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)

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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

How many carbs are in keto coleslaw? ›

This would vary depending on which dressing is used and which restaurant you get your slaw from. Most coleslaws are going to be 15 to 20 carbs per serving. This keto version of coleslaw is only 5 total carbs! The carbs come from the cabbage which is definitely an essential ingredients.

What is creamy coleslaw made of? ›

Julienne cabbage and carrots using a mandoline (<- affiliate link). Place in a large bowl. Add in mayonnaise, sour cream, white wine vinegar, salt, sugar, mustard powder and white pepper. Stir everything together until thoroughly combined.

How do you make Gordon Ramsay homemade coleslaw? ›

In a bowl mix together 2 Tbs vinegar, juice of half lemon, 3 Tbs mayonnaise, 1 tsp sugar, 1 tsp salt and pepper and mix well. Add the dressing into the cabbage and mix well. Let sit for 15 minutes before serving as a healthy side dish to your burger!

Is store bought coleslaw keto? ›

Is coleslaw ok on keto? Restaurant style coleslaw and store-bought coleslaw are not suitable for a keto diet. The dressing that they use often has added sugar in them, and the amount of carrots that they use can throw someone out of ketosis!

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

Coleslaw, home-prepared, 1 cup
Protein (g)0.77
Carbohydrate, by difference (g)7.45
Energy (kcal)41.4
Fiber, total dietary (g)0.9
Calcium, Ca (mg)27
27 more rows

Can I eat mustard on keto? ›

As long as there are no added sugars, mustard is a great Keto-friendly condiment. You'll want to avoid some mustard such as honey mustard because of the added sugar. Some popular Keto-friendly mustards include yellow mustard, Dijon mustard, spicy brown mustard.

Why is KFC coleslaw so good? ›

KFC coleslaw has a sweet and tangy taste, with a creamy texture. The dressing is made with a blend of mayonnaise, buttermilk, vinegar, sugar, and spices, which gives it its distinct flavor. The coleslaw also contains shredded cabbage and carrots, which add a crisp and fresh texture to the dish.

What is a substitute for white vinegar in coleslaw? ›

A rice vinegar would work but as it has lower acidity (4.5 - 5%), adding a little lemon juice would increase the overall sourness. Lemon juice added to champagne or white wine vinegar would also work with a little more needed for the former as it's slightly “sweeter”.

Does creamy coleslaw have carbs? ›

Specially Selected Creamy Coleslaw (1 serving) contains 8.5g total carbs, 7.4g net carbs, 23g fat, 1.1g protein, and 236 calories.

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.

What is in Mary Brown's coleslaw? ›

Mary Brown's shreds fresh cabbage and carrots in house, and tops it with a creamy dressing. The freshly shredded veggies give you a light yet satisfying crunch while the dressing gives you the tanginess you're looking for.

What is the difference between cabbage slaw and coleslaw? ›

Or coleslaws — what's the difference? Really nothing. Technically, coleslaw involves cabbage, whether green, red or napa, while the category of slaws can include all kinds of chopped or shredded crunchy vegetables. The two words are used interchangeably for the most part however.

Is KFC OK for 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.

Can I have mayo on keto? ›

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.

Is apple cider vinegar OK on keto? ›

ACV is a flavorful vinegar for salad dressings and marinades. At just 1 gram of carbs per tablespoon (15 mL), it's perfectly keto-friendly. Still, white vinegar and rice vinegar work just as well in the kitchen and are carb-free. Thus, you may want to consider other vinegars instead.

Do you count cabbage carbs 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.

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 cabbage keto? ›

So, can you eat cabbage on keto? Some veggies may contain many carbs — and fortunately, cabbage isn't one of them. At less than 5 grams of net carbs per serving (whether you're eating green, red, napa, or savoy cabbage), you'll be sure to stay in ketosis.

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