Whip dressing. There is no funniness to it, the dressing clings well, after 2-3 days there was a small amount of liquid. Perfecto.
This is the best slaw ever