Is it Cheaper to make or buy Coleslaw Dressing?
My family loves coleslaw and cabbages are relatively cheap most of the year. We don’t always like the cost of coleslaw dressing though.
This made me wonder if making my own coleslaw dressing would be cheaper than buying it premade at the grocery store. So, let’s deep dive into the costs of making your own coleslaw dressing and buying it from the supermarket!
How much does it cost to make homemade coleslaw dressing?
For the cost breakdown of homemade coleslaw dressing we are going to use a basic recipe from AllRecipes. Click here for full recipe.
You can also add extras to your coleslaw dressing like fresh herbs or dried spices if you want to kick the flavor up a notch. This recipe is a perfect base that can be adjusted as needed!
| Homemade Coleslaw Dressing Ingredients | Cost |
| 1/2 cup mayonnaise | $0.47 |
| 2 tbsp sugar | $0.03 |
| 1 1/2 tbsp lemon juice | $0.06 |
| 1 tbsp vinegar | $0.02 |
| 1/2 tsp black pepper | $0.01 |
| 1/4 tsp salt | $0.01 |
| Total Cost to make Homemade Coleslaw Dressing: $0.60 | Cost per Serving (6 total) = $0.10 |
I have priced all the ingredients at my local Walmart, so your costs may vary. Almost all of these are pretty basic ingredients, so more than likely you have most if not all already at home. This will lower your cost even more!
The total cost to make homemade coleslaw dressing is about $0.60 That means each serving costs about $0.10. This is going to be a pretty low cost to beat!
How much does coleslaw dressing cost at the grocery store?
Now let’s head to a couple grocery stores, and find out how much coleslaw dressing costs!
| Pre-Made Coleslaw Dressing & Size | Store & Price | Cost per Serving |
| Kraft 16oz bottle (16 servings) | Walmart, $2.52 | $0.15 |
| Walden Farms 12oz bottle (12 servings) | Sprouts, $5.49 | $0.45 |
| Kroger 18oz bottle (18 servings) | Dillon’s , $4.69 | $0.26 |
| Marzetti 24oz bottle (24 servings) | Harps Food, $7.79 | $0.43 |
| Hidden Valley 16oz bottle (16 servings) | Hy-Vee, $3.77 | $0.23 |
| Litehouse 20oz bottle (20 servings) | Price Chopper, $5.99 | $0.29 |
| Average Cost per Serving of Premade Coleslaw Dressing: | $0.30 |
The cost per serving of pre-made coleslaw dressing purchased at the store ranged from $0.15 to $0.43. The average cost per serving was $0.30.
This is much higher than the homemade coleslaw dressing that only costs $0.10 per serving!
Is homemade coleslaw dressing worth it?
Not only is making homemade coleslaw dressing cheaper, but it could also very well be better for your health! Most of the pre-made coleslaw dressing at the grocery store has a very high amount of sodium.
The sodium levels of plan mayonnaise are about 75mg per serving. The sodium levels of pre-made coleslaw dressing ranged from 130mg to 280mg.
If you are trying to watch your sodium levels or try to be on a heart healthy diet, condiments can be a very easy way to rack up sodium. We just don’t ever think about the amount of salt in our dips and dressings!
Coleslaw dressing is so easy to make at home and you can make it ahead of time. It will easily last for about a week in the fridge in an airtight jar or container. Even if you used it all the time, it is so quick to stir together these basic ingredients and no special equipment is needed.
Next time we make coleslaw at home, we will definitely be making our own coleslaw dressing!
For more cost breakdowns or making or buying, check out “Is it Cheaper to buy Minced Garlic or Cloves?” and “Is it Cheaper to make or buy Oat Milk?“
