Homemade coleslaw with condensed milk dressing is a perfect side dish for picnics, fish fries and BBQs. It takes just a few ingredients, most of which you are likely to have on hand.

Did you know you can make homemade coleslaw dressing from sweetened condensed milk? Well, you can, and the resulting coleslaw is every bit as creamy and tangy as you would expect for it to be.
Table of Contents
Why Condensed Milk?
One of the YouTube channels we follow cooks recipe from vintage cookbooks. Not too long ago she featured a cookbook featuring sweetened condensed milk.
Of course that piqued my curiosity as we love a good condensed milk recipe around these parts. But what really surprised me was she made a recipe for faux mayonnaise.


Now I don’t know if that was a marketing ploy on the part of big condensed milk companies. Or maybe the economics and food preservation technology of that Era actually made that a necessity.
Either way, it’s out there.


So when I found myself with a bit of condensed milk left after making some cookies and cream fudge, it seemed fitting to try something completely different with it. That’s where this old fashioned coleslaw recipe came in.
I adjusted the seasonings a bit to mirror the flavors in our favorite creamy coleslaw and the rest is history.
The Results
I know that it seems like using condensed milk coleslaw dressing would be too sweet. However, the acid from the vinegar and the mustard powder really cuts the sugar.
If anything it was much zestier than I expected and the sweetness is really subtle. It was no more sweet than a standard slaw you would get at a restaurant or using another recipe.

Like with most coleslaw recipes, it doesn’t seem like there is going to be enough dressing at first. Just stir it in, cover it and refrigerate it for a half hour or so.
The vinegar and salt will work to soften the cabbage a bit and it will start to release some liquid. Give the slaw another toss and suddenly it will be enough dressing to coat the whole salad.
Tips and Tricks
Using a bag of coleslaw mix makes this sald super easy. You can use fresh veggies or broccoli slaw. Just keep the total to about a pound.
For added sweetness, shred an apple into your coleslaw mix.

Don’t skip the celery seed, that is what gives this salad the classic coleslaw flavor.
Coleslaw is best once it has chilled for about an hour. It will stay good in the refrigerator for several days but will lose its crunch over time.
More Recipes to Try
We enjoyed our old-fashioned coleslaw with some BBQ ribs and Instant Pot macaroni and cheese. It was a delicious dinner, and the slaw was a perfect tangy foil to the rich meat and cheesy pasta.
It would also be great served on top of a pulled pork sandwich. Or serve it with cheese cracker chicken fingers for a fun and easy meal.
Did you make this recipe? Please leave a review in the recipe card below!

Coleslaw with Condensed Milk Dressing
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¼ cup sweetened condensed milk
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon celery seed
- ⅛ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 14 oz. bag coleslaw mix
Instructions
- Stir together everything but the coleslaw mix.
- Add the shredded cabbage mix and toss in the dressing.
- Refrigerate for at least a half hour and then stir again to make sure all of the cabbage is dressed.
- Serve cold.
- Refrigerate leftovers for up to 5 days.
Andrea Nine
Wednesday 25th of January 2023
You have definitely made me rethink coleslaw. I’ve never been a fan, but you know how much I love sweetened condensed milk, so I just might try this!
Carlee
Wednesday 25th of January 2023
It's a fun twist, that's for sure and a great way to use up some condensed milk if you used the rest in another recipe.
Sandy Rees
Tuesday 24th of January 2023
What a fun idea. No mayonnaise. Can’t wait to try this!
Carlee
Tuesday 24th of January 2023
It is a great alternative to mayo and it's surprisingly good. I hope you enjoy it!