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 than you’re in for a treat today – these salads are light, fluffy, sweet, and so simple to make.
I can’t remember a potluck, BBQ, or family reunion that didn’t have some kind of fluff salad. This cottage cheese jello salad is one that everyone loves and you only need four ingredients to make it!
Easy Strawberry Fluff Salad
- This salad has strawberry jello combined with crushed pineapple for a sweet and fruity flavor. You can switch 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.
- One question I get a lot is, “Is this a side dish or dessert?!” Technically, it’s a side dish, but you can also serve it as a dessert – it’s up to you!
If you like Watergate salad or cookie salad, you need to give this cottage cheese jello salad a try!
Ingredients
- 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 it 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.
How to Make It
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 before serving. For serving, I like to transfer it to a serving bowl and garnish the top with sliced strawberries.
Recipe FAQs
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.
If you have leftovers, they will keep for a day or so in the refrigerator. After that it starts to separate and get runny.
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.
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 Potluck Favorites
- 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!
Try it and love it? Rate it, please!!! ? Seriously though a five-star rating below will make my day! If you snap a photo please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy dish!!
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
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
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.
Laurie says
My Mom used to make this for us when I was a kid. I suppose it was to get us to eat cottage cheese. I’m 67 now so this is an old but very good recipe for any occasion. I made it today for a girlfriend luncheon.
Laurie says
Instead of crushed pineapple, I cut up fresh strawberries and added them as well as the sugar free jello and fat free cool whip. I threw in a few mini marshmallows and it was AMAZING! Excellent dessert that is easy to make!
Julie Evink says
That sounds delicious Laurie! Thanks for commenting and rating the recipe!
Tracie says
I have made this a few times. Very good. Yummy my family doesn’t like cottage cheese. So all of it mine. Thank you.
Courtney says
Nothing wrong with making it for just yourself. So glad you enjoy it! 🙂
Elizabeth A Steinruck says
I love this stuff. My grandmother made it and added walnuts, canned mandarin oranges, and mini marshmallows. Sometimes we even put some thawed frozen strawberries into the mix. It is sweet but also has the protein from the cottage cheese and the added walnuts. Dress it up how you like. The base is good and adding things just makes it even better.
My in-laws love this as a healthy dessert option instead of cakes, pies, and or cookies. You can use fat free cottage cheese, low fat whipped cream, and sugar free Jello and it works just as well.
Barb says
This brought me back to visiting my Grandma & Grampa! Oh…..so good! Made it today, drained a can of fruit cocktail and added to it! I will add a few nuts in the next batch! Thank you so much for this recipe!
Clare Vollmer says
Love this recipe! My mom would make it for special occasions but added drained mandarin oranges! Oh so delicious! Thanks for taking me back to my childhood 😊
Jerri says
I make this salad for my husband, it’s one of his favorites! We add chopped pecans.
Julie Evink says
Great addition Jerri! Thanks for commenting and rating the recipe!
Tracie says
I made this last night. Easy to make. Very good. I put it in refrigerator over night. Awesome dish. I enjoyed it.
Julie Evink says
Great to hear Tracie! Thanks so much for commenting and rating the recipe!
Daena says
Just made this for my 87yr old mother with dementia. It’s a struggle to get her to eat anything but she loves her sweets. So this actually gives her the protein and other needed nutrients to keep her fed and happy. I love it too…too much..lol
Julie Evink says
That’s awesome to hear Daena!! Thanks for commenting and rating the recipe!
Sandra A. Roberts says
Thank you.
Malinda says
I remember this being at every potluck growing up. Thank you so much for reminding me about this salad! It’s SO GOOD!
Danielle says
My family was a little unsure knowing what was in this recipe but it was a hit!
Linda cahoon says
The first time I’m made the person that gave the receipe didn’t tell that don’t need to make the jello up so made 4 containers of jello that is what she told me i needed i complained to the amount about the amount of the salad i still had in my fridge she laughed and told me i should have mixed it the cottage cheese but i have made it several times and it always is enjoyed it wonder if anyone had ever put walnuts or pecans in it?
Rebecca says
Just came across this recipe while browsing for something to make this week. I didn’t make it tonight (it’s bedtime right now!), but this sure takes me back to the good ole days of church dinners and potluck suppers! I WILL be making (and enjoying) it soon!
Julie Evink says
It sure does! I hope you enjoy it!
Alison LaFortune says
Yummy at the potluck! Subtly sweet and delicious with fresh fruit.
Eva Kluttz says
This is a keeper for sure!! Just made it and tasted it and oh my, it is delicious!!
Of course I already like strawberries, pineapple, cottage cheese and cool whip.
How could I go wrong!!
Julie Evink says
Awesome to hear! So glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Frankie Miller says
The first (only) time I had this was when I was working in Korea. Someone brought it to an office pot luck. I didn’t get the name, but when I made it at home my daughter named it “Good Salad”. I still make it for her 40 years later and we still love it.