Coleslaw For A Crowd

A little tangy, a little creamy, this is a good Coleslaw For A Crowd recipe that will appeal to lots of people at your picnic, potluck, graduation party or 4th of July party.

Easy Coleslaw For A Crowd Recipe

A nice blend of a mayonnaise based dressing on large bags of tri-color coleslaw mix makes an easy fresh vegetable side dish.

Not the super creamy like the stuff out of a jar at a commercial food store, but not the straight vinegar based Old Fashioned Coleslaw this in-between type coleslaw recipe appeals to the masses.

A classic barbecue joint style coleslaw salad, this is an economical side dish to serve along with meat.

We like to make a slow cooker of bbq pulled pork, brisket in a roaster and shredded beef in a roaster. This easy bagged coleslaw for a crowd is perfect to serve along side any of these meats at a party.

Serve with a Big Batch of Mac and Cheese or Pasta Salad for a Crowd and Corn or Green Beans in a Roaster for a delicious meal.

Our favorite big batch desserts are Banana Pudding for A Crowd and Oreo Dirt Cake for a Crowd.

Ingredients Needed

• Bag of Coleslaw Mix – A colorful combination of green cabbage accented with red cabbage and shredded carrots is also known as tri-color blend. If you use plain shredded cabbage add some shredded carrots at minimum. The colorfulness of the recipe does contribute to the enjoyment of eating it.
• Mayonnaise – Skip the miracle whip and go for the full flavor mayonnaise. This recipe is built to use a large 30 ounce jar.
• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Granulated Sugar – Sample the dressing before mixing into the cabbage, you may want to increase the amount of sugar based on personal preference.
• Mustard – Dijon or the Woeber’s sweet and spicy are our favorite options to use in this recipe.
• Celery Seeds – Start with a new container to get the 1/4 of a cup needed for the recipe.
• Onion Powder – Finely granulated onion can be substituted, but you’ll need three times as much when in granulated form than when using powder.
• Salt – We prefer sea salt or kosher salt over the traditional table salt.

A Big Batch of Coleslaw Dressing

Starting with a 30 ounce jar of mayonnaise as the base and adding other spices and seasonings creates an easy homemade coleslaw dressing.

Our recipe creates 5 cups of dressing which will cover 2 extra large 32 ounce bags of coleslaw mix.

To determine if you like the dressing spoon some onto a small amount of shredded cabbage or coleslaw mix and give it a test. Add salt, pepper and possibly sugar if needed to suit your preference.

The dressing can be mixed and refrigerated 2 to 3 days ahead of time.

How Much Coleslaw is Needed For 50 People?

This recipe uses 64 ounces of shredded cabbage and carrots paired with 5 cups of dressing to make 18 cups of coleslaw.

Assuming the typical guest will take a serving that is roughly 1/3 cup this recipe will yield 48 to 50 servings.

Step By Step Instructions

I have an 8 cup glass mixing bowl with a handle and pour spout. This is perfect to make this dressing in and be able to pour half over the shredded cabbage mixture.

Begin by adding the jar of mayonnaise into the mixing bowl. I use a mini silicone spatula to clean the jar well.

Then add the remaining dressing ingredients and stir well.

I like to put half of the fresh coleslaw mix into an extra large mixing bowl.

Pour about half or a little less of the dressing over the cabbage and carrot mixture.

Use a long handled very sturdy spoon and stir well. Fold the clean cabbage along the outside of the bowl into the center that’s generously coated with dressing.

If necessary add a little more dressing.

We like to store covered tightly in foil or multiple layers of plastic wrap in the refrigerator.

Repeat with the remaining half of ingredients. Be sure to mix well.

We like to stir the coleslaw for a crowd again before serving for best results.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

• Using a 15″ long handled serving spoon makes stirring much easier.
• Make dressing up to 2 to 3 days ahead of time, but wait to stir onto the coleslaw mix within 24 hours of serving.
• If made more than a few hours before serving liquid may need drained.
• I have a set of commercial sized mixing bowls. The 16 or 20 quart bowls work well on these big batch recipes for a crowd.
• Use sturdy foil pans as there’s a big difference in commercial quality pans and those from the dollar store. Cheaper ones are very difficult to use. Plan a level spot to store in the refrigerator and do not stack anything on top of the foil pans.

More Big Batch Recipes for Parties

Chicken and Noodles for A Crowd makes a complete meal served with dinner rolls or over mashed potatoes.

A Deli Tray with meat and cheese is great for building your own slider or sandwich at a party.

Cooking Ham in An Electric Roaster makes holidays easier and is an economical option for big birthday parties too!