Perfect Fruit Salad Recipe (Easy & Refreshing)
This Fruit Salad Recipe is the perfect go-to for a quick, healthy, and delicious side dish or dessert. Whether you’re hosting a summer barbecue, looking for a refreshing snack, or just want to add a burst of natural sweetness to your meal, this recipe is sure to impress. Packed with a variety of fruits and a zesty honey lime dressing, it’s not just tasty but also brimming with vitamins and flavors that everyone will love.
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate, if you purchase through those links, I earn a small commission. Thank you!
This fruit salad recipe is sure to be a hit because it’s simple, healthy, and absolutely scrumptious. You can trust me on this – with decades of experience in vegetarian cooking and a knack for creating dishes that are both easy to make and packed with flavor, I’ve mastered the art of making healthy food delicious. This recipe is a reflection of that expertise, ensuring you get a dish that’s as delightful to taste as it is easy to prepare.
Why You Will Love Making this Easy Fruit Salad Recipe
Who doesn’t love a good summer fruit salad? Especially when it’s as easy and delightful as this one. Here’s why you’re going to adore making this fruit salad:
- It’s Incredibly Simple: No complicated steps or obscure ingredients here. Just chop, mix, and you’re good to go.
- Health in a Bowl: Packed with vitamins and antioxidants, this fruit salad is as nutritious as it is delicious.
- Perfect for Any Occasion: Whether it’s a family dinner, a picnic, or a special celebration, this recipe fits right in.
- Customizable: Feel free to mix and match fruits depending on what’s in season or what you have on hand.
- A Crowd Pleaser: Its vibrant colors and sweet flavors are sure to win over both kids and adults alike.
- Refreshingly Delicious: The honey lime dressing adds a zesty twist, making it a refreshing treat on any day.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You’ll need all the ingredients in the photograph below.
How to Make the Best Fruit Salad Recipe with Step-By-Step Instructions
A complete printable recipe and the measurements in both US customary and metric are available in the recipe card below.
Creating this fresh fruit salad is a breeze. Here’s how you can whip it up in no time:
Preparing the Fruit
Begin by gathering your ingredients. You’ll need strawberries, fresh pineapple, blueberries, red grapes, kiwis, mangoes, and mandarin oranges. Make sure they’re fresh to get the best taste and nutritional value.
Hull and quarter your strawberries, chop the pineapple and kiwis, dice the mangoes, slice the grapes into halves, and add everything to a large bowl.
Making the Honey Lime Dressing
In a small bowl, combine honey, lime zest, and fresh lime juice. Pour this delightful dressing over the chopped fruits and toss gently. The goal is to coat the fruit evenly without mashing them.
Serve and Enjoy!
This salad is best enjoyed fresh. However, you can refrigerate it for a short time if needed. Just give it a gentle stir before serving.
Recipe Notes and Expert Tips
Here are some tips and tricks to make your fruit salad even more amazing:
- Pick Ripe Fruits: For the best flavor, choose fruits that are ripe but still firm. Overripe fruits can make the salad mushy.
- Adjust to Taste: Feel free to add more honey or lime juice according to your taste preference.
- Add Variety: We went for summer fruits this time but the recipe changes depending on what we have on hand. Don’t hesitate to throw in other fruits like peaches, plums, nectarines, or berries like raspberries or blackberries. The more, the merrier!
- Can I use canned or frozen fruits for this salad? Fresh fruits are ideal for the best flavor and texture, but in a pinch, you can use canned fruits (drain them well) or thawed frozen fruits.
- Herbs for a Twist: A sprinkle of fresh mint or basil can add a surprising and delightful flavor to your fruit salad.
- Make Ahead: If you’re preparing this in advance, and decide to use apples and bananas, add them just before serving to avoid browning.
- How do I prevent fruits like apples or bananas from browning in fruit salad? Toss them in a bit of lemon or lime juice before adding them to the salad. This helps to keep them fresh and retain their color.
- Presentation Matters: Serve in a clear bowl to showcase the colorful fruits, or scoop into individual cups for a fancy touch.
- Pair with a Topping: For an extra treat, serve with a dollop of whipped cream, a sprinkle of coconut, or a scoop of cottage cheese.
- Is this fruit salad suitable for people with dietary restrictions? Yes, this fruit salad is vegetarian, vegan (if using vegan honey alternatives like maple syrup), and gluten-free. Just be mindful of any specific fruit allergies.
How to Store Leftover Fruit Salad
Got some leftovers? No worries! Here’s how you can keep your fruit salad fresh and tasty:
- Fridge: Store the leftover fruit salad in an airtight container and refrigerate it as soon as possible to maintain its freshness. For the best quality, try to consume the leftover fruit salad within two days. After that, the fruits might start to lose their texture and flavor.
- Give it a Stir: Before serving the leftovers, give the salad a gentle stir to redistribute the juices and freshen up the flavors.
What to Serve with a Fresh Fruit Salad
Pairing your fruit salad with the right dishes can turn it into a memorable meal. Here are some ideas:
As a Light Breakfast
Serve your fruit salad over a bowl of yogurt or cottage cheese for a protein-packed breakfast. You can also sprinkle some crunchy granola on top for an added texture and flavor boost.
As a Dessert
A scoop of vanilla ice cream or a refreshing sorbet added to your fruit salad makes an indulgent dessert. For an even sweeter touch, drizzle a bit of hot fudge sauce, chocolate syrup, or extra honey over the salad.
As a Side Dish
Add a refreshing side to your lunch or dinner with this colorful fruit cocktail. It goes really well with sandwiches, wraps, burgers like our black bean burger or veggie burger, or even grilled tofu with roasted Brussels sprouts or carrots.
More Healthy Recipes You Will Love
- Best Grape Salad
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes
- Copycat Chipotle Burrito Bowl
- Waldorf Salad with Apples, Grapes, and Nuts
- Easy 7 Layer Salad Recipe
Did you make this recipe? We’d love to know! Please leave a 5-star review below (it really helps!) and tag and follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram, for more tasty inspiration!
Perfect Fruit Salad Recipe (Easy & Refreshing)
Ingredients
- 1 pound strawberries hulled and quartered
- 1 pound pineapple chopped
- 6 ounces blueberries
- 12 ounces red grapes sliced into halves
- 4 kiwis peeled and chopped
- 2 mangoes peeled and diced
- 3 mandarin oranges
For the Honey Lime Dressing
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 teaspoons lime zest
- 1 ½ tablespoon fresh lime juice
Instructions
- Add the prepared fruit into a large bowl.1 pound strawberries, 1 pound pineapple, 6 ounces blueberries, 12 ounces red grapes, 4 kiwis, 2 mangoes, 3 mandarin oranges
- In a small bowl mix together honey, lime zest, and lime juice, then drizzle the dressing evenly over the fruit. Serve and enjoy.¼ cup honey, 2 teaspoons lime zest, 1 ½ tablespoon fresh lime juice
Notes
- Pick Ripe Fruits: For the best flavor, choose fruits that are ripe but still firm. Overripe fruits can make the salad mushy.
- Adjust to Taste: Feel free to add more honey or lime juice according to your taste preference.
- Add Variety: We went for summer fruits this time but the recipe changes depending on what we have on hand. Don’t hesitate to throw in other fruits like peaches, plums, nectarines, or berries like raspberries or blackberries. The more, the merrier!
- Can I use canned or frozen fruits for this salad? Fresh fruits are ideal for the best flavor and texture, but in a pinch, you can use canned fruits (drain them well) or thawed frozen fruits.
- Herbs for a Twist: A sprinkle of fresh mint or basil can add a surprising and delightful flavor to your fruit salad.
- Make Ahead: If you’re preparing this in advance, and decide to use apples and bananas, add them just before serving to avoid browning.
- How do I prevent fruits like apples or bananas from browning in fruit salad? Toss them in a bit of lemon or lime juice before adding them to the salad. This helps to keep them fresh and retain their color.
- Presentation Matters: Serve in a clear bowl to showcase the colorful fruits, or scoop into individual cups for a fancy touch.
- Pair with a Topping: For an extra treat, serve with a dollop of whipped cream, a sprinkle of coconut, or a scoop of cottage cheese.
- Is this fruit salad suitable for people with dietary restrictions? Yes, this fruit salad is vegetarian, vegan (if using vegan honey alternatives like maple syrup), and gluten-free. Just be mindful of any specific fruit allergies.
Storage Instructions
- Fridge: Store the leftover fruit salad in an airtight container and refrigerate it as soon as possible to maintain its freshness. For the best quality, try to consume the leftover fruit salad within two days. After that, the fruits might start to lose their texture and flavor.
- Give it a Stir: Before serving the leftovers, give the salad a gentle stir to redistribute the juices and freshen up the flavors.
Nutrition
Disclaimer
Please note that nutrient values are estimates only. Variations can occur due to product availability and manner of food preparation. Nutrition may vary based on methods of origin, preparation, freshness of ingredients, and other factors.
