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Love light and fresh coleslaw that isn’t over dressed? Grandma’s Easy Homemade Coleslaw Salad Recipe is the one for you! Creamy and luscious with just a hint of tang, this family recipe is seriously delicious. I remember huge bowls of it at family picnics, barbecues and potluck, but sadly there were rarely any leftovers.
As always, there’s a story behind my recipe, but if you prefer you can go straight to the recipe by using the “Jump to Recipe” button at the top of this post.
Updated in April 2026 with tips to help make this recipe even easier and more delicious.
My late Mom – our son’s Grandma – is the original creator of this recipe. When I was growing up, everyone always talked about “Barb’s wonderful coleslaw” but when our son was little, it became “Grandma’s Coleslaw”. He sounded so cute when he said it, Grandma’s Coleslaw it became!
Tips for Making This Recipe
As one of the first qualified nutritionists in Ontario, Canada, my Mom always had healthy eating at the forefront of her mind. Even her homemade coleslaw had a healthier twist to it. And I have gone one step further, offering the option of using part plain Greek yogurt in the dressing to make it even healthier without compromising on taste.
Raw green cabbage has many health benefits. It contains vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, and very low in calories. Raw red cabbage has even more health benefits than green cabbage does and it tastes great. If you’ve only tasted red cabbage served hot, you will be pleasantly surprised by its full of flavour crunch Grandma’s Homemade Coleslaw. You can of course just use green cabbage if that is all you have available.
Please use freshly shredded cabbage for this recipe. I know those bags of ‘coleslaw mix’ are super convenient but the flavour is just not the same. The cabbage is often rinsed in water with a high chlorine content and it dries out in the bag. There are also usually preservatives added to help keep the bagged salad fresh and bright.
Making The Recipe Even Healthier
In recent years, I have been substituting half a cup plain Greek yogurt for half of the mayonnaise when I make this recipe. The flavour is not identical but it is absolutely delicious, and even better for you. In fact, although I feel a bit disloyal saying it, I think I prefer the dressing made this way.
Tips for Making Grandma’s Easy Homemade Coleslaw
Use fresh veggies – It doesn’t take long to shred a cabbage or two and a couple of carrots and it’s well worth the effort. In fact, like repeatedly stirring a risotto, shredding or chopping vegetables can be positively therapeutic.
Use a good mayonnaise – Unsurprisingly, the flavour of the mayonnaise affects the flavour of the salad. It’s important to choose one your really like. You can use lower fat mayonnaise if you prefer.
Make the recipe the day before if you can – The thing I love about this easy homemade coleslaw recipe is that you can definitely make it ahead. In fact, sitting in the fridge overnight deepens and improves the flavours, making it taste even better. The coleslaw will keep, covered in the fridge, for two to three days. The dressing may separate a bit, but all you have to do is stir in back in.
If you have to make the recipe at the last minute, pop it in the freezer for about twenty minutes before serving as it tastes so much better chilled. Just do not forget you have put it in there – in my experience, it does not freeze well!
Just one bite of Grandma’s Homemade Coleslaw brings back such lovely memories. It’s colourful, delicious and a great way to get your family to eat raw vegetables. I hope you will make it part of your family’s traditions too.
Grandma’s Homemade Coleslaw – Printable Recipe
Easy Homemade Coleslaw – My Mom’s Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 cups shredded red and green cabbage That's enough to almost fill a medium salad bowl.
- 2 large carrots, peeled and shredded
- 1 cup Hellmann’s Light Mayonnaise Use half plain Greek Yogurt for an even healthier version
- 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 3 tablespoons white sugar
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon celery salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Instructions
- Wash and shred the cabbages.
- Wash and grate the carrots.
- Put all the shredded and grated vegetables in a large bowl.
- In a medium bowl, mix the mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, parsley, celery salt and ground pepper together thoroughly with a whisk.
- Add the dressing to the shredded cabbages and grated carrots and toss thoroughly.
- Cover and place in the fridge for at least two hours or overnight.
- Toss again before serving.
- Store leftovers in the fridge.
did you make this recipe?
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I love those inherited recipes April. There is a story behind every recipe. Thank you for sharing the taste of your childhood with us. Your mom’s Coleslaw sounds so good!
Thank you, Hadia, I’m so glad you like it! Family recipes are such treasures 🙂
Love this recipe!!! Love the crunch from a fresh coleslaw and your dressing sounds great!! Thanks for sharing this!
Thank you, Angela 🙂
I love the purple cabbage in this! Your mom was a genius! This looks like a wonderful dish that I am sure was always a hit and will continue to be a hit at picnics! Nice!
Thank you, Kecia! I’m so glad you like it 🙂 And I agree, my mom really was a genius in the kitchen 😉
April, it’s gorgeous and sounds delicious. And by the way I am a Hellman’s Mayonnaise fanatic and can’t stand Miracle Whip!
Thank you so much, Patty! And isn’t it funny how we all prefer different brands – I still can’t figure out why my mom didn’t like Hellman’s 🙂
It’s so special to be able to recreate those recipes of family that are no longer with us.
It really is, Christine. I always feel like I have my mom with me when I’m making her recipes 🙂
Looks great! Love that you’ve recreated your mom’s recipe. <3
Thank you, Patricia!
I never was a fan of coleslaw growing up because it was always too mayonaissy. Is that even a word? But once you start adding vinegar, that’s where I start coming around. I’ll definitely try this…it looks wonderful! And I grew up on Miracle Whip and can’t stand it now…once I tried the real deal, I never went back. Love Hellmann’s! Pinning!
Thank you, Michelle! And ‘mayonaissy’ is definitely a word in my book – I used it all the time when I was growing up because I felt things often had too much mayonnaise too 🙂
This looks really good. I’m afraid I’m guilty of buying those pre-shredded bags, but you’ve convinced me to give chopping my own a try. I’ve never liked Miracle Whip, so I’ll use mayo too. I usually make coleslaw to go with pulled pork sandwiches.
Thank you, Marcy! I love coleslaw with pulled pork too and this recipe works really well. Honestly, you’ll love the fresh taste of freshly chopped cabbage – it’s worth it 😉
I haven’t made coleslaw in years…seriously it’s been years! Have never thought to mix red and green cabbage–I always use green. But I really like this bit of color the red cabbage gives. I’m not going to wait another year to make coleslaw and this time I’m going to use red cabbage too.
Thanks for sharing, April.
Thank you, Michelle! I hope you and your family enjoy it as much as we do 🙂
Hi April,
Your Moms Coleslaw looks so good, I just love the dressing. These recipes that our family members leave us are so special and give us so many warm memories of time spent together. Hope you are having a great fall day and thanks so much for sharing this awesome post with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Thank you, Miz Helen! I’m so glad you like it 🙂
Delicious homemade coleslaw love it.
Delirious Homemade coleslaw April I need to try this.
Thank you, I’m so glad you like it, Swathi 🙂
Looks delicious. Thanks for sharing your family recipe. Pinned it!
Thank you so much, Lisa, and thank you for pinning too!
Thank you for sharing your family recipe! Glad you mentioned it in the Hearth & Soul link party 🙂 I make a very similar one but had never thought to add Parsley! Going to give this additional ingredient a try for sure!
Thank you, Suzan! I love how our family recipes have similarities and differences – we really are united through food and recipes. It makes me so happy!
Oh my! This sounds fabulous. I love coleslaw. I’m going to have to try this.
I hope you enjoy it as much as we do, Paula. It’s a real favourite around here 🙂