I’ve made this sweet and tangy fruit salad a million times for family get-togethers, summer picnics, and quick healthy treats for my kids and it’s always a hit. Over time, I’ve figured out just the right mix of flavors to keep it simple, tasty, and something you’ll feel great about serving any day. Trust me, this fruit salad is a total winner in my kitchen, and I think you’re gonna love it too!
My kids love fruit. Absolutely love it! Sometimes they want a clementine, sometimes they want some grapes, and sometimes they want a strawberry. I have found the the easiest thing to do when they are all yelling about the type of fruit they want is to make a fruit salad!
They get a choice of whatever fruit they want in any bite, and I get the satisfaction of knowing they are eating their fruit. It's my favorite type of afternoon snack for my kids! Sometimes I even make a fruit rainbow too!
Take this fruit salad to your next Summer barbecue. It will be a hit! You can serve it as a dessert or a side dish. Fruit salads are perfect any time of day!
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What Can You Put In A Fruit Salad?
The simple answer is, anything you want! The best type of fruit salad is the one that your family and friends will eat. I'm showing you a simple way to make this recipe, but you can adjust it to your liking.
Here are some types of fruit that work really well in this recipe:
- Berries. Strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries are all great options. Raspberries can get really mushy, so try to avoid those if you can.
- Stone fruit. Nectarines, peaches, mangoes, and plums are all great options. Make sure the fruit are not too soft.
- Tropical fruit. Pineapple, papaya, and kiwi are all great choices to add.
- Autumn fruit. In the Fall, there are tons of apples and pears around. Use those! Make sure to add the lime and honey dressing to make sure that the apples don't brown.
- Melons. Cantaloupe, honeydew melon, and watermelon are all great choices.
In this recipe we are using a lime honey dressing, but you can also add yogurt to up the protein in this fruit salad, but also adds a creaminess to the salad. Totally up to you!
Simple Fruit Salad Recipe Ingredients
To make a fruit salad, here are some of my favorite fruit to use. Feel free to add or leave out whatever fruit you would like.
- Berries. I am using blueberries and strawberries.
- Grapes. Grapes add a sweet crunch to the salad.
- Clementines. For a little zing and some gorgeous color.
- Pineapple. Pineapple is great in fruit salads because they are hearty and they hold up well in the salad.
- Lime and honey. This adds a light dressing to the salad but also makes sure that the fruit doesn't brown in the salad.
Be sure to check out the printable recipe card for full recipe information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Fruit Salad
1. Wash all your fruit well and cut off any stems. Cut the pineapple into uniform pieces, making sure to remove the core and the skin.
2. Add the strawberries and blueberries to a large bowl. Add the grapes and pineapple.
3. Time to make the lime dressing! In a small bowl, zest one lime. Juice that lime and then add 1 tablespoon of honey. Mix well.
4. Pour the honey lime dressing over the top of all the fruit. With a large spoon, mix all the ingredients together. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
Lynn's Tip!
If you want to add bananas to the salad, cut the bananas into pieces and add them slices at the very end. This will avoid the bananas going brown and mushing into the salad.
Fruit Salad Recipe Tips
- Choose fresh, ripe fruits. The quality of your dish really depends on the ripeness and freshness of the fruits. Try to find the best seasonal fruits to get the best flavor in your salad.
- Cut your fruit evenly. Try to cut the fruits into similar-sized pieces for a uniform look and to make sure it is dispersed evenly in your salad.
- Get creative! Use a mix of sweet, tart, and mildly flavored fruits to create a well balanced salad.
- Don't forget to chill. This recipe tastes best when served cold. Popping the bowl in the refrigerator before you are ready to enjoy it will enhance the flavors of the fruit.
- Add some fun ingredients! Don't be afraid to add chopped nuts, seeds, or a splash of orange juice for extra texture and flavor.
Storing Fruit Salad
This fruit salad is best served right away. As it sits in the refrigerator for more than 2 days, the fruit may start getting mushy.
You can make this recipe in advance though. Mix all the fruit together and then make the honey lime dressing separately and keep it in a mason jar. When you are ready to serve the fruit salad, pour it over the fruit and mix well right before serving.
What to Serve with Fruit Salad
Fruit salad is one of those dishes that just goes with everything! There's really no wrong way to serve it! Whether you're putting together a laid-back brunch or packing a picnic, it's the perfect fresh and juicy side. Eat it on its own or serve it as a side some of these delicious dishes:
- As a side to scrambled eggs, Instant Pot hard boiled eggs, or a breakfast casserole
- A dollop of Greek yogurt or homemade yogurt.
- Muffins, pancakes, or waffles (so good together!)
- Sandwiches or wraps for an easy lunch
- A little cheese and cracker board
Trust me, whatever you’re serving, fruit salad will fit right in!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! You can use frozen fruit, just keep a few things in mind. Make sure to thaw the fruit and then drain off any excess liquid. It's best to use sturdy fruit, like pineapple and mangoes that are frozen.
Bananas are not great in a fruit salad that is made ahead of time. You can add slices of bananas right before you are ready to serve it. Most other fruit works well in fruit salad as long as you are using a citrus dressing to keep the fruit from going brown.
You'll want to cut the fruit in a uniform size. Don't make the fruit too big. It should be one bite, or should fit on a fork. To make this a fancy fruit salad, use cookie cutters to cut the fruit into different shapes.
More Fruit Recipes
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📖 Recipe
Easy Fruit Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pint Blueberries Washed
- 1 pound Strawberries Washed and cut into pieces
- 1 pound Grapes Washed
- 3 cups Pineapple Cut into pieces
- 6 small Clementines Peeled and segmented
- 1 Lime
- 1 tablespoon Honey
Instructions
- Wash all of the fruit and cut it into pieces. Add all of the fruit to a large bowl.
- In a small bowl, add the lime juice, lime zest, and honey. Mix well.
- Pour the dressing over the fruit and gently mix all the ingredients together. Chill the fruit salad in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
Video
Notes
- You can make this fruit salad in advance if you would like! The best way to do that is to mix all the fruit together in a large bowl, but do not add the dressing. Keep the salad in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When you are ready to serve the salad, pour the dressing over the salad and mix well.
- If you are using bananas, add the bananas at the very end and mix very gently. They tend to mush into the salad and can turn brown.
- Cantaloupe, honey dew melon, oranges, grapefruits, blackberries, and many more can all be added to this salad recipe.
ROBERTWHITTINGTON says
Had one of those fruit salads before made me get another one .