This American Coleslaw with Dried Cranberries is creamy, crunchy, sweet, and sour and a perfect side dish for sandwiches, burgers, and grilled meats.

There’s several good reasons why coleslaw is a staple on many American tables. Not only is it super tasty, it’s also simple and economical to make and the ingredients are available year round.

Coleslaw with dried cranberries in a white bowl and ready to be served.

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Whether it's creamy or tangy, or crunchy and sweet, this classic side dish has been a part of American cuisine for centuries due to its continual reinvention by creative cooks.

Jump to:

What Is Coleslaw?
Why This Recipe Works
Ingredients Notes
Step-by-Step Instructions
My Top Tip
Substitutions & Variations
Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions
More Classic Salads You Will Love
📖 Recipe
💬 Comments

This iconic side dish is perfect with your usual fare at backyard cookouts, and it also goes well with spicy foods and fried chicken.

So grab a fork and let's dig in!

What Is Coleslaw?

Coleslaw is a salad of raw cabbage and a dressing that originated in the Netherlands in the 1700s. The dressing can be either a vinaigrette, a sour cream-based dressing, or mayonnaise.

The name comes from the Dutch word "koolsla", which means cabbage salad.

Original coleslaw recipes contained vinegar and butter and were more like pickled cabbage. Coleslaw is a popular cabbage salad, which is made worldwide in many cultures and has many variations.

Why This Recipe Works

This is one of those recipes that you will make year in and year out because it is versatile and a year-round favorite side dish and salad.

It is inexpensive and easy to make.
It goes well with sandwiches and also with spicy, grilled, fried, or barbecued food.
You can customize it with simple add-ins or adjust the seasoning to your taste.

So, let's cook!

Ingredients Notes

The ingredients, clockwise from top: coleslaw mix, dried cranberries, Italian dressing, buttermilk powder, onion powder, celery seeds, sugar, and Miracle Whip salad dressing.

Here's what you need for this American Coleslaw with Dried Cranberries:

Coleslaw Mix - From a 14 or 16-ounce bag, or you can thinly slice green cabbage and shred carrots.
Dried Cranberries- I use sweetened dried whole cranberries.

For the Dressing:

Miracle Whip Salad Dressing - I prefer the flavor of Miracle Whip. But you can use your favorite mayonnaise.
Powdered Buttermilk - A little buttermilk powder will add richness to the dressing.
Italian or Balsamic Vinaigrette - Instead of adding mustard or vinegar, I use a vinaigrette to add flavor and slightly thin the dressing.
Sugar - Just plain white granulated sugar will add just a touch of sweetness to this coleslaw like you find in Kentucky Fried Chicken's version.
Onion Powder - Just a hint of onion adds savory goodness.
Celery Seeds - This secret ingredient makes all coleslaw salads taste extra delicious.

Please see the recipe card for the exact quantities.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Process Photo 1a - The coleslaw dressing ingredients in a large mixing bowl.

Process Photo 1b - The coleslaw dressing ingredients, mixed in a large mixing bowl.

Whisk. Whisk the dressing ingredients in a large bowl.

Process Photo 2a - Coleslaw mix and dried cranberries are added to the dressing.

Add. Add the coleslaw mix and dried cranberries to the dressing and mix well.

Process Photo 2b - The coleslaw mix, dried cranberries, and the dressing are well mixed in a large bowl.

Refrigerate. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour for the flavors to develop.

My Top Tip

♡ This salad is best if made the same day you plan to serve it.

Substitutions & Variations

Substitute Golden Raisins. Instead of dried cranberries, you can use golden raisins for small bursts of sweetness.
Substitute Celery Salt. You can substitute ¼ teaspoon of celery salt for the celery seed.
Add Red Cabbage. For a bright burst of color add up to 1 cup of thinly sliced red cabbage for part of the green cabbage.
Add Other Vegetables. Corn and shelled edamame add texture and additional flavor to coleslaw.
Add Pineapple. Skip the sugar and add pineapple tidbits for a sweet tropical twist.
Add Bacon. You can add cooked crumbled bacon to this coleslaw.
Add Chopped Nuts. Both walnuts and pecans are delicious in this recipe.

Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions

Make Ahead: American Coleslaw should be made on the same day and at least 1 hour before serving.
Refrigeration: This salad can be refrigerated for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
Freezing: This salad does not freeze well.

Side view of coleslaw with dried cranberries in a white bowl and ready to be served.

More Classic Salads You Will Love

♡ Did you love this American Coleslaw? Please leave a star rating and a comment below!

American Coleslaw with Dried Cranberries