Unlock the Secret to Creamy, Low-Carb Keto Mayonnaise That Will Transform Your Meals!

Mayonnaise, with its creamy, velvety, and spreadable texture, is a beloved condiment. The good news for those following a ketogenic diet is that mayonnaise can absolutely be keto-friendly! This article will explore the world of keto mayonnaise, covering everything from what to look for in store-bought brands to how to make your own at home.

Is Mayo Keto-Friendly?

From a net carb and fat content perspective, full-fat mayonnaise is generally considered keto-friendly. Even some cheaper mayo products with added sugars may still be low enough in carbs to be used on keto. Mayonnaise is a great condiment for the Keto Diet because it consists of high fat, low protein, and very few carbohydrates.

What to Look for in Keto Mayonnaise

The key to enjoying mayonnaise on a keto diet is selecting the right kind. Not every mayo you find in the store will be optimal for your health. Here's what to consider:

Oils

Oil is one of the most important ingredients in mayonnaise. The first ingredient in your mayo should always be oil or a blend of oils.

Best Choices:

Olive oil (extra virgin): Extra virgin olive oil is one of the best all-around oils for keto, with a wide array of healthy fats and health-promoting polyphenols.
High-oleic sunflower or high-oleic safflower oil: "High-oleic" refers to a type of heart-healthy monounsaturated fatty acid.
Avocado oil: Avocados contribute healthy fats and other nutrients without any flavor. Avocado oil offers the best of both worlds.
Coconut oil: Coconut oil has ketone-boosting fatty acids.

Oils to Avoid (or be cautious of):

Soybean oil: Soybean oil is the most common ingredient found in store-bought mayo.
Canola oil: Canola oil is a very common oil in store-bought mayonnaise options and should be used cautiously.
Sunflower oil: Sunflower oil should be used cautiously.
Other vegetable oils: It is best to avoid canola, soybean, sunflower, or other vegetable oils.

Some store-bought "avocado" mayo lines say it's "avocado oil blended with soybean oil" or something similar. This is when companies use a smaller percentage of avocado oil to justify the label but aren’t actually all-in on the idea.

Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers

Other Ingredients to Consider

Eggs: You’ll find whole eggs and/or egg yolks in most mayos (except for vegan mayo). The healthiest egg variety will be local pasture-raised eggs. Many mayo brands say they use “cage-free” eggs as if they are a better option. Sir Kensington has been a leader in the better-for-you condiment space for a few years now. They make a tasty mayo by using Organic Certified Humane Free-Range egg yolks, sourced primarily from cooperatives of family farms in and around the Eastern Iowa region.
Lemon juice and/or vinegar: Both are used in mayo to boost the flavor with some acidity.
Mustard: Whether it’s dijon, seed powder, or mustard flour, mustard is a common ingredient in mayo due to its flavor and emulsifying properties.
Sugar: Many of the popular mayo brands contain some added sugars, but such a small amount is in each tablespoon that they can technically be considered as keto-friendly. Most mass-produced, commercial mayo brands include sugar and sugar alternatives which is a big no-no on the Keto diet.
Artificial preservatives: Potassium sorbate and calcium disodium EDTA are two of the most common preservatives found in cheaper store-bought mayos. As with any store-bought foods, you need to be diligent and check for anything that is added solely to extend shelf life. So artificial preservatives like butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), nitrates, and benzoic acid are all worth checking for.
Modified food starch: This ingredient is produced by using potentially toxic chemicals and has a high risk of contamination with common allergens.

Keep in mind, however, that these ingredients are generally regarded as safe in low doses for most people. We recommend avoiding them simply because they do not promote health.

Top Keto Mayonnaise Brands

Equipped with the lists of ideal keto mayo ingredients, let’s take a walk through the grocery store and learn about the top brands and products. Here are some store-bought mayo options that are keto-friendly:

Primal Kitchen Avocado Oil Mayo: Primal Kitchen prides itself on using the purest ingredients, which helped them create a healthy and undeniably tasty mayo. Primal Kitchen was one of the first brands to launch a mayonnaise made with avocado oil and it’s still one of the best options out there. Primal Kitchen offers a mild flavor profile with zero sugar and opts for vinegar instead of lime like Sir Kensington's. Primal Kitchen mayo is a go-to brand for the keto diet and probably the most popular mayonnaise brand on the market today.
Sir Kensington's Avocado Oil Mayonnaise: Sir Kensington specializes in avocado oil mayo and uses all non-GMO ingredients. Their trick is to use a bit of lime for acid instead of lemon or vinegar. Sir Kensington has been a leader in the better-for-you condiment space for a few years now. We love their “egg to differ” mayo mantra. They make a tasty mayo by using Organic Certified Humane Free-Range egg yolks, sourced primarily from cooperatives of family farms in and around the Eastern Iowa region. Sir Kensington has been a leader in the better-for-you condiment space for a few years now. We love their “egg to differ” mayo mantra.
Chosen Foods Classic Mayo: Chosen Foods makes a line of keto-friendly mayonnaise that are all sugar-free and zero carb (except for their vegan mayo). Their mayo flavors include Traditional, Harissa, Black Garlic, and Wasabi.
Tessemae’s Organic Mayo: This is a high-oleic sunflower oil mayo with a bit more acidity than the other brands. Tessemae’s makes three flavors: Organic Mayonnaise, Organic Ranch Mayonnaise, and Organic Habanero Mayo. Tessemae is a bit more acidic than other brands, which I love. Tessemae’s Organic Mayo - This is a high-oleic sunflower oil mayo with a bit more acidity than the other brands. Tessemae’s makes three flavors: Organic Mayonnaise, Organic Ranch Mayonnaise, and Organic Habanero Mayo.
Better Body Foods Avocado Oil Mayonnaise: A newer brand to the keto condiment game, Better Body Foods has a slight twist on classic mayonnaise with added spices.
Chosen Foods Keto Mayo: The only reason why this is called “keto mayo” is that they use coconut oil instead of avocado oil. Since coconut oil contains some MCTs, this mayo can promote an increase in ketone production. Chosen Foods actually makes their mayo with coconut oil, but it doesn't carry that flavor nearly as much as you'd expect.
Thrive Market Coconut Oil Mayonnaise: Remember what we said about coconut oil and imparting too much flavor? This keto mayo has no hint of coconut flavor and tastes like old-fashioned mayo. Ingredients: Refined Coconut Oil (Medium Chain Triglycerides), Egg Yolks, Water, Distilled Vinegar, Salt. Less than 1%: Mustard, Organic Rosemary Extract.

Vegan Keto Mayo Options

Whether you have an egg protein allergy, egg sensitivity, or you are looking to cut animal products out of your diet, you can still have mayo on keto.

Sir Kensington’s Avocado Oil Fabanaise: Don’t let the name fool you, this tastes just like regular mayo. The “fab” refers to aquafaba, which is the viscous liquid left behind after chickpeas are soaked in water. Sir Kensington’s uses the egg mimicking properties of aquafaba to help emulsify the oil into a creamy and flavorful vegan mayo. Though each tablespoon is listed as having zero carbs, it does have some added sugars.
Follow Your Heart Soy-Free Vegenaise: This vegan mayo relies on a small amount of pea protein and brown rice syrup to replace the egg yolk. As with the Fabanaise, this vegenaise comes with added sugars (from the brown rice syrup).
Chosen Foods Vegan Avocado Oil Mayo: Chosen Foods also discovered the magic of aquafaba.

What About Popular Budget-Friendly Mayo Brands?

We are often asked about common mayo brands, such as Duke’s, Hellman’s, Best Foods, Heinz, Kewpie, and Kraft, with the simple question: Is it keto-friendly? The short answer is yes, but only for their traditional mayo products. If we only look at the carb content in each tablespoon, the regular mayo for each popular brand typically has ~0 grams of net carbs. That being said, the only mayo products on this list that are 100% sugar-free are those with an asterisk (*). This is why it is crucial that you read the ingredients list (as well as the carb content) when buying mayo. In general, you want to avoid any mayo or mayo-like product that is lower in fat or has a sweeter flavor than regular mayo.

Making Keto Mayo at Home

With a little planning and a strong arm for whisking, you can have delicious, creamy, keto-friendly mayonnaise ready to enjoy. Making keto mayo is easy. As in having amazing, rich homemade mayo in as little as 10 minutes easy. All it takes is a few fresh ingredients and a little elbow grease. Here's a basic recipe:

Ingredients:

1 large egg yolk (use the freshest eggs possible)
¾ cup of your chosen oil (avocado, olive, or MCT)
1 teaspoon of lemon juice or vinegar
½ teaspoon of Dijon mustard
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

To make a two-ingredient mayo, place the egg yolk in a deep, medium-sized metal or ceramic bowl. Since you’ll need one hand to add the oil and the other to whisk (or blend), make sure the bowl is on a non-slip surface.
Prepare ¾ cup of oil in a ladle, cup, or bottle with a nozzle/spout.
Slowly add the oil, drop-by-drop, while quickly whisking. Start very slowly adding the oil in while whisking, drop by drop. It may seem agonizingly slow, but trust us you want to take it easy in the beginning or else you risk "breaking" the mayo.
Once you’ve added about half of the oil, you can start adding a few more drops of oil at once. As your mayo starts to thicken up, you can be more liberal with your drops.
Keep on whisking until all the oil is gone.
Once the mayo seems super thick, flip the bowl upside down and see if the mayo moves at all. If it doesn't, it's perfect!
Feel free to experiment with different spices, seasonings, lemon juice, vinegar, and/or keto sweeteners to get the right balance of flavor.

Don't pour the avocado oil too quickly, causing the mixture to separate or become runny. Take your time pouring the oil in a thin, steady stream to maintain the creamy consistency and avoid mishaps.

Variations:

Creating your keto-friendly mayo offers endless opportunities to craft unique and tasty condiment variations.

Spicy Mayo: Want some heat? Sprinkle in a bit of cayenne pepper or a splash of hot sauce for a spicy flair.
Sweet Mayo: Craving sweetness? Mix in a teaspoon of your preferred sugar-free sweetener.
Anchovy Mayo: If you only have access to a whisk and prefer a salty umami burst with your mayo, try making Anchovy Mayo.

Uses for Keto Mayonnaise

Once you’ve found the right keto mayo for you, feel free to use it anytime you want to add more healthy fat, creaminess, and/or flavor to your keto meals. Mayo is a necessary condiment for many keto recipes. It's perfect for adding flavor and creaminess to dishes. Plus, it's a great way to add healthy fats to your diet. Here are just a few ideas:

Creamy salad dressing: Ranch, blue cheese, and even thousand island dressing all have one secret ingredient in common: Mayonaisse. Not only will keto-friendly versions of these dressings make any salad delicious, but they are one of the best ways to fit more healthy fats into your keto meals.
High-fat dip for keto chips and vegetables: Whether you make keto ranch, garlic aioli, or an onion dip, mayo will be one of the key ingredients.
Deviled eggs: This is one of the most flavorful ways to make eggs even better for keto.
Egg, tuna, or chicken salad: Mayo helps turn these high-protein foods into an ideal keto meal. The beauty of these “salads” is that one tasty keto recipe can be applied to any leftover boiled eggs, tuna, or chicken you have. For example, our tuna salad recipe can serve as your staple for leftover chicken.
Keto “potato” salad:
Keto-friendly BLT: There are plenty of ways you can work around the silent “B” (bread) in your BLT. The two most popular options are making a BLT salad or baking your own keto bread.
Low carb tartar sauce: Without mayo, tartar sauce wouldn’t have the creaminess and flavor that transforms a bland seafood dish into a culinary treat.
Creamy keto casserole: One of the best ways to ensure that you get plenty of fat, protein, and vegetables without slaving away in the kitchen every day is by making a keto casserole. Our Keto Ham and Broccoli Creamy Casserole, for example, brings everything together with a flavorful cream sauce composed of cream cheese, mayo, and full-fat Greek yogurt.
Keto coleslaw: Coleslaw is an incredible keto side with plenty of fat, flavor, and health benefits. Just make sure you skip the sugar, high-carb veggies, and fruit.
As a versatile keto condiment: Mayo can make virtually any keto recipe better. From being the perfect topping for lamb burgers to serving as a satisfying dip for bacon wrapped asparagus, you can’t go wrong with some high-quality keto mayo.

Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto

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