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The best supermarket coleslaw
The perfect side salad to a big BBQ feast. We found the creamiest and crunchiest supermarket coleslaw.
Coleslaw is the ideal summer BBQ side, with its delicious mix of crunch and creaminess. Coleslaw originates from the Dutch word koolsla, meaning cabbage salad, and it arrived here via the USA. White cabbages rather than green are favoured, most likely because of their superior crunch and refreshing flavour but we love the pop of colour that purple cabbage gives. Our taste team tried 13 supermarket versions, from economy ranges to premium, to find the one we all should be including in our picnic baskets this summer.
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WINNER: Morrisons The Best Extra Crunchy Coleslaw
Overall score: 82/100
Tangy and fresh, the mayonnaise is wonderfully creamy in texture. Our testers loved the subtle, sweet flavour from the carrot, backed up by a satisfying crunch from the strips of cabbage.
BUY NOW Morrisons, £1.60 for 500g.
JOINT RUNNER-UP: Waitrose & Partners Rich & Creamy Deli Style Coleslaw
Overall score: 80/100
Thinly shredded crunchy veg in an indulgently creamy mayonnaise and whipped cream sauce. This coleslaw has a rich tangy yet sweet vegetal aroma followed by a flavoursome freshness from sweet julienne carrots, diced red onion and young white cabbage topped with chives.
BUY NOW Waitrose & Partners, £1.40 for 300g.
JOINT RUNNER-UP: M&S Traditional Coleslaw
Waitrose & Partners Essential Coleslaw
It's crunchy and delicate, with a slight sour kick. Our panel found it to be smooth and creamy, adding to the overall luxurious finish. We loved the balance of the vinegar and lemon, and the addition of the sweet carrot.
BUY NOW Waitrose & Partners, £0.90 for 300g.
M&S Deli Style Coleslaw
Bright and colourful with green herb flecks and red onion pieces. This coleslaw doesn't scrimp on creaminess and is packed with texture from the crunchy vegetables. Our panel loved the overall premium quality of this coleslaw and concluded that the aftertaste had fresh, tangy notes and subtle sweetness. While most felt the flavours were well balanced, a few found the onion too pronounced.
In-store only, M&S, £1.50 for 255g.
Iceland Luxury Coleslaw
Overall score 72/100
Crunchy strips of carrots and cabbage are well-coated in a thick creamy sauce flecked with chives. Fresh smelling with a slight vegetal scent we enjoyed the taste of onions married with the sweet carrots and herbs. A bit unbalanced, the coleslaw is far too creamy with a sharp finish, a touch more sweetness would have created a more rounded flavour.
BUY NOW Iceland, £1.09 for 300g.
Sainsbury's Taste The Difference Luxury Coleslaw
Overall score: 71/100
Testers loved the appetising flecks of chives, but we found the consistency of the vegetables wasn't quite right with many complaining the slices were either too big or too thin. That said, the aroma was a hit with our panel. It's fresh and creamy with onion notes. Some loved the sharpness, while others found the acidity overwhelming.
BUY NOW Sainsbury's, £1.30 for 300g.
Lidl Deluxe Creamy Coleslaw
Overall Score: 68/100
Fresh with creamy chunky vegetables. Mild in aroma, and hard to distinguish, we enjoyed the fresh chive flavour and balanced creamy, tangy veg. Some found it too creamy and rich.
In-store only, Lidl, £0.85 for 300g.
Tesco Finest Coleslaw
Score: 63/100
Small, delicate pieces with a hint of sweetness. Our panel picked up on the tangy, somewhat bitter notes. Packed with texture from the chunky carrot and strips of cabbage, however we would've preferred larger pieces of vegetables. Unfortunately, the onion dominated the flavour profile.
BUY NOW Tesco, £1.30 for 335g.
Aldi Specially Selected Rich & Indulgent Coleslaw
Overall Score: 63/100
Fabulously crunchy, the thick cut vegetables add tones of flavour. The sweetness from the carrots is delicious and the onions have a strong flavour. However, many testers found this coleslaw far too acidic and in need of more creaminess for balance.
In-store only, Aldi, £0.85 for 300g.
We also tested...
Co-op Irresistible Rich & Creamy Coleslaw, 61/100, £1.15 for 300g.
Asda Creamy Coleslaw, 60/100, £79 for 280g.
Tesco Coleslaw, 57/100,£0.50 for 180g.
Mel is the Senior Food & Drink Writer for Good Housekeeping UK, covering all the delicious new product launches that come her way, writing about food and drink topics, and curating gift guides for the best foodie products to buy. Alongside that, she can be found developing and creating cocktails for GH and holds her WSET Level 2 in Wine and Spirits. She was part of the Good Housekeeping Institute food testing team for over four years before moving over to the digital side, so knows a thing or two about great food products. You'll find her scouring the supermarket shelves in her spare time for new and exciting ingredients to experiment with in her kitchen.
Janet Leigh is the acting food testing manager at the GHI. From Easter in January to Christmas in July (and all that falls in-between), she leads the taste test team as they munch their way through sample after sample trying to find you the best products on the market. Whether it’s the latest trending foods or your cupboard staples, she covers it all. She now writes for Digital Spy
Emilie is a freelance news writer and regular contributor for Delish UK. She has worked in food for over 5 years, with a cookery diploma from Leiths School of Food & Wine under her belt. Her spare time is spent disco dancing, cardamom bun eating and planning her next trip abroad which will always revolve around food. Duh!
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