This yogurt fruit salad is the perfect fresh, colorful, delicious side for your next outdoor gathering!
When the warm (ok, hot… we are in Texas!) weather hits, I’ll look for any excuse to get outside with my family, but cookouts and potluck-style gatherings will always be my favorite reason to bask in the sunshine! Family, friends, warm weather, a splash in the water, burgers cooking on the grill… it’s truly the best way to enjoy this time of year. This easy fruit salad (made with an exceptionally delicious and creamy yogurt dressing) just adds to the love I have for outdoor get-togethers and comes close to topping the list (just behind family and friends, of course)!
Yogurt Fruit Salad Ingredients
Now that you’re creating a safer environment for your outdoor gatherings, it’s time to get to creating your next outdoor gathering menu! Here’s what you’ll need to grab from the grocery store for this refreshing yogurt fruit salad:
Fruit Salad
- Blueberries – blueberries are chock full of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, and are a perfect addition to our fruit salad! We’ll use 1 cup of blueberries here.
- Green Grapes – we’ll use 1 cup of halved green grapes here because they’re a tad less sweet than red grapes and add a beautiful tartness to the mix!
- Mandarin Oranges – oranges contain a powerful punch of Vitamin C (among many other benefits) and add a nice citrus flavor to our bowl, making them an excellent choice for our fruit salad! You’ll need 4 peeled and segmented mandarin oranges for your fruit salad.
- Pineapple Chunks – pineapple has been shown to boost immunity, reduce inflammation, and aid in digestion! Plus, throwing a tropical fruit into the mix is always a good idea for the taste buds. 1 cup of chopped pineapple will get the job done!
- Strawberries – juicy, sweet strawberries have got to be one of my very favorite fruits! They’re loaded with tons of good stuff and even have blood sugar controlling benefits! We’ll use 1 cup of trimmed and quartered strawberries here.
- Fresh Mint – this is optional, but fresh mint adds a delicious bright, refreshing flavor to the fruit salad.
Yogurt Dressing
- Plain Yogurt – we use THIS yogurt for our fruit salad (and really, anything we use yogurt for) because it’s organic, full-fat, and is darn tasty!
- Lemon Juice – lemon helps to keep our fruit fresher for longer and adds a really delicious bright acidity to the dressing.
- Honey – while the honey is optional, we think it adds a delicious touch of sweetness to the dressing!
- Poppy Seeds – 1 teaspoon of poppy seeds rounds out the dressing!
What yogurt works best for this recipe?
We always recommend picking a full-fat option when it comes to yogurt. This makes for a more well-rounded yogurt, keeps you fuller longer, and gives you a healthy dose of healthy fats. Greek yogurt totally works here too, just know that you’ll need to add a little bit of water to the dressing (2 teaspoons should do) to thin it out.
What fruit is best in fruit salad?
Truly, any fruit combination is great in this recipe! Berries (any kind), tropical fruits (think: mango, pineapple, papaya, kiwi fruit, etc.), and any non-season specific fruit would all be great choices. If you choose to add bananas to your fresh fruit salad, know that they may start to look a little bit brown and mushy ahead of the other fruit, but they’ll still taste great!
How to Make Fruit Salad
It’s EASY! Are you ready? Here’s how to make this delicious summer side:
- Whisk the Dressing – in the large bowl you’ll be serving your fruit salad in (one less dirty dish if you do it this way!), whisk together the yogurt, lemon juice, honey, and poppy seeds.
- Add the Fresh Fruit + Toss – add the fruit to the serving bowl with the whisked dressing, and toss it all to combine.
- Chill + Serve – keep the fruit salad in the fridge until you’re ready to serve. Enjoy!
How to Serve Yogurt Fruit Salad
We think this yogurt fruit salad makes for an exceptionally fresh and tasty picnic or cookout side! It would be super delicious next to any of these cookout recipes (beef sliders, German potato salad, yogurt fruit salad, and white wine sangria sounds like the cookout party of my dreams!).
Another great way to enjoy this fruit salad is as a breakfast option! Scoop your desired amount of fruit salad in a bowl, top with a sprinkle of granola and shredded coconut flakes, and enjoy!
Can I make this recipe ahead of time?
You can, but if you’re bringing it to a potluck, we recommend making it the day-of for optimal freshness. If you’re okay with your fruit looking a little bit less fresh (it’ll still *taste* great, though), you can make this up to 3 days ahead of time. Once made, your fruit salad should stay good in the fridge for up to 5 days! Know that the yogurt may separate a bit (seeming a bit wet at the bottom of your bowl) and your fruit may look a little sad, but the flavor won’t be compromised, and a quick stir should incorporate everything back together again!
Does lemon juice keep fruit salad fresh?
It does! In addition to the brightness that lemon juice adds to the dressing, it’ll also keep your fruit fresher longer by protecting it from oxidation.
More Warm-Weather Side Dish Recipes
- Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
- Creamy Green Apple Coleslaw
- Broccoli Crunch Salad
- German Potato Salad
- Spicy Watermelon Salad
- Curried Green Bean Salad
- Mexican Avocado Slaw
- Cauliflower Potato Salad
Yogurt Fruit Salad
Ingredients
For the Dressing:
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 1 lemon juiced about 2 tablespoons
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1 teaspoon poppy seeds
For the Salad:
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1 cup green grapes halved
- 4 mandarin oranges peeled and sectioned
- 1 cup pineapple cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1 cup strawberries trimmed and quartered
- Fresh mint for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Whisk together all of the dressing ingredients in a large bowl until fully incorporated, then toss in the fruit and stir to combine and fully coat the fruit.
- Serve immediately or cover and let chill in the refrigerator until you are ready to eat.
Nutrition
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I wanted to love this recipe, but my dressing had a strange aftertaste after the first day. All ingredients were fresh and measured correctly…. I also confirmed my measurements. Disappointing 🙁
Bummer, Maureen!!