Lime Green Jello Salad Recipe

Hear us out—it's not a salad, we don't really even know what it is.

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Updated:: Oct 30, 2020
Original:: Nov 5, 2018

Hear us out—it's not a salad, we don't really even know what it is.

We've been talking about Jello Salad a lot lately—in fact, you can catch some of our conversations about it on our podcast on Episode 17 with Jill Smokler (founder of Scary Mommy) and on Episode 18 where Erin and I talk about ALL THE THINGS we're loving right now (including Green Jello Salad and Gluten-Free Waffle Hacks and all the things that yield "Maximum Impact with Minimal Effort".

Admittedly, Green Jello Salad is made up of a lot of pretend food {Cool Whip, and Jell-O}. But it's a lot of pretend food that I'll let myself eat once or twice a year. And let's not lie to ourselves, there is some nutritional value in here. There is also cottage cheese (protein) and pineapple (fruit). I think some people actually call this "Cottage Cheese Jello Salad Recipe" but I think that just sounds even worse. And this stuff really is good—trust us.

So, Green Jello Salad. Hear us out—it's not a salad, we don't really even know what it is. But it's holiday goodness whipped up by your Grandmother and you'll respect it, NAY, you will ENJOY IT. I dare you not to.

Lime Green Jello Salad Recipe

Lime Green Jello Salad Ingredients:

2 Cups Cool Whip

2 Cups Cottage Cheese

1 Large Package Green Jell-O

1 Can Crushed Pineapple (drained)

Lime Green Jello Salad Instructions:

Step 1: Mix Cool Whip, cottage cheese, and crushed pineapple together

Step 2: Mix in green Jell-O

Step 3: Refrigerate

Step 4: ENJOY!

Green Jello Salad Variations

Don't be afraid to mix things up with this Jell-O delight! You can switch out Lime Jell-O for Strawberry Jell-O for an equally delicious (and mysterious) dish!

Or, for an even more amped-up version, try our favorite Raspberry Pretzel Jello Salad. Again, don't let the word salad fool you! There's no lettuce, just a crispy layer of pretzel crust topped with goodness. This is SO GOOD!

When was jello salad invented?

Here's the thing. Out of our commitment to provide you high-quality information (alongside the very best recipes), I vetted the Jell-O "Salad" concept on the internet. Here's what Wikipedia had to say:

> Jell-O salad (also called gelatin salad, jelly salad, congealed salad, or molded salad) is a salad made with flavored gelatin, fruit, and sometimes grated carrots or more rarely, other vegetables. Other ingredients may include cottage cheese, cream cheese, marshmallows, nuts, or pretzels. These salads were popular in the 1960s.

> Because of its many elements, the result has speckled bits of color against a colored gelatin background. For example, one might have lime green gelatin with brown nuts or pretzels, bits of white from cottage cheese, and red and orange from the fruit cocktail. Therefore, it has a "salad" appearance. The "salad" theme continues in variants containing mayonnaise or salad dressing. When one uses plain gelatin instead of sweetened gelatin, then the use of vegetables becomes more common, such as in tomato aspic.

> The name comes from the brand name Jell-O, a common gelatin product. Jell-O salads are a common feature of US communal meals such as potlucks most probably because they are inexpensive and easy to prepare. The origins of Jell-O salad can be traced back to a dish called Perfection Salad, by Mrs. John E. Cook of New Castle, Pennsylvania, which won third prize in a Better Homes & Gardens recipe contest. In Utah, where Jell-O is the official state snack, Jell-O salad is available in local restaurants such as Chuck-a-Rama.

Lime Green Jell-O Salad Recipe Tips and Tricks

I would be remiss not to point out the fact that I am from UTAH, where Jell-O is the official state snack. I feel uniquely qualified to offer you authentic jello recipes, along with our best Jell-O tips and tricks.

I can also authentically tell you that if you are visiting Utah, Chuck-a-Rama is NOT the restaurant you want to be hitting up. However, THIS IS THE PLACE you want to be hitting up to get delicious jello salad recipes. (And if you are from Utah, you will get the very clever joke I just made.)

I dare say this jello salad recipe is the best green jello salad recipe out there. It's quick, easy, and there are no nuts or maraschino cherries added to the mix. Furthermore, I will never put mayonnaise or salad dressing in a jello salad. Ew. This is the Lime Green Jell-O Salad recipe you can trust—just like your Grandma used to do!

Now, on to some common Jell-O questions to really ensure your green Jell-O salad really comes out tops.

How do you get fruit to float in Jell-O?

For many, fruit and Jell-O go hand in hand. But how do you make sure those pesky berries et al don't go sinking to the bottom of your Jell-O salad?

There are a few ways to make fruit "float" in your Jell-O salad.

One, avoid certain fruits that contain enzymes which prevent the jello from truly setting—essentially guaranteeing a soupy jello/fruit fiasco. That means fewer kiwi and pineapple chunks, more strawberries and grapes!

Next, you can set in a layer of fruit after you've firmly set a first layer of Jell-O Then, you'd pour your second layer of Jell-O over the fruit for a perfectly suspended fruity layer.

Or if you'd rather knock it all out at once, let all your Jell-O partially set before gently spooning and folding in your fruit. It should have the texture of lumpy pudding. Rest assured, it'll settle down as it all firmly sets together in the refrigerator!

DISCOVER: The Last Raspberry Pretzel Jello Salad Recipe You’ll Ever Need

Why did my Jell-O not set?

There are a few common reasons that leave you asking: Why didn't my Jell-O set?

—You've added too much water.

—You've added too much "watery" fruit (likely the case if you used frozen fruit or berries without thawing and draining first).

—You're attempting to make the Jell-O set somewhere other than the refrigerator.

These things avoided, you should be well on your way to a delicious version of this Lime Green Jell-O Salad!

Enjoy!

Sidenote: If you know of another name for this dish please leave it in the comments!

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