Luby’s Shredded Carrot Salad: Easy Copycat Recipe

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Luby’s Shredded Carrot Salad: Easy Copycat Recipe

Recreate the beloved taste of Luby’s famous shredded carrot salad with this simple copycat recipe that transforms everyday ingredients into a refreshing, crowd-pleasing side dish perfect for any season, gathering, or meal when you want something sweet, crunchy, and satisfying. This delightful carrot salad combines crisp shredded carrots, sweet pineapple chunks, plump raisins, and creamy dressing to create the same irresistible flavors that made Luby’s version a cafeteria favorite for generations.

shredded carrot salad with raisins and pineapple

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Why This Recipe Works

The brilliance of this carrot salad lies in its perfect balance of textures and flavors that create a refreshing dish suitable for any occasion. The sweet carrots provide essential crunch and natural sweetness, while the pineapple adds tropical brightness and juicy bursts of flavor. The raisins contribute a chewy texture and concentrated sweetness, while the creamy mayonnaise dressing binds everything together into a cohesive, satisfying salad that appeals to all ages and dietary preferences,

Ingredients

Salad Base:

  • Shredded carrots – Fresh carrots provide the best flavor and texture when grated at home
  • Canned pineapple chunks – Adds tropical sweetness and juicy texture contrast

Flavor Enhancers:

  • Raisins – Contribute natural sweetness and chewy texture variation
  • Mayonnaise – Creates creamy binding that holds salad together
  • Powdered sugar – Enhances natural sweetness and balances flavors perfectly

If you don’t want to take the time to shred carrots you can buy a bag of shredded carrots in the grocery store.

Ingredients to make carrot raisin salad. Shredded Carrots, pineapple, powdered sugar, mayonnaise, and raisins.

Recipe Variations

Here are a couple of ingredient additions or substitutions:

  • Add nuts for more crunch and flavor.
  • Use pineapple tibits or crushed pineapple if you do not want large pineapple chunks.
  • Use fresh pineapple instead of canned pineapple.

How to Make Carrot and Raisin Salad

You basically toss everything into a bowl, stir everything together, and then have a colorful salad everyone loves.

Here are the recipe steps:

  1. Soak the raisins in warm water for a few minutes to plump them up. Then drain off the water.
  2. Open the can of pineapple chunks and drain off the juice.
  3. Place the shredded carrots, pineapple chunks, mayonnaise, raisins, and powdered sugar in a large bowl.
  4. Stir until well combined.
  5. Cover and refrigerate the carrot salad until ready to serve.

I personally like to make this classic carrot salad recipe at least an hour before I am ready to serve it. When you make this salad ahead of time, it allows the flavors to mingle for a bit and it tastes even better than when it is first mixed.

Carrot and Raisin salad with pineapple in a dish

Storage & Freshness Guidelines

  • Refrigerator Storage: Store covered carrot salad for up to 3 days in the refrigerator, with flavors improving over time.
  • Freezing Not Recommended: Fresh vegetables and mayonnaise-based dressing don’t freeze well, so enjoy salad fresh for optimal quality.
  • Serving Temperature: Best served chilled directly from the refrigerator for optimal texture and flavor.

Love carrots? Try these recipes!

Check out my easy salad recipes and the best side dish recipes here on CopyKat!

shredded carrot salad with raisins and pineapple

Luby’s Shredded Carrot Salad

Sweet and creamy carrot salad with pineapple, raisins, and mayo. Perfect copycat of Luby's famous recipe. Ready in minutes!
5 from 6 votes
Print Pin Rate Add to Collection
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Carrot Raisin Salad, Carrot Salad, Luby’s Shredded Carrot Salad
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 330kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds shredded carrots
  • 1 cup canned pineapple chunks
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 cup raisins
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

  • Soak the raisins in warm water for 5 minutes or until plump. Drain off the water.
  • Drain off the juice from the canned pineapple chunks.
  • Place carrots, pineapple chunks, mayonnaise, raisins, and powdered sugar in a large bowl
  • Stir until well combined.
  • Cover and refrigerate the carrot salad until ready to serve.

Notes

Want to change this recipe up a bit? You can add some chopped nuts to this salad.
It’s ok to use crushed pineapple or even pineapple tidbits! If you have fresh pineapple on hand, that is even better!

Nutrition

Calories: 330kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 261mg | Potassium: 540mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 18975IU | Vitamin C: 17.5mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 0.9mg

About Stephanie Manley

Stephanie Manley is the creator of CopyKat.com. She has been recreating copycat recipes since 1995. Learn more about Stephanie Manley.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jack

    I used to work for Luby’s. You need to keep in mind that this combination of ingredients will spoil in a matter of 2 days. So eat it fresh, make smaller amounts, because in two days, it has to go.

  2. Cathy Wagley

    I used to eat this ALL the time at Luby’s, but I don’t care for raisins so I picked them out. Do you think cranberries, that are packaged like raisin, would be an ok substitute for the raisins?

  3. Samantha

    I made this last Thanksgiving and will make it again. It’s very delicious. I add a little extra mayo because I like it creamier. Thanks for the post.

  4. Audrey

    I have been looking for a carrot raisin pineapple salad like Hometown Buffet makes but can’t seem to find one.I don’t believe it is mayonnaise based.

5 from 6 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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