Lime Jello Salad

5 from 39 votes

There’s nothing quite as nostalgic as a jello fluff salad, especially on a holiday table. Just like Cranberry Fluff Salad, this Lime Jello Salad is a chilled dessert-like side that’s perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Prep Time20

Chill Time4

Total Time4 20

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings: Servings

Calories: 126kcal

Author: Aimee Mars

Equipment

Electric Mixer or handheld mixer

Ingredients

2 3 ounce boxes Lime Jello
1 cup Boiling Water
1 20 ounce can Crushed Pineapple
8 ounces Cream Cheese softened
8 ounces Cool Whip thawed
1/2 cup Chopped Pecans

Instructions

Place the lime jello into a large mixing bowl and pour the boiling water on top. Whisk the two ingredients together quickly until all the powdered jello has fully dissolved
Stir in the crushed pineapple (don't drain) and place the bowl in the fridge for no more than 20 minutes to cool and slightly firm. You don't need to cover it.
In a separate bowl beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the whipped topping and continue to beat until well-mixed.
Place the lime jello mixture into the mixer or mixing bowl and mix it in until fully incorporated.
Fold in the crushed pecans until they are evenly mixed into the jello mixture.
Pour the entire mixture into a 9x13 baking dish or casserole dish and refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours or overnight so it firms up.
If you'd like to decorate the top place some additional whipped topping into a piping bag or a Ziplock bag with the bottom edge cut out and pipe it onto the top.

Notes

This vintage lime jello salad is best served cut into squares. I like to pipe some extra whipped cream on top as well as add some more crushed pecans for presentation. You can just as easily scoop it out using a serving spoon though. To serve it vintage-style though place a square on top of some lettuce. Then add a dollop of mayonnaise to the top.
Some recipes suggest using cottage cheese instead of cream cheese. Using cottage cheese brings a slightly more tart flavor and really comes down to preference. You can swap out the cream cheese easily for cottage cheese if you'd like.
If you plan on bringing this to a family gathering or a potluck then place it into a casserole dish fitted with a lid for easy transport.
If you'd like to decorate the top you will need additional Cool Whip. You can place it in a Ziplock bag. Then cut the bottom corner out or put it into a piping bag.

Storage Information

Leftovers - to store any leftovers cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap and place it in the fridge. It will last for up to 7 days.
Freezing - Unfortunately, this salad can't be frozen. Whether you're using cream cheese or cottage cheese the ingredients will start to break down once frozen and turn into a mess when thawed that doesn't taste good.

Nutrition