I didn’t try lime jello salad until I was in my thirties at a church potluck. Growing up, jello was always just jello—nothing fancy mixed in. But this green creation with cream cheese and celery? I was skeptical.

Turns out, I was missing out. The cream cheese makes it creamy and rich, while the celery adds a nice crunch that balances out all that sweetness. It’s one of those old-school recipes that sounds weird but actually works. Now I make it for family gatherings, and even my kids ask for seconds.

lime jello salad with cream cheese and celery — Image: theamazingfood.com / All Rights reserved

Why You’ll Love This Lime Jello Salad

Perfect potluck dish – This retro favorite always gets compliments at family gatherings and church dinners, and it’s easy to transport in its serving dish.
Make-ahead convenience – You can prepare this jello salad hours or even a day before your event, making party planning so much easier.
Sweet and tangy flavor – The lime jello paired with creamy cheese creates a refreshing taste that’s not too heavy, especially on warm days.
Fun texture combination – Every bite gives you something different – creamy cheese, crunchy pecans and celery, plus soft marshmallows and pineapple pieces.
Simple ingredients – Most of these items are pantry staples or easy to find at any grocery store, so you won’t need to hunt down specialty ingredients.

What Kind of Lime Jello Should I Use?

Any standard lime-flavored gelatin will work perfectly for this recipe, with Jell-O being the most common brand you’ll find at the grocery store. You can also use sugar-free lime jello if you’re watching your sugar intake – it sets just as well and tastes great with the creamy ingredients. Make sure you’re using the small 3-ounce box, which is the standard size for most jello recipes. If you can’t find lime flavor, lemon jello makes a nice substitute and gives the salad a slightly different but equally refreshing citrus taste.

Options for Substitutions

This classic jello salad is pretty forgiving when it comes to swaps:

Lime jello: You can easily use lemon jello for a slightly different citrus flavor, or even orange jello if that’s what you have on hand. The taste will change but the texture stays the same.
Cream cheese: Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature for easy mixing. If you’re out, you can use an equal amount of softened butter mixed with ½ cup sour cream, though the flavor will be a bit different.
Crushed pineapple: Canned mandarin oranges (drained) work great here, or you can use fresh diced pineapple if you prefer. Just make sure to drain any excess juice so your salad sets properly.
Pecans: Walnuts or chopped almonds are perfect substitutes. If you’re not a nut fan, you can leave them out completely or add extra celery for crunch.
Mini marshmallows: Regular marshmallows cut into small pieces work just fine. You can also skip them entirely if you want a less sweet version of this salad.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking

The biggest mistake when making lime jello salad is adding the cream cheese while the jello is still too hot, which will cause it to curdle and create lumps instead of a smooth, creamy texture – let the dissolved jello cool for about 10 minutes before whisking in the softened cream cheese.

Another common error is not draining the pineapple thoroughly, as excess juice will prevent the jello from setting properly and leave you with a watery mess.

Don’t rush the setting process by adding your mix-ins too early; wait until the jello reaches a soft-set consistency (like egg whites) before folding in the pineapple, pecans, celery, and marshmallows, or they’ll all sink to the bottom.

For the smoothest results, make sure your cream cheese is truly at room temperature before starting, and give the mixture a good whisk to eliminate any stubborn lumps before adding your final ingredients.

What to Serve With Lime Jello Salad?

This retro lime jello salad is perfect for potlucks and holiday gatherings, and it pairs beautifully with classic comfort foods. I love serving it alongside baked ham, roasted turkey, or fried chicken – the cool, creamy texture is a nice contrast to warm main dishes. It also works great as part of a buffet spread with other vintage sides like ambrosia salad, deviled eggs, or green bean casserole. Since it’s sweet and refreshing, this jello salad makes a lovely palate cleanser between heavier courses at dinner parties too.

Storage Instructions

Refrigerate: This lime jello salad needs to stay chilled in the fridge at all times. Cover it with plastic wrap or store it in an airtight container, and it’ll keep fresh for up to 5 days. The jello holds its shape really well, so it’s perfect for making a day or two ahead for parties or potlucks.

Make Ahead: I actually think this salad tastes better after sitting overnight in the fridge! The flavors have time to meld together, and everything sets up perfectly. You can make it up to 3 days before you need it, which makes entertaining so much easier.

Serve: Always serve this salad straight from the fridge – it’s meant to be enjoyed cold. If you’re taking it to a gathering, keep it in a cooler until you’re ready to serve. The cream cheese and jello combination doesn’t do well at room temperature for very long.

Preparation Time	15-20 minutes
Cooking Time	0-5 minutes
Total Time	120-300 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

Calories: 1550-1650
Protein: 16-20 g
Fat: 105-115 g
Carbohydrates: 150-165 g

Ingredients

0.3 oz lime gelatin powder
8 oz cream cheese, softened
2 cups boiling water
8 oz canned pineapple, crushed and drained
1/2 cup chopped pecan pieces
1/4 cup celery, diced finely
1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows

Step 1: Combine Lime Gelatin and Cream Cheese

0.3 oz lime gelatin powder
8 oz cream cheese, softened

In a large mixing bowl, use a stand or hand-held mixer to beat together the lime gelatin powder and softened cream cheese until well blended and creamy.

This helps prevent lumps and ensures a uniform texture.

Step 2: Add Boiling Water to Mixture

2 cups boiling water

With the mixer running on the lowest speed, slowly add the boiling water to the cream cheese and gelatin mixture.

Start with a small amount so the mixture incorporates smoothly.

Once it begins to loosen up, add the rest of the water all at once.

Continue to mix until the mixture is completely smooth, with no lumps of cream cheese remaining.

Step 3: Mold and Partially Set the Base

Pour the cream cheese and lime gelatin mixture from Step 2 into a decorative mold or serving dish.

Place it in the refrigerator and let it chill until partially set, about 2 hours.

Be sure to check periodically; the mixture should be thickened but not fully firm.

Step 4: Mix in the Fruit, Nuts, Celery, and Marshmallows

8 oz canned pineapple, crushed and drained
1/2 cup chopped pecan pieces
1/4 cup celery, diced finely
1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows

Once the mixture is partially set, remove it from the refrigerator.

Gently stir in the drained crushed pineapple, chopped pecan pieces, finely diced celery, and miniature marshmallows.

Stir well to distribute the ingredients evenly.

This step adds both flavor and texture—I like to mix everything thoroughly so you get a bit of each ingredient in every bite.

Step 5: Chill Until Firm and Serve

Return the dish to the refrigerator and chill until completely set, about 4 more hours.

After 1 hour, check to make sure the marshmallows haven’t floated to the top—if they have, gently stir them back in.

Once fully set, cut the salad into squares for serving.