The best Fruit Salad you’ll ever try! This easy fruit salad recipe is loaded with gorgeous, fresh, sweet fruit and tossed with a simple and delicious citrus dressing. Quick and easy to make, this amazing salad is the perfect side dish for BBQs, potlucks, holidays and more!
Love a good summer salad? You’ll also love my Peach Burrata Salad, Creamy Cucumber Salad and Grape Salad!
Fruit Salad Recipe
Craving a taste of sunshine this summer? This fruit salad is your answer! Full of juicy pineapple, sweet strawberries, plump blueberries, vibrant kiwi, and crisp grapes, creating a flavorful, fruity explosion in every bite. This tasty treat is the perfect side dish to bring to all your summer get-togethers!
But the real star is the yummy citrusy dressing made with brown sugar, orange, and lemon. It perfectly complements the fruit and adds a touch of sweet tang that takes this salad from ordinary to extraordinary!
Fruit Salad Dressing
The dressing on this fruit salad is so simple to make but adds a ton of flavor. It’s made with brown sugar, orange juice, and orange and lemon zest – but it really is the MVP! The brown sugar adds a hint of caramel richness, while the orange and lemon provide a delightful tang.
It’s a refreshing combination of flavors that will have you reaching for more! I can guarantee this salad will be the first thing to go at your next summer barbecue.
Consider trying the honey lime dressing from my Fresh Fruit Salad recipe for a tasty twist!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Perfect Flavor Combination: With various fruits and a zesty citrus dressing, this recipe for fruit salad is a celebration of fresh flavors!
- Sweet and Tangy: This fruit salad’s homemade dressing truly sets it apart. Made with brown sugar, orange, and lemon, it elevates the flavor beyond a simple fruit salad.
- Healthy and Refreshing: This salad is not just delicious; it’s good for you, too! Packed with fresh fruits, it’s a natural source of vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber. The refreshing flavors make it the perfect light and healthy option for a hot summer day.
How to Make Fruit Salad
Now that you’re craving this summery fruit salad, let’s get to the fun part: assembling it! Here’s where the magic happens. You’ll toss your favorite fruits with an amazing citrusy dressing. It’s an easy and delicious salad that I know you are going to love!
Let’s take a quick look at how to make this recipe and, as always, you can find the full printable recipe in the recipe card at the end of this post.
Fruit Prep
- Wash and pick through the fruit and remove any over-ripe fruit or debris.
- Peel and cut the pineapple into bite-size pieces.
- Halve or quarter strawberries, depending on size.
- Peel and cut kiwis into bite-size pieces.
- Leave grapes and blueberries whole.
Fruit Salad Dressing
- Whisk together the brown sugar, orange juice, and orange and lemon zest.
- Add all the fruit to a large bowl and gently toss with the dressing to coat.
- Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Having a good zester and juicer on hand makes quick work of this dressing! This little electric juicer is so great for juicing quickly and is cheap too. But you can always use a handheld juicer to get the same results!
This fruit salad is very customizable, add in your favorite fruits!
Storage and Serving Information
- Serving: This salad is best when served with 4 hours of preparation. Some fruits will begin to discolor and textures will change after that time.
- Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Dressing: If you do not serve within 3 to 4 hours of preparing it, store the dressing separately in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Add the dressing to the salad right before serving.
Variations to Try
This recipe for fruit salad is so customizable with different fruits and flavors in the dressing!
- You can swap out the fruits in the recipe for your favorites. Here are some fruit that we love to swap in when they are in season:
- watermelon (seedless works best)
- canteloupe
- nectarines
- peaches
- pluots (we grow these so use them often)
- plums
- any other fruit you like!
- This recipe uses a delicious brown sugar, orange, and lemon dressing. If you prefer a simpler option, a drizzle of honey or agave nectar work great.
- Swap out the brown sugar for honey, agave or even maple syrup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use frozen fruit?
Fresh fruit works best in this recipe, do not use frozen, frozen fruit can have a soft mushy texture when thawed.
Can I prepare the salad in advance?
It is best to serve fruit salad no more than 3 to 4 hours after adding dressing Some fruits will begin to brown if stored too long. If preparing a day in advance, do not add the fruit salad dressing until right before serving.
Trish’s Tips
- Select fruit that is fresh and ripe; do not use overripe or mushy fruits. Remove any blemished fruit before assembling the salad.
- Pineapple – A ripe pineapple will have a yellow tint and not deep green.
- Strawberries – Ripe strawberries will be fragrant and have a deep red color. Avoid using light, underripe berries or overripe soft ones. Hull the strawberries to remove any white parts.
- Blueberries – Ripe blueberries will be nice and plump, pick through and discard any that have become too soft or have blemishes.
- Kiwi – A ripe kiwi will give slightly when pressed, avoid using very firm, underripe, kiwis as they won’t have any sweetness.
- Grapes – Select grapes that are plump and slightly firm, make sure stems are completely removed. I like to use both red and green for extra color.
- When it comes to cutting the fruit, consider the size and texture of each fruit. For example, grapes and blueberries can stay whole, while pineapple and kiwi should be cut into cubes or small bite-sized pieces.
- Fruit salad is very customizable, add in your favorite fruits, cut into bite-size pieces.
- Many types of fruits work well in this salad, try to use a variety of colors for a more vibrant presentation.
- Use fresh, in season fruit for the most delicious, flavorful fruit salad ever!
More Fruit Salad Recipes
The Best Fruit Salad
Ingredients
Fruit Salad
- 1 pineapple
- 16 ounces strawberries
- 5 to 6 kiwis
- 1 pint blueberries
- 2 cups red grapes
- 2 cups green grapes
Fruit Salad Dressing
- ¼ cup brown sugar or honey, agave or maple syrup
- 3 to 4 tablespoons orange juice fresh squeezed is best
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
Garnish
- fresh mint optional garnish
Instructions
Prepare the Fruit
- Prepare fruit by washing and picking through to remove any over-ripe fruit or debris.
- Peel and cut pineapple into bite size pieces. Halve or quarter strawberries depending on size. Peel and cut kiwis into bite-size pieces. Leave grapes and blueberries whole.1 pineapple, 16 ounces strawberries, 5 to 6 kiwis, 1 pint blueberries, 2 cups red grapes, 2 cups green grapes
Fruit Salad Dressing
- In a small bowl combine the sugar, orange juice, orange zest and lemon zest, stir until thoroughly combined.¼ cup brown sugar, 3 to 4 tablespoons orange juice, 1 teaspoon orange zest, 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- In a large bowl add all the fruit and toss with dressing to coat. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Toss gently and garnish with fresh mint sprigs just before serving.fresh mint
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