Whole30 & Paleo Coleslaw Recipe

This colorful, creamy, easy paleo coleslaw recipe is a sure-fire crowd favorite! The perfect side to serve with some BBQ slow cooker pulled pork or your favorite barbecue meal. And, it’s a great veggie dish for meal prep! Personally, I think it gets even tastier after it sits for a day or two and softens up a bit. I’ll show you how to make paleo & whole30 coleslaw with avocado mayo and no sugar.

If you’re a fan of a rich and refreshing classic coleslaw, this paleo coleslaw recipe will satisfy just the same. Crunchy cabbage, subtly sweet carrots, lusciously creamy mayo, and a hint of tang from the apple cider vinegar. All of the classic flavor and crisp texture that you crave, but with one tweak to make the recipe paleo, keto friendly, and whole30 compliant…

Really, the only major difference with this whole30 mayo is that there are no added sugars! (Trust me, you won’t even miss ’em.) And, instead of a traditional mayo made with soybean oil or canola oil, I’ve used avocado oil mayo instead. (Which I think tastes better anyway!) Honestly, if you didn’t know this was a keto and paleo coleslaw recipe, you’d never guess based on the taste.

What is coleslaw dressing made of typically?

Generally, coleslaw dressing is made of mayonnaise, some kind of sweetener (i.e., honey or sugar), apple cider vinegar, celery seeds or herbs, salt, and pepper. Sometimes, a coleslaw recipe will include buttermilk or some other source of dairy, but not always and it’s not necessary. Buttermilk could be a great addition for a keto coleslaw recipe! But you’d want to keep a paleo & whole30 coleslaw dairy free.

How to Make Whole30 Coleslaw with Avocado Mayo

Whether you’re living a paleo lifestyle or doing the whole30, a few components of the traditional coleslaw recipe aren’t compliant. Most obvious is the sweetener or sugar in the coleslaw dressing—which would not be whole30 compliant, and may or may not be suitable for paleo, depending on the sweetener.

To make a paleo coleslaw with some sweetness, you’re welcome to use a sweetener like raw organic honey or coconut sugar. But, for a whole30 coleslaw you’d want to follow the recipe as outlined below and omit the sweetener completely.

Can you eat mayo on whole30 & paleo?

Yes, but it’s important to read the ingredients list to see which oil(s) your mayo is made from, and to look for any sneaky additives. Both the paleo diet and the whole30 either limit or totally exclude certain inflammatory vegetable oils, as well as additives like grain-based food starches and many preservatives.

Generally, the ‘standard’ mayonnaise brands are made from vegetable oils like soybean, canola, safflower, and/or sunflower oil—or some combination of these. Plus, most also contain added sugars along with some kind of food starch. On the paleo diet, all of these ingredients are no-gos. On the whole30, the sugars, starches, and legume-based oils (i.e., soybean oil) are not compliant. Canola, safflower, and sunflower oils are allowed on whole30, but it’s recommended that you limit your intake.

Your best paleo & whole30 mayonnaise options:

Find an avocado oil mayo or olive oil mayo that’s made with NO secondary oils, no added sugars, and no food starches or preservatives. My personal favorite store-bought avocado oil mayo brand is Sir Kensington’s. Or, you can whip up my homemade avocado oil mayo recipe in just a few minutes! (My homemade recipe can also work with light olive oil.)

Is coleslaw ok on a keto diet or low carb lifestyle?

Yes, totally! Just be aware that a pre-made or restaurant coleslaw will likely have sugar in it, which means a higher carb content. That’s why this homemade paleo coleslaw is also a great option for a keto diet. By nixing the sugar, and since cabbage is naturally a low carb veggie, your keto coleslaw will have only 2g net carbs per ½ cup. You could even use a regular mayo for keto if you prefer that to avocado mayo!

Food Freedom & Kitchen Confidence

Check out my Kitchen Confidence course to build your confidence in the kitchen and learn how to cook healthy meals without needing a recipe! Or, learn how to meal prep easily and efficiently for your lifestyle in my Mind Over Meal Prep course.

To see how this recipe is made, along with the rest of this bento lunch box, check out my Quick & Easy Bento Box Lunch Ideas video!