This delicious Lemon Lime Jello Salad is a family-favorite recipe made with cottage cheese and pineapple! It’s requested ALL the time by friends and family and is SUPER easy! Make it a meal with this amazing chicken marinade and my famous dinner rolls!
Lemon Lime Jello Salad
I think every family has a version of this recipe for Lemon Lime Jello Salad. I’ve seeing so many awesome variations out there with or without nuts, with or without pineapple, with or without cottage cheese…and the list goes on and on!
I’m honestly not sure how to classify this recipe. We frequently serve this salad right along with the main meal but have used it as a dessert on many occasions as well. This particular recipe is referred to as Dad’s Green Jello in our family because, well, it’s my dad’s favorite! My Nana, his mom, used to make this for him all the time and that particular duty, and pleasure, has now passed on to us.
Our family treasures recipes like this that have been passed on – particularly from our Nana! These recipes are really some of my greatest memories wrapped in a tasty little package. It’s pretty amazing that those memories are just a recipe away at all times.
I cannot even begin to tell you how much I love this salad! I particularly love leftovers for breakfast the following day 🙂 Sooo good! It’s so sweet and creamy and it’s perfect for summer time.
There is a trick to this recipe and that is using an additional packet of unflavored gelatin along with the lemon and lime jello to really get it to set up nicely. Nothing worse than a jello salad that hasn’t set up properly.
At first glance, this salad appears pretty non-assuming other than that pretty green color. (Note to self – remember to make this for the boys and refer to this as Hulk’s Jello Salad – they’d love that!)
The ingredients list is something else entirely…
What’s In Jello Salad
- Lime Jello
- Lemon Jello
- Unflavored gelatin
- Cottage cheese
- Mayonnaise
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Crushed pineapple
Hmm…it can take a minute to digest that information if you’re not used to these types of salads – but trust me! It’s amazing how those flavors and ingredients combine together to create this amazing dish!
I would love for you to try this recipe with your family and I hope you’ll love it as much as we do!
Here are some more family favorites to try!
- Coconut Cream Pie
- To Die For Carrot Cake
- Best Ever Broccoli Salad
- The BEST Ambrosia Salad
- The Best Watergate Salad
How To Make Jello Salad
Lemon-Lime Jello Salad a.k.a. Dad’s Green Jello
Ingredients
- 3 oz lemon JELLO
- 3 oz lime JELLO
- .25 oz unflavored gelatin
- 2 cups hot water
- 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup crushed pineapple not completely drained
- 1 pint cottage cheese
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- lemon and lime zest for topping optional
Instructions
- Lightly spray a 9 x 13 baking dish.
- Dissolve both boxes of JELLO and unflavored gelatin in hot water in baking dish.
- Stir in sweetened condensed milk, pineapple, cottage, cheese and mayonnaise until thoroughly combined.
- Chill until firm, at least 2 hours.
- Sprinkle on lemon and lime zest if desired.
- Cut into squares and serve cold.
Video
Nutrition
Originally published June 19, 2014, updated March 30, 2019.
More family favorites:
Blackberry Oatmeal Crumble Bars
For all bars recipes, go HERE.
For all dessert recipes, go HERE.
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Marsha Colina says
My mother made this salad for me every holiday meal. It was my favorite! When she passed away, I moved back into my old family home and found her recipe for this salad. I cried…and then made my own. Nirvana. Only difference in her recipe: being in the South, she added chopped pecans. So readily available, pecans show up in everything here, lol. Thanks for the memories!?❤️
Julie says
Can you make this jello salad in a decorative mood?
Julie says
Should say mold??
Roe says
Can you use sugar/fat free instant jello’
Daisy says
Hey Trish, had to let you know your green jello salad caught my eye and brought back ‘Mama’ memories. She could not have a complete Thanksgiving meal without her a.k.a. Mama’s Green Jello Salad. Her’s varied somewhat from your Dad’s, as she didn’t use mayo, cottage cheese nor lemon jello, but instead used cream cheese and mini marsh mellows and chopped pecans. It was the only meal we had where we, as kids, got away with eating it before the meal because it we told her SHE called it ‘salad’. LOL Thanks for bringing a smile and great memories.
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
That is so sweet Daisy! I love memories like those 🙂 Have a lovely weekend!
nicole says
I’d hate to change up the recipe but I do not care for mayonnaise at all. Could I sub with sour cream?
Sandy says
I had never heard of this before – I tried it and it’s one of the best things I’ve ever eaten in my life!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
My Dad is coming over today and I’ll be sure to let him know 🙂 His mission is to get everyone to just TRY IT lol! Thanks for stopping by!
John says
Hi.
My family has enjoyed “that green JELLO salad” for as long as I’ve been around. We never did know if there was an actual name for it…
I couldn’t find my copy of the recipe one morning (I hate moving) while having coffee with my neighbor. So she rattled off her version. It was the same, save for one thing, horseradish. After scoffing, coughing, and telling myself no way, I tried it.
Two heaping tablespoons of straight minced (not creamed) horseradish added and blended in well, before refrigerating.
You don’t taste it, and it adds a nice little unexpected zing!
With or without, this is always a family favorite, regardless of the time of year!
kristi@ishouldbemoppingthefloor says
Yummers! That lemon lime jello brings back so many childhood memories, lol! Thank you bunches for linking up and partying with us this week! Pinning this!
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness says
We have a jello shelf in our pantry, because we LOVE the stuff. So Jello for dinner? UM YES! The only time I’ve had that is a carrot jello salad (oddly good!) Thanks for an excuse to eat dessert for my main meal! Pinned! 🙂
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
I’m always surprised at how yummy those salads are that sound so weird 🙂 Especially jello salads! Thanks for the pin Taylor!
Liz says
All nice recipes. Thanks so much Trish.