A KFC coleslaw recipe copycat is finely cut cabbage and carrot in a sweet, tangy dressing, chilled before it hits the table. We read three that follow that idea and found they disagree on the dressing base, the acid and how fine to chop.
We haven’t made any of these, and we didn’t read KFC’s own ingredient list. Don’t take any of them as the real thing, since each page is only the cook’s best guess!
How do three KFC coleslaw recipe copycats compare?
The three differ most in the creamy base and the cut. Top Secret Recipes says Todd Wilbur wrote its formula in 1993 for his first book. Family Fresh Meals (June 2020) cuts the cabbage twice. Words of Deliciousness (May 2020) leaves out the dairy and uses Miracle Whip.
| Top Secret Recipes | Family Fresh Meals | Words of Deliciousness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabbage | 8 cups, chopped to about the size of rice | 6 cups diced | 1 large head, shredded |
| Carrot and onion | ¼ cup carrot, 2 tbsp onion | 1 carrot, 2 tbsp onion | None listed |
| Creamy base | ½ cup mayonnaise | ½ cup mayonnaise | 1 cup Miracle Whip |
| Dairy | ¼ cup milk, ¼ cup buttermilk | ¼ cup whole milk, ¼ cup buttermilk | None |
| Acid | 2½ tbsp lemon juice, 1½ tbsp white vinegar | 3 tbsp lemon juice, 2 tbsp white vinegar | ¼ cup vinegar |
| Sugar | ⅓ cup | ⅓ cup | ½ cup |
| Salt and pepper | ½ tsp salt, ⅛ tsp pepper | ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp pepper | 1 tsp salt, no pepper |
| Oil | None | None | ¼ cup vegetable oil |
| Dressing step | Beat until smooth | Whisk until smooth | Beat for 10 minutes |
| Chill | At least 2 hours, then stir | 2 hours | Until serving; author prefers next day |
| Serves | 10 to 12 | 4 | 6 |
The serving counts don’t line up. Family Fresh Meals uses 6 cups of cabbage for 4 servings, while Top Secret Recipes uses 8 cups for 10 to 12, so compare cabbage cups, not servings.
Which KFC coleslaw recipe should you make?
Not sure which one is closest? Pick by what’s in your fridge and how much knife work you want. Two of the three share nearly the same dressing, and the third is a different recipe.
- Finest cut: Top Secret Recipes, which asks for rice-size pieces.
- Double-cut tip: Family Fresh Meals, which says to run the cabbage through a food processor and then over it again with a knife.
- No buttermilk: Words of Deliciousness, which uses oil, vinegar and Miracle Whip.
- Most sugar: Words of Deliciousness, at ½ cup.
Does the cut really matter for KFC-style coleslaw?
Family Fresh Meals says it does. Its author describes KFC’s slaw as cut much finer than usual, with a lighter, thinner dressing, and says that’s why the cabbage soaks up so much of it. That’s her read, not something we checked. The same page says you can get the fine cut with a knife alone, by cutting the strips across and then making one more pass.
For more to serve with it, see our sides to serve with fried chicken, our KFC mashed potatoes and gravy and our Costco cabbage coleslaw page.
KFC coleslaw questions people ask
How long should it chill?
Top Secret Recipes and Family Fresh Meals both say at least 2 hours. Words of Deliciousness says to chill until serving and thinks it’s better the next day.
Can you use mayonnaise instead of Miracle Whip?
Words of Deliciousness says you can, though its author likes the Miracle Whip flavor best. The other two pages already call for mayonnaise.
Does it need carrot?
Two of the three include it. Words of Deliciousness lists none in the recipe, and offers grated carrot as a variation.