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This easy grape salad is creamy and perfectly sweet. Plump grapes are tossed in a smooth, tangy, sweet cream cheese and yogurt dressing, with a handful of crunchy pistachios mixed in.
5 Star Review
“Delicious. Added 2 gala apples and used Greek yogurt… Love the versatility of this recipe.” – Riley
Looking for the perfect, quick, and easy solution to those last-minute, “I don’t know what to bring to the potluck” moments? This creamy grape salad is it. Picture plump, juicy grapes coated in a velvety dressing and tossed with crunchy pistachios. The dressing is made of rich cream cheese, tangy yogurt, and just the right amount of honey.
This anytime-of-year grape salad works as a side dish for your favorite BBQ or potluck mains or as a light, refreshing dessert. Pair it with my juicy grilled turkey burgers, grilled chimichurri steak skewers, or these simple grilled chicken thighs.
Why You’ll Love This Grape Salad Recipe
- It’s simple. With just 5 ingredients and 15 minutes to put it together, this grape salad tastes like a million bucks but is a breeze to make. It’s the perfect solution for even your busiest of days.
- Texture-perfect. The contrast of the crisp grapes, the crunchy pistachios, and the smooth cream cheese makes each bite feel rich, refreshing, and just a little bit irresistible.
- Versatile. Reminiscent of the classic Ambrosia salad, this grape salad can be served as a side dish at a barbecue, brunch, potluck, or even as a dessert. It really is the perfect, easy recipe for any occasion.
Ingredients You’ll Need
With just five simple ingredients, you’re on your way to creating one of the tastiest and most refreshing grape salads ever. Since there are only a few ingredients, make sure to use the freshest ones for the best flavor and texture. Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions.
- Grapes: I used red grapes, but you could use green or a mixture of both.
- Plain yogurt or sour cream: This will add creaminess and a tangy flavor to the dressing. Substitute with Greek yogurt for a thicker texture.
- Cream cheese: If you aren’t a cream cheese person or just looking for a slightly lighter dressing, swap it out for extra yogurt or sour cream.
- Honey: Adds natural sweetness to balance the tanginess of the yogurt and cream cheese.
- Pistachios: Feel free to use a different nut. Chopped walnuts are a tasty alternative.
Recipe Tips & Variations
- Chill the grapes. Make sure your grapes are thoroughly chilled before assembling the salad. This will contribute to the refreshing quality of the dish.
- Room temperature cream cheese. Allow the cream cheese to come to room temperature before using it. Otherwise, it will not mix smoothly and easily with the other ingredients, and you’ll find yourself with a lumpy dressing.
- Be gentle. When combining the dressing with the grapes and also when adding the pistachios to the mix, use a gentle folding motion to avoid bruising the fruit.
- Fresh herbs. A sprinkle of finely chopped fresh mint or basil can add freshness and more flavor to the dish.
- Make it zesty. Grate a bit of lemon or orange zest into the cream cheese dressing for a citrusy twist.
- Go tropical. Swap the pistachios out for macadamia nuts and fold in a bit of toasted, shredded coconut.
- Add extra crunch. Fold in diced apples or celery if you want a crunchier treat, or take inspiration from this classic Waldorf salad.
- All yogurt. Not a cream cheese person? Replace it with more yogurt for a lighter take on the dressing. You can also swap the yogurt with sour cream.
Serving Suggestions
Bring this creamy grape salad to your next BBQ, toss it in your picnic basket alongside our favorite leftover turkey salad sandwiches and my creamy spinach tortilla wraps. Or enjoy it as part of a brunch buffet with spinach quiche, almond flour pancakes, and this outrageous homemade strawberry juice. A pitcher of Mimosas would also work!
How To Store
Seal the grape salad in an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 4 days. Note that the salad may start to get watery over time, so it’s best to enjoy it sooner rather than later. I do not suggest freezing grape salad.
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Grape Salad
Ingredients
- 4 cups halved grapes, chilled
- ¼ cup plain yogurt, or sour cream
- ¼ cup cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons honey, or to taste
- ½ cup pistachios, chopped
- brown sugar, optional, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the grapes. Rinse the grapes with cold water. Cut each grape in half and place them in a large mixing bowl.
- Make the dressing. Whisk together the yogurt, cream cheese, and honey in a smaller mixing bowl until smooth.
- Dress the grapes. Add the dressing to the grapes and mix gently until the grapes are thoroughly coated in the dressing.
- Finish it off. Gently fold in the pistachios. Taste and adjust the sweetness and creaminess to your liking. Refrigerate until serving.
- Optionally, sprinkle a little brown sugar over the salad before serving.
Notes
- Cold Grapes: Ensure grapes are chilled for a refreshing salad.
- Soft Cream Cheese: Let the cream cheese reach room temperature for smooth mixing and to avoid lumps in the dressing.
- Yogurt: I suggest using plain and strained yogurt.
- Gentle Mixing: Use a soft folding motion when adding the dressing and pistachios.
- Sweetener: If you don’t want to use honey, you can use 2 to 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar in its place.
- Herbal Touch: Enhance with finely chopped mint or basil.
- Citrus Twist: Add lemon or orange zest to the dressing for a zesty flair.
- Tropical Vibe: Replace pistachios with macadamias and mix in toasted coconut shreds.
- Crunch Factor: Introduce diced apples or celery for an added crunch.
- Dressing Variations: Do you prefer yogurt over cream cheese? Use more yogurt instead of cream cheese, or even consider sour cream.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
How To Make Grape Salad
Get ready to make the most delicious and creamy grape salad in no time! This easy recipe is perfect for any occasion and will leave everyone asking for more. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide to making this sweet side dish.
- Prepare the grapes. Rinse the grapes with cold water and cut them in half.
- Make the dressing. Whisk together the yogurt, cream cheese, and honey until smooth.
- Put it all together. Mix the dressing with the grapes to coat them, and fold in the pistachios.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
More Side Salad Recipes
Sounds like the Chicken Salad Chick recipe which is luscious!
That’s a great comparison! Chicken Salad Chick does have some delicious recipes. Glad to hear this one reminded you of them! Thank YOU! 🙂
Delicious.
Added 2 gala apples and used Greek yogurt.
Used zero calorie sugar free vanilla and almond flavoring.
Used chopped pecans.
Love the versatility of this recipe.
Thank you for sharing your modifications, and I’m so glad you loved the outcome!