You’ll love this easy keto coleslaw recipe with creamy dressing. Crisp and colorful cabbage tossed in a dairy-free dressing creates a perfect sweet and tangy balance. With just a few simple ingredients and big flavors, this perfect side dish is the ultimate crowd-pleaser for your next cookout or potluck.
Why settle for a store-bought coleslaw with a lot of sugar and sneaky additives when you can whip up this homemade keto diet version? When you take the reins and make this coleslaw from scratch, you get to be the boss of the ingredients, giving you complete control to keep it low-carb, gluten-free, and keto-friendly.
Besides, this easy-to-follow recipe doesn’t get simpler than tossing a bagged coleslaw and simple dressing together, leaving you with more moments to enjoy the company of friends and family.
Whether serving guests with special diets or wanting a guilt-free side dish, this recipe is a total game-changer that will level up any party. It has the flavor of traditional coleslaw without any added sugar.
Table of Contents (click to view)
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple ingredients – All you need is a store-bought bag of coleslaw mix and basic pantry staples.
- Short prep and cooking time – Carve out five minutes of hands-on time.
- Basic kitchen equipment – No fancy equipment or kitchen tools are needed here. Just a bowl and a whisk or spoon.
- Easy-to-follow directions – With two steps, anyone can confidently make this keto side dish.
- Minimal cleanup – Cleanup is a breeze.
How to Make Keto Coleslaw
Make a refreshingly delicious keto slaw with only seven ingredients and five minutes of prep time.
This recipe doesn’t get simpler. Whisk the simple keto coleslaw dressing and toss the coleslaw mix in it for a delicious, dairy-free side dish perfect for any dinner party, barbecue, or potluck.
If you’re missing KFC coleslaw on a keto diet, this recipe is sure to be a great replacement. You could even eat it with Keto Fried Chicken.
The hardest part may be waiting for the flavors to meld together while it chills after mixing. But even that step is optional, so if you can’t resist, dig in immediately.
Ingredients You Need
- Coleslaw mix – A mix of green and purple cabbage with a small amount of shredded carrots.
- Mayonnaise – Use olive oil or avocado oil mayonnaise for the best flavor and quality.
- Apple cider vinegar – Adds a tangy acidity to the dressing, cutting through the richness of the mayonnaise.
- Powdered keto sweetener – Just a touch of sugar-free sweetener to add a hint of sweetness.
- Dijon mustard – Gives the dressing a subtle tang and enhances the overall flavor.
- Celery salt – Adds depth of flavor, lightly seasoning the coleslaw.
- Ground black pepper – Provides a hint of spiciness that complements the other flavors.
Ingredient Substitutions
Even though this is a simple recipe, you might be missing one of the key ingredients. Review the recommendations here for quick and clever substitutions.
Here are suggested substitutions:
- Cabbage – If you have a chunk of cabbage in your refrigerator that needs to be used up – use that here! You’ll need about 4 cups of cabbage. Process it into thin slices with a food processor or by hand with a sharp knife. Green cabbage or red cabbage, sometimes called purple cabbage, will all work.
- Mayonnaise – Substitute with sour cream or Greek yogurt. It will be just as creamy with a lot of healthy fat. Plus, the yogurt will boost your protein.
- Vinegar – Use white or red wine vinegar for a slightly different flavor profile.
- Sweetener – Feel free to use your favorite keto sweetener here, as long as it’s powdered. You can use erythritol, monk fruit, xylitol, or even a touch of stevia. If using stevia, don’t use the amount per recipe. Add to taste and adjust if needed.
- Dijon mustard – Use regular yellow mustard or whole-grain mustard.
- Celery salt – If you don’t have celery salt, you can use regular salt and a dash of celery powder for flavor.
Variations
Want to add your own spin? Make these fun variations and stretch this recipe into more delightful renditions.
Try these keto coleslaw variations:
- Give a spicy kick by adding a tablespoon of hot sauce or a quarter teaspoon of cayenne pepper to the dressing.
- Go with Asian-inspired coleslaw by adding coconut aminos, sesame oil, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds and chives to the dressing for an umami flavor.
- Sprinkle chopped nuts such as almonds or cashews for a nutty crunch and extra texture.
- Give it a Mexican vibe by adding chopped fresh cilantro and diced avocados and using fresh lime juice instead of apple cider vinegar.
What Diet Is This Best For?
As written in the recipe card, this recipe is naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free, low-carb, and low-oxalate. If you have additional dietary needs, consider the following modifications.
- Paleo diet – Use a mayonnaise made with avocado or olive oil and swap the keto sweetener with natural options like honey, maple syrup, or coconut sugar.
- GAPS diet – Ensure that mayonnaise has no seed oils and use honey as the sweetener.
- Whole30 diet – Skip the sweetener and watch the ingredients in the mayonnaise. Or better yet, use homemade mayonnaise.
This recipe is nut-free, grain-free, egg-free, nightshade-free, phytate-free, and low in histamine.
Step-By-Step Instructions
This keto coleslaw is a breeze to make! Mix the bagged coleslaw with a six-ingredient dressing, chill, and enjoy.
Follow these simple directions, and you can’t go wrong!
- In a small bowl, mix the dressing by combining mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, sweetener, Dijon mustard, celery salt, and black pepper.
- Open the coleslaw mix and transfer it to a large bowl. Pour the dressing ingredients over and thoroughly toss until the dressing coats the cabbage.
Expert Tips
- Taste and adjust. I recommend tasting the dressing before adding the coleslaw so you can adjust salt, sweetener, or tanginess if desired.
- Use powdered sweetener. It mixes better with the dressing and won’t leave a gritty texture like granulated sweeteners. You can DIY powdered sweetener by grinding granular options in a Magic Bullet, coffee grinder, or blender.
- Chill for the best flavor. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour to allow the flavors to meld together.
- Make the dressing in a salad bowl. Keep your dishwashing to a minimum and whisk the coleslaw dressing directly into the serving bowl, then add the coleslaw to it and toss.
Nutritional Info
This recipe yields six to eight servings of keto coleslaw with a low carb count.
With six servings, each serving contains:
- 149 calories
- 1 g protein
- 14 g fat
- 5 g total carbs
- 2 g fiber
- 3 grams of net carbs
Please note that the nutritional value will change if you substitute ingredients. Use a nutrition app to recalculate and reflect your changes.
How to Store This Recipe
To store keto coleslaw, transfer any leftovers to an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator for up to five days.
Can I make keto coleslaw ahead of time?
Absolutely! Making this cabbage salad ahead of time is a great idea. In fact, it tastes better when prepared in advance as it allows the flavors to come together and intensify over time. Feel free to prep it and then serve it the next day.
You can even make the dressing up to three weeks ahead of time and store it separately in a jar until ready to make the coleslaw.
Can I freeze keto coleslaw?
I don’t recommend freezing coleslaw because that will change the texture and become watery when thawed.
What to Serve with Keto Coleslaw
This restaurant-style coleslaw pairs perfectly with a wide range of dishes, adding a refreshing element to any meal.
Low-carb slaw is popular for summer cookouts and potlucks. It’s a great side dish throughout the grilling season and into early fall.
Try it with bacon-wrapped chicken thighs, blackened pork chops, or pot roast.
Add it to pulled pork, sandwiches, or wraps like in Korean ground beef lettuce wraps for a refreshing crunch and creamy texture.
Pair it with your favorite cheap cuts of meat for grilling. No matter how you serve it, you’ll love the burst of flavor and texture that this keto coleslaw brings.
More Keto Side Dishes To Try
- Homemade Sauerkraut – another tangy cabbage recipe to love.
- Baked Cauliflower Mac and Cheese – cheesy low-carb comfort food.
- Braised Cabbage – simmered in bone broth, this soft cabbage dish is a nourishing side.
- Low-Carb Mashed Potatoes – made with cauliflower instead of a starchy tuber.
- Cabbage Pancakes – savory fritters topped with yogurt sauce.
If you make this healthy coleslaw recipe, please leave a review. I appreciate each 5-star rating and review comment!
Low-Carb Coleslaw Recipe
Ingredients
- 16 ounces coleslaw mix
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon powdered keto sweetener
- ½ tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon celery salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Reserve the coleslaw mix aside and make the dressing by mixing all the remaining ingredients in a small bowl.½ cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon powdered keto sweetener, ½ tablespoon Dijon mustard, ½ teaspoon celery salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Open the coleslaw mix and transfer it to a large mixing bowl. Pour the dressing over and toss until the dressing coats the cabbage thoroughly.16 ounces coleslaw mix
- For best results, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 60 minutes or up to overnight before serving.
Notes
- Taste and adjust. I recommend tasting the dressing before adding the coleslaw so you can adjust salt, sweetener, or tanginess if desired.
- Use powdered sweetener. It mixes better with the dressing and won’t leave a gritty texture like granulated sweeteners. You can DIY powdered sweetener by grinding it in a Magic Bullet, coffee grinder, or blender.
- Chill for the best flavor. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour to allow the flavors to meld together.
- Make the dressing in a salad bowl. Keep your dishwashing to a minimum and whisk the coleslaw dressing directly into the serving bowl, then add the coleslaw to it and toss.
Nutrition & Macros
To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, please calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients and amounts used, using your preferred nutrition calculator. Under no circumstances shall the this website and the author be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on the given nutritional information.
Hi Jessica,
This coleslaw recipe says it’s egg free, yet mayonnaise is made with eggs! Just thought you should know, it’s easy to overlook.
Hello Iggy, you’re absolutely right. That you so much for the kind comment to let me know the egg-free label is showing! I’ll update that tag right now and take it off.
Who would have thought that powdered sweetener would work so well?! Loved this flavor. Thanks for a perfect recipe
Thank you so much for your kind words! Powdered sweetener is best for a smooth texture, otherwise, the dressing can be a little gritty. I’m thrilled you enjoyed the recipe.
Celery salt is a new ingredient for me. I bought it just for this recipe and really enjoyed it. Now I have plenty on hand to make coleslaw for the rest of the summer!
Yummy! It’s great on chicken too. Thanks for visiting and trying my recipes, Freddy. I appreciate the review.
Celery salt or celery seed are great in cold salads like potato, macaroni and pasta. The spices are also good sprinkled on hotdogs in the bun.