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This easy grape salad is so creamy and perfectly sweet. The salad is made with plump grapes tossed in a smooth, tangy, sweet cream cheese and yogurt dressing, with a handful of crunchy pistachios mixed in.
Easy Grape Salad with Cream Cheese
Looking for the perfect, quick and easy solution to those last-minute, “I don’t know what to bring to the potluck” moments? This grape salad is it. Imagine 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. It feels smooth when you taste it, contrasting perfectly with the crisp grapes and the crunchy pistachios. Sweet but not too sweet, this anytime-of-year delight works as a side dish for your favorite BBQ or potluck mains or as a light, refreshing dessert. Also, I love that this salad only takes 15 minutes to put together, if that, and that you only need 5 ingredients.
Why You’ll Love This Grape Salad Recipe
Whether you’re new to a grape salad or a seasoned aficionado, you have to try this recipe. It’s so delicious and easy to make.
- Simplicity at its best. With just a handful of ingredients, this grape salad tastes like a million bucks but is a breeze to put together. It’s the perfect solution for even your busiest of days.
- Texture. The contrast of the crisp grapes, the crunchy pistachios, and the smooth cream cheese plus yogurt dressing makes each mouthful of this sweet salad an adventure.
- Balanced sweetness. The natural sweetness of the grapes is perfectly complemented by the subtle tang of the dressing, creating a balance that’s both refreshing and indulgent.
- Versatile. Whether served as a side dish at a barbecue, a potluck, or even as a dessert, this grape salad is the perfect, easy recipe for any occasion.
Ingredients For Grape Salad
Five ingredients, and you’re on your way to one of the tastiest, most refreshing salads ever.
- Grapes: I used red grapes, but you could use green or a mixture of both.
- Plain yogurt
- 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
- Pistachios: Feel free to use a different nut. Chopped walnuts are a tasty substitution.
How To Make Grape Salad
This creamy grape salad takes minutes to make, and here’s a quick look at how to do it. Scroll down to the recipe card for more detailed instructions.
- 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.
Grape Salad Recipe Tips & Variations
I took the liberty of putting together a few simple tips and tricks that, if followed, will help ensure your grape salad is the best it can be. I threw in a handful of fun variations too, just in case you want to get creative.
- 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 a freshness 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.
- 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.
What To Serve With Creamy Grape Salad
Bring this salad to your next BBQ, toss it in your picnic basket, or enjoy it with brunch. Here are some of my favorite things to serve it with.
- Grilled protein. Make this grape salad your new go-to side dish. Pair it with my Juicy Grilled Turkey Burgers, Grilled Chimichurri Steak Skewers, or these simple Grilled Chicken Thighs.
- Make it a picnic. Pack this sweet, refreshing salad alongside our favorite Leftover Turkey Salad Sandwiches and my Creamy Spinach and Feta Cheese Tortilla Wraps.
- With brunch. Serve the creamy grape salad as part of a brunch buffet with Spinach Quiche, Almond Flour Pancakes, and this outrageous Homemade Strawberry Juice, or try my Mimosa Pitcher Cocktail.
How To Store Grape Salad
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.
More Side Salad Recipes
Looking for more unique side salads? Here are some favorites that I think every home cook should have in their rotation.
- Tomato Burrata Salad
- Crunchy Kale Quinoa Salad
- Watermelon Salad with Feta
- Roasted Butternut Squash Salad
- Radish Cucumber Tomato Salad
- Tabbouleh 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. I like Siggi’s Strained Nonfat 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.
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!