5 cup salad is a sweet, tangy, and creamy side dish that combines pineapple, mandarin oranges, mini marshmallows, coconut, and a tangy sour cream dressing for an easy-to-make dish perfect for potlucks or summer barbecues.

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Simple 5 Cup Salad

This 5 Cup Salad (sometimes called Ambrosia Salad) is so quick and easy to make, and just as itโ€™s called, you use 1 cup of each ingredient.

This Southern recipe combines pineapple chunks, mandarin oranges, maraschino cherries, and mini marshmallows with sour cream in one bowl, then you cover and chill until youโ€™re ready to serve โ€“ so straightforward yet so delicious!

A 5 Cup Salad may lack the lettuce of the traditional side and is not your typical fruit salad either, but it is a timeless classic that your family will love. While sour cream and fruit may seem like an odd combination, itโ€™s the best creamy, creation with the best balance of sweet and tangy flavor.

More Easy Dessert Salads

Why We Love This 5 Cup Salad Recipe

  • Quick and easy to make in minutes.
  • Only uses 5 ingredients.
  • No cook, naturally gluten-free recipe.
  • Sweet, creamy, comforting, and colorful.
  • Simple to serve as a side dish beside the main meal or saved for a refreshingly light dessert.
  • Perfect for a dinner party, potluck, picnic, or Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any holiday dinner.
5 cup salad ingredients in different containers

5-Cup Salad Ingredients

  • Sour cream: You can use light sour cream for a lower calorie count.
  • Roughly chopped pineapple chunks, drained
  • Mandarin oranges, drained
  • Drained and halved maraschino cherries, no stems
  • Miniature marshmallows: You can use multicolored miniature marshmallows or plain miniature marshmallows. 

Substitutions and Additions

  • Sour Cream Swap: Instead of sour cream, you can use cool whip, cottage cheese, or vanilla Greek yogurt.
  • Pick Your Pineapple: You can substitute drained pineapple tidbits or drained crushed pineapples for the pineapple chunks.
  • Add Nuts: Feel free to add some crunch by including chopped pecans, pistachios, cashews, walnuts, or almonds in your salad.
  • Cherries Swap: You can substitute sweetened coconut flakes for the cherries.
  • Add more fruits: Feel free to add more fruit like chopped apples or grapes.
salad ingredients
  • Mixing bowl
  • Whisk

How to Make 5 Cup Salad

  1. Add the sour cream to a mixing bowl and whisk to remove any lumps.
  2. Fold in the pineapple, mandarin oranges, cherries, and miniature marshmallows until combined.
  3. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
  4. Serve while cold. Enjoy!

Tips For the Best 5 Cup Salad

  • If youโ€™re looking to add some variety, feel free to substitute or add other ingredients like grapes, nuts, or yogurt.
  • You can use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.
  • This dish can also be doubled or tripled if you need to feed a crowd.

How to Store 5-Cup Salad

To Store: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I do not recommend freezing.

5 cup salad in a cup

Is 5-Cup Salad a Side Dish or Dessert?

Honestly, it can be either! It depends on the meal I am serving. If I am doing it for a brunch or BBQ, I will serve it with the main dishes. If I am having a heavier dinner, I will usually put it out with the desserts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this 5 Cup Salad in advance?
Can I use large marshmallows if I donโ€™t have mini marshmallows?
Can I use fresh mandarin oranges instead of canned ones?
Can I freeze this salad?
5 cup salad in a bowl

Other Easy Side Dish Recipes

5 from 7 votes
5 cup salad featured image

5 Cup Salad

Author โ€” Jennifer Fishkind
Serves โ€”
A 5 Cup Salad is a quick and easy way to make a 5 ingredient simple side dish or light dessert. No cooking needed!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Chill Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 cup pineapple chunks roughly chopped, drained
  • 1 cup mandarin oranges drained
  • 1 cup maraschino cherries drained and halved, no stems
  • 1 cup miniature marshmallows

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    Instructions
     

    • Add the sour cream to a medium size mixing bowl, and whisk to remove any lumps.
    • Fold in the pineapple, mandarin oranges, cherries and miniature marshmallows just until combined. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours. Serve while cold.

    Jennโ€™s Notes

    Storage:
    Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
    Tips:
    • You can add nuts for an added crunch.
    • You can substitute sweetened coconut flakes for the cherries.
    • Feel free to add more fruit like chopped apples or grapes.
    • This dish can also be doubled or tripled if you need to feed a crowd.

    Nutrition Info

    Calories: 248kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 48mg | Potassium: 199mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin A: 597IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 98mg | Iron: 1mg

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    5 from 7 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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    Comments

    1. 5 stars
      I have made this twice since I first saw it on your site and it was a huge hit both times. Super easy and very delicious. Thank you for all the effort you put into this site.

    2. 5 stars
      This is the recipe that I want to try. I am all about the No-Bake Dessert! I have quite a collection of recipes, but this is not one of them. I like the substitutions ideas. Thanks!