Lime jello salad with pineapple and cream cheese tastes like your childhood memories! This classic side dish is a beautiful addition to a special meal and only takes minutes to prepare!

This particular lime jello salad recipe has no cottage cheese, but options for using lemon jello and how to make it with or without cool whip.
If you’ve never had green jello salad you probably think it’s weird…
But if you grew up eating green jello salad then you know exactly how essential it is to a holiday like Easter or a potluck supper!
It adds the perfect touch of sweetness to a savory meal, along with a hint of tropical tang.
Grandma’s green jello made an appearance at everything Thanksgiving, along with her Rice Dressing and Candied Yams with Marshmallows (which I personally requested).
I didn’t appreciate it as a child, but I didn’t appreciate the genius of cranberry sauce either!
There are many lime jello salad recipes out there, but the basics include boxed lime gelatin and crushed pineapple.
Another great favorite is marshmallow salad which is sweet and fruity without the jello.

Ingredients for Green Jello Salad
- Lime gelatin – you can use one large box or two small boxes. Grandma would often use one small box of lime and one small box of lemon. The combo takes this to another level!
- Cream cheese – For tang, grandma used cream cheese. I’ve seen other recipes using cottage cheese or mayo, but it doesn’t have that tart component.
- Crushed pineapple – don’t drain the juice. It adds flavor to the salad instead of using all water.
How to Make Lime Jello Salad
You can find the full recipe box below, but these are all the steps with detailed tips.
- Dissolve the gelatin in 2 cups boiling water. This takes about 2 minutes so don’t rush.
- Whisk in the cream cheese until well blended. Small chunks may remain which is fine.
- Mix in the crushed pineapple along with the juices (don’t drain it!) and 1/2 cup cold water.
- Pour into desired serving dish. Sometimes grandma used a bowl, sometimes she used a fancy copper mold.
- Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours, or until set.

This salad is really beautiful in a bundt pan or a 13×9 glass dish. It can be cut into slices to serve. Or you can mash it up and eat it the way we do!
I also want to say that there is no cool whip in this recipe.
If you want a sweeter, fluffier salad you can certainly fold in a small container (8 ounces) before refrigerating.
Lastly, I added pecans as a garnish.
I swear my grandma added chopped pecans when I was a kid, but my mom insists she never did.
Do you like it with or without nuts? I’d love to hear your take below!

Lime Jello Salad
Lime jello salad with pineapple and cream cheese tastes like your childhood memories! This classic side dish is a staple for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Ingredients
- 2 small boxes (3.4 oz, each) lime gelatin
- 2 cups boiling water
- 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, well softened and cubed
- 1 can (8 oz) crushed pineapple, undrained
- 1/2 cup cold water
- Chopped Pecans, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Dissolve the gelatin in 2 cups boiling water, about 2 minutes.
- Vigorously whisk in the cream cheese until well blended. Small pieces may remain.
- Mix in the crushed pineapple (along with the juices) and 1/2 cup cold water.
- Pour into desired serving dish. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours, or until set. Garnish with pecans, if desired.
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More fruity recipes to accompany any meal!
These fresas con crema can be served as a breakfast fruit salad or dessert!
Tropical Orange Pretzel Salad – another jello dish that calls itself a salad!
For the citrus lovers this lemon cream cheese pie is a must! You can also use lime to change the flavor.
Margaret Sease
Wednesday 13th of September 2023
I like your recipe basically. It is margaretwhat I have used all my life of cooking so about fifty years. But yes to your grandmothers addition of chopped pecans..they really add a dimension to this recipe that makes it more special.
Elena
Wednesday 21st of December 2022
My mother made this for every major holiday and always added chopped walnuts.
Ren
Tuesday 22nd of November 2022
My grandmother made this for Thanksgiving and for Christmas back in the 60's and 70's-we always had turkey for both. We ate about 1 PM, so after sitting around all afternoon, we'd want a bite to eat around 7 PM...this with leftover turkey was just right! She put chopped celery in her version. This does taste like childhood to me-I love it so much. I got a request from my brother to make it this year-no problem!!
Rebekah
Thursday 24th of November 2022
Love this so much. Happy Thanksgiving to your family.
Tory
Friday 11th of November 2022
Wow when I read the lime jello recipe I almost fainted this is the recipe my grandma made me every Thanksgiving and evere hersChristmas if I could I would of ate the whole pan my grandma's gone since 2001 mine Never tasted like hers boy do I miss her
Rebekah
Wednesday 16th of November 2022
This will be my family's first Thanksgiving without Grandma, but this green jello will definitely be there along with all of our memories of her. ❤️
Betty Brown
Wednesday 31st of August 2022
I had it with pecans folded in and no cool whip