Southern Style Coleslaw

This southern-style coleslaw is creamy, sweet, and tangy and a delicious addition to any meal.
southern style coleslaw recipe

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I’m a huge fan of coleslaw. The creamy, tangy flavor combined with the crunch of the slaw is so satisfying.

This Southern-style coleslaw is the perfect complement to the delicious smokey barbecue you’ve labored all day over.

One of the best things about this recipe is that the dressing is really easy and quick to make! And you probably have most of the ingredients on hand.

Serve this alongside pulled pork or barbecue ribs for the perfect plate of food. 

How to make Southern Style Coleslaw

ingredients laid out for southern coleslaw

1. The vegetables

Skip the bagged stuff and chop fresh green and purple cabbage.

My friend recently gave me a few heads of cabbage and I took it as a sign to make some coleslaw!  And seriously if you use fresh ingredients your recipe will turn out so much better.  

sliced cabbage and carrots in a bowl

To really get the kind of cut you want on cabbage, quarter them first and then slice really thinly.

You can also use a mandolin if you want or a food processor with a shredding attachment. Just watch your fingers. 

After the cabbage is all cut up, grate your carrots and set that all aside. 

2. The dressing

Make the dressing in a separate bowl by whisking together mayonnaise, dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. 

coleslaw dressing in a stainless bowl with a wisk

The dressing should be tangy, creamy, and delicious. If it looks too thick add a touch more apple cider vinegar. 

3. Mix it up

Give your vegetables a good mix until they are well combined.

cabbage and carrot mixed up in a silver bowl

Add your dressing.

mixed slaw with dressing on top

And give it another good mix until all the vegetables are well coated in the dressing.

Like most slaws, this one is best eaten within a few hours of being made but will keep in the fridge for up to two days. Just drain any excess before serving.

tongs mixing cabbage and dressing together

There you have it! It doesn’t get any easier or more delicious than this.

Serve it up with your favorite bbq dish or heap a generous serving of pulled pork right on top and dive right in.

This delicious Southern-style coleslaw is perfect for whatever you’re smoking or grilling this weekend. 

Make that BBQ better

southern style coleslaw recipe

Southern Style Coleslaw

4.51 from 113 votes
This southern style coleslaw is a creamy, sweet and tangy addition to any meal.
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Servings: 6
Prep Time15 minutes
Total Time15 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 1 cup shredded red cabbage
  • 2 cups shredded green cabbage
  • ¾ cup grated carrot

Dressing

  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper - course grind

Instructions

  • Finely slice the green and red cabbage and place in a large bowl.
  • Grate the carrot and add to the bowl with the cabbage, mixing it well.
  • Just before serving add the dressing to the cabbage mixture and toss to combine.

Dressing

  • In a bowl combine all the dressing ingredients together.

Notes

This slaw can be eaten right away but is best refrigerated for 2 hours before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 195kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 587mg | Potassium: 452mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 4272IU | Vitamin C: 89mg | Calcium: 83mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation only. If you’re worried you could always add a side of kale.

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Fired up the smoker or grill for this one?We would love to hear how it turned out! Drop a comment and rate this recipe.

About Your Pitmaster

Jordan Hanger is a grilling enthusiast known for bold, approachable recipes that blend American and Asian BBQ. Growing up with an American dad and Korean mom, he developed a love for fusion flavors, inspiring his brand, Ninjacue.

With over over one million followers on social media, Jordan makes great barbecue fun and accessible for everyone.

See more posts by Jordan

4.51 from 113 votes (107 ratings without comment)

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11 Comments

  1. My hubby didn’t want the onion. I added more mayo and Dijon. He LOVED it! I don’t eat it, so take his word for it that it was good. Thank u!

    1. You sure could. You could also cut up the ingredients before hand. The one thing I would not do is mix the dressing with the ingredients more than an hour or so before you want to eat.

  2. 4 stars
    Made this slaw for the first time for the same BBQ party as when I cooked the beer mustard potatoes. My wife and I and our two guests thoroughly enjoyed this slaw, thanks.
    Both of the above and the Mexican Corn were being served with your Hot and Fast pork ribs, pork sausages and moink balls.

  3. 5 stars
    it was a big hit with the family served over top honey barbecue brisket sandwiches. toast the buns in a pan. top with beef. top with slaw. yum

  4. 5 stars
    Great sauce, can’t have enough. I’ve been making it over and over, thank you for sharing 20/10 *****