Cottage Cheese Jello Salad
62 Comments
Posted: 11/08/24
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Light, fluffy and creamy Cottage Cheese Jello Salad is a Midwestern classic fluff salad! A mixture of cottage cheese, strawberry Jell-O, crushed pineapple and Cool Whip makes this a favorite for potlucks, backyard BBQs, reunions and holidays!
If you’re from Minnesota, or know someone who is, you already know how much we love our fluff salads. If you’re not from Minnesota then you’re in for a treat today. This cottage cheese jello salad is light, fluffy, sweet, and so simple to make. It’s perfect for any and all family gatherings!
I can’t remember a potluck, BBQ, or family reunion that didn’t have some kind of fluff salad. We always have them at Thanksgiving, Easter, Christmas and every other holiday too. My strawberry jello cottage cheese salad is one that everyone loves and you only need four ingredients to make it! If you like Watergate salad or cookie salad, you need to give this easy jello salad recipe a try!
Why You’ll Love this Cottage Cheese Jello Salad
- This salad has strawberry jello combined with crushed pineapple for a sweet and fruity flavor. You can switch up the jello too and make lots of different flavors.
- I love to make this because you can make it several hours ahead of when you want to serve it. Just keep it in the refrigerator until needed!
- Technically this is a side dish, but you can also serve it as a dessert. It’s a versatile dish that has a delightful flavor.
Ingredients for Cottage Cheese Jello Salad
- Jell-O – You can use any flavor! We love strawberry but you might also like to try orange jello, raspberry jello, or lime jello.
- Crushed pineapple – Be sure to drain it really well so that the juice doesn’t water down your salad.
- Cottage cheese – Feel free to use regular, low fat, or non fat cottage cheese.
- Cool Whip – Choose regular, sugar-free, fat-free, extra creamy — whatever your favorite is will work.
Helpful Tools
How to Make Cottage Cheese Jello Salad
The key to making the best fluff salad is to use a light hand. It’s supposed to be airy and light, so be gentle when you mix.
Place the pineapple, jello mix, and cottage cheese in a large mixing bowl.
Gently fold in the Cool Whip. This means you should use a motion that pulls the ingredients over the top of each other instead of stirring. Do this slowly and gently so you don’t deflate the whipped topping.
Refrigerate it for at least one hour to chill before serving. For serving, I like to transfer it to a serving bowl and garnish the top with sliced strawberries.
How to store leftover Cottage Cheese jello salad
If you have leftovers, they will keep for a day or so in the refrigerator. After that it starts to separate and get runny, so I don’t recommend storing for long. Leftovers will not last in the freezer.
What does strawberry fluff salad taste like?
It tastes like pineapples and strawberries! The cottage cheese is very mild and mostly gives this salad a creamy texture. All you really taste is sweetness from the whipped topping and fruit flavors.
Can I use homemade whipped cream instead of cool whip?
You can totally use whipped cream in this easy salad recipe, but it won’t be as stable. Whipped topping holds up better, so if you use homemade whipped cream plan to serve the salad within a few hours of making it. I recommend whipping the cream until it holds stiff peaks and then fold it into the other ingredients.
What can I add to jello salad?
There are lots of tasty things you can add to this jello salad with cottage cheese! Slice up some fresh strawberries to mix in, or add other tasty fruit like grapes, maraschino cherries, or drained mandarin orange.
Chopped nuts like pecans and walnuts would be tasty too. Or add a fun squishy texture with mini marshmallows.
What to Serve with Cottage Cheese jello Salad
Serve this with all of your potluck favorites like broccoli casserole, tasty vegetable casserole, or green beans with bacon. Holiday favorites like honey baked ham and roasted turkey are always great with this as a side.
Other potluck favorites like deviled eggs and Italian pasta salad are also great to serve alongside this creamy fluff salad.
Pro Tips for the Best Cottage Cheese Jello Salad
- Don’t overmix this jello salad or the cool whip will begin to lose its structure and get a little watery. Mix just until the jello powder is incorporated.
- Store your jello salad in the fridge until ready to serve. You gotta keep it cold!
- If you decide to add extra fresh fruit, you may need to mix in a bit more cool whip. Keep the dish extra creamy and loaded with fluffy whipped cream goodness!
Here in Minnesota, we love our fluff salads all year long! Make this cottage cheese jello salad for the next celebration and everyone will request it for every BBQ, potluck, and holiday party!
I hope you give it a try, and if you’re looking for more dishes to try, be sure to check out more of my favorite recipes.
More Favorite Potluck Recipes!
- Strawberry Tapioca Salad was always a favorite of mine growing up. Cool, fluffy, and sweet!
- Everyone loves Broccoli Salad! This is an easy recipe loaded with flavor and a creamy, tangy, dressing.
- Make my Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad and it will be the first dish to disappear!
- Ambrosia Salad is the perfect side dish, also known as 5-Cup Salad.
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!
Cottage Cheese Jello Salad
Light, fluffy Cottage Cheese Jello Salad is a mixture of crushed pineapple, cottage cheese, strawberry Jell-O and Cool Whip.
Video
Ingredients
- 3 oz package Jell-O any flavor, we use strawberry
- 15 oz can crushed pineapple drained
- 16 oz container cottage cheese
- 8 oz container Cool Whip, thawed
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl combine the cottage cheese, pineapple and jell-O, stir until completely mixed.
- Gently fold in the Cool Whip until combined with the other ingredients.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.
Tips
What does this salad taste like?
It tastes like pineapples and strawberries! The cottage cheese is very mild and mostly gives this salad a creamy texture. All you really taste is sweetness from the whipped topping and fruit flavors. How long does cottage cheese jello salad last?
If you have leftovers, they will keep for a day or so in the refrigerator. Can you use homemade whipped cream?
You can but it won’t be as stable. Whipped topping holds up better, so if you use homemade whipped cream plan to serve the salad within a few hours of making it. I recommend whipping the cream until it holds stiff peaks and then fold it into the other ingredients.
It tastes like pineapples and strawberries! The cottage cheese is very mild and mostly gives this salad a creamy texture. All you really taste is sweetness from the whipped topping and fruit flavors. How long does cottage cheese jello salad last?
If you have leftovers, they will keep for a day or so in the refrigerator. Can you use homemade whipped cream?
You can but it won’t be as stable. Whipped topping holds up better, so if you use homemade whipped cream plan to serve the salad within a few hours of making it. I recommend whipping the cream until it holds stiff peaks and then fold it into the other ingredients.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 170kcal (9%), Carbohydrates: 27g (9%), Protein: 8g (16%), Fat: 4g (6%), Saturated Fat: 2g (13%), Cholesterol: 14mg (5%), Sodium: 277mg (12%), Potassium: 156mg (4%), Fiber: 1g (4%), Sugar: 23g (26%), Vitamin A: 156IU (3%), Vitamin C: 5mg (6%), Calcium: 87mg (9%), Iron: 1mg (6%)
Ann says
How many calories in a serving? I see the calories listed are kcal. What does that mean?
Julie Evink says
Kcal and calories are the same thing!
Patty Bunch says
My family loves it
Brooke Kill says
I’m so happy to hear, Patty!
Janice Gydesen says
I haven’t made this but I want to bring it to a potluck this Thanksgiving and need to know if you think it’s gluten free.
Brooke Kill says
Yes it is. Just double check each ingredient when purchasing them.
Carol says
Can I blend the cottage cheese before mixing the rest of ingredients?
Julie Evink says
I would think you could, but I’ve never tried it!
Patricia A Heitsman says
I have made this dish for years and my mom and uncle made this for as i was a little girl. But instead of the pineapple we use fruit cocktail drain and rinsed. This is a wonderful dish, my kids sometimes just eat this as there dinner in the tripple digit heat.
Julie Evink says
Sounds like a delicious variation!
Katie says
I loved having this “salad” growing up. We usually had it when we’d come back to the states for holidays (Navy brat!) and no one else liked it as much as me. I always called it ny “Minnesota family food” and have made it for my USMC friends all over the globe. Imagine my suprise when I found your recipe and saw you called it that, too! I feel so validated! I like to make mine with cherry/orange jello mix, or tropical if you can find it, and also add drained canned mandarin orange segments.
Thanks for the “Minnesota” memories!
Sarah Hill says
So glad this brought back good memories for you! It is a classic here in Minnesota 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing your experiences and rating this recipe!