Classic Creamy Church Salad Recipe Easy Homemade 5-Ingredient Version
A nostalgic, creamy church salad featuring crisp apples, juicy pineapple, toasted pecans, and a sweet, creamy dressing. Perfect for potlucks, family dinners, and pairing with southern-style dishes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: Southern American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 medium apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp, cored and diced)
- 1 cup canned pineapple chunks, drained
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Toast the pecans: Preheat toaster oven to 350°F (175°C). Spread pecans on a baking sheet and toast for 5 minutes, stirring halfway through. Alternatively, toast in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and let cool.
- Prepare the fruit: Wash, core, and dice apples into bite-sized pieces. Drain canned pineapple chunks thoroughly and pat dry if needed.
- Make the dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, and salt until smooth and creamy. Adjust sweetness if desired.
- Combine ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, gently fold together diced apples, pineapple, mini marshmallows, and toasted pecans. Pour dressing over mixture and stir carefully until evenly coated, avoiding over-mixing.
- Chill before serving: Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to let flavors meld and salad chill. 30 minutes is acceptable if short on time.
Notes
Toast nuts just before adding for maximum crunch and flavor. Toss diced apples in lemon juice before mixing to prevent browning. Gently fold ingredients to keep marshmallows fluffy and fruit intact. Chill salad for best texture and flavor melding. Drain pineapple well to avoid sogginess.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 1/6 of
- Calories: 240
- Sugar: 18
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 14
- Saturated Fat: 2.5
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 2.5
- Protein: 3
Keywords: church salad, creamy salad, apple salad, pineapple salad, pecan salad, potluck recipe, easy salad, sweet salad