This delicious fruit salad is a quick and easy side dish to help round out a summer meal. Perfect for a backyard bbq, summer picnics or just because.

It's a versatile recipe that can be adapted to use a variety of fresh fruits, depending on what you have on hand.

 It is a crowd pleaser and will have everyone coming back for seconds. 

It is super yummy! It even had my oldest eating her fruit and that almost never happens.

This is my go-to fruit salad recipe and it is one I return to again and again.
 

 

EASY FRUIT SALAD RECIPE WITH PUDDING

This is a traditional fruit salad recipe with a simple dressing. My favorite fruits for this yummy side dish include fresh strawberries, ripe bananas, grapes, mandarin oranges and apples. 

But the great thing about this recipe is that you can use your favorite combination of fruits. 

It's great for those hot summer days when you don't want to heat up the kitchen. Throw a few burgers on the grill and toss together this fruit salad.

I hope you enjoy this classic vanilla pudding fruit salad.

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INGREDIENTS NEEDED FOR HOMEMADE FRUIT SALAD

There are just a few mandatory ingredients for this simple recipe. Fresh fruit, a can of fruit, and pudding mix.

Oh and the marshmallows. Marshmallows aren't mandatory. But the kid in me loves them.

Feel free to change up the type of fruits and the flavor of pudding mix.

Below are listed the fruits I typically use:

• apple
• banana
• green grapes (red work too)
• strawberries
• can of mandarin oranges (save the juice)
• vanilla instant pudding mix (banana is yummy too)
• mini marshmallows
  

You can also use other favorite fruits such as fresh berries, kiwi, fresh pineapple chunks or peaches.

Most any seasonal fruit will work.

However I don't recommend melons. They are too watery for this recipe.

You can also replace the mandarin oranges for a can of fruit cocktail or pineapple tidbits. Just be sure to save the canned fruit juices.

HOW TO MAKE A SIMPLE FRUIT SALAD RECIPE

 Want to see just how easy it is to make? 

Begin by chopping your fruit into bite sized pieces and placing them in a large bowl.

I peel the apples and I don't chop the grapes.

Drain the mandarin oranges (keep the juice!) and add them to the bowl.

 

Now let's make the creamy pudding sauce. 

In a small bowl add the juice from the mandarin oranges. Then add the dry instant pudding. Stir and let sit a few minutes to thicken up.

Pour the pudding mixture over the fruit and stir until the fruit is evenly coated.

 

If desired, add marshmallows and stir to combine.


Serve right away for best results. 

 

If you wish to make it ahead of time, add the fruits that will brown at the last minute. Especially the bananas. They turn brown quickly. 

If you have leftovers, store in an airtight container in the fridge. As mentioned above the bananas and apples will brown, so leftovers will not look as appetizing. 

I hope you enjoy this delightful fruit salad. It's one of our favorites!

MORE SIDE DISH RECIPES

• Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
• Classic Macaroni Salad
• Yummy Pasta Salad

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