I knew exactly what would be landing on my tray when I spotted that signature lime-green hue behind the glass display at Furr’s Cafeteria. These cafeteria outings were special as a child, and the lime jello salad was always my non-negotiable choice. The first spoonful was always a moment of pure joy – the incredible, creamy texture with just the right balance of sweet and tart, studded with juicy pineapple and crunchy pecans. It wasn’t just dessert; it was a ritual, a celebration, a small piece of happiness on a plate.
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Table of Contents
What makes Furr’s Jello salad so good?
This jello salad offers a delightful blend of sweet and tart flavors in every spoonful. The magic lies not in any single ingredient, but in the unique combination that creates a taste greater than the sum of its parts. The cottage cheese provides a rich creaminess, while the pineapple chunks add bright bursts of tang and texture. The pecans deliver a satisfying crunch against the smooth jello base, and the Cool Whip creates an irresistibly light, airy texture.
Beyond the flavors, there’s something wonderfully nostalgic about this dish. In an era of complicated culinary trends, this vintage recipe reconnects us with simpler times and cherished memories – especially if you grew up enjoying it at Furr’s Cafeteria.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Quick Preparation – Only 10 minutes of hands-on time to create something truly special
- Budget-Friendly – Simple, affordable ingredients create an impressive dish
- Crowd-Pleaser – Appeals to all ages with its sweet-tart flavor and interesting texture
- Make-Ahead Friendly – Perfect for busy days, as it needs to chill before serving
- Naturally Gluten-Free – A dessert everyone at the table can enjoy
- Potluck Perfect – Travels well and stands out on any buffet table
Equipment You’ll Need
- Large mixing bowl
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Rubber spatula or wooden spoon
- 9×13-inch baking dish or casserole dish
- Plastic wrap or aluminum foil for storage
Ingredients for Furr’s Lime Jello Salad
- Lime Jell-O (6-ounce package) – Forms the foundation of the salad, providing the signature tart-sweet flavor and vibrant green color
- Warm water (2 cups) – Dissolves the gelatin powder completely for a smooth texture
- Cold water (1 cup) – Helps cool the mixture to begin the setting process
- Canned crushed pineapple with juice (20-ounce can) – Adds natural sweetness, tropical flavor, and interesting texture throughout the salad
- Small curd cottage cheese (16 ounces) – Creates creaminess and richness while adding protein and a subtle tangy note
- Cool Whip whipped topping (8 ounces) – Lightens the texture, making the salad fluffy and cloud-like rather than dense
- Pecans (1 cup, chopped) – Provides essential crunch and nutty flavor that balances the sweetness of the other ingredients
How to make Lime Jello Salad
If you have never made a Jello salad, you will find that they are very easy to make. This simple recipe is great for a beginner cook. Here are the recipe steps:
- Combine gelatin and warm water in a large mixing bowl.
- Stir until the gelatin is dissolved in the liquid.
- Add cold water and stir to combine.
- Add crushed pineapple, cottage cheese, and Cool Whip.
- Stir until the Jell-o mixture is smooth and blended with no large whipped topping lumps.
- Pour mixture into a 9 x 13-inch pan.
- Sprinkle pecans on top.
- Refrigerate the cottage cheese jello salad for several hours or until set.
You are missing out on a real treat if you haven’t tried this creamy, sweet lime green Jello salad. You don’t have to enjoy it for Christmas dinner or special occasions; you can make it any night of the week.
Make-Ahead, Storage, and Serving Instructions
Make-Ahead:
This salad is perfect for making ahead, as it needs at least 4 hours to set. You can prepare it up to 48 hours before serving, keeping it covered in the refrigerator.
Storage:
Store leftover jello salad in the original dish, tightly covered with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. For best results, press the covering directly onto the surface of the salad to prevent condensation from dripping onto it.
How Long Will It Last?
Properly stored in the refrigerator, this lime jello salad will maintain its quality for 5-7 days. After that, it may begin to weep or separate slightly as the proteins in the cottage cheese break down.
Serving Suggestions:
- For a beautiful presentation, you can:
- Garnish with additional whipped topping and a sprinkle of lime zest for special occasions
- Cut into neat squares and serve on small plates for a more formal look
- Scoop onto lettuce leaves for a traditional cafeteria-style presentation
More Furr’s copycat recipes
Favorite sweet salad recipes
Popular lime and jello recipes
- Jello 123 Layered Dessert
- Jello Poke Cake
- Key Lime Pie Recipe
- Cherry Limeade Recipe
- Peach Jello Shots
- Strawberry Limeade
Check out more of my easy salad recipes and the best copycat restaurant recipes here on CopyKat!
Furr’s Lime Jello Salad
Ingredients
- 6 ounces Jello lime gelatin 2 small boxes
- 2 cups boiling water
- 1 cup cold water
- 20 ounces canned crushed pineapple drained
- 16 ounces small curd cottage cheese
- 8 ounces Cool whip whipped topping
- 1/4 cup finely chopped pecans
Instructions
- Place the lime gelatin in a large mixing bowl.
- Add 2 cups of boiling water and stir until the gelatin is dissolved.
- Add 1 cup cold water into mixture and stir to combine.
- Add drained crushed pineapple, cottage cheese, and Cool Whip whipped topping.
- Stir mixture until the mixture is smooth and blended. There should be no large lumps of the whipped topping.
- Pour the mixture into a 9 x 13-inch pan.
- Sprinkle chopped pecans on top.
- Refrigerate until set.
Notes
Tips for Perfect Lime Jello Salad
- Temperature Matters: Ensure your gelatin is completely dissolved in warm (not boiling) water before adding cold ingredients. This prevents grainy texture.
- Folding Technique: When incorporating the Cool Whip, use a gentle folding motion rather than vigorous stirring to maintain the airy texture that makes this salad special.
- Setting Time: While the minimum setting time is about 4 hours, allowing the salad to chill overnight yields the best flavor as it melts the flavors together.
Nutrition
Common Questions & Troubleshooting
Why didn’t my Jello salad set properly?
Fresh pineapple contains enzymes that prevent gelatin from setting, but this recipe uses canned pineapple, which has had those enzymes deactivated by heat during processing. If your salad isn’t setting, check that you used the correct amounts of water and allowed sufficient chilling time.
Can I make this recipe ahead of time?
Absolutely! This salad improves with time as the flavors meld together. You can make it up to 2 days in advance.
Can I use sugar-free Jell-O or light Cool Whip?
Yes, both substitutions work well if you’re looking to reduce calories or sugar. The texture remains nearly identical.
My family doesn’t like nuts. Can I omit them?
Certainly. The pecans add a nice textural contrast, but the salad is delicious even without them. You could substitute with granola for crunch or simply leave the topping off entirely.
Dietary Modifications and Substitutions
- Nut-Free Option: Omit the pecans entirely or substitute with sunflower seeds for crunch.
- Lower-Fat Version: Use low-fat cottage cheese and light Cool Whip to reduce calories without sacrificing flavor.
- Natural Alternative: For those avoiding processed ingredients, replace Cool Whip with freshly whipped cream (stabilized with a little gelatin).
- Flavor Variations: Try orange or strawberry Jell-O instead of lime for a different flavor profile while maintaining the same creamy texture.
This Furr’s Lime Jello Salad resurrects a beloved cafeteria classic that has brought joy to generations of diners. Whether you’re experiencing it for the first time or revisiting a childhood favorite, this sweet-tart, creamy delight will earn a permanent place in your recipe collection. I’d love to hear your memories of this nostalgic dish in the comments below!
I worked for Furr’s in the mid 80’s and even trained a salad department for an opening in California. While I don’t remember exact quantities, I am positive the ingredients include lime jello, water, crushed pineapple, mayonnaise, evaporated milk, cottage cheese and pecans. There is no whipped topping in Furr’s recipe. This was my absolute favorite thing to eat at Furr’s!
I was a salad backer at Furrs Cafeteria in the late 70 and early 80s. This would be called Lime Delight.
I don’t recall whipped cream for some reason???
Theres is a salad at Furr’s that I want to make but not sure what its in there ☹️ it’s green too but for the taste, seems like imitation crab. All the ingredients are white and green. Any change someone knows what it is?
I am not sure what this might be. Is this an imitation crab salad?
have used this for years I add1/4 cup grated cheese and 1 cup carrots making this about 3weight watcerpoins sharron
My family makes a version of this for special occasions such as Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Differences: Pistachio pudding powder only(6 oz box), no water, use the “cool whip” or the store brand of it and very, very well drained pineapple and the cottage cheese for any needed liquid. They used to call it “green stuff” but when the Grandma made once with a strawberry or cherry jello, still with no extra water, and it becomes a pink color, so when the grandkids saw this, they called it “pink green stuff” or sometimes it would be “green pink stuff”. This is a thick mixture and goes well with any meal. It does taste good. Give it a try and see. I dare you!
Michael Pringle
Please post the recipe, I love the pistachio salad and have been looking for it. I remember eating it at lubbys when I was a kid. Thank you
so its 6oz of Lime Gelatin
Add mashed pears and use pear juice in with the water
You can add mashed pears in with the pineapple & use the pear juice as part of the liquid.
I make this, jello water can pineapple with juice and 2 tbsp. Sugar , boil 1 minute, chill til jelled add cottage cheese ,cool whip and chopped walnuts, comes out perfect every time!
Mama’s Green Christmas Salad was similar, but she used 16 oz. cream cheese (mixed with jello water) in place of cottage cheese. Let jello cheese cheese mixture partially set (chilling in fridge). Then gently folded in pineapple, drained. Cover top with miniature marshmallows and chopped pecans. Back to fridge to solidify overnight. She always insisted we had at least one ‘green’ vegetable with dinner, be it beans, peas, greens, or salad. We kids called this our ‘greens’ and ‘salad’ and would ‘convince’ Mama we were being doubly good, because of Christmas. Yeah, Mama knew, even though she tried to act ‘put-out’ with us. Remember…she made it for us, made sure it was ‘green’ and called it ‘salad’… {]:< ] ~
If you follow the recipe and DRAIN the pineapple, you will have no problem.
You can not use pineapple juice and jello together. Pineapple juice prevents jello from setting up.
I used the pineapple juice as part of the 1 cup cold water and it did not gel. Also I think maybe it would gel better if jello was chilled a little before adding the remaining ingredients.
it’s missing the mayo
You can use mayo in place of the whipped topping. Healthier if you use a healthy many.
Hell no to the mayonnaise.
That is too dam hillbilly
you Ive been trying to find this receipe for a long time. everyone thought it was Waldorf salad
I believe Waldorf salad has coconut flakes and miniature marshmellows in it as well. Sometimes the Pecans are changed to Walnuts in this salad. Some people like it this way. Personally I do not knowingly eat anything with big chunks of Walnuts in it as they are disgusting, again to me. I know others like Walnuts, but to each their own.