Grandma's BEST Creamy Buttermilk Coleslaw Recipe | Montana Happy (2024)

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Does it get any better than Grandma’s creamy buttermilk coleslaw recipe? This deliciously creamy coleslaw is a favorite old-fashioned recipe for your family too!

If you’re looking for more delicious salad recipes, Creamy Grape Salad and Bread Salad with Tomatoes are the perfect recipes to make your tastebuds dance!

Grandma's BEST Creamy Buttermilk Coleslaw Recipe | Montana Happy (1)

We have to give a great big thanks to the Dutch that brought this delicious recipe with them when they immigrated to the United States. Did you know that coleslaw means “cabbage salad?”

If you’re looking for a delicious coleslaw to bring to family events or simply serve at your BBQ, look no further than grandma’s buttermilk coleslaw. Made with a mix of green and red shredded cabbage, carrots, and green onions – it has the right amount of crunch.

Grandma starts with a base of mayonnaise and buttermilk, then adds a touch of sugar, lemon juice, vinegar, Dijon mustard, and celery seeds. The result is a flavorful buttermilk dressing that will have everyone raving.

I like to use a combination of red cabbage and green cabbage, but feel free to stick to one head of cabbage instead of half of each. You can also replace the cabbage and carrots with a store-bought coleslaw mix if you’re short on time.

I’m always trying new recipes, and this one was a real winner! Good coleslaw is hard to find. You won’t be disappointed.

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Here’s How to Make Grandma’s Buttermilk Coleslaw

Ingredients for Buttermilk Coleslaw

1 head green or purple cabbage, finely shredded

3 carrots, grated

1/4 cup green onions, chopped

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup buttermilk

3 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon lemon juice

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon celery seeds

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions for Making Creamy Buttermilk Coleslaw:

1) Finely shred cabbage on a mandoline for the right texture. You can find one here on Amazon.

2) Mix cabbage, carrots, and green onion in a large bowl.

3) Whisk together mayonnaise, buttermilk, sugar, lemon juice, celery seed, mustard, apple cider vinegar, and black pepper in a separate medium bowl until smooth and the sugar dissolved.

4)Pour half the dressing ingredients over the cabbage mixture and mix thoroughly. Keep adding the dressing until it covers all the salad ingredients.

5) Cover the coleslaw and refrigerate for at least two hours.

6) Mix again before serving.

Printable Recipe for the Best Coleslaw Recipe

Grandma's BEST Creamy Buttermilk Coleslaw Recipe | Montana Happy (2)

Yield: 10 side dishes

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Does it get any better than Grandma's Creamy Buttermilk Coleslaw? This creamy coleslaw is sure to be a favorite old-fashioned recipe for your family too.

Ingredients

  • 1 head green or purple cabbage, finely shredded
  • 3 carrots, grated
  • 1/4 cup green onions, chopped
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup buttermilk
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon celery seeds
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Finely shred the cabbage on a mandoline for the right texture.
  2. Mix cabbage, onions, and carrots in a large bowl.
  3. Whisk together mayonnaise, buttermilk, sugar, lemon juice, celery seed, mustard, apple cider vinegar, and black pepper in a separate bowl until smooth and the sugar is dissolved.
  4. Pour half the dressing over the cabbage mixture and combine thoroughly. Keep adding dressing until it covers all the salad ingredients.
  5. Cover the coleslaw and refrigerate for at least two hours.
  6. Mix again before serving.

Nutrition Information

Yield

10

Serving Size

1

Amount Per ServingCalories 130Total Fat 9gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 7gCholesterol 5mgSodium 182mgCarbohydrates 13gFiber 3gSugar 8gProtein 2g

Tips for Making Creamy Buttermilk Dressing Coleslaw Recipe

  • You can make the creamy coleslaw dressing a couple of days ahead and store it in the refrigerator.
  • The healthy apple cider vinegar with the “mother” can be found here.
  • You can also use a box grater or food processor to shred the cabbage.
  • White vinegar can be substituted for apple cider vinegar.
  • You can also add 1/2 of red onion for more flavor.

How long will the creamy coleslaw last in the refrigerator?

Coleslaw will last 3-5 in the refrigerator when stored in an airtight container.

Can you freeze Grandma’s coleslaw?

Coleslaw doesn’t freeze well. The dressing will break down as it thaws.

How do you serve classic coleslaw?

  • Add coleslaw on top of hot dogs, fish tacos, fish sandwich, or pulled pork sandwich.
  • It makes the perfect side dish for fried chicken, ribs, brisket, and fried fish. Add some potato salad, and you have the ideal meal.

We’ve reached the end of Grandma’s Creamy Buttermilk Best Coleslaw Recipe. I hope you enjoyed it!

Let me know if you tried the recipe and how you liked it. Be sure to follow me. I will be posting more coleslaw recipes.

Don’t forget to join the Creating a Cozy Life Group. You will not believe how amazing it is.

Thanks for stopping by. I’m so happy you found us!

More Salad Recipes You’ll Love

How to Make Cucumber Salad with Apple Cider Vinegar – This salad is both really healthy for you and delicious.

Watermelon Feta and Black Olive Salad – Who knew that adding black olives to watermelon would add up to the perfect combination of sweet and salty?

Homemade Blue Cheese Salad Dressing – You’ll love making salad dressings after trying this recipe. You can use it as a dressing or a dip.

Greek Quinoa Salad – A healthy and yummy salad that is the perfect lunch or dinner.

Creamy Strawberry Salad Dressing – This amazing salad dressing will wow both your family and friends. It’s a great recipe that’s definitely a keeper!

Buttermilk Waffles – Your mornings just got a lot better with these yummy buttermilk waffles.

Grandma's BEST Creamy Buttermilk Coleslaw Recipe | Montana Happy (3)
Grandma's BEST Creamy Buttermilk Coleslaw Recipe | Montana Happy (2024)

FAQs

Why does my homemade coleslaw go watery? ›

Cabbage contains lots of water. Alton Brown suggests salting the cabbage and letting the water drain for two hours, then rinsing the cabbage and spinning it dry before dressing it. That purges the excess water out of the cabbage before it is dressed, so it doesn't get watery.

How to make coleslaw Jamie Oliver? ›

Peel the onion and shallot, and slice as finely as you can, along with the cabbage, if using. Add these to the bowl of veg. In a separate bowl, mix half the lemon juice, a lug of extra virgin olive oil, yoghurt and mustard. Pick the herb leaves and chop, then stir into the dressing.

Is it better to make coleslaw the day before? ›

Coleslaw has the best texture and flavor the day it's made, but it still keeps well for several days in the fridge. If you're making this coleslaw more than a day ahead, don't skip the salting step above.

What can I add to store bought coleslaw to make it taste better? ›

Sugar or agave nectar are good choices of sweeteners. Flavor wise, chopped pickle relish, celery seeds, a touch of Dijon mustard, salt, pepper and sour cream are all common.

How do you make cole slaw not watery? ›

With the shredded cabbage in a colander, mix in a tablespoon of salt per head of cabbage till it's evenly distributed. The salt will draw out excess water from cabbage while helping preserve the crispiness. After letting it sit for an hour or two, rinse it with water to remove the salt.

How do you make coleslaw not watery? ›

To avoid watery slaw, salt and drain the cabbage before mixing. The challenge: Despite its simplicity, two things have always bothered us about coleslaw: the pool of watery dressing at the bottom of the bowl after a few hours, and the salad's sharpness, regardless of the kind or quality of vinegar used.

Why did KFC stop selling coleslaw? ›

The fast food chain was forced to stop selling its coleslaw tubs when a supply issue meant the slaw would have to be served up without the dressing. “We are currently experiencing a supply issue with our KFC coleslaw dressing,” a KFC spokesperson said. The slaw is made up of cabbage and carrots coated in mayonnaise.

What is in Mary Brown's coleslaw? ›

Mary Brown's shreds fresh cabbage and carrots in house, and tops it with a creamy dressing. The freshly shredded veggies give you a light yet satisfying crunch while the dressing gives you the tanginess you're looking for.

How to make coleslaw Gordon Ramsay? ›

Cooking Preparation of the Recipe:
  1. Be sure cabbage and carrots are chopped up into very fine pieces (about the size of rice).
  2. Combine the sugar, salt, pepper, milk, mayonnaise, buttermilk, vinegar, and lemon juice in a large bowl and beat until smooth.
  3. Add the cabbage, carrots, and onion, and mix well.

What is KFC coleslaw made of? ›

KFC coleslaw is a sweet and tangy side dish made with shredded cabbage and carrots, coated in a creamy dressing. The dressing is made with a blend of mayonnaise, buttermilk, vinegar, sugar, and spices, which gives it its distinctive flavor. The cabbage is finely chopped, so it has a crisp and refreshing texture.

Should you wash bagged coleslaw? ›

Bagged or ready-to-eat, fresh-cut produce

If the product is not labeled "washed," "triple washed," or "ready-to-eat," it must be washed before eating.

Why does coleslaw go bad so quickly? ›

Additionally, coleslaw often contains mayo or dairy-based dressings that can go bad pretty quickly. The U.S. Department of Agriculture warns that bacteria thrive at temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, so the longer you leave your food out, the higher the risk of spoilage.

How do you thicken up coleslaw? ›

The amount of xanthan gum you'll use in any recipe, coleslaw or not, is small. You can use a ¼ teaspoon of xanthan gum in your copycat KFC coleslaw to thicken up the dressing, which is made with canola oil, mayonnaise, sugar, apple cider vinegar, and xanthan gum.

Does coleslaw get soggy? ›

Store the mixture in the fridge, covered, until serving. Editor's Tip: Coleslaw tastes better the longer it sits. If you can prep ahead a day, the flavor will be worth the wait. (After several days, however, it will start to get soggy.)

How long should coleslaw sit in the fridge? ›

Coleslaw keeps well in the refrigerator for one to two days.

To save time, shred the vegetables a day or two in advance and store them in a resealable bag in the fridge. The coleslaw dressing lasts for up to two weeks when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Should cabbage be washed before making coleslaw? ›

Cabbage. The outer layer isn't going to be eaten—the leaves are tougher and undesirable to many—so why wash cabbage? There's a good reason: Worms or other insects could be inside the cabbage, so to be safe, follow these steps for cleaning and washing it.

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