Creamy Keto Coleslaw Recipe (2024)

By Kim Hardesty

Crunchy, creamy, and cool, coleslaw is the perfect Summertime side for potlucks, picnics and barbecues. This 5-ingredient recipe is a snap to make. A hint of sesame oil gives it a unique sweet-smoky flavor your friends and family will love.

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Summertime barbecues and coleslaw are a match made in heaven. They go together like pulled pork and well… coleslaw! So creamy and crunchy it’s the perfect side to serve with barbecue chicken, pork and brisket. Try it with juicy keto ribs, smoked beer can chicken, and baked cinnamon chicken.

Creamy Keto Coleslaw Recipe (1)

THIS POST INCLUDES AFFILIATE LINKS TO SHARE THE THINGS I LOVE.

Is Coleslaw Keto?

Although coleslaw is made of cabbage, a great low carb vegetable, not all coleslaw is low carb or keto friendly. Most commercially made coleslaw and homemade coleslaw recipes contain a lot of sugar.

My low carb coleslaw recipe replaces sugar with a sugar free alternative. The result? A lightly sweet healthy coleslaw I know you’ll love.

It’s Easy to Make Coleslaw Sugar Free

The appeal of a good coleslaw recipe is the interplay of crunchy and creamy textures with sweet and tangy flavors.

This healthy coleslaw recipe has only 5 ingredients so it not only tastes great, but it’s super easy to make. Choose a good mayonnaise, one without added sugar, and your favorite keto sweetener to make the sugar free coleslaw dressing.

White vinegar has a clean taste which is why I use it over cider vinegar and red wine vinegar in this recipe. Sesame oil is my secret weapon and makes it extra special.

Creamy Keto Coleslaw Recipe (2)

NOTE: You can make your own keto mayo with 1 large egg and 1 cup of light olive oil or avocado oil, and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar. Add additional seasoning per your taste. OR choose a good sugar free brand like Chosen Foods Keto Mayo, which I found at Costco.

How to Make Keto Coleslaw

This keto coleslaw is a snap to make. Just add the mayonnaise, sugar free sweetener, sesame oil, and white vinegar to a bowl and give it a good whisk. Then pour it over the shredded cabbage and mix. That’s it! Serve this delicious low carb side at picnics or potlucks and watch it disappear.

To make coleslaw ahead of time, mix the dressing ingredients together, cover and refrigerate for up to two days. Coleslaw is best if mixed just before serving or a few hours ahead of serving. It gets a little soggy after a few days in the fridge.

This coleslaw recipe is delicious as is, but experiment with its texture, flavor and color by adding:

  • Purple cabbage
  • Red onion
  • Scallions
  • Diced green apple
  • Radishes
  • Jicama
  • Shredded carrots

If you decide to add any extra vegetables, I recommend grating or shredding them so their consistency matches the shredded cabbage base.

Creamy Keto Coleslaw Recipe (3)

Additional Ideas for Keto Coleslaw

  1. Ranch Coleslaw - ¾ cup good ranch dressing and ¼ cup sour cream
  2. Blue Cheese Coleslaw - ¾ cup blue cheese dressing and ¼ cup sour cream
  3. Oil and Vinegar Coleslaw - ½ cup of your favorite Italian oil and vinegar dressing
  4. Coleslaw with Warm Bacon Fat Dressing (use the dressing in this recipe)

Creamy Keto Coleslaw Recipe (4)

Keto Coleslaw

This easy 5 ingredient keto coleslaw is cool & creamy. A hint of sesame oil in the sugar free dressing adds a sweet-smoky flavor friends & family will love.

5 from 6 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 6

Calories: 262kcal

Author: Kim Hardesty

Ingredients

  • 10 oz Bag Angel Hair Coleslaw (or finely shredded green cabbage)

Dressing

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup sugar-free powdered sugar (Sukrin Melis, Swerve, Lakanto, Besti)
  • 3 tablespoon white vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil

Instructions

  • Mix the dressing together. Taste to adjust flavors per you.

  • Add ¾ of the dressing to the angel hair slaw and toss. Add more as needed. Best if eaten within a few hours.

  • To Make Ahead: Mix the dressing, cover and refrigerate up to 2 days. Dress the cabbage just before serving.

  • Serves 6 people at 1.68 g NET CARBS per serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 262kcal | Carbohydrates: 2.78g | Protein: 0.56g | Fat: 27.42g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 288mg | Fiber: 1.1g | Sugar: 1.67g | Vitamin C: 140mg | Calcium: 133mg | Iron: 1.2mg

More Side Dishes

  • Keto Cucumber Salad
  • Pan Fried Turnips Recipe with Onions and Spinach
  • Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Bundles
  • Thai Cauliflower Fried Rice
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How to Love Your Low Carb Keto Diet

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  1. gbc65

    quit using "keto" as your catch phrase. 1/4 cup of artificial sweetener as a substitute for sugar is not keto. Artificial sweeteners often produce insulin responses the same way sugar does. keto is a life style, not an excuse to modify foods to mimic a "diet style".

    Reply

    • Kim Hardesty

      Hi friend. The word keto actually refers to a metabolic state in which the body burns fat for fuel in the absence of sufficient carbs to burn glucose/glycogen. Most of the recipes I share are under 10 grams of carbs per serving and are absolutely suitable for those following a ketogenic diet. Whether or not one wants to use any sweeteners is a personal choice. It's my opinion that one should choose to plan for sweeteners instead of using them all day every day. They make life sweeter. Many people find more success on eating plans that allow for some sweet indulgences than those that don't. And, with sweeteners like erythritol, stevia, and monk fruit, they can indulge without actually having sugar coursing through their bodies. I'm sure the insulin response is much less than ingesting the actual amount of real sugar.

      Yes, I read in Gary Taub's book Why We Get Fat and What To Do About It, that artificial sweeteners have been shown to elicit an insulin response. Incidentally, so does thinking about sweet things. But, I'm certainly not going to go around trying to police people's thoughts and tell them that they aren't keto because their thoughts may be bringing about an insulin response.

      Thanks for your thoughts. -Kim

      Reply

  2. Rosemary

    This is Thee most amazing coleslaw dressing on the planet!
    I used to use Greek yogurt dressing and it was so bland and just tasted like Greek yogurt. This has the perfect blend of sweet and savory. Thank you so much! I am eating coleslaw every week now.

    Reply

    • Kim Hardesty

      I'm glad you like the dressing, Rosemary. When I'm out of salad dressing, I whip this up to dress our dinner salads. It really helps in a pinch! Have a nice day. -Kim

      Reply

  3. Linda

    Delicious! The perfect addition to our smoked BBQ pork. The sesame oil added a little smoky-sweet flavor that I really liked.

    Reply

  4. Chris

    This was a great slaw to go with the pulled pork we made over the weekend. Really good. I highly recommend.

    Reply

  5. Cheryl

    Easy. Quick. Delicious.

    Reply

  6. Dale

    I want to put this dressing on everything! Sesame oil... Who knew?

    Reply

  7. Janice

    Proper coleslaw is made with cider vinegar and NO sweetener! Kidding aside, the adding of sweetener to everything is one of the reasons so many people struggle with addictions to sugar. Why does everything have to be sweetened?

    Reply

    • Kim Hardesty

      I get you, Janice. I admit that I prefer a lightly sweetened coleslaw over unsweetened. That's because to me, mayonnaise tastes like "dirt"! I'm not kidding. Adding the white vinegar (or even a rice wine vinegar or champagne vinegar) and a little sweetener gives the coleslaw a slightly sweet-sour flavor that knocks-out the "dirt" taste I so dislike. Sure, apple cider vinegar may be classic, but I share recipes made how I like them. Everyone's taste buds are different and I usually include ideas on how to make a recipe one's own by varying ingredients. Thanks for your comment. -Kim

      Reply

      • Janice

        I know, Kim, I was mostly kidding. I’m glad you share variations, we don’t all have to like the same things made the same way. I appreciate your site, it has provided me with many good ideas.

        Reply

      • Tina

        Agreed in the mayo ... I use ranch instead & love it for this recipe!

        Reply

  8. Cheryl

    Great low carb,dressing for slaw!

    Reply

Creamy Keto Coleslaw Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is coleslaw keto safe? ›

Since coleslaw recipes almost always use a sweet dressing with added sugar, they are not keto friendly. However, this sugar free coleslaw recipe is keto-friendly!

What is the difference Cole Slaw and slaw? ›

The real difference is that the raw, chopped vegetables in coleslaw are primarily cabbage: Napa, red, savoy, or bok choy. Slaw without the cole can feature any crunchy veggie in place of cabbage, including chopped or shredded broccoli, carrots, snow peas, jicama, and more.

Why is coleslaw so high in carbs? ›

Dressing Ingredients- The dressing used in coleslaw can vary, and some recipes may include ingredients that are higher in carbs. For example, if the dressing contains sugar, honey, or other sweeteners, it will increase the carb content. Using a sugar-free or low-carb alternative can help reduce the carb count.

Is white vinegar better than apple cider vinegar in coleslaw? ›

However, there is a best vinegar to use, and it's apple cider vinegar. The reason is threefold: taste, chemical makeup, and health benefits. Though there's no shortage of other types of vinegar, none has this ideal trifecta to best complement your cabbage and its other coleslaw vegetable ingredients.

Can I eat cabbage everyday on keto? ›

Cabbage is another great vegetable that will fit within your keto restrictions. One cup of raw cabbage provides only 2.9 grams of net carbs and 25 calories. Cabbage is also an anti-inflammatory food that is also a good source of vitamin C.

Are pickles keto friendly? ›

Luckily, pickles are keto friendly, especially those that are of the dill pickle variety, as sugar is low. “Simply put, sweet pickles are made with sugar which will automatically push the carb count up,” says Hultin. “Dill or salt pickles don't have the added sugar and carbs, naturally,” she says.

Why did KFC stop selling coleslaw? ›

The fast food chain was forced to stop selling its coleslaw tubs when a supply issue meant the slaw would have to be served up without the dressing. “We are currently experiencing a supply issue with our KFC coleslaw dressing,” a KFC spokesperson said. The slaw is made up of cabbage and carrots coated in mayonnaise.

Why is KFC coleslaw so good? ›

Fresh ingredients are key to a good slaw, and KFC does alright for a fast food restaurant. You won't find any wilted cabbage pieces, and the carrots are nice and hard as well. What's more, KFC finely dices everything so you don't have to chew that much, and all the flavors and textures blend perfectly.

Which is healthier salad or coleslaw? ›

Classic coleslaw is full of shredded cabbage and carrots. The dressing, however, is made with mayonnaise and sugar. There is usually about ½ a cup of mayonnaise and usually a couple tablespoons of sugar. That adds up to more calories and more fat than you're probably looking for in a salad.

Is KFC ok on keto? ›

KFC. Although KFC is renowned for the Colonel's crispy fried chicken, its batter unfortunately adds 8-11 net carbs for just one medium-sized piece. That being said, KFC can still be a keto-friendly spot to hit up when ordering Kentucky grilled chicken.

Is sour cream keto? ›

Regular, full fat sour cream is made from cream and contains far more fat than carbs. Therefore, it's considered keto-friendly. However, low fat or nonfat sour cream is not. Full fat sour cream can provide some variety in a keto diet when used as a dip base or incorporated into recipes to boost the fat content.

Can I eat carrots on keto? ›

The cooking method of carrots doesn't affect their carb content significantly, so they can be included raw or cooked in reasonable portions on the keto diet. Carrots can be part of a keto diet. However, given that they contain moderate amounts of carbs, you'll need to strictly limit your portion size.

What can I use instead of apple cider vinegar in coleslaw? ›

Distilled white vinegar is a great substitute for apple cider vinegar. Lemon Juice.

Why add vinegar to cole slaw? ›

Whether your coleslaw is with or without mayonnaise, simple or chock-full of ingredients, a splash of this vinegar adds a welcome fruity and tangy note that's more balanced and not as sharp as other types of vinegar, like white or red wine vinegar.

Can I use synthetic vinegar instead of white vinegar? ›

Are synthetic vinegar and white vinegar the same? Yes, they are both acetic acid diluted with water to 4–5% concentration. You may be asking if the white vinegar you buy in the grocery store is made by fermentation or by the industrial process that reacts methanol and carbon monoxide.

Is mayonnaise keto-friendly? ›

Mayonnaise is the perfect condiment for the Keto Diet because it consists of high fat, low protein, and zero carbohydrates. It also has many health benefits that can help you maintain Ketosis and achieve your weight loss goals on the Keto diet.

What cold cuts are keto friendly? ›

Cold meats that are keto-friendly include most deli meats, like sliced turkey, ham, and roast beef. Most cold cuts and keto deli meats contain additives to extend their shelf life, so they may have small amounts of carbs.

Is hummus keto? ›

Hummus can definitely be part of your keto diet, but just one or two servings can quickly expend a significant portion of your daily carb allotment. If you do eat hummus, you'll want to limit yourself to a small amount — perhaps just 2–4 tablespoons (30–60 grams), which provide 4–8 grams of net carbs.

Can you eat KFC on a keto diet? ›

Although KFC is renowned for the Colonel's crispy fried chicken, its batter unfortunately adds 8-11 net carbs for just one medium-sized piece. That being said, KFC can still be a keto-friendly spot to hit up when ordering Kentucky grilled chicken.

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