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- What Is Coleslaw?
- Is Coleslaw Keto Friendly?
- How To Sweeten Keto Slaw?
- How To Make Keto Coleslaw
- How Many Carbs In Coleslaw?
- Can You Make Low Carb Coleslaw Ahead?
- How To Store Sugar-Free Coleslaw
- What To Serve With Keto Slaw
- Tools To Make Keto Paleo Coleslaw
- Low Carb Keto Coleslaw Recipe (5 Ingredients!)
Since it literally takes 5 minutes to make, this keto coleslaw recipe is my go-to for so many occasions, whether I’m at home or not. The sugar-free coleslaw dressing makes it hard to beat. A quick side to accompany a weeknight dinner? Definitely. A way to sneak in veggies that the kids will eat? Yep. A crowd pleasing addition to a get-together? Keto slaw will do it. A work week staple to prep over the weekend? Totally. A perfect solution when you’ve spent all day dealing with a house project and suddenly realize you have nothing to serve with your chicken for dinner? Yeah, that’s how this super simple, paleo low carb coleslaw recipe came about.
After a day-long fiasco of attempting to paint closet doors followed by a panic about unexpected fumes in the house in the middle of frigid January (smart, right?), dinner consisted of chicken from the freezer and this creamy keto coleslaw. At least it’s a funny story to look back on. 😉
Keto coleslaw dressing does develop its flavors after some time, and tastes best if you make it in advance – or at least let it chill for an hour – so a little planning ahead is smart. And fortunately, this sugar-free coleslaw keeps very well – even for multiple days – so it’s a great option to make ahead or even meal prep. And, it needs just 5 ingredients and is ready in 5 minutes, so it works for any type of meal.
This keto slaw recipe was originally published on January 30, 2017, and was republished in April 2020 to add better photos, useful tips and answer common questions. In case you’re curious, the original photo looked like this:
What Is Coleslaw?
Traditional coleslaw is a simple shredded cabbage salad with a sweet dressing, which can be either mayo-based (more common) or sometimes a vinaigrette.
Is Coleslaw Keto Friendly?
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!
How To Sweeten Keto Slaw?
Making keto slaw is similar to regular coleslaw – you just need a sugar-free sweetener for the keto coleslaw dressing. It’s important to use a powdered sweetener for the sugar-free coleslaw dressing, so that it’s smooth, because a granulated one can be gritty.
I used Besti powdered erythritol, but powdered allulose also works great.
How To Make Keto Coleslaw
This paleo coleslaw comes together in just 5 minutes! It’s one of the reasons I love keto recipes using coleslaw mix – it makes getting veggies in so easy.
- Make low carb keto coleslaw dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, powdered erythritol, and celery seeds. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
TIP: Apple cider vinegar makes this a paleo coleslaw recipe. If that doesn’t matter to you, white vinegar works just fine for keto as well. Paleo-friendly sweeteners such as honey or coconut sugar work fine, but would not be low carb.
- Combine sugar-free coleslaw. Place shredded cabbage in a large bowl and toss with sugar-free coleslaw dressing.
- Chill keto slaw. If you have time, refrigerate the coleslaw for at least an hour or overnight to let the flavors develop. Stir before serving. I like to add a sprinkle of green onions, too.
How Many Carbs In Coleslaw?
Carbs in coleslaw can vary depending on the recipe used and how much sugar is added. 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 erythritol, the sweetener used). And, that’s a serving size of 3/4 cup.
TIP: I used a bag of coleslaw mix to save time, plus I love a splash of color. But if you want to lower the carbs just a tad more, use plain shredded cabbage instead of am mix that has carrot pieces.
Can You Make Low Carb Coleslaw Ahead?
Yes, you can prep components of this keto slaw ahead of time. Shred the cabbage (if making it yourself) and mix together the keto friendly coleslaw dressing. Store in separate containers in the refrigerator. An hour or the night before serving, toss cabbage and homemade sugar free coleslaw dressing together and let chill in the refrigerator until serving.
Even if you’re in a pinch and realize you have no side dish for dinner, you can make it work. Just throw together this low carb coleslaw before preparing your main dish. Stick it in the fridge and it should be good enough by the time the rest of your dinner is ready.
How To Store Sugar-Free Coleslaw
Store this prepared low carb coleslaw recipe in the fridge for 3-5 days. If you store the cabbage and keto coleslaw salad dressing separately, the components will last much longer, up to a week or more.
What To Serve With Keto Slaw
This sugar-free coleslaw makes a great side to so many keto dinners. Try it with some of these meals for a complete meal:
- Keto Jalapeno Popper Chicken – The best flavors of jalapeno poppers stuffed into slices of chicken! It’s as good as it sounds.
- Coconut Chicken Tenders – Chicken tenders get some tropical flavors. Try dipping them in your favorite sugar-free bbq sauce or hot sauce.
- Crispy Chicken Legs – Serve with cornbread and sugar-free coleslaw for a classic southern meal.
- Best Juicy Burgers – The perfect summer grilling meal! But there’s an option for the stove top, too.
If you want a keto slaw without mayo, try this one instead.
Tools To Make Keto Paleo Coleslaw
Tap the links below to see the items used to make this recipe.
- Food Processor – If you’re not buying pre-shredded slaw mix, a food processor makes it effortless to shred your own. This is the one I use and love.
- Glass Bowl Set – This glass bowl set is a staple for my kitchen, I use them all the time, keto slaw included!
- Glass Storage Containers – Store paleo coleslaw with mayo in these glass containers after you combine the dressing and cabbage.
Low Carb Keto Coleslaw Recipe:
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Low Carb Keto Coleslaw Recipe (5 Ingredients!)
The BEST keto coleslaw recipe, with a creamy sugar-free coleslaw dressing! Just 5 ingredients, 5 minutes, and 2g net carbs in this paleo low carb coleslaw that tastes just like the real thing.
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GET BESTIInstructions
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- Place the shredded coleslaw mix into a large bowl. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, erythritol, and celery seed. Season with sea salt and black pepper to taste.
- Stir the dressing into the shredded coleslaw mix and toss to coat.
- If you have time, refrigerate the coleslaw for at least an hour (or overnight) to let the flavors develop. Stir again before serving. Serve chilled.
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Recipe Notes
Serving size: 3/4 cup
Use powdered sweetener for smoother dressing. If you prefer to avoid erythritol for stricter paleo, any other sweetener like coconut sugar will also work.
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63 Comments
Shelia
Too much vinegar.
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Shelia, Sorry this didn’t suit your tastes. Feel free to adjust the amount of vinegar to meet your preferences.
Shelley Gosselin
Made this Coleslaw today. I only had white cabbage and carrot and used Dill instead of Celery seed. Was really good and very easy to make. Thanks for the inspiration and recipe!
Carol Ann and Hiller
Just like old fashioned coleslaw. I love using celery seed. Thank you for sharing this recipe
Gail
Excellent coleslaw recipe! I make a lot of your recipes and they always come out great! Thank you for taking the time to post them.
Catherine
Thank you! So easy and delicious!! I used 1.5 tbs of monk fruit and a bag of coke slaw mix.
Barbara
This is our go to coleslaw recipe, we LOVE it! I just double up on the dressing amount.
Jennifer Spivey
Very good. I did a bit more ACV, but wow…very delicious.
A
Loved this! Very simple and easy to make. I used 1 1/4 tbsp ACV, the 2 tbsp would have been too strong for my taste. Didn’t have celery seed on hand so used dill. I’ve got another batch marinating in the fridge, I’ll see how much of a difference overnight makes, for future reference. Thanks for the recipe!
Kat
I found it a bit too tart with the amount of apple cider vinegar given. I used half as much & it was still very tart. I added about double the sweetener to cut it. Otherwise, excellent recipe.
Colleen
I love love love this coleslaw recipe! It is so easy to throw together and is so tasty. It is my favorite and I rate it up there with KFC’s coleslaw.
Ann
I love coleslaw and this is by far is my favorite keto slaw. Thank you!
Gretchen Martin
I copy more recipes than I make, but that will change. Your recipes look great. Tasty and simple. Your enthusiasm is wonderful. Here is my dilemma: I seem to be reacting to the sweeteners ending in -ol. Stomach aches when I use it. For a year I have been using Monk Fruit with erythritol but now I have stopped. I don’t like the taste of stevia at all. What kind of artificial sweetener can you recommend that doesn’t end in -ol? Thank you.
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Gretchen, I don’t actually recommend any artificial sweeteners on my site. Stevia and erythritol are natural sweeteners, but they can sometimes still cause reactions in people. I have been using allulose for a lot of my baking lately, as its properties are most like sugar than the other sweeteners. It actually is a rare form of sugar that our bodies can’t digest. It dissolves, browns, and bakes as sugar does. You can find the allulose brand I recommend here, and read more about allulose and how it works in this keto sweetener comparison. I hope this helps!
Stan Nelson
I have made this a few times since discovering it. Quick and easy and delicious.
Angie Gibson
The recipe was great except a bit sweet so I would suggest half the sugar or less! My husband loved it!
Jen
I love this so so much. It is the best slaw I’ve ever made. I had celery salt instead of celery seed and so I used that to taste. I also added a big bunch of chopped cilantro. This could not have been more perfect and was even better after several hours in the fridge. Thank you!!
Jenese Miller
I LOVED this recipe! It was so great and refreshing on a hot summer day!
Diane
I made the keto coleslaw recipe tonight with your keto paleo mayonnaise recipe. It was easy and delicious. Love your recipes!
Michelle
I so love coleslaw but hadn’t found a keto recipe I liked until now. I made one substitution, I shredded half a large celeriac into sticks and used that in place of the carrots, added them to a combination of white and red cabbage and the rest of the recipe — serious yum!! Thank you for this recipe!
George
This is a good recipe, but it is not very honest to make people read useless text describing what the salad is like, what it will taste like, and generally describing “what you’ll make”. I know you may want people to stay on the page longer, but post the recipe first, then write the text.
Wholesome Yum M
Hi George, If you would like to skip the post itself and get right to the recipe you can use the button under the post title. It says ‘Jump to Recipe’ and will take you directly to the recipe card.
Gina Huntley
Just throwing it out there…a restaurant near us adds blue cheese crumbles to their coleslaw. It is fabulous!
donelle kemmer
I have made Cole slaw for years ( I am 70 ) This is basic just changing the sweetener. My secret to a great coleslaw is adding mustard seed in place of celery seed. This makes it amazing as it gives it a kick. People always me what I do to my salad. I hope you will try this addition. I use a little more cider vinegar too.
Anita
Cole slaw is such a basic side and we love to have it all the time. Thanks for sharing this low carb version.
Mama Maggie's Kitchen
This keto coleslaw recipe is one of the best I’ve ever seen! It looks really healthy-licious an will be perfect for me and my husband. I definitely want to try that creamy sugar-free coleslaw dressing!
HANNAH HEALY
Yum! I love coleslaw! I probably have cabbage every day and this is a great way to change it up!
Denay DeGuzman
My whole family loves crispy, creamy coleslaw. I love your unique spin on this delicious classic recipe!
Chef Mireille
Cole Slaw is so easily adaptable to a keto diet and looks so bright and fresh. I just want to take a bite straight from the screen!
Ryan
Just made this, and right off the bat it’s really good. I’m eating keto, and made this to go along with some soon to be pulled pork I have working in my smoker. In my opinion this coleslaw has the right amount of tart acidity and sweetness. It took me less than five minutes to throw this together. I can’t wait to taste it after it’s had a few hours in refrigerator, if it lasts that long. Next time I’ll have to make a double batch. I could eat this all by itself. Well done!
Tina Duffy
I have made this several times, I love it so much! Has a great flavor goes with just about anything. Thank you for sharing!
Angelica
This is great! The celery seed really adds a nice touch. Thank you!
Anna Q Geer
I love broccoli slaw but I needed a dressing for it so I’ve now found it . Thank you so much for this recipe. Looking forward to making it. I’m a type 1 diabetic using a Tandem Insulin pump with the Dexcom G6 IQ technology.
Jamie
Love this recipe, I make it all the time. I use 4 dtops of liquid stevia instead of erythritol, throw it in a mason jar and shake it up.
Sharen
Thanks for mentioning the liquid sweetener. I was wondering if I could use that instead of powdered. Can’t wait to try it!
Cecilia
Love seeing this recipe. I’ve made coleslaw this way for years. I chop my own cabbage saving some of the head to steam later, and I do not add carrots. I do add a small amount of cream or half and half or canned milk to the mayo and vinegar. My mother made dressing this way. It’s very good and lasts for days. Thank you!
Pamela
Did a recipe search, while shopping, but should have known to go directly to YOU!! Thanks for this perfect recipe!
Kevin Gonzalez
I made this to put on my fish tacos and man was it GOOD. Then I had some of your Keto Pecan Pie, really hit the spot. I Love your recipes Maya!
Ellen
I love this recipe! Last time I made it, I shredded my own cabbage and added shredded radishes and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
KetoDude
instead of the vinegar, use dill pickle juice – you won’t regret it.
Stephanie NUNEZ
Thank you! I used 2 Tbsp of pickle juice, a squirt of Splenda/stevia sweetener and omitted the celery seed and salt since the pickle juice has similar properties. Yum!! And soo easy.
Sara
Bleeeck…way too vinegary. I say omit the vinegar completely and use a tablespoon of lemon juice.
Dree
I’ve been using your site for 9 months of recipes! It’s my Go To for low carb recipes. Thank you Maya for all that you do. This is the very first one I’m not fond of … it tastes “off”. The only thing different I used celery salt instead of seed (and only used half a tsp). Maybe it’s the Apple cider vinegar? I’ll try again next time with regular vinegar. Thanks again and keep up the awesome work!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Dree, Thank you for the feedback. If you’re not a fan of apple cider vinegar, you can try white vinegar if you don’t need it to be paleo.
Dianne Hoeg
So good, best coleslaw I ever had. Thank you!!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Yay! Thank you, Dianne!
Nancy
This coleslaw was sooo good! Served it for company and everyone loved it. Thank you for a great low carb side dish!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy you liked it, Nancy! Thank you!
Alex
I had a large bag of coleslaw (16oz – says 5 2-cup servings but it was maybe 5 loose cups worth?) but I didn’t want too much vinegar flavor (BF doesn’t like the taste/smell) so I just doubled the mayo and the spices. My version listed below.
-1/2c (120g) Just Mayo
-2 tbs apple-cider vinegar
-1 tbs Kroger truvia equivalent
-2 tsp ground dried celery, dried garlic and dried onion
-1/4 tsp salt/pepper
I liked it a lot, the BF says he would have made it sweeter so I might double the sweetener next time. Thanks for the recipe 🙂
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you for sharing with us, Alex! I am so happy you liked it!
Jodi
Two of my favorite things in a recipe — easy to make and super YUMMY! I will be making this again!
Debbie
Just made this for dinner tonight. Yummm, now it has to make it until dinner. And so easy. I think I’ve found my new salad dressing too, the dressing is yummy. Thank you.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy you liked it, Debbie!
LeeAnn
Love the flavors, wasn’t quite creamy enough for us, so next time I made it I added a bit more mayo/ACV.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Great idea, LeeAnn! Thank you for sharing with us!
Audrey O.
I follow a pre-purchased menu planner. Today, for lunch, we had BBQ pulled pork sandwiches and coleslaw. The pork was great. The coleslaw was ok, but not as good as the one I used to make. When I thought back to the ingredients I put in, I realized there was no sugar in this coleslaw recipe. Well, no wonder it wasn’t as good. lol! As horrible as sugar is for you, give credit, where credit is due…it has a great flavor.
We are trying to cut back our sugar, so I didnt want to add sugar in the next batch I made, but I wondered if there was another non-sugar coleslaw recipe that might taste a bit better. On to Pinterest I came. Yours was the first recipe that popped up. Your recipe has the EXACT same ingredients in it that the one I made today had in it, with the exception of the addition of Erythritol. I’ve never tasted (or even heard of it), but I’m willing to give it a try if I can find it in my local health food market. Thanks so much for sharing this recipe. I can’t wait to try it.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I really hope you liked it, Audrey! Have a great day!
karen
Just made this…………I’m super impresed on how great it turned out. It taste delicious. This will be my go to recipe from now on. Easy and good!!!
Thank you….
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Karen! I am happy you liked it. Thanks for stopping by!
Katrin
I had a coleslaw similar to this only last night, what a coincidence! Shredded cabbage makes for a great salad, you just can’t beat the classics.
Sarah
My mouth was watering as soon as I saw your first picture! Looks delicious!
Kim | Low Carb Maven
It always takes us much longer than I initially predict to do projects. I have it in my mind how it should go and then reality sets in. lol. We, too, spend lots of time running back and forth to the store. Over the years we have gotten pretty good and have trimmed out windows, added wainscoting to rooms in the house, re-trimmed doors and baseboards, made a day bed and even made a beautiful bathroom vanity from scratch. Two things come from our projects: 1. that feeling of satisfaction you get upon seeing your beautiful completed project 2. dinner is usually fast food! I love that you made dinner at home after your long day. This fast and easy recipe is perfect. Thanks for the story and the recipe.
Stacey Crawford
This is lovely Maya! I just love that purple cabbage. A nice and simple side that is quick 🙂