Mandarin Orange Salad
This Mandarin Orange Salad is a quick, creamy, and refreshing dessert or sweet side dish made with Cool Whip, instant pudding mix, crushed pineapple, and juicy mandarin oranges. Perfect for potlucks, barbecues, or holiday dinners, it comes together in minutes and gets even better after chilling.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes (plus 2–3 hours chill time)
- Yield: Serves 8–10
- Category: Dessert, Side Dish
- Method: No-Bake, One-Bowl
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 1 box dry vanilla instant pudding mix (sugar-free if preferred)
- 1 can (20 oz) crushed pineapple, undrained
- 1 can (15 oz) mandarin oranges, drained (reserve a few slices for garnish)
- 8 oz Cool Whip (regular or fat-free)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine Cool Whip with the dry vanilla pudding mix (do not prepare the pudding first).
- Gently fold in the undrained crushed pineapple until fully combined.
- Add the drained mandarin oranges, reserving a few slices for garnish, and carefully fold them in to keep the segments whole.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 2–3 hours to allow the mixture to thicken and the flavors to meld.
- Serve chilled, topped with the reserved mandarin slices.
Notes
- Add shredded coconut for extra texture.
- Mix in mini marshmallows for a fluff salad variation.
- Top with chopped nuts for crunch.
- Swap in banana slices or strawberries for a fresh twist.
- Best enjoyed within 3 days; do not freeze.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/10 of recipe
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 95mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Find it online: https://recipesbyliza.com/mandarin-orange-salad/
