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This classic 7-Up Salad is a vintage lime Jello salad made with pineapple, 7-Up soda, cream cheese and Cool Whip. Perfect for holidays and potlucks.
7-Up Salad is a nostalgic, vintage recipe that has been a staple at holiday dinners and potlucks for generations. Made with lime gelatin, crushed pineapple, and lemon-lime soda, this fluffy and refreshing dessert salad is light, sweet, and full of retro charm.
Whether you’re making it for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, or a family gathering, 7-Up Salad always brings back memories.
How to make 7-Up Salad:
Start by melting your marshmallows over low heat with the 7-Up. Once the marshmallows are melted, add in the Jell-O.
Once the Jell-o is mixed in, pour over the cream cheese and mix with a hand mixer until the cream cheese is blended in.
Once smooth mix in the pecans and pineapple. Place in the refrigerator until the Jell-O is set. Once set fold in the Cool Whip and Mayonnaise
Ingredient Notes:
- 7-Up – Chill the soda beforehand to help the mixture set properly.
- Mini Marshmallows – Fresh marshmallows give the softest texture.
- Lime Jell-O – Use name-brand gelatin for the best texture and set.
- Cream Cheese
- Crushed Pineapples – Drain thoroughly to prevent the salad from becoming watery.
- Chopped Pecans
- Cool Whip
- Mayonnaise
Directions:
Step One – Heat mini marshmallows on low with 7 up in a small saucepan until melted.
Step Two – Once heated add Jell-O powder unto the saucepan until dissolved.
Step Three – Pour the hot mixture from above over cream cheese in a large mixing bowl. Use a hand mixer on low to beat until smooth.
Step Four – Add pineapples and nuts to your mixture and gently stir in. Place in the fridge to chill until your Jell-O is set.
Step Five – Add in cool whip and mayonnaise to the set Jell-O. Chill again for an hour then serve chilled and enjoy.
Pro Tips
- Use a glass dish to show off the bright green color.
- Lightly spray a mold with cooking spray for easy removal.
- Chill overnight for the best texture.
- Add chopped pecans for a slight crunch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes! It’s best made the day before serving.
Can I use Sprite instead of 7-Up?
Absolutely. Any lemon-lime soda works.
How long does it last in the refrigerator?
Up to 3 days when covered tightly.
Try some of my other favorite Classic Desserts:
Hershey Pie – This classic Hershey Pie is a rich, creamy no-bake dessert made with chocolate, whipped topping, and a chocolate cookie crust. Easy and irresistible.
Apple Pie – The Apple Pie recipe never goes out of style. It’s the perfect recipe for the holidays and the one that is on my menu every Thanksgiving.
No Bake Cookies – My all-time favorite cookie recipe! Just a few ingredients and no time in the oven for these delicious No-Bake Cookies. Yes, I cook and bake every day, but my favorite cookie is a No-Bake Cookie!
If you tried any of my recipes I would love to hear from you, leave me a comment below. You can also connect with me on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST. I would love for you to follow along and discover more amazing recipes.
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7-Up Salad
Ingredients
- 7 oz 7-Up
- ¼ pound mini marshmallows
- 3 oz lime jello
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 20 oz crushed pineapples, (drained)
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 8 oz cool whip
- ⅔ cup mayonnaise
Instructions
- Heat mini marshmallows on low with 7 up in a small saucepan until melted.
- Once heated add jello powder unto the saucepan until dissolved.
- Pour the hot mixture from above over cream cheese in a large mixing bowl. Use a hand mixer on low to beat until smooth.
- Add pineapples and nuts to your mixture and gently stir in. Place in the fridge to chill until your jello is set.
- Add in cool whip and mayonnaise to the set jello. Chill again for an hour then serve chilled and enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
Is the mayonnaise really necessary? It sounds great… Right up until that part!
Believe it or not, this recipe has been passed down from my husband’s grandmother. The mayo was always in it, so we’ve always used it. It gives it a little tanginess. I’ve always added it, so not sure what it would taste like without it.
Will sprite work just as well as 7up ?
Yes!
Do you drain the pineapple first?
Yes you do!
What is the difference between Hellmann’s and Miracle whip?
You’re right… The ingredients sound kind of weird, but I am going to try this soon and I’ll let you know how it goes! CG SLC
I hope you enjoy it!
Do you place in flat dish before you cover with Cool Whip & Mayo?
You can place it in flat dish like a casserole dish or keep it in the bowl to chill.
Do you have to use lime jello, or can you use another flavor?
I have never tried another flavor I’m not sure how it would taste.
It’s a version of watergate salad the only difference is the creanm cheese & the lime jello.and this one takes longer to make.water gate is the same ingredients with pistachio pudding jello no 7up &melting the marshmallows
I find this to be very different then Watergate salad myself. It is green and looks like it but to me they have very different taste.
Great
So, do you just eat this with a spoon?
Sure do!
I want to try your recipe, but we are not big fans of mayonnaise, is this a necessary ingredient?
Or is there something else I can use instead of the mayonnaise,
Thank you
I have not tried anything beside mayo and it does help thin it out a little. Possibly sour cream?
Can you let this set then add cool whip and mayo then pour into graham cracker crust then chill for an hour?
We’ve never put it into a crust before. I bet it would be fine to do that though.
Well I just tried making this salad and I had to make a couple changes but it turned out so good imo. First off I bought Sprite vs 7-up since my store didn’t have the small cans of 7-Up and secondly I thought I had lime jello at home but I didn’t so I tried using the Starburst Green Apple instead after looking up what other fruit goes well with pineapple and so it was either green apple or blue raspberry. So I tried the green apple this time. But I was thinking the next time I would use the Watermelon jello with Arizons Watermelon drink in place of the Sprite? And maybe a different kind of fruit that goes with Watermelon vs the pineapple? Idk. But I do know that this recipe is great even during the cold winter months!
I’m glad you tried it and enjoyed it! Watermelon does sound good, but I haven’t ever really strayed to far from the recipe on this one. I have used Sprite before and that was perfectly fine. Coconut goes well with pineapple or mango, so maybe something like that if you are trying different ways to make it.
I am going to try this recipe! I have never made this particular jello salad like this. We have church potlucks once every month and I will make this.
Thank you.
I hope you enjoy this! This recipe was passed to me by my mother in law and it is a favorite!