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Get ready for a delightful burst of sweet and tangy flavor with our small batch Pineapple Lime Jello Salad, also known as Moonglow Salad! This easy recipe combines classic ingredients with a modern twist, bringing back nostalgic flavors in a fun and delicious way.
Our family’s holiday table often features this Pineapple Lime Jello Salad, and yours might love it too. We also adore our Sweet Potato Casserole, Carrot Soufflé, and Citrus Glazed Carrots, each bringing a taste of the holidays to any meal. For a festive, intimate Thanksgiving meal for two, these dishes are perfect.
Why You’ll Love This Jello Salad Recipe
- Versatile: This salad can be served as a side dish, dessert, or even a light snack.
- Simple Ingredients: Made with everyday pantry items, it’s easy to whip up on a whim.
- Nostalgically Delicious: The taste transports you back to family gatherings and holiday meals of yesteryears.
- Easy Preparation: The process is simple, ideal for all cooking levels.
- Customizable: You can easily add or swap ingredients to cater to your preferences.
Discover Pineapple Lime Jello Salad (Retro & Fun)
Pineapple Lime Jello Salad, sometimes called Moonglow Salad, might sound unusual if you’ve never tried it, but it’s a classic dish with a devoted following! Think of it as a sweet and tangy dessert salad: lime Jell-O provides the base, crushed pineapple adds fruity sweetness, and cottage cheese lends a unique creaminess. A sprinkle of nuts on top adds a satisfying crunch.
Check out our other Single Serving Salad ideas!
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this small batch lime jello salad recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Jello: I use one 0.3-ounce (8.5 grams) package of sugar-free lime jello. While lime is traditional, feel free to experiment with other flavors like lemon or orange.
- Pineapples: I use half of a 20-ounce can of crushed pineapples. My local stores typically stock 8-ounce and 20-ounce cans, so I buy the larger one and keep the rest for other recipes. If you do have leftover pineapple, consider using it in our moist Mini Hummingbird Cake, in a sweet and healthy Ambrosia, or in a refreshing Tropical Smoothie. If you find 8-ounce cans, simply use two of them.
- Mayonnaise: Mayonnaise adds the traditional creaminess to this salad, but you can substitute it with Greek yogurt or plain low-fat yogurt for a healthier take.
- Nuts: I prefer chopped pecans for crunch, though chopped walnuts are just as good. If you’re avoiding nuts, you can leave them out.
- Cottage cheese: Small curd cottage cheese is my go-to for this recipe.
Recipe Variation: Feel free to mix up this recipe by replacing the lime jello with another flavor like strawberry or cherry. You can also add other ingredients into the mix like mini marshmallows, fruit cocktail, or even shredded coconut for a tropical twist.
How To Make Jello Salad
These step-by-step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this pineapple lime jello salad. See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Drain the juice from 10 ounces of canned crushed pineapple and reserve the liquid in a measuring cup. Make sure to use a measuring cup or bowl that will hold at least 1 cup of liquid. Once you have the pineapple juice, add enough hot water so that you have 1 cup of liquid.
- In a medium-sized bowl, stir together the cottage cheese, drained pineapple, and mayonnaise. Cover the bowl and refrigerate to use later.
- Using another bowl, mix the packet of jello with 1 cup of liquid (the pineapple juice and hot water). Stir until diluted. Cover and refrigerate the jello for about an hour, until it begins to gel.
- Remove the jello mixture from the refrigerator and whip it until it becomes frothy, which takes me about 5 minutes.
- Stir the pineapple/cottage cheese mixture and the jello mixture together.
- Add the nuts and stir.
- Refrigerate until the mixture begins to firm, at least 4 hours.
Serving Suggestions
Ideal for Thanksgiving or Christmas feasts, this lime jello with crushed pineapples recipe adds a refreshing touch as either a side or dessert. Its cool, tangy flavors complement the warmth of holiday meals, offering a palate-cleansing sweetness. It’s also perfect for a light snack on warmer days or as a unique accompaniment to grilled dishes at a BBQ, making it a versatile choice for any occasion.
Expert Tips
- Dissolve the jello completely in hot water for a smooth texture before mixing in other ingredients.
- Whip the jello when it’s slightly thickened but not solid—use an electric mixer for best results.
- Choose between chopped pecans or walnuts for crunch, or skip nuts altogether.
- Chill the salad thoroughly to let the flavors fuse together before it’s time to serve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Absolutely! This salad actually tastes better when allowed to chill overnight.
Yes. Just double the ingredient amounts and use a larger bowl to hold the salad.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you’ve tried this Pineapple Lime Jello Salad recipe or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
Also, if you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it!
Small Batch Pineapple Lime Jello Salad
Watch How To Make This
Equipment
Ingredients
- 10 ounces canned crushed pineapple (half of a 20-ounce can)
- 12 ounces small curd cottage cheese
- 1 ½ tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 (0.3-ounce) packet sugar-free lime jello (8.5 grams)
- ¼ cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Drain the canned crushed pineapple, saving the juice in a measuring cup. Make sure the cup holds at least 1 cup of liquid.Add enough hot water to the pineapple juice to make a total of 1 cup of liquid.Set this mixture aside for now.
- Combine the filling: Stir together cottage cheese, drained pineapple, and mayonnaise in a medium bowl. Cover and refrigerate.
- Prepare the Jell-O: Mix the Jell-O packet with 1 cup of the hot pineapple juice mixture. Stir until dissolved. Cover and refrigerate until it begins to thicken (about an hour).
- Whip the Jell-O: Remove the chilled Jell-O and whip until frothy (about 5 minutes).
- Assemble: Gently fold the pineapple/cottage cheese mixture into the whipped Jell-O. Add the nuts and stir to combine.
- Chill: Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or until the mixture is set.
Notes
- Dissolve the jello thoroughly in hot water before adding other ingredients to ensure a smooth texture.
- Make sure the jello has just started to set before whipping it with the electric mixer. You should notice that the jello looks like it is thickening up a bit but is not completely firm.
- Use chopped pecans, walnuts, or you can leave the nuts out completely.
- Chill the salad adequately before serving. This allows the flavors to meld together nicely.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
My Mom use to make with lemon jello when we were way younger
I do not like cottage cheese is there an alternative I could use.
I’ve never made this jello salad without cottage cheese so I can’t recommend a good substitute. I actually don’t like cottage cheese either but cannot taste it in this recipe. Cottage cheese provides the texture this jello salad needs.
What other flavors could be used?? I don’t like lime . Maybe lemon or raspberry…need expert be opinion. I have made so many of your receipts and have not been disappointed. Thanks for your ideas
Hi Carolyn, other readers have used lemon jello and loved it. I haven’t tried making jello salad with any other type of jello but lime but I would imagine many other flavors would be just as delicious.
I have a question about the amount of Jello to use. The jello itself comes in 3oz (85g) packages and prepares 4 servings, ½ cup each. Are we really supposed to use a tenth of the small jello package? I appreciate any clarifications. This is the only recipe I’ve gotten confused with. Thank you for publishing the recipes. They have changed my life.
I’m so glad our recipes are helpful. For this recipe, use one 0.3-ounce (8.5 grams) package of sugar-free lime jello. You can take a look at the package we use in the ingredient photo on the recipe post. I don’t think the non-sugar free version comes in a packet this small.
I just made this recipe using the same jello! I followed the instructions on the box according to how many servings it made and used half the packet. It worked great! I also added marshmallows to it which made it really good as well.
*****Love this recipe but never made it with mayo. I use extra creamy Cool Whip instead. It’s so easy and quick to make. Thank you for all your recipes!! I always look forward to them.