Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Easy, fast and so delicious, this Whole30 Coleslaw is exceedingly creamy! Loaded with the coleslaw trifecta: cabbage, onion, and carrots, as well as green apple and lemon for a tart kick, and absolutely no added sugars, this is the recipe you’ll use for all of your potlucks and your next summer barbecue! It’s low carb, paleo, gluten & dairy-free with a vegan & keto option.

This post was originally published on November 10th, 2021, and contains affiliate links.

❤️ Why you will love this Whole30 Coleslaw

  • It’s easy! All you have to do is shred or dice the ingredients, mix in some mayo, add a splash of lemon…and that’s basically it!
  • It’s fast! This recipe takes me about 5 minutes to make, 7 minutes if I need to make some mayo really quickly.
  • You can use store-bought or homemade mayo! Speaking of that mayo, you can use my keto mayonnaise recipe (it’s whole30 too!) or a whole30 compliant mayonnaise (I’ll make a list below).
  • No added sugar: Traditional coleslaw recipes often call for sugar, but we completely skipped it in this great side dish recipe.
  • It’s healthy! Vegetables, fruit, eggs, olive or avocado oil, and a little seasoning are the only ingredients in this healthy coleslaw recipe, unlike store-bought which usually has some ingredients I can’t pronounce.
  • Perfect anytime: This creamy paleo coleslaw is perfect for family gatherings or taking to a summer bbq.

🗝️ Key Ingredients & Substitutions

  • Cabbage, onion, and carrots: The classic coleslaw trio! Cabbage is shredded, carrot grated, and the onion is diced finely. I like to use red onion as the flavor is less intense than white or yellow, and it adds a lovely pop of color. You can use either green cabbage or purple cabbage – I change the color frequently! Optionally, for ease and speed, you can use a bag of coleslaw mix. Just check that there are no added ingredients!
  • Mayonnaise: I made my own tried and true mayonnaise as the creamy foundation of this mayonnaise (skipping the garlic this time). It’s an olive oil based recipe, perfect for the whole30 diet. You can make your own mayo (it’s really easy!) or buy a whole30 compliant brand of mayonnaise to add to the coleslaw. When it comes to making the coleslaw, feel free to add more mayonnaise if you prefer it even creamier!
  • Apple: I love the addition of a tart green apple to coleslaw! It really takes the flavor to a new level and also adds a little sweetness. Your tastebuds will love that little kick!
  • Lemon: There is lemon juice in my mayonnaise but I wanted just a little more tartness so I squeezed a little more lemon juice in at the end. It’s perfect *chef’s kiss*. You can substitute apple cider vinegar or white vinegar if needed in both the mayo and this creamy whole30 coleslaw recipe.

🥣 How to make The Best Coleslaw

1. Prepare your vegetables and fruit: shred the crunchy cabbage, grate the carrots, finely dice the onions and apple, and add everything to a large bowl.

Shredded carrot, cabbage, and diced apples and red onion in a mixing bowl.

2. Make mayo (optional): If you’re making mayo, skip down to those instructions and then come back here.

Overhead shot of keto mayonnaise surrounded by ingredients.

3. Add the mayonnaise to the other ingredients and mix well. (You can add more mayo if desired)

4. Lemon & seasoning: Mix in the lemon and adjust the seasoning with salt and black pepper to suit your taste.

Ground black pepper on top of coleslaw.

How to make Whole30 Mayonnaise (optional)

1. Add all ingredients to a jar except oil: Add eggs, salt, lemon, and garlic to a jar that is wide enough to fit the blade of your hand blender. 

Garlic, salt, eggs, and lemon juice in a jar.

2. Pour in a little oil: Add a dash (about 1 or 2 tbsps) of oil to the jar. 

A little oil added to the ingredients in the jar.

3. Blend: Begin to blend (I use a hand blender, but food processors work too!

Overhead shot hand blending mayonnaise ingredients in a jar.

4. Trickle in the oil: Very, very slowly add in the rest of the oil while you’re blending until it begins to thicken. 

Trickle oil into the jar of mayonnaise.

5. Pour more quickly when thick: When it gets thick (emulsifies), pour the rest of the oil in more quickly and blend well. 

Pouring oil quickly into thick mayonnaise.
whole30 coleslaw in a small white bowl, fork and apple in foreground, more coleslaw in background

🪄 Recipe Notes, Tips, and Variations

  • Vegan Coleslaw: To make this a Whole30 vegan coleslaw, switch the mayonnaise for a Whole30 compliant vegan mayo like Avonaise (US) or Hunter & Gather Vegan Avocado Oil Egg Free Mayonnaise (UK).
  • Keto Coleslaw: If you’d like to make this a Whole30 keto coleslaw, either omit the green apple altogether or just use half. Here are the net carb counts depending on ingredients:
    Original recipe: 6.4g net carbs per portion
    1/2 apple: 4.9g net carbs per portion
    No apple: 3.9g net carbs per portion
  • Like it a little sweeter? Add 1-2 teaspoons of raw honey or coconut sugar. It will no longer be whole30 compliant, but perfect for a paleo diet. To keep it whole30, try adding some date paste instead.
  • Store the whole30 coleslaw in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

❓ What mayonnaise is Whole30 compliant?

Vegan Whole30 Mayonnaise

🥕 What is coleslaw mix made of?

Coleslaw mix is traditionally made with thinly sliced cabbage, carrot, and onion.

🤷‍♀️ What does coleslaw stand for?

The word “Coleslaw” comes from the Dutch word “koolsla”: “kool” meaning cabbage, and “sla” is derived from the word “salade”. Therefore, the word “coleslaw” means “cabbage salad”.

🤔 What is the difference between coleslaw and slaw?

As we saw above, coleslaw literally means “cabbage salad” and must have cabbage in it to be called coleslaw. With slaw, on the other hand, you can replace the cabbage with another raw vegetable like cauliflower, broccoli, or radish – it doesn’t have to have cabbage at all!

overhead shot of 3 bowls of coleslaw (1 large, 2 small) with lemon, apples, onion and forks scattered around.

😋 More Whole30 Recipes You Will Love

Have you made this recipe? I’d love to know <3 Tag me (@makehealthyrecipes) on Facebook and InstagramPin it on Pinterest, and please give it 5 stars with a review below! Don’t forget to subscribe to the email list (top right of this page) for sparkly new recipes in your inbox.

📖 Recipe

Overhead shot of whole30 coleslaw.

Easy Whole30 Coleslaw Recipe

Bethany Galloway
Easy, fast and so delicious, this Whole30 Coleslaw is exceedingly creamy! It's low carb, paleo, gluten & dairy-free with a vegan & keto option.
5 from 5 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Mayo making time 2 minutes
Total Time 7 minutes
Course Whole30
Cuisine American
Servings 10 servings
Calories 333 kcal

Ingredients
  

Whole30 Coleslaw

  • 500 g 5-6 cups cabbage, shredded/thinly sliced
  • 3 large carrots grated
  • 1/2 large red onion finely diced
  • 1-2 green apples finely diced
  • 500 g 2 cups mayonnaise, homemade or Whole30 compliant store-bought, or vegan
  • 1/3 lemon juiced, about 1.5-2 tbsp
  • salt and pepper to taste

Whole30 Mayonnaise (optional)

  • 500 ml a little over 2 cups light olive oil or avocado oil
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 lemon juiced about 1 tbsp
  • 1 small clove garlic optional

Instructions
 

Whole30 Coleslaw

  • Prepare your vegetables and fruit: shred the cabbage, grate the carrots, finely dice the onions and apple, and add everything to a large mixing bowl.
  • If you’re making mayo, skip down to those instructions and then come back here.
  • Add the mayonnaise and mix well. (You can add more mayo if desired)
  • Mix in the lemon and ajust the seasoning with salt and pepper to suit your taste.

Whole30 Mayonnaise (optional)

  • Add eggs, salt, lemon, and garlic to a jar that is wide enough to fit the blade of your hand blender.
    step 1: add garlic, salt, eggs and lemon to a jar
  • Add a dash (about 1 or 2 tbsps) of oil to the jar.
    A little oil added to the ingredients in the jar.
  • Begin to blend.
    Overhead shot hand blending mayonnaise ingredients in a jar.
  • Very, very slowly add in the rest of the oil while you’re blending until it begins to thicken.
    Trickle oil into the jar of mayonnaise.
  • When it gets thick (emulsifies), pour the rest of the oil in more quickly and blend well.
    Oil pouring quickly into a jar of mayonnaise.

Notes

  • Vegan Coleslaw: To make this a Whole30 vegan coleslaw, switch the mayonnaise for a Whole30 compliant vegan mayo like Avonaise (US) or Hunter & Gather Vegan Avocado Oil Egg Free Mayonnaise (UK).
  • Keto Coleslaw: If you'd like to make this a Whole30 keto coleslaw, either omit the green apple altogether or just use half. Here are the net carb counts depending on ingredients:
    Original recipe: 6.4g net carbs per portion
    1/2 apple: 4.9g net carbs per portion
    No apple: 3.9g net carbs per portion
  • Like it a little sweeter? Add 1-2 teaspoons of raw honey or coconut sugar. It will no longer be whole30 compliant, but perfect for a paleo diet. To keep it whole30, try adding some date paste instead.
  • Store the whole30 coleslaw in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
  • Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 333kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 1gFat: 33.1gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 17mgSodium: 322mgFiber: 2.6gSugar: 5.4g
    Keyword american, bbq chicken, coleslaw, green apple, lemon, mayonnaise, potluck, side dish, slaw
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    One Comment

    5 from 5 votes (4 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating