Keto Red Cabbage Slaw With Carrots

This keto red cabbage slaw recipe makes the perfect spring & summer side dish. It features purple cabbage, carrots, and a tangy apple cider vinaigrette that makes it a light, crunchy, delicious salad.

keto purple coleslaw comes together easily and only uses a handful of ingredients. Plus, it’s a salad that keeps very well in the refrigerator and tastes just as good a few days later.

This makes red cabbage slaw a great make-ahead keto salad option.

It’s perfect for get-togethers and potlucks since the prep work can be done in advance.   

Although this isn’t a recipe for a creamy coleslaw, it’s a red cabbage salad that is just as good as the creamy version.

In fact, since it isn’t a creamy keto coleslaw recipe, it’s not only lower in carbs but lower in calories making it an awesome choice when the goal is weight loss.

Not to mention that store-bought coleslaw is loaded with added sugar. So do yourself a favor and forget the grocery store, and regular coleslaw and make your own.

The first time I shared this keto-friendly slaw was at a family BBQ, and it was well-received by all. The bright purple and orange colors in this salad accompanied our grilled kabobs amazingly.

It’s a beautiful combination of colors, textures, and flavors-a refreshing salad that packs a lot of nutrition.

Don’t get me wrong, I love traditional mayo-based salads too and have recipes like my Keto Broccoli Cauliflower Salad and my make-ahead Keto 7 Layer Salad to prove it.

But sometimes I’m in the mood for something a little lighter, so I also share recipes like my Keto Carrot Moroccan Salad.   

Keto Red Cabbage Slaw

I was craving a less traditional coleslaw when I created this Keto Purple Cabbage and Carrot Slaw. 

What’s different about this keto coleslaw is that the fresh cilantro, along with the kick of the added jalapeño, makes it taste like something you would have while vacationing in Mexico.

It’s certainly not your run-of-the-mill coleslaw.  Not a fan of heat? Don’t let that one jalapeño intimidate you. Because, for one, the jalapeño was seeded and deveined, so the amount of spice is minimal.

And two, you can swap the jalapeño for a 1/4 cup of chopped green bell pepper and leave the heat out completely.

Finding creative ways to add more nutrition to my family’s diet is a mission for this mama. And this colorful salad nailed that goal.

Look, I can’t tell you why it’s called red cabbage since it’s actually a deep purple so, not sure who named it red.

What I do know is that the deep color means it’s actually higher in vitamin A and iron. And that the use of apple cider means your gut will thank you for including this salad in your meal rotation.

It’s a delicious slaw that also happens to fight inflammation and boost your immunity. I mean what’s not to love?  

The simplicity of this salad makes it hard to believe that it packs so much flavor and health, but it’s nice to know it does. 

Is Coleslaw Keto?

The answer is yes, absolutely, as long as you watch what goes into the dressing.

You can most certainly have coleslaw on a keto diet. However, you will not be able to enjoy a traditional recipe since those are loaded with added sugar.

A typical coleslaw almost always uses a sweet dressing and can have as many as 14 net carbs per 1/2 cup serving. Ouch!

It really depends on how much sugar they have added to their dressing. Since this is the case, a store-bought coleslaw is most assuredly not keto-friendly.

We do, however, know that cabbage is a cruciferous vegetable, which makes it low in carbs but also packed with nutrition.

All varieties of cabbage which include red, green cabbage, or even the paler in color savoy cabbage, are high in vitamin c.

This means that when you toss cabbage with a dressing low in carbs, it makes a great side dish and is perfect for anyone doing a ketogenic diet.

When you make your coleslaw at home, you have full control over the ingredients, which makes it a great healthy option. 

The Ingredients Needed For Keto Coleslaw

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The following are all the ingredients you’ll need to make this red cabbage slaw recipe:. Please note that the full printable recipe card is at the bottom of this page. 

• Red cabbage, medium-sized
• Red onion, finely chopped
• Carrots, shredded
• Jalapeño, seeded, deveined (optional)
• Garlic cloves, finely minced
• Cilantro, chopped
• Apple cider vinegar
• Sugar substitute, a tiny amount for a hint of sweetness
• Salt
• Pepper

How To Make A Keto Red Cabbage And Carrot Slaw

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This homemade coleslaw recipe is pretty straightforward and uses simple ingredients. If you shred the cabbage and carrots by hand, it will take the longest.

If you have access to a food processor with attachments then it will make the shredding and grating a breeze. 

You can, of course, also cut the cabbage with a sharp chef’s knife and grate the carrots with a box grater. 

But it’s so worth the little bit of effort for the explosion of flavors and colors this slaw rewards you with. 

In our family, we like our vinaigrettes on the extra tangy side. This is why apple cider vinegar is the star of this dressing. 

You can also substitute the apple cider vinegar for fresh lemon juice, and it will be just as delicious.

Once you have shredded your cabbage and carrots and chopped the cilantro and red onion, you can add a little heat by adding a seeded chopped jalapeño to the slaw; this of course is totally optional.

Then in a large bowl, combine all the slaw ingredients and proceed to make the vinaigrette dressing.

To make the coleslaw dressing just combine the apple cider vinegar or fresh lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper and add in the minced garlic cloves.

Lastly, stir in the small amount of sugar substitute and combine well to ensure it dissolves. Then toss the slaw with the vinaigrette dressing and cover it with plastic wrap before refrigerating it until ready to serve.

The salad keeps for up to three days in the fridge.

Tag Us

I really hope you will give this keto-friendly red cabbage slaw recipe a try. With only three net carbs per serving and 79 calories, it’s a wonderful side dish for your next BBQ or anytime you are searching for an easy keto coleslaw recipe!

If you do, make this low carb cole slaw. I sure hope you remember to tag us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. 

It’s what encourages us to keep sharing and perfecting our recipes.

I invite you to read our article, are carrots keto to learn more about why we choose to include carrots in our keto diet.

Also, check out our Amazon Store for our recommendations. You might be surprised by how many great keto options are at your disposal.

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We have authored two books for you, Essential Keto Bread and Essential Keto Desserts, both inspired by your requests over the years.

It’s my prayer these keto cookbooks will help make keto a delicious breeze for you.

In addition, we have a Keto Recipe App that makes keto an easy, delicious breeze!

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Looking for an online support system to help you stay on keto? As a family, we came to the keto diet, looking at it from a Christian perspective. As believers, we live our lives supported by God’s grace.

So when the Holy Spirit led us to combine our Christian faith and the keto diet, we did so in hopes of finding lasting transformation.

When we followed the Holy Spirit’s prompting, we got on the path to real transformation. 

Knowing firsthand the benefits of this decision, we have created a closed Christian group that is using the keto diet to transform their lives. 

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