This copycat recipe reveals the “secret ingredient” that gives KFC’s coleslaw its signature tangy flavor. Use it to make a large batch of the famous side dish at home – perfect for barbecues and potlucks.

Coleslaw made of chopped green cabbage and chopped carrots is in focus in the foreground, fried chicken legs are out of focus in the background.

Is your favorite version of a dish from a fast food place? And no other way you have it prepared could ever compare?

That’s how I feel about KFC’s coleslaw – it’s the holy grail. We truly reached peak coleslaw as a society when it was created.

I have found many different copycat recipes online, but they don’t taste quite right. That’s because they don’t include the secret ingredient – tarragon vinegar.

I’ll show you how to make your own tarragon vinegar, or you can use store-bought to keep it simple. Other than that, you only need a few other common ingredients, a sharp knife, a cutting board, and a large bowl to get started.

Ingredients

A head of cabbage, two carrots, a white onion, granulated sugar, a jar of miracle whip, and a glass container of tarragon vinegar all on a black background.

Cabbage – KFC uses green cabbage only in their coleslaw, no red cabbage.
Carrots – Save time by buying shredded carrot in a bag, or peel and chop whole carrots to achieve the same texture as KFC.
Onion – I recommend using a white onion.
Miracle Whip – I don’t recommend substituting this.
Tarragon Vinegar – See my instructions in the tips section to make your own homemade version, or use store-bought tarragon vinegar.
Celery Salt – This is a combination of ground celery seed and salt. It’s a very common coleslaw seasoning.

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Tips

Make your own tarragon vinegar. Take 1.5 cups of white vinegar and bring to a gentle boil. Remove from heat and let cool for 1 minute. Pour into a jar that has 4 sprigs of fresh tarragon. Seal with a lid & store in a dark, cool place for 2 weeks.
Want a shortcut? Use a bagged coleslaw mix instead of chopping the vegetables yourself. This cuts the prep time by more than half!

What to serve it with

A large glass bowl is filled with a homemade version of KFC's coleslaw. It has chopped green cabbage and chopped carrots. A KFC bucket is out of focus in the background.

Want to recreate more of your fast food favorites at home? Try my recipe for Raising Cane’s Bread or make a copycat Crunchwrap supreme. You can even make discontinued products, like the beloved Subway sweet onion sauce.

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