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Seriously Good BLT Keto Coleslaw

An easy low carb coleslaw recipe with crisp bacon, hand-cut cabbage, tomatoes, and soft hard boiled eggs, in a creamy homemade dressing with no added sugar, this is seriously the best keto coleslaw! Everything you love about a BLT in a simple and delicious low carb side dish anyone can make.

bowlful of BLT keto coleslaw

BLT keto coleslaw is fully loaded and has just 3.6g net carbs per serving!

A great keto friendly recipe for parties, BBQ, and potlucks. This easy side dish pairs well with a number of proteins and main dishes to make a hearty low carb meal. 

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Why You Will Love This Slaw Recipe

  • Bacon..
  • A creamy homemade coleslaw dressing that is super simple with no added sugar.
  • Versatile, and easy to make ahead, this recipe is a great low carb side dish for every day meals. 
  • This summer salad will impress a crowd at any BBQ, picnic, and potluck.
  • BLT Keto coleslaw requires very little cooking skill.
bowlful of BLT keto coleslaw ingredients

What You Need to Know

BLT Coleslaw Ingredients and Substitutions

  • Cabbage – Standard green or white cabbage is a classic for coleslaw, feel free to add some red/purple cabbage for extra flavour and crunch. 
  • Bacon Crumbles – Freshy crumbled strips of cooked bacon are the most flavourful. Store bought bacon bits can be used as well. 
  • Tomatoes –  Use fresh, ripe, eating tomatoes. Grape or cherry tomatoes hold up the best and have great flavour. 
  • Hardboiled Eggs –  Cooked using your preferred method. Can be made ahead of time or omitted. 
  • Coleslaw Dressing – A simple mix and serve mayo based dressing with no added sugar (Ingredients and tips below). If you have a store bought coleslaw dressing you enjoy it can be used as well. 

Can I used bagged coleslaw mix for this keto coleslaw?

Fresh cabbage will have the most crunch and texture. However for a quick version used a bagged coleslaw mix, check the ingredients and nutrition facts to make sure its still low carb.

B is for Bacon! - Preparing the Bacon Bits

You can cook the bacon however you like, but my preferred method is sheet pan cooking in the oven. This makes perfectly and evenly cooked bacon that is melt in your mouth delicious.  

Oven Baked Bacon

  • Lay the slices of bacon in a single layer on a foil lined baking sheet. Make sure it has high enough sides to collect the rendered fat. 
  • Place the bacon in a cold oven and turn and bake at 400°F [205°C] for about 15 to 20 minutes, drain off the fat (save that liquid gold for cooking later) and let the bacon cool before crumbling. 

Pan Fried Bacon

To pan fry bacon for bacon bits:

  • Place the bacon strips in a single layer in a cold pan. 
  • Place on the stove over medium heat.
  • Cook for 12-15 minutes, flipping occasionally until both sides are crisp and golden brown and the fat has rendered and become crispy. 
  • Transfer the cooked bacon to a paper towel lined plate to cool completely and crumble into pieces with your hands. 

Air Fryer Bacon Bits

The air fryer is a simple hands free way to make crispy bacon with minimal prep and clean up.

  • Lay the bacon strip in the air fryer basket in an even layer. 
  • Cook at 400°F [205°C] for 12 to 15 minutes, flipping half way, until golden brown and crispy. 
  • Remove the strips of bacon to a paper towel lined plate to cool and crumble with your hands into bacon bits. 

L is for… Cabbage? – Shredding Fresh Cabbage for Coleslaw

No lettuce in this summer salad, since its a coleslaw we use shredded or hand-cut cabbage instead.  
 
There are multiple ways to shred cabbage for coleslaw.
 

Shredding Cabbage for Coleslaw

Food processor (Quickest): The grating disc on a food processor with shred cabbage very quickly. It will also shred the cabbage very small and fine. If this is what you are after, and you have a food processor with a grating disc, then this is the best method for you. 
 
This will give you the texture you often find at the deli or from store-bought coleslaw. 
 
Hand-cut (Crunchiest): This is my favourite method. Using a large and very sharp knife to make thin cuts, almost like shavings, for coleslaw. 
 
Hand-cut cabbage gives the slaw rustic crunch that I thoroughly enjoy. 
 
Cut the cabbage into manageable chunks, or remove layers and stack them on top of each other. Then use a sharp knife to make thin, matchstick like cuts. It doesn’t have to be perfect. 
White Cabbaged Sliced finely with a knife on a cutting board
Slice cabbage with a knife for thicker, crunchier pieces
White Cabbage shredded with a cheese grater for BLT keto coleslaw
Shred cabbage with a cheese grater for finer pieces

T is for tomato! – Choosing the right Tomato for Coleslaw

Tomatoes are something a lot of people are scared of on low carb and keto diets, but you shouldn’t be. Yes they do have carbs. But unless that is causing you to lose control of your hunger and overeat on something else. It’s unlikely to cause you to gain weight and derail your diet.

No one ever got fat eating tomatoes. 

Choose a good eating tomato for this recipe. Coleslaw is full of bright fresh flavours and you need a ripe and good tasting tomato for best results. For me the obvious choice is cherry or grape tomatoes. 

They are the easiest to slice into pieces that don’t turn into mush, and overall have some of the best flavour for straight eating. 

10 – 15 grape tomatoes, quartered goes a long way in a coleslaw. 

Use a very sharp knife to slice the tomatoes into quarters, a dull knife will just squish and mash them. 

I’d Like to Buy a Vowel – E is for egg

You can have an egg in a BLT right? Is that a BLTE? A BELT?

Hard boiled egg add a soft texture, and a rich flavour that contrasts the crunch of the cabbage and the salty, crispy, bacon perfectly while adding a ton of beneficial minerals, vitamins, and protein.

Right after you put the bacon in the oven, you will want to get some water boiling for the eggs.

Everyone has secrets they use to make the perfect boiled eggs every time, I make them the exact same way my Mom taught me to. 

Quick Cooking Lesson for Hard Boiled Eggs

How to make perfect, easy to peel, hard boiled eggs every time

  • Bring plain tap water to a boil on the stove
    • Don’t fill the pot to the top with water, otherwise the water level will rise and overflow when you add the eggs.
    • Sometimes when I am in a hurry I fill the pot with hot water from the tap so it boils quicker. 
  • Once the water is boiling carefully place the eggs in the water
    • Don’t just drop them or they may break. Slowly lowering them into boiling water with a spoon works well. 
  • Boil the eggs for 12 minutes.
  • Immediately remove from heat, drain boiling water and replace with ice cold water
    • Place the whole pot in the sink and run cold water over the eggs for several minutes until they are cold to the touch, if you can’t get the water cold enough add ice. 
    • This step keeps the yolks bright and yellow and makes them super easy to peel. Most of the time the shells come off in a few large pieces. 

This method has worked every time for me for over 20 years. Thanks mom!

BLT Keto coleslaw ingredients in a bowl

Easy Keto Coleslaw Dressing with No added Sugar

This keto coleslaw is made with a simple, homemade mix and serve creamy mayo based coleslaw dressing. 

  • Mayonnaise – Use any store bought or homemade mayonnaise. If you are avoiding seed oils, opt for an avocado oil based mayo, or make your own using tallow or bacon fat. 
  • Vinegar – Provides acidity, balance, and a tangy flavour to the dressing. white vinegar works well but apple cider vinegar, or rice wine vinegar add a nice twist. 
  • Mustard – Any prepared mustard is suitable for this recipe, for extra bite and flavour use grainy Dijon mustard.
  • Lemon Juice –  Fresh is best. 
  • Garlic Powder – Garlic powder or granulated garlic, don’t use garlic salt. 
  • Fresh Parsley –  Chopped parsley adds great texture and a fresh bright flavour to the dressing. If you decide to use dried parsley, use 1/4 of the amount. 

To prepare the coleslaw dressing, simply add all the ingredients together in a bowl and mix well. Mix the dressing in a separate bowl or mix the dressing in the salad bowl before adding the other coleslaw ingredients. 

Making the dressing ahead of time and letting it sit will improve the flavour. 

Once ready to serve, lightly toss the slaw mixture in the dressing. You may or may not need all the dressing depending on how saucy you like your coleslaw. 

Keto BLT coleslaw ingredients, dressed in a bowl

Coleslaw Variations to Try

  • Add more veg: Adding other types of cabbage like red/purple cabbage, shredded carrots, green onion, or chopped peppers is a great way to pack in those veggies. 
    • Red cabbage works better as an addition rather than the main type of cabbage as its flavour is much stronger.
  • Add some protein: This simple coleslaw can be made into a hearty salad bowl fit for a meal by adding some cooked proteins. Adding cooked chicken would make this into an excellent low carb chicken club coleslaw. 
  • Change the dressing: This recipe uses a simple mayo based dressing, feel free to sub in any of your favourite salad dressings or store bought coleslaw dressing. 
  • Make it vegetarian: Simply omit the bacon, or use your favourite veggie bacon to make this a low carb vegetarian side dish. The hardboiled eggs will make up for the protein. 

FAQs

Does coleslaw have carbs?

Coleslaw naturally contains carbohydrates from the cabbage and other vegetables. This version is quite low in net carbs with only 3.6g per serving. 

Does coleslaw have sugar?

Coleslaw dressing is often sweetened with sugar but this is completely unnecessary. This recipe has zero added sugar making it a great choice for anyone looking to lower carb intake or diabetics watching their sugar intake. 

Is coleslaw healthy?

Coleslaw can be quite healthy when high quality ingredients are used and no unnecessary sugar is added. 

Is coleslaw a good choice for keto?

Not all coleslaw is a good choice for very low carb diets like keto, this coleslaw is perfect for keto diets thanks to its low carb count.

What do I serve with coleslaw on keto?

This simple slaw is a great side dish for any of your favourite proteins or main dishes. This coleslaw can be brought to picnics, or potlucks, or used as an everyday low carb side dish for hot or cold meals.  

A bowlful of Keto BLT coleslaw with tongs

Easy BLT Keto Coleslaw Recipe

BLT keto coleslaw recipe image, in a bowl
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 184 kcal
Net Carbs 3.6 g
Rate this Recipe
A recipe for a low carb BLT inspired coleslaw. Makes a great keto friendly side dish, or addition to a potluck or party, this recipe is easily scaled, and can be made ahead to save time.

IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!

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Equipment

  • Cutting board
  • large knife
  • Mixing bowl
  • salad bowl
  • egg slicer (optional)
  • pot
  • Baking sheet

Ingredients
  

The slaw

  • 7 cups cabbage shredded, 1 small cabbage
  • 6-8 strips bacon cooked, and crumbled/sliced
  • 15-20 grape tomatoes quartered, or 1 medium tomato
  • 4 large hard boiled eggs sliced

The Dressing

  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons mustard
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder optional but recommended
  • 4 tablespoon parsley finely chopped
  • salt & pepper

Instructions
 

  • Cook the bacon. Lay the bacon out on a foil lined baking sheet and place in oven at 400°F [205°C] for 15-20 minutes until crispy and golden brown
    6-8 strips bacon
  • Hardboil the eggs. While the bacon is in the oven, fill a medium sized pot with water and bring to a boil over high heat. Once boiling carefully place eggs in water for 12 minutes, then immediately place eggs in ice cold water until cool
    4 large hard boiled eggs
  • Prepare the dressing. To prepare dressing, add mayo, mustard, vinegar, lemon juice, garlic powder, parsley, salt and pepper, to a mixing bowl and combine well.
    1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon vinegar, 2 teaspoons mustard, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, 4 tablespoon parsley, salt & pepper
  • Assemble the coleslaw. Shred cabbage with a knife or food processor as outlined in the post above. Crumble bacon, slice eggs with a knife or an egg slicer, and tomatoes and add to the bowl with the cabbage and toss to combine. Add desired amount of dressing and toss lightly. You may or may not need all the dressing depending how creamy you like coleslaw, any extra dressing can be stored in the fridge for later use as a dip or salad dressing.
    7 cups cabbage, 15-20 grape tomatoes
  • Serve as a side to your favourite low carb dinner recipe, as a crunchy snack, or at potlucks and picnics
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Notes

  • Store bought coleslaw dressing can be used in place of homemade dressing
  • See post above for make ahead tips, you can make this days in advance
    • This recipe can also be made in less than 15 minutes if bacon and eggs are cooked ahead of time

Leftovers and Storage

  • Store covered in fridge for use within a week. 

Nutrition

Calories: 184kcalCarbohydrates: 5.6gProtein: 6.4gFat: 15.3gSaturated Fat: 3.2gSodium: 282mgPotassium: 240mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3.2gVitamin A: 577IUVitamin C: 38mgCalcium: 57.2mgNet Carbs: 3.6g

Nutritional information is calculated using the recipe calculator and verified database available from Cronometer. Although every reasonable effort is made to provide accurate information this estimate is provided as courteously and convenience only. To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in any given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe.

Try the free recipe calculator at Cronometer
Did you give this a try?Mention @yummyforadam or use #yummyforadam on instagram!
Looking for a different low carb recipe?Something you don't see here or looking for a low carb version of your favourite recipe? Let me know so I can get working on it! Contact me directly or leave a comment!
Keywords: bacon, keto, low carb, salad, side dish
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Make Ahead, Leftovers, and Storage Tips

This is a great make ahead recipe, for potlucks, BBQs, and picnics. 

This recipe will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 3 days.

If you would like to serve this fresh for a party, or picnic, pre boil the eggs, cook the bacon ahead of time and store them separately until you are ready to serve. Adding the tomato and dressing right before serving will keep the coleslaw from becoming watery and soggy. 

Enjoy!

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