• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Pear Tree Kitchen
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About Us
  • Disclosures, Policies & Disclaimers
  • Contact Us
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About Us
  • Disclosures, Policies & Disclaimers
  • Contact Us
×

Home » Recipe » Comfort Foods » Green Jello Salad

Green Jello Salad

Published November 20, 2020 Last modified June 10, 2021 By Beth Mueller

Jump to Recipe
Green Jello Salad Pinterest pin

Green Jello Salad is an amazing no-bake dessert or snack for spring, summer, fall, or winter! This creamy lime jello salad is mixed with pineapples and cream cheese and a perfect vintage recipe for the holidays.

Green jello salad on a plate with a lime slice

The holidays are coming, and this time of year makes me dream of this Green Jello Salad! This “salad” is packed with marshmallows, pineapple, whipped cream, cherries, and pecans for the best vintage dessert.

This side dish was at every holiday meal my mom was involved in. She loved it and if no one else was making it, you were guaranteed she would.

Sometimes, she would sub the lime flavor and make a cherry or cranberry Jello salad. You can use any flavor you want in this recipe!

Ingredients

  • Milk
  • Marshmallows
  • Lime jello
  • Cream cheese
  • Crushed pineapple
  • Whipped cream
  • Mayonnaise
  • Maraschino cherries
  • Pecans

When I was younger I preferred my jello salad with pecans in it, and surprise cream cheese chunks that didn’t completely dissolve into the mix. Keep your mixture with just a few cream cheese lumps for this delicious texture.

How to Make Jello Salad

  1. First, heat your milk and marshmallows in a pan until they’ve almost melted but not quite.
  2. Then, add the jello to a mixing bowl and mix in the warm marshmallow mixture. Mix everything together and let it cool a bit.
  3. Now, add the cream cheese and whisk it all together!
  4. Next, add the canned pineapple — juice and all! — to the mix with the cherries, whipped cream, mayo, and pecans.
  5. Finally, smooth jello salad into your favorite serving piece and refrigerate until firm. Serve chilled and enjoy!

This side dish is amazing with a traditional Christmas ham. I love to slather this all over the ham and eat it until I’m sick.

History of Jello Salad

Don’t let the name fool you. This is not a normal salad, but a green dessert salad to eat on the side during lunch or dinner.

Jello salads were first popularized in the 1960s as any combination of gelatin, fruit, and often carrots. We ditched the veggies for this version but the rest stayed the same.

My grandmother frequently made this for me during Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.

That’s the only time I like to eat this salad. However, this was usually the highlight of my Thanksgiving meal. This recipe was handed down from my grandma, then to my mom, to me.

My grandma traditionally did not use the Maraschino cherries, but they can be a fun mix. I have also seen a recipe before where pecans can be added to the mix.

What to Serve with Jello Salad

Since this salad doesn’t have the nutritional value of a traditional salad, you’ll want to serve this Jello Salad with a regular meal that needs something sweet on the side.

If you’re going with the Cranberry Jello Salad option, ditch the cranberry sauce this Thanksgiving and serve this instead! It also goes great with my Simple Turkey Dressing.

And as always, there’s no Thanksgiving without a Southern Pecan Pie! Consider this one your real dessert after the fruity jello salad.

MORE HOLIDAY RECIPES YOUR GUEST WILL LOVE

  • Cornbread Stuffing
  • Party Cheese Spread
  • Beef Salad
  • Cherry Delight
  • Sugar Cream Pie
  • Sweet Potatoes and Killer Bee Honey
Green Jello Salad in white bowl with limes and cherries

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND SHARE THIS RECIPE

SIGN UP FOR NOTIFICATIONS AND NEVER MISS AN UPDATE

Green Jello Salad

Vintage jello salad recipe using marshmallows, pineapple, cream cheese, and whipped topping. A perfect no-bake dessert for the holidays!
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Desserts, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Holiday
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 6 Servings
Calories: 471kcal
Author: Beth Mueller

Equipment

  • Mixing Bowl
  • Sauce Pan
  • Mixer
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 16 regular sized marshmallows big ones but not the giant campfire ones
  • 1 3-ounce package Lime Jell-O
  • 6 ounces cream cheese cut into small cubes
  • 1 20-ounce can crushed pineapple
  • ½ cup whipped cream use Dream Whip if available
  • ⅔ cup mayonnaise
  • ½ cup Maraschino cherries halved, optional
  • 1 cup chopped pecans optional

Instructions

  • Heat milk and marshmallows in a sauce pan over low heat until the marshmallows are almost melted.
  • In a large mixing bowl, add the lime Jello package. Pour the warm milk and marshmallow mixture over the Jello powder. Mix well and allow to cool slightly.
  • Add the cream cheese and whisk or use an electric hand mixer until small bits of cream cheese are all that is left.
  • Add the pineapple with juice and Maraschino cherries.
  • Add whipped cream, mayo, and pecans.
  • Place into a container and refrigerate until firm.

Notes

Whipped topping can be substituted for whipped cream.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Cup | Calories: 471kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 44g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 50mg | Sodium: 271mg | Potassium: 175mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 516IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 104mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @PearTreeChefs or tag #PearTreeKitchen!

Filed Under: Christmas Recipes, Comfort Foods, Desserts, Fruit, Holiday Entertaining, Recipe, Salads, Side Dishes

About Beth Mueller

Hi! Thanks for visiting Pear Tree Kitchen! I've been cooking and creating recipes for over 40 years. I'm an RN so I tend to go overboard with food safety tips! My favorite things are chicken soup, desserts, and sharing recipes.

Primary Sidebar

Connect with Me

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Thanks for stopping by!

Headshot Beth MuellerHi! I’m Beth and this is where my foodie friends and family find my latest kitchen creations. Grab some coffee or tea and stay awhile. I love visitors!  More about me >

 

Sign Up for Notifications by Email!

Some of my Favorite Spring Recipes

Carrot Cake

Slice of pineapple upside down cake on a plate

Easy Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Layered Angel Food Cake with Cherry Pie topping

Layered Angel Food Cake

Slice of Cake with frosting and pecans

Pineapple Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Sprinkle Cookies on a cookie sheet

Chewy Sprinkle Cookies

Best Lemon Bars with Shortbread Crust

More Recipes for Spring

Top Searched Recipes

Classic butter beans with cracked black pepper in a white bowl

Creamy Old Fashioned Southern Butter Beans

homemade potato chips on a wire cooling rack

Homemade Kettle Chips

Copycat Steak n shake chili mac on a plate with crackers

Steak ‘n Shake Copycat Chili-Mac Recipe

Knafeh on a pan

Knafeh

Tapioca Pudding topped with fruit pieces

Tapioca Pudding Recipe

Ribs covered in BBQ sauce on a cutting board

Tender Sous Vide Baby Back Ribs

See More →

Footer

Affiliate Disclosures

Amazon Associates Disclosure

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Copyright © 2023 · peartreekitchen.com ·

| Privacy & Terms

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Reddit
  • Yummly
  • Email