Keto Coleslaw Recipe (2024)

Last Updated . Published By Davinah Cenou Montezuma

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This easy creamy Keto coleslaw recipe is the perfect side dish to bring to a keto barbecue or picnic. It’s free from added sugar and gluten. Plus, it takes less than 5 minutes to make. Enjoy this quick side dish with my keto bbq ribs, bbq pulled pork, or bacon-wrapped chicken kabobs. Or, use this healthier homemade coleslaw recipe like you would KFC coleslaw by pairing it with my popular oven-fried wings or air fryer wings!

Keto Coleslaw Recipe (1)

Why Make This

At face value, you might think all coleslaw is keto-friendly because it includes low-carb vegetables and a good fat source if it’s mayo-based.

But, many of the traditional coleslaw options that we enjoy on Rubens or other sandwiches have some added sugar, making it less than ideal for those on the keto diet or just cutting refined sugar.

This easy low carb coleslaw recipe takes just a few minutes to make with simple ingredients. Plus, it includes a sugar-free sweetener that gives it a lightly sweet taste without refined sugar.

Besides that, this is literally the best coleslaw with more than 50,000 shares and positive reviews!

Ingredients Needed

  • Shredded Cabbage (Coleslaw Mix): I use bagged coleslaw mix from the grocery store because it saves time and includes things like green cabbage, red cabbage, and a few shredded carrots. You can also shred a head of cabbage with a food processor, shredder, or sharp knife if you prefer that over store-bought coleslaw mix.
  • Sweetener: the granular or powdered versions work fine. I’m using this to add sweetness. It’s also a 1:1 substitute for regular sugar. You can also use your favorite keto sweetener.
  • Apple Cider Vinegar & Mayo: some people choose to make their coleslaw dressing with mayo or vinegar. I prefer both. The mayo offers a creaminess and the vinegar makes it a tad tangy. I chose apple cider because, to me, it has a milder taste than regular vinegar.
  • Spices: to make the dressing flavorful, I also added garlic powder, onion powder, celery seed, sea salt, and black pepper.

You can get the full list of ingredient amounts and instructions from the full recipe card at the end of the post.

Keto Coleslaw Recipe (2)

How to Make the Best Keto Coleslaw Recipe

  1. Combine the dressing ingredients in a small bowl with a whisk.
  2. Add the coleslaw mix to a large mixing bowl
  3. Pour on the keto coleslaw dressing
  4. Use tongs to mix the coleslaw and creamy dressing until they are incorporated.
Keto Coleslaw Recipe (3)

Top Cooking Tips & FAQs

  • Swap the fat: I’m using my favorite low carb mayo, but you could use any option that you enjoy. Some readers have swapped regular mayo for another source of healthy fat like avocado oil mayo.
  • Substitute the vinegar: If you don’t have apple cider vinegar on hand, you can use lemon juice. Or, you could use a different style of vinegar (some have mentioned using pickle juice!)
  • Spices: I’m using a few spices in this recipe. But, you can always adjust them to taste. For example, if you don’t like the taste of onion powder, then you can omit it. Or, if you love garlic flavor, you can add more.
  • Keto-friendly Sweetener: you can substitute Monk Fruit Erythritol for other 1:1 substitute no-carb sweeteners. If you don’t have that on hand, feel free to use Plain Erythritol, Plain Monk Fruit, Allulose or Stevia. Just adjust to your tastes.

Making Ahead

This creamy tangy coleslaw tastes better the next day. So, I often make this ahead to give the flavors a chance to meld together.

Storage

You can store leftover coleslaw in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.

Is coleslaw keto-friendly?

My low carb keto coleslaw recipe has 2g net carbs. So you can enjoy my keto coleslaw, in moderation, whenever you would serve coleslaw. See below for some meal-planning ideas.

Can you use mayo or vinegar in keto coleslaw dressing?

Mayo and vinegar are both very low in carbs so either is a good choice for keto coleslaw. I prefer to mix the two because it adds a creamy and tangy flavor. But, if you prefer to have one or the other, you can adjust it to suit your preferences.

Keto Coleslaw Recipe (4)

Recipes to enjoy this with

This keto coleslaw is a great side dish for a range of keto dinners.

One of my favorite pairings is on a keto pulled pork sandwich, which uses my Keto BBQ Pulled Pork, this homemade coleslaw recipe, and a low-carb bun.

Another option is to enjoy this keto slaw with keto bbq ribs or bacon-wrapped bbq kabobs, keto potato salad, and keto cornbread.

If you try this recipe, please stop back and leave it a star rating and/or a review in the comments. Stay connected & share photos of your creations with me & others on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest!

Keto Coleslaw Recipe (5)

Easy Low Carb & Keto Coleslaw Recipe

Learn how to make creamy and tangy Low Carb & Keto coleslaw in minutes using the best keto coleslaw recipe. Perfect side dish for keto bbq and picnics. Just 2g net carbs.

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Ready in: 5 minutes mins

Cuisine: American

Course: Salad, Side Dish

Servings: 6

Calories: 147kcal

Author: Davinah

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Ingredients

Instructions

  • Mix all of the ingredients for the dressing

  • Add the coleslaw mix. You can serve immediately, but this tastes best when refrigerated for at least 2 hours

Nutrition Details

Calories: 147kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 519mg | Potassium: 112mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 77IU | Vitamin C: 24mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 1mg

The nutrition facts come from entering the recipe ingredients into Spoonacular API, a database of food ingredients. They may vary for any recipe based on the exact product used. The keto sweeteners I use have 0g net carbs & are not included because sugar alcohols do not impact most people. This is provided as a courtesy, but you can do your own calculations if you wish!

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Keto Coleslaw Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How many carbs are in keto coleslaw? ›

It's not unusual for coleslaw at the deli counter to have 13g net carbs and 12g sugar in just 1/2 a cup [*]! Keto coleslaw has a lot less sugar and carbs. Each serving of this low carb paleo coleslaw recipe has just 2 grams net carbs (that's total carbs minus fiber and Besti, the sweetener used).

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.

Can you eat coleslaw when trying to lose weight? ›

Vinegar-based coleslaw: "Instead of using mayonnaise or creamy dressings, opt for a coleslaw made with vinegar or citrus-based dressings. These versions tend to be lower in calories and fat," Sabat tells us. Perfect!

Why does my homemade coleslaw go watery? ›

Cabbage contains lots of water. Alton Brown suggests salting the cabbage and letting the water drain for two hours, then rinsing the cabbage and spinning it dry before dressing it. That purges the excess water out of the cabbage before it is dressed, so it doesn't get watery.

Is cabbage OK on keto? ›

Cabbage is delicious when stuffed into keto fajitas, used in soups, or made into coleslaw with a rich, creamy high-fat dressing that's keto-friendly. It has 2 grams of net carbs per cup shredded, so you can eat a lot in one sitting without falling out of ketosis, says Dixon.

Are pickles keto friendly? ›

Pickles can be keto-friendly as long as they don't contain added sugar. In general, you should select dill or sour pickles but avoid sweet, candied, and bread and butter ones.

Does homemade coleslaw have carbs? ›

Crunchy homemade coleslaw with lemon and mustard is one of the healthiest side dishes around. Each serving provides 78 kcal, 4g protein, 10.5g carbohydrates (of which 10g sugars), 1g fat (of which 0.5g saturates), 6g fibre and 0.5g salt.

Why is coleslaw not keto friendly? ›

Is coleslaw keto friendly? Regular coleslaw is not keto friendly, because the dressing contains sugar, the ultimate simple carb. However, what I discovered is that my simple creamy coleslaw dressing translates very easily to keto with one simple change: replace the sugar with erythritol.

Is coleslaw keto safe? ›

The answer is, most definitely! Quite frankly, coleslaw is the perfect Keto side dish. Since the Keto coleslaw dressing is mayo based, it's super creamy, adding healthy fat to your Keto diet. Because cabbage is a cruciferous vegetable, that makes it low in carbs but loaded with nutrients.

When should you not eat coleslaw? ›

After two hours, harmful bacteria can start to grow. Even if the coleslaw was stored in the refrigerator prior to serving, it could quickly dip into what food safety rules call the "Danger Zone" after being set out.

Which is healthier potato salad or coleslaw? ›

While you're likely to put both these items on your picnic or barbecue plate in Bermuda, coleslaw is the better option. “Coleslaw is lower in fat and lower in sodium and has natural vegetables,” said Hannah Simpson, Clinical Dietitian at KEMH.

Is coleslaw good for your gut? ›

Improves Gut Health

Coleslaw salad is rich in fiber because of the presence of raw cabbage. The RDA of fiber for an adult is 30g per day. It can become challenging to consume this much amount of fiber per day. However, 120 g portion of cabbage is sufficient to meet 10% of daily fiber needs.

Why soak cabbage in salt water? ›

The salt will draw out excess water from cabbage while helping preserve the crispiness. After letting it sit for an hour or two, rinse it with water to remove the salt. Drain and dry the cabbage with paper towels, gently pressing to release excess water. Repeat with more paper towels as the water is absorbed.

Why do you soak shredded cabbage in water? ›

Keep it bright: Red cabbage retains that vivid purplish color when you slice it with a stainless steel knife (rather than carbon steel), use a nonreactive pan (rather than cast iron or aluminum), and add an acid, like vinegar or lemon juice. Crisp it up: Shredded cabbage stays perky if it's soaked in cold water.

Why did my coleslaw turn pink? ›

Lettuce can turn pink. The discoloration could be caused by several factors, including exposure to ethylene gas emitted by produce stored with the greens, fluctuations in temperature or exposure to too much oxygen. But, the lettuce is still entirely edible.

Is Cole Slaw high in carbs? ›

Coleslaw (1 tbsp) contains 1g total carbs, 0.9g net carbs, 0.2g fat, 0.1g protein, and 6 calories.

How many carbs are in 1 cup of homemade coleslaw? ›

Popular Serving Sizes of Coleslaw
Net Carbs(g)Total Carbs(g)
1/4 cup3.323.72
1/2 cup6.557.45
1 cup13.0914.89
3 oz9.2510.55
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