Yummiest Fruit Salad Ever – creamy, fruity deliciousness of pineapple, mandarin oranges, grapes, marshmallows & coconut all in a creamy pudding dressing. OMG the best EVER!
Yes, my friends. I am making wild assumptions here that you will agree with me that this is the best fruit salad ever. Quite honestly, I think it is. 😉
This fruit salad is to die for. It’s practically a dessert and so naturally, it’s one of my favorite side dishes to make. Ha!
Ingredients
- 2 pkgs. vanilla instant pudding
- 1 20-oz can crushed pineapple and juice
- 1 20-oz can pineapple tidbits and juice
- 2 8-oz cans mandarin oranges, drained
- 1/2 c. coconut
- 2 c. red or green seedless grapes halved
- 2 c. miniature marshmallows
- 1 16-oz carton Cool Whip, or two 8-ounce cartons
Instructions
- Pour dry instant pudding in a large mixing bowl. Pour crushed pineapple and pineapple tidbits with juice (do NOT drain!) over the pudding and mix together.
- Stir in remaining ingredients until well blended. (I usually add other fruit I have on hand, like a chopped up apple, banana or even some maraschino cherries. This is a very versatile recipe!)
- Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Makes a lot, so it's perfect to bring for a pot luck!
Looking for more side dishes? Try these:
Easy Quinoa Salad with Grilled Corn & Tomatoes
Mike, Kalie, Jason, Lexie and Colden says
do you prepare the pudding or just add the contents of the box?
Jen says
Thank you so much for asking this!! I guess I should clarify that, huh? 🙂 Don’t prepare the pudding but just add the dry powder in with the pineapple. That’s why this is seriously the easiest salad ever!
Megan says
this looks delicious!!
Six Sisters says
This salad recipe looks so good! Thanks for being a part of our “Strut Your Stuff Saturday.” Hope to see you again real soon!! -The Sisters
Anonymous says
Looks good i will try this soon! your picture looks like there are strawberrys in it. Is there?
tamara says
Looks yummy!! What size pudding?
Jen says
Hi Tamara! They’re the smaller size of pudding (whatever that size is, lol!) So two small boxes of vanilla pudding. You can also use coconut cream pudding or pistachio too! Hope you love it!
Danielle says
How many does this amount serve?
Jen says
It makes a huge bowl, Danielle! So maybe 15 servings, depending on how big the servings are? I’ve never actually measured it out. It’s one of those recipes I make from memory and everyone devours really quickly!
Diana says
This salad is very similar to a family recipe of ours. We call ours 5 cup salad. Super easy too. It’s just 5 ingredients and each are 1 cup.
Mandarin Organes, crushed pineapple, shredded coconut, sour cream, marshmallows!!! A lot sugar than adding the dry pudding. Prob could substitute Greek vanilla yogurt for the sour cream and get the same flavor
Rachel says
This calls for a 20-oz tub of Cool Whip. The regular containers are 8 oz, and the large ones are 12 oz. What size should I use?
Jen says
Yes! I’m glad you asked this! This is my mom and sisters recipe from forever ago and I think they used to have 20 oz containers of it but they don’t anymore. I actually just made this today and I use one of the 16 oz containers, they’re the biggest I can find in my grocery store. It works great! You can use two 8 oz ones too. Enjoy it – it’s delicious!
Shelli Crockett says
Love this recipe! I’ve made it several times. How long do you think i can keep it, if it’s in an airtight container and in the fridge?
Jen says
It usually keeps for a few days (like 3 or 4?) in an air-tight container. It might get a little watery, so just give it an extra stir before serving and it will be perfect! I’m so happy you like the recipe!
Almeda Young says
I have never made this. Is it OK to include other fruit, strawberries raspberries kiwis etc (no melons)
Jen says
YES! Definitely adapt this to what you like! You can add berries for sure. I’ve never added kiwis, though. I hope you like it as much as we do!
Aimee says
Do you use sweet or unsweetened coconut?
Jen says
I usually use sweetened coconut for this!
Teri Browning says
LOVE IT!!!!!
Jen says
Thanks Teri!! 🙂
Melissa Johnson says
It does make a lot! That’s great for a crowd, but it works great halved too. I kept the half cup of coconut though! This is delicious and so easy!
Jen says
I’m so glad you liked it, Melissa! It’s my favorite!
Belinda Floyd says
Does it take 2 small or large pudding packages.
Jen says
Thank you for the question and I’m glad you brought it up. It’s 2 small pudding packages. I hope that helps and you make it!!