8 Juicy, Refreshing Fruit Salad Recipes

February 20, 2024

Courtesy of Feel Good Foodie

We love our greens as much as anyone, but sometimes all we crave is a colorful, sweet fruit salad. Fruit salad is a perfect side dish for any meal, you can enjoy them year round, and they’re a good source of fiber. Plus, though vegetables get all the love, fruit also has significant health benefits: It can help fight off chronic diseases, boost heart health, aid digestion, and more.

These fruit salads use all kinds of ingredients, from citrus, to berries, to tropical fruit – plus, some even incorporate savory flavors. No matter what your fruit salad style is, you’ll find a new fave right here. (Fun fact: The fresh fruits we eat the most in the U.S. are bananas, apples, oranges, grapes, and strawberries.)

1. Classic Fruit Salad

Courtesy of Downshiftology

A classic fruit salad is a mix of colors, textures, and flavors, and this recipe ticks all those boxes. With mandarin oranges, blueberries, strawberries, pineapple, kiwi, and more, it’s a feast for the eyes before you even take a bite. Swap in what you have on hand and/or what’s in season, to suit your taste. A quick lime and honey dressing brings it together.

Try this recipe from Downshiftology

2. Tropical Fruit Salad

Courtesy of Feel Good Foodie

Take a quick trip to the tropics right from your kitchen with this salad. Combine mango, pineapple, kiwi, and more – plus, a hint of rose water gives this bowl something special. Add a sprinkle of toasted coconut just before serving, if you like.

Try this recipe from Feel Good Foodie

3. Citrus Salad with Mint Honey Lime Dressing

Courtesy of Rachel Cooks

Juicy, vibrant oranges and grapefruits are so pretty and refreshing, and loaded with vitamin C. A hint of fresh mint adds a little pop of color, and even more health benefits, including a boost to immunity.

Try this recipe from Rachel Cooks

4. Mango-Dragonfruit-Papaya Salad

Courtesy of Jessica Gavin

Another spin on a tropical fruit salad, this one includes bright dragonfruit and papaya as well as mango, pineapple, kiwi, and banana. Drizzle on the light honey-lime-mint dressing to give it even more flavor. Don’t skip the dragonfruit (you can usually find it frozen if fresh isn’t available) – it’s a good source of cancer-fighting lycopene.

Try this recipe from Jessica Gavin

5. Berry-Banana Fruit Salad

Courtesy of Your Homebased Mom

If you love a smoothie made with berries and bananas, this fruit salad recipe is for you. The recipe calls for strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries, but you could easily add blackberries or kiwi, too (yup, kiwi is a berry). Along with drizzling on a lemon-honey dressing, you sprinkle this salad with poppy seeds right before serving for a satisfying little bit of crunch.

Try this recipe from Your Homebased Mom

6. Avocado Mango Salad

Courtesy of Cookin With Mima

This salad is more savory and salsa-like, and would be perfect alongside grilled steak, chicken, or fish. It features creamy avocado (it’s a fruit!) and sweet mango, along with cherry tomatoes (also technically a fruit), red onion, cilantro, and olive oil. Fold everything together gently to avoid smooshing the avocado.

Try this recipe from Cookin With Mima

7. Watermelon Salad with Mint

Courtesy of A Couple Cooks

Along with being sweet and refreshing, watermelon is great for keeping you hydrated, too (it is 92% water, after all). Pairing it with mint makes it even more refreshing. Top this salad with crumbled feta, if you like – or sprinkle it with flaky sea salt, or Tajin.

Try this recipe from A Couple Cooks

8. Waldorf Salad with Yogurt Dressing

Courtesy of Muy Bueno Blog

A Waldorf salad can be polarizing, especially made the classic way, with mayo. This recipe is made creamy with protein-rich Greek yogurt, no mayo in sight. It also features apples, grapes, raisins, and celery for extra crunch and a savory edge. Toasted walnuts or pecans make it even heartier and more satisfying.

Try this recipe from Muy Bueno Blog