Give Your Chicken Sandwich A Cool, Creamy Upgrade With This Classic Topping

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A good chicken sandwich has layers of texture and flavor, built with real pieces of meat that are well-brined or battered before being grilled or fried. It also has a few garnishes and condiments to bring it all together — and there are tons of toppings that make any chicken sandwich better. Some opt for simple-styled sandwiches with only creamy mayonnaise and pickles for zest. Others add veggies for a crisp bite. And if you add coleslaw to your next chicken sandwich, you'll combine all those elements in one single topping.

Traditional coleslaw has a few key ingredients that upgrade pretty much any kind of chicken sandwich. Shredded cabbage and carrots add plenty of crunch. Vinegar contributes some tang and mayonnaise adds creamy notes for contrast. All that mayo also helps keep the sandwich moist and harmonizes with lots of different flavors as well. Together they create a cool and refreshing topping that contrasts crispy, juicy fried chicken sandwiches and helps balance out any extra heat on spicier versions. It also adds a crisp component to pulled barbecue chicken and grilled chicken sandwiches.

Coleslaw can be endlessly customized to fit your personal tastes and the flavor profile of whatever chicken sandwich you're creating — especially if you're making a homemade version. For a fried chicken sandwich that tastes like it was inspired by Southern cooking, whip up a coleslaw with mustard, and add a generous amount. Or, create a Houston-style coleslaw with some added horseradish, spicy brown mustard, chopped scallions, and dill pickle relish for a tangy kick to your chicken sandwich. A perfect copycat KFC coleslaw recipe will help replicate a sandwich from the famous chicken fast food joint. 

Save time by buying a bag of pre-shredded coleslaw mix or premade deli coleslaw from the grocery store. Marketside Angel Hair coleslaw is a notable bagged version available at Walmart and is well-rated by shoppers, receiving 4.5 out of 5 stars from customer reviews. It landed on our list of the best store-bought coleslaw brands, alongside premade versions like Homestyle Coleslaw and Signature Select Classic Cole Slaw Salad. Once you get your store-bought version back to the kitchen, tweak the coleslaw to match whatever chicken sandwich you're making by adding mix-ins of your own. For example, stir in a little vinegar to cut too much sweetness, Dijon mustard for a savory-tangy note, and celery seed or garlic powder for some extra seasoning.