Homemade Sweet Coleslaw

Updated: May 24

An amazing plant-based, vegan-friendly, soy-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free Sweet Coleslaw recipe that makes approximately 6 servings, takes about 10 minutes to prepare, and 15 minutes chill time.

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homemade sweet coleslaw in w white bowl on a red mat with a wooden background

Who doesn't love some sweet coleslaw at a BBQ on a hot summer day? A few years ago, my husband would have said he didn't, but today, he begs me to make my sweet coleslaw recipe. I started making my own coleslaw because, as much as I love coleslaw, unfortunately, store-bought coleslaw is often filled with preservatives that are not healthy to consume.

For instance, store-bought coleslaw is typically made from traditional dairy mayonnaise and dairy milk. Approximately 30 million to 50 million Americans are lactose intolerant, including up to 75 percent of African Americans and American Indians and 90 percent of Asian Americans, myself included. That's not even counting that traditional dairy is linked to increased risk of broken bones, diabetes, ovarian cancer, antibiotic resistance, and is brimming with saturated fat, somatic cells (pus), and hormones. To learn more, check out my blog, The Truth About Cow's Milk.

Plant-based mayonnaise and milk are great alternatives, but it's essential to understand that not all plant-based options are created equally. For instance, many options are made from soybeans, and although soybeans do have some health benefits, we must remember that most non-organic soy products are brimming with GMOs, causing less nutritional value and more toxic effects due to the chemicals involved in the genetic modification process. Soybeans contain compounds like phytate, which may interfere with the body's ability to absorb vitamins and minerals crucial for vegan and plant-based dietary demands. These same anti-nutrient compounds may also cause digestive issues due to a reduction in the gut's barrier functions resulting in inflammation that causes these digestive problems. To learn more, check out my blog, The Truth About Soy Products.

Even most plant-based alternatives don't have the most ideal ingredients. A brand I used to use contained: safflower oil, filtered water, brown rice syrup, apple cider vinegar, pea protein, sea salt, mustard flour, and lemon juice concentrate. The biggest concern here was the oil, which I've learned is the problem with every plant-based mayonnaise I've come across. Due to this, I typically choose Primal Kitchen's Vegan Mayo. Even though they're not organic, which I typically prefer, they use avocado oil, and their other ingredients are clean and GMO-free.

When it comes to milk, I either make my own, Thick & Creamy Oat Milk or use a store-bought plant-based alternative such as oat milk, almond milk, hemp milk, cashew milk, coconut milk, rice milk, or macadamia milk. I usually opt for anything from Elmhurst.

Thankfully, you can safely make your coleslaw at home, knowing exactly what's going into it. So without further ado, I present to you my recipe for sweet coleslaw; since I am allergic to soy and have adopted a plant-based lifestyle (no meat or dairy), this recipe is vegan-friendly, plant-based, soy-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free.

This homemade sweet coleslaw recipe pairs well with the following recipes: