Corky’s Southern Cole Slaw delivers cool, creamy crunch with a balance of sweetness and tang that pairs perfectly with barbecue classics.
Photo by Justin Henry
Copycat Corky’s Southern Cole Slaw
Corky’s Southern Cole Slaw is a creamy cabbage slaw known for its mild sweetness, smooth dressing, and crisp texture.
This copycat focuses on the simple balance that defines barbecue slaw, keeping the cabbage crisp while letting the dressing stay light and clean.
Quick Recipe Overview
- Best For: Barbecue plates, sandwiches, picnics
- Flavor Profile: Creamy, lightly sweet, tangy
- Skill Level: Easy no cook
- What Makes It Like the Restaurant: Smooth dressing with classic Southern balance
Corky’s
Corky’s Ribs and BBQ built its reputation on Memphis style barbecue with a strong focus on traditional sides. From ribs and pulled pork to beans and slaw, the menu centers on familiar Southern flavors done consistently well. Cole slaw plays an important supporting role, offering contrast to rich smoked meats. Corky’s version became a staple because it stays simple, dependable, and well balanced, fitting seamlessly alongside the restaurant’s barbecue plates.
Slaw Balances the Plate
Southern-Style Cole Slaw is designed to complement barbecue rather than compete with it. Unlike vinegar heavy slaws, this style leans creamy with restrained sweetness and acidity. The goal is refreshment and crunch between bites of smoky meat. Memphis barbecue traditions favor this approach, making cole slaw an essential side rather than an afterthought.
Corky's BBQ Southern Cole Slaw Recipe
Make our Corky's Southern Cole Slaw Recipe at home tonight for your family. With our Secret Restaurant Recipe your Southern-Style Cole Slaw will taste just like Corky’s BBQ.
Ingredients
- 1 medium head of Green Cabbage shredded (Use a mandolin slicer to get the cabbage VERY thin.)
- 2 medium Carrots grated
- 1 Green Pepper finely diced
- 2 tablespoon Onion grated or finely minced
- 2 cups Mayonnaise
- 3/4 cup Sugar
- 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Celery Seeds
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1/8 teaspoon White Pepper
Instructions
- Mix vegetables in a bowl.
- Mix remaining ingredients in another.
- Pour dressing over vegetables. Toss well.
- Cover and refrigerate 3 - 4 hours to chill and allow the flavors to meld.
Related Copycat Recipes
- KFC Cole Slaw – Creamy, sweet-tangy slaw that cools down crispy fried chicken perfectly
- Sonny’s BBQ Sweet Chipotle Smoked Wings – Smoky wings glazed with sweet chipotle heat and barbecue depth
- Arthur Treacher’s Cole Slaw – Creamy, lightly sweet slaw that pairs perfectly with fried fish classics
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Questions People Ask
Is Corky’s cole slaw sweet
It has mild sweetness, balanced with tang rather than being sugary.
Does Southern cole slaw use vinegar
Yes, but in small amounts to balance the creamy dressing.
Can I make cole slaw ahead of time
Yes. It benefits from chilling for a few hours before serving.
What dishes pair best with this slaw
It pairs well with ribs, pulled pork, barbecue sandwiches, and fried chicken.
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Smoke and Pickles: Recipes and Stories from a New Southern Kitchen
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Photo of Cole Slaw is by Justin Henry and is used by permission under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) License. Thank you, Justin. Great Picture. Photos may be representative of the recipe and not the actual finished dish. All photo licenses listed were correct at the time of the posting of the page. Recipe is our adaption of several recipes formally widely-circulated on the internet – courtesy of the Wayback Machine. Additional Information is from original research done by Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes and/or courtesy of Wikipedia and is used by permission.