This Thanksgiving Fruit Salad is such a refreshing dish that totally stands out from the usual heavy holiday foods. Apple, orange, grapes, pineapple, and banana are tossed in a honey lime dressing, which gives it this light, zesty flavor. Then, it’s topped with dried cranberries and chopped walnuts for a bit of sweetness and crunch.
As for why it’s a perfect side dish? It’s not too heavy and brings something a little different to the table. The cranberries add to the festive theme. It also makes a great holiday side dish because it pairs great with my Thanksgiving Chicken, Old Fashioned Cabbage Casserole, and Savory Sweet Potato Casserole.
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We always look forward to Thanksgiving gatherings! Visiting with family and eating a fine meal are the best parts of the day. Everybody brings a dish, which makes it easy on everyone. I usually make the Cornbread Dressing, my sister makes the Pecan Pie, and various others bring the rest. My mom always wants fruit salad, so I'm sharing this one with you 🙂
Why You'll Love Thanksgiving Fruit Salad!
- Easy to make and very little prep!
- The honey lime dressing gives it the perfect finishing touch with it's sweet and tangy flavor.
- Easily swap out the fruit for something different.
- Plus, it’s easy to make ahead, so no last-minute stress.
- It’s like this perfect balance of bright, juicy, and refreshing without being too sweet.
Ingredient Notes
- Apple - one red delicous apple adds a crisp, sweet crunch to each bite. Most of the time, I like to keep the peel on for the extra color it adds to the salad.
- Grapes - use both red and green grapes for a juicy burst of flavor and a festive color contrast.
- Orange - one naval orange adds zesty citrus flavor.
- Pineapple chunks - I used canned pineapple chunks in pineapple juice because you'll use some of the pineapple juice for the dresing.
- Banana - you'll use one chopped banana for sweetness!
- Honey Lime Dressing - binds everything together and gives the salad a sweet citrus flavor.
- Toppings - dried cranberries and chopped walnuts add seasonal flavor and crunch!
Ingredient Substitutions and Additions
We love this fruit salad as is, but sometimes variations are needed. Here's a list of common ingredient substitutions that work well.
- Use a pear instead of the apple.
- Swap the pineapple with mandarin oranges.
- Add some pomegranate seeds.
- Add blueberries or kiwi.
- Use lemon juice instead of the lime juice.
- Swap the walnuts with pecans.
- Sprinkle some poppy seeds or fresh mint on top right before serving.
What Kind of Fruit to Use
The best fruits for a fruit salad are those that are ripe, firm, and naturally sweet. You want fruits that hold their shape and don't get too mushy when mixed together. You'll want a variety of fruits that have different textures and flavor profiles:
- Crispy
- Juicy
- Soft
- Citrus
Holiday Pairings
Here are some of my popular holiday dishes that would pair perfectly with this salad for your Thanksgiving dinner:
- Thanksgiving Chicken – A flavorful and festive chicken dish perfect for small holiday gatherings. It's a great alternative to turkey becaues its rich, savory seasoning make it extra special for the holidays.
- Cheesy Green Bean Casserole – A classic side dish that's also a dump and go casserole. Its ingredients are layered in a dish (so easy!). Very creamy and rich!
- Southern Mac and Cheese – A super easy mac and cheese that doesn't require a roux; just 4 ingredients. It's one of the most popular recipes on my blog year round!
- Southern Pecan Pie – This old fashioned pie is my grandmother's recipe and offers a rich and nutty finish to top off a perfect meal.
How to Make Thanksgiving Fruit Salad
(1) Place the apple, grapes, pineapple chunks, and orange segments in a bowl.
(2) Mix up the honey lime dressing and pour it into the bowl with the fruit.
(3) Add sliced banana and toss to combine. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
(4) Right before serving, add cranberries and walnuts!
Recipe Tips
- Pick out the freshest fruit with no bruises or soft spots.
- To make it ahead of time, simply keep it covered in the fridge until the next day. I would save the banana, cranberries, and walnuts as the last items to add right before serving.
- Love fruity side dishes? Then by all means try this Orange Jello Fluff Salad! Young and old will love this old-fashioned side dish; plus no-cook making things a little easier!
More Cold (no-cook) Sides
If you looking for more cold side dishes to serve for the holidays, check these out:
Storing and Reheating
Store the fruit salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The banana might get a little browned so you can choose to remove it if it's too brown or mushy for your liking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! However, you'll need to toss the apples and banana with the reserved pineapple juice to keep them from turning brown.
I do not recommend freezing this fruit salad once it's been tossed with the dressing because it will likely freeze into one solid piece. You could freeze just the fruit without the dressing; then after it thaws, toss the fruit with the dressing. The texture won't be exactly the same prior to freezing though.
Besides the ones I mentioned earlier, berries, such as strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries can be added. Melons like honeydew, canteloupe, and watermelon but these are more summer fruits so they won't be available during autumn months.
More Holiday Side Dishes
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Recipe
Thanksgiving Fruit Salad
Equipment
- small bowl for the dressing
- medium to large serving bowl
- measuring cup(s)
- measuring spoons
Ingredients
Fruit Salad Ingredients
- 1 red apple, cored and diced into bite-size pieces (I recommend leaving the peal on for added extra color) I tested this recipe with a Gala apple
- 1 cup green grapes
- 1 cup red grapes
- 8 oz pineapple chunks in pineapple juice (drained but save the juice for now)
- 1 medium naval orange, peeled and rind removed, segments separated
- 1 banana (slightly under-ripe)
- 3-4 tablespoon dried cranberries
- ½ cup walnut halves and pieces (use more if you want to)
Honey Lime Dressing
- 3 tablespoon honey
- 3 teaspoon lime juice I tested this recipe with bottled lime juice
- 3 teaspoon reserved pineapple juice
Instructions
- Wash the apple and grapes under running water to remove any dirt and/or bacteria. Dry with paper towels.
- Place the apple, grapes, pineapple chunks, and orange segments into a large serving bowl.
- In a small bowl, mix the honey lime dressing ingredients and pour it into the bowl with the fruit.
- Slice the banana into the fruit mixture and gently toss to coat all the fruit to keep them from turning brown. Cover and refrigerate until you're ready to serve it.
- Right before serving, sprinkle the cranberries and walnuts on top.
Notes
- Pick out the freshest fruit with no bruises or soft spots.
- To make it ahead of time, simply keep it covered in the fridge until the next day. I would save the banana as the last item to add before serving.
- Store the fruit salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The banana might get a little browned so you can choose to remove it if it's too brown or mushy for your liking.
- Use a pear instead of the apple.
- Add some pomegranate seeds.
- Add blueberries or kiwi.
- Use lemon juice instead of the lime juice.
- Swap the walnuts with pecans.
- Sprinkle some poppy seeds or fresh mint on top right before serving.
- Thanksgiving Chicken – A flavorful and festive chicken dish perfect for small holiday gatherings. Its rich, savory seasoning make it extra special for the holidays.
- Cheesy Green Bean Casserole – A classic side dish that's also a dump and go casserole. Its ingredients are layered in a dish (so easy!). Very creamy and rich!
- Southern Mac and Cheese – A super easy mac and cheese that doesn't require a roux; just 4 ingredients. It's one of the most popular recipes on my blog year round!
- Southern Pecan Pie – This old fashioned pie is my grandmother's recipe and offers a rich and nutty finish to top off a perfect meal.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy to my readers. I'm not a nutritionist and I don't guarantee the accuracy of this data. The data may differ according to the brands I used versus the brands you use. To calculate the data yourself using your brands, try using an online nutrition calculator or app.
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