Keto Kohlrabi Slaw Pasta Salad: Crunchy, Creamy, and Surprisingly Satisfying

If you think pasta salad is off the table just because you’re cutting carbs, think again. This Keto Kohlrabi Slaw Pasta Salad changes the game. It’s got that creamy, tangy bite you’d expect from an old-school deli pasta salad, but with none of the heavy carbs or post-lunch naps.

We’re not using zucchini noodles or cauliflower rice or any of the usual suspects. The star here? Kohlrabi slaw. Crunchy. Light. Low-carb. And when it’s mixed up with the right stuff, it does a pretty solid impression of pasta—without trying too hard.

Let’s break it down into what you need, how to make it, and why you might find yourself making it twice a week. Because once you get the hang of this, it goes from “interesting” to “this is going in my meal prep.” Especially when the weather’s warm.

What Is Kohlrabi Anyway?

Kohlrabi is one of those vegetables that sits in the grocery store looking like it belongs on another planet. Pale green or purple bulb, spiky stems. Kinda like a turnip’s cooler cousin.

It tastes like a cross between cabbage and broccoli stems. Crisp, slightly sweet, and perfect for slaw. But here’s the good news: it’s very low in carbs, which is a win for anyone watching their macros or living that keto life.

You can buy it whole and shred it yourself, but most stores now carry pre-shredded kohlrabi slaw near the bagged salads. It saves time, and honestly, tastes just as fresh.

Ingredients You’ll Need (Simple items, and Add-ins)

For the salad:

• 1 bag (about 12 oz) of kohlrabi slaw
• 1/2 cup diced celery
• 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
• 1/4 cup sliced scallions (green onion)
• 1/2 cup diced cooked bacon (optional but highly encouraged)
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or mozzarella, if you prefer mild)

For the dressing:

• 1/2 cup mayo
• 2 tablespoons sour cream
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (adds that tangy pop)
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• Salt and pepper to taste

Optional add-ins: chopped dill pickles, a few splashes of hot sauce, or a squeeze of lemon for brightness.

How to Make This Keto Kohlrabi Slaw Pasta Salad (This Won’t Take Long)

1) Prep your veggies:

If you bought the bagged kohlrabi slaw, you can skip ahead. If not, grab your whole kohlrabi bulbs and peel off the tough outer skin using a sharp vegetable peeler or paring knife. You want to get down to the pale, juicy part inside. Using a box grater or food processor with the shred attachment, grate the peeled kohlrabi until you have about 12 ounces worth.

Next, finely dice the celery. Try to cut it into pieces no bigger than a pencil eraser—you want crunch, but not mouthfuls. Same goes for the red bell pepper. Remove the seeds and inner membranes, and cut it into small, even bits. Slice the scallions thin, both the white and green parts, for a nice bite of onion flavor without overpowering the salad.

2) Crisp the bacon:

If you’re adding bacon (highly recommended), lay out the strips in a cold skillet and turn the heat to medium. Let them cook slowly so the fat renders out and the bacon turns deep golden and crispy. Flip occasionally. Once it’s nice and crisp, transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and let it cool. Then chop into small bite-sized pieces.

3) Mix the dressing:

Grab a medium bowl. Add the mayo, sour cream, Dijon mustard, and apple cider vinegar. Stir it up until smooth. Then add garlic powder, onion powder, a few pinches of salt, and a few cracks of black pepper. Stir again and give it a taste. Want it zingier? More vinegar. Prefer extra creamy? A dollop more mayo does the trick. You can adjust this until it hits your personal sweet spot.

4) Combine everything:

In a large mixing bowl, dump in your shredded kohlrabi (or the bagged stuff), diced celery, red bell pepper, scallions, cheddar cheese, and chopped bacon. Pour the dressing on top and use tongs or a big spoon to mix it all together. Make sure every little strand and cube gets coated. Scrape the sides of the bowl and mix from the bottom up. You don’t want dressing just sitting at the bottom.

5) Let it chill:

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and pop it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. An hour is even better. This gives the veggies time to soak in that dressing and lets the flavors come together. If you’re making it ahead, it’s even tastier the next day. Just give it a good stir before serving because the dressing may settle a little

Why This Recipe Works for Keto (And for Regular Folks Too)

The best keto recipes are the ones no one realizes are keto. This one fits the bill. There’s no weird aftertaste. No sad substitutions. Just real, whole ingredients that come together in a way that feels familiar but better.

The fat from the mayo, sour cream, cheese, and bacon makes it filling. The kohlrabi adds bulk without adding carbs. And that crunch? Way more satisfying than mushy pasta.

One cup of cooked pasta has around 40 grams of carbs. One cup of kohlrabi slaw? Around 4 grams of net carbs. You do the math.

Personal Tip: Make a Big Batch and Keep It in the Fridge

I started making this after a weekend cookout where my cousin brought a pasta salad that tasted like pure mayo. It wasn’t bad, but I felt sluggish after eating it. So I started experimenting with low-carb swaps and stumbled onto kohlrabi by accident.

Since then, I keep a tub of this stuff in the fridge almost every week. It’s lunch. It’s a side dish. It’s midnight snack material. And if you top it with grilled chicken or hard-boiled eggs, it’s a full meal.

Also, picky eaters? They rarely notice it’s low carb. My kids thought it was coleslaw and kept eating it. No complaints. That’s a win in my book.

Add Protein, Make It a Meal

Want to stretch this into something more than a side? Here’s what works well mixed in:

• Shredded rotisserie chicken
• Chopped boiled eggs
• Sliced pepperoni or salami
• Grilled shrimp
• Canned tuna (trust me, it works)

Just toss it in with the rest and you’ve got a full-blown keto lunch that doesn’t feel like diet food.

Quick Storage Tips

• Store in a sealed container in the fridge. It stays good for about 4 days.
• If the dressing separates a little, just give it a stir.
• Avoid freezing it. The texture gets weird and soggy.

Make It for a Crowd

Doubling this recipe is easy. Just double everything and toss it in a big mixing bowl. If you’re feeding a crowd, maybe keep the bacon on the side for any vegetarians.

Also, if you’re taking it to a cookout or potluck, go ahead and stir everything except the dressing ahead of time. Bring the dressing in a jar and mix it on-site so it stays crisp.

Flavor Tweaks and Variations

If you’re the kind of person who never follows a recipe word-for-word, here are a few ways to mix it up:

Go spicy: Add chopped jalapeños, a little cayenne, or chipotle powder.

Go ranch-style: Swap out the Dijon and vinegar for a ranch seasoning mix.

Make it herby: Stir in fresh dill, parsley, or chives.

Greek twist: Use feta instead of cheddar, add olives, and throw in some diced cucumber.

You get the idea. This is one of those base recipes that lets you play around and make it yours.

Why Many Love this Recipe (And Your Taste Buds Will Too)

Let’s not lie, part of the reason you’re reading this is because you saw a photo that made this salad look too good. That creamy dressing clinging to all the crunchy bits. The bacon poking out. That sprinkle of herbs on top like you spent way more time than you actually did.

It’s the kind of thing people pin because they want something fresh, fast, and not boring. And when they finally try it? They make it again. Because it works.

This salad has all the stuff we actually like in our food: texture, salt, creaminess, a little zing. And it doesn’t pretend to be fancy. It just shows up and does its job.

Conclusion

Keto or not, this Kohlrabi Slaw Pasta Salad is one of those recipes you keep coming back to. It’s the perfect mix of easy and tasty, with ingredients you can grab in one trip. No weird flours, no fancy equipment.

So whether you’re doing keto hardcore, just watching carbs, or simply looking for something new to throw together on a Sunday night, give this a go.

You’ll be surprised how fast it disappears.

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