Learn how to make the best Grape Salad! This no cook dish is ready in less than 10 minutes and perfect for potlucks! You will love this refreshing fruit salad on a hot summer day!
If you’ve attended a potluck in the Southern United States odds are you’ve seen grape salad. On first glance you might have mistaken it for one of those odd jello salads with fruits, nuts and whipped cream, I can assure you grape salad is in a category all its own!
Grape salad is a dish made with fresh grapes, a creamy vanilla sauce, a sprinkling of brown sugar and pecans. Typically this dish served as a side or dessert. It is known as a classic potluck or picnic dish as it is a refreshing and can be made ahead of time. Traditional versions use cream cheese and sour cream as the base for this dish. I like to lighten things up a bit and add an extra dose protein by adding Greek Yogurt to the mix, it saves a few calories and adds a ton of flavor!
Why You’ll Love this Salad
- EASY: this dish is so easy it is a great recipe for a beginner! You only need to be able to work an electric mixer to make this scrumptious dish!
- AFFORDABLE: this recipe has no tricky or hard to find ingredients! It requires minimal ingredients making it an affordable dish!
- KID-FRIENDLY: no begging the kiddos to eat this dish! It is sweet, creamy and delicious! If you are making this dish with kiddos in mind I suggest slicing the grapes.
Ingredients for Grape Salad
As always, this is a quick overview of the ingredients needed to make the perfect creamy grape salad. For the complete, printable recipe simply scroll to the recipe card below. For this recipe you will need:
- Grapes: you will need both red and green grapes for this salad. If you prefer to stick with a single color grape that is also okay.
- Cream Cheese: full fat or reduced fat cream cheese will work, you just need to allow it to come to room temperature so it blends easily.
- Greek Yogurt: use vanilla or unflavored Greek Yogurt. I used Oikos Triple Zero.
- Sour Cream: reduced fat or full fat will work.
- Sweetener: confectioners sweetener is used to make the creamy sauce and brown sugar is used for the topping. You can use sugar or monkfruit if you would like to reduce the total carbs and calories.
- Pecans: crushed pecans are sprinkled over the salad. You can use walnuts if you prefer.
How to Make the Best Grape Salad
In addition to the ingredients listed above you will need a few bowls as well as an electric mixer to make the creamy sauce. Follow the step-by-step guide below to make perfect Grape Salad everyone will love!
Make the Creamy Sauce
In a large mixing bowl add the soften cream cheese, sour cream, Greek yogurt and confectioners sweetener. If using, add the vanilla extract as well. Beat the mixture until it is creamy, light and fluffy. Be sure the sauce is completely smooth before moving to the next step.
Add Grapes and Toppings
Add the washed and dried grapes to the creamy mixture and toss to coat. The sauce is slightly thick but it should stir easily if you have to beat the mixture until completely smooth in the previous step. At this point you can transfer to whatever serving dish you are using if it is different than the mixing bowl. The final step is to sprinkle the brown sugar and crushed pecans over the grapes!
Serve
You can serve this salad right after making, but I think it is best if chilled 30 minutes. It allows the flavors a little time to meld and I think all the flavors are just a bit brighter and the extra few minutes in the fridge chills everything and makes it ultra refreshing!
I like to serve this family style for potluck gatherings, but if you are making this for an event that is a little more special you can use these cute tasting cups and create individual serving sizes. Just remember if you go this route you will need additional brown sugar and pecans to cover the top of the individual salads.
Storage
Grape Salad needs to be stored in an airtight container in the fridge. Properly stored fruit salad can be refrigerated for about 3 days. However, it’s important to note that the texture of the grapes may deteriorate over time, as they start to release juices it will compromise the cream cheese mixture.
What is the difference between green and red grapes?
Green and red grapes, while both tasty and equally nutritious, have some differences. The first and most obvious difference is appearance. Green grapes have a light green or yellowish-green color. They are often smaller in size compared to red grapes. Red grapes, also called purple grapes, have a reddish or purplish color. They can range from bright red to deep purple.
Green grapes tend to have a crisp texture and a slightly tart or tangy flavor. They are often described as refreshing and juicy. Due to their slightly tart flavor, green grapes are often used in salads, fruit trays, and as a snacking fruit.
Red grapes are generally sweeter than green grapes. They have a plump and juicy texture with a mild to moderate sweetness. Some red grape varieties may have subtle hints of berry flavors. Additionally, red grapes are often used to make grape juice, jellies, and jams.
What to Serve with Grape Salad
Grape salad is a delicious and versatile dish that can be served in various ways. Here are a few dishes that pair well with this creamy fruit salad:
- Grilled Chicken: Serve a true summer meal by serving this salad alongside flavorful grilled chicken breasts. The grapes pair well with the savory and smoky flavors of the grilled meat.
- Charcuterie Board: Serve this salad alongside an assortment of cured meats like prosciutto, salami, or smoked turkey. Add some olives, pickles, nuts, and dried fruits to complement the flavors of the grapes.
- Quiche or Frittata: The grape salad can be a refreshing accompaniment to these savory egg dishes. Prepare a savory quiche or frittata with ingredients like spinach, mushrooms, or bacon.
- Brunch: Include the grape salad as part of a brunch spread alongside other dishes such as quiches, breakfast casseroles, fresh pastries, yogurt, and granola.
Other Salad Recipes
- Classic Wedge Salad: an easy side or entree that everyone loves!
- Harvest Kale Salad: a delicious salad that features fresh blueberries and pecans.
- Simple Arugula Salad: featuring a brown butter dressing!
- Green Goddess Salad with Chicken: a healthy, herby dressing
- Chicken Taco Salad Board: a fun way to serve salad for a crowd!
Grape Salad
Ingredients
- 4 pounds grapes a mix of red and green seedless grapes
- 1 8 ounce bar of cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup light sour cream
- 1/2 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
- 3 tablespoons confectioners sugar
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons crushed pecans
Instructions
- Wash and dry the grapes and remove the stems. Set the grapes aside.
- In a large mixing bowl add the cream cheese, sour cream, Greek yogurt and confectioners sugar. Use an electric mixer to beat the mixture until it is completely smooth. Use a spatula to scrape down the edges and beat for an additional 20 seconds.
- When the cream cheese mixture is light, fluffy and completely smooth stir in the grapes.
- At this point you can transfer the mixture to a serving dish (if you aren't serving it in the mixing bowl). Sprinkle the top of the grape salad with brown sugar and crushed pecans.
- Chill the salad 30 minutes before serving.