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    Home > Salads

    Easy Tropical Fruit Salad (with the Perfect Salad Dressing)

    Published: Jun 27, 2022 by Valya's Taste of Home · 26 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This Tropical Fruit Salad recipe is a delicious and colorful mix of pineapples, mandarin oranges, kiwis, mangoes, and strawberries for the perfect salad!

    It features a delicious salad dressing that includes two special ingredients for an undeniably tasty salad. Have it as a side dish, or a tasty summer dessert.

    It features a delicious salad dressing that includes two special ingredients for an undeniably tasty salad. Have it as a side dish, or a tasty summer dessert.

    The fruits with the salad dressing make for a fruit salad that’s not only healthy and delicious but packed with flavor in every single bite.

    Try this recipe once, and you’ll keep coming back to it again and again!

    Want to learn how to make this delicious Tropical Fruit Salad recipe? Then keep on reading!

    Table of Contents
    • What is a Tropical Fruit Salad?
    • What Makes This Summer Fruit Salad the Best One You’ll Ever Have
    • What are the Key Ingredients to a Delicious Tropical Salad Dressing?
    • What You Need to Make Tropical Fruit Salad at Home
    • How to Make Tropical Fruit Salad Step by Step
    • Can You Make Tropical Fruit Salad Ahead of Time?
    • Fruit Variations for the Perfect Tropical Fruit Salad
    • How to Make Tropical Fruit Salad Ahead of Time
    • How to Store Leftover Tropical Fruit Salad
    • More Fruit Salad Recipes
    • Recipe Card
    • Easy Tropical Fruit Salad (with the Perfect Salad Dressing)
    • Comments

    What is a Tropical Fruit Salad?

    You can't go wrong with a Tropical Fruit Salad, which features chopped tropical fruits and a fruit salad dressing.

    It makes the ideal summer side dish, snack, dessert, or even breakfast food! This tasty salad is ideal for a potluck since you can prepare it in advance.

    It's a really light and refreshing salad, and my recipe takes it to the next level! This recipe does not use the typical heavy salad dressing seen in other fruit salads.

    This recipe calls for two secret ingredients in the salad dressing, which not only improves the flavor of everything but also complements virtually every fruit.

    It's what makes this the most delicious one you'll ever have. Read on to learn more about the most delicious tropical fruit salad recipe ever.

    What Makes This Summer Fruit Salad the Best One You’ll Ever Have

    This truly is the best tropical fruit salad you’ll ever make! Here’s why:

    Easy to make: This tropical fruit salad is ridiculously easy to make! All you need to do is chop some fruits and make a quick and delicious salad dressing! Pour it on the fruits, and you have the tastiest fresh fruit salad ever!

    Super refreshing: The fruit combination in this salad is incredibly refreshing and is the perfect combo for all seasons, especially if you love tropical fruits!

    Light and delicious: No need to make and add any thick dressing to this salad. This is a super light and delicious salad, and the dressing fits it perfectly with ingredients that enhance the flavor in every single bite.

    Tons of Combinations: There can be as many combinations as you can come up with! Mix in your favorite tropical fruits such as mandarin oranges, cantaloupes, papayas, raspberries, etc.

    Delicious fruit salad, with the perfect dressing: You might think that some delicious, chopped fruits are perfect as is, but with a drizzle of my special salad dressing on top you’re seriously going to take your fruit salad to the next level! It just elevates the flavors and brings them out even more. Trust me, there’s science backing the delicious flavors in this recipe. Want to learn what I mean? Then keep reading!

    Try this recipe once, and you’ll keep coming back to it again and again!

    What are the Key Ingredients to a Delicious Tropical Salad Dressing?

    Although the mix of tropical fruits is great on its own, adding two basic pantry ingredients enhances the flavor.

    The first is honey. Honey has naturally occurring glucose and fructose, both of which are types of sugar that boost sweetness and can make your tropical fruit salad taste even better. 

    The juices are drawn out of the fruit through osmosis when the honey comes into contact with the cut pieces of fruit. It results in a light syrup that infuses more flavor into the inside of each fruit for better flavor in every bite.

    The other ingredient is freshly squeezed lemon juice. It includes both citric and malic acids, which impart a tart flavor. Lime and orange juice work well as alternatives as well.

    What You Need to Make Tropical Fruit Salad at Home

    This is a delicious salad recipe that you’re going to absolutely love! Here’s what you’ll need to make it at home:

    Fruits for Tropical Fruit Salad:

    You can use any combination of tropical fruits you love best. But here’s a combination that will give you undeniably amazing flavors every time:

    • Pineapple: Pineapples add a delicious fruity, tropical flavor that has slight acidity and vanilla-like flavor to it.
    • Mandarin oranges: These are fresh and have a delicious flavor to them with vanilla and spicy component to them. It makes for the perfect addition to this salad!
    • Kiwis: Nothing says tropical like some kiwis! They will take your salad to the next level.
    • Mangoes: Mangoes are the classic tropical fruit and bring it them a delicious sweetness that’s absolutely perfect for this salad.
    • Strawberries: These will add the perfect sweetness to your salad and will make it taste even better!
    You can use any combination of tropical fruits you love best.

    For the Salad Dressing:

    • Lemon: Freshly squeezed lemon juice adds a delicious level of tartness that elevates the salad flavors in every single bite.
    • Mandarin oranges: Adding a little orange juice is going to make it taste even better. Combined with the lemon juice, it makes for the perfect salad dressing base.
    • Honey: Honey has naturally occurring glucose and fructose, both of which are types of sugar that boost sweetness and can make your tropical fruit salad taste even better. 
    • Chia seeds (or poppy seeds): This makes your salad even healthier and more delicious while simultaneously adding more fiber to the dish.
    This Tropical Fruit Salad is a great addition to your meal as a dessert or it can be a perfect snack any time of the year especially during hot summer days.

    How to Make Tropical Fruit Salad Step by Step

    Making this delicious Tropical Fruit Salad is super simple. Here’s what you’ll need to do step by step:

    Rinse, pat dry, peel, and cut/slice all the fruits. Place them into a large bowl.

    Rinse, pat dry, peel, and cut/slice all the fruits. Place them into a large bowl.

    How to Make Fruit Salad Dressing

    Time to make our delicious salad dressing! Into a small bowl squeeze lemon and mandarin oranges using a lemon squeezer. Then whisk in honey and add chia seeds (or poppy seeds). Stir well to combine.

    This Tropical Fruit Salad is a great addition to your meal as a dessert or it can be a perfect snack any time of the year especially during hot summer days.

    Pour the dressing over the fruit salad.

    Pour the dressing over the fruit salad.

    Mix well and let the salad stand for 20 – 30 minutes before serving to soak up the flavors. Leftovers taste even better hours later as the fruit soaks in the dressing.

    Leftovers taste even better hours later as the fruit soaks in the dressing.

    Can You Make Tropical Fruit Salad Ahead of Time?

    Yes, this delicious tropical fruit salad can be made ahead of time!

    Yes, this delicious tropical fruit salad can be made ahead of time! It really gives the fruits a chance to marinade together in the honey lemon dressing. The next day, it tastes even better!

    Fruit Variations for the Perfect Tropical Fruit Salad

    Even though I showed you my favorite mix of fruits for a tropical fruit salad above, you can use any tropical fruits you love the most.

    Personally, I make an effort to consider color and incorporate as many different colors, flavors, and textures as I can!

    Fruits such as raspberries, cantaloupes, melon, papayas, shredded coconut, star fruit, and grapes are all excellent additions to your salad.

    No matter which ones you add, the salad will always be the best tropical fruit salad ever.

    How to Make Tropical Fruit Salad Ahead of Time

    You can prepare this salad ahead of time, just store each fruit separately in a bowl covered with plastic wrap in the fridge for up to 24 hrs. It just takes five minutes to make the dressing and your Tropical Fruit Salad will be ready!

    How to Store Leftover Tropical Fruit Salad

    If you have leftover summer fruit salad, store it in the fridge for up to 2 days. Have the leftovers with some Greek yogurt and granola. Trust me, you’ll love it and it’ll be all gone in no time!

    Even though I showed you my favorite mix of fruits for a tropical fruit salad above, you can use any tropical fruits you love the most.

    More Fruit Salad Recipes

    • Summer Fruit Salad Recipe
    • Healthy Winter Fruit Salad
    • Melon Fruit Salad with Honey Lime and Watermelon Juice Dressing
    • Best Creamy Grape Salad
    This Tropical Fruit Salad is a great addition to your meal as a dessert or it can be a perfect snack any time of the year especially during hot summer days.

    Recipe Card

    Try this recipe once, and you’ll keep coming back to it again and again!

    Easy Tropical Fruit Salad (with the Perfect Salad Dressing)

    Valya's Taste of Home
    This Tropical Fruit Salad Recipe is an excellent addition to your meal as a dessert or it can be a perfect snack any time of the year, especially during hot summer days.
    4.41 from 22 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 45 minutes mins
    30 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
    Course Fruit Salad
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12

    Ingredients
      

    Tropical Fruit Salad Ingredients

    • 1 – medium pineapple
    • 12 – mandarins
    • 5 – kiwis
    • 3 – mangos
    • 2 – cups strawberries

    Salad Dressing Ingredients

    • 2 – mandarins
    • 1 large – lemon
    • ¼ cup – raw honey
    • ½ tsp. – chia seeds (or poppy seeds)
    Read More

    Instructions
     

    How to Make Tropical Fruit Salad (Step-by-Step)

    • Making this delicious Tropical Fruit Salad is super simple. Here’s what you’ll need to do step by step:
    • Rinse, pat dry, peel, and cut/slice all the fruits. Place them into a large bowl.

    How to Make Fruit Salad Dressing

    • Time to make our delicious salad dressing! Into a small bowl squeeze lemon and mandarin oranges using a lemon squeezer. Then whisk in honey and add chia seeds (or poppy seeds). Stir well to combine.
    • Pour the dressing over the fruit salad.
    • Mix well and let the salad stand for 20 – 30 minutes before serving to soak up the flavors. Leftovers taste even better hours later as the fruit soaks in the dressing.

    Notes

    • Leftovers taste even better hours later as the fruit soaks in the dressing.
    Keyword crowd pleaser, fruit salad, kid friendly, tropical fruit salad
    Tried this recipe?Share your photo on Instagram @valyastasteofhome or tag #valyastasteofhome!
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    This recipe was originally posted on June 11, 2015, and updated on May 21, 2021. Enjoy!

    Tropical Fruit Salad

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    Comments

    1. Coleman says

      May 15, 2020 at 9:03 am

      5 stars
      Hey Valya
      THanks for sharing the recipe I just tried this recipe in my backyard while heaving a beautiful summer day.

      Reply
      • Valya of Valya's Taste of Home says

        May 16, 2020 at 12:51 pm

        I'm glad to hear you liked it. Thank you for the review!

        Reply
    2. TUBHQ says

      December 31, 2019 at 3:05 am

      I make a fruit salad that everyone raves over, I use some of the same things but I keep a jar of instant french vanilla pudding on hand. I use a teaspoon in homemade whipped cream to stabilize it a bit and I use a few teaspoons plus the seeds of a vanilla bean to make the dressing thick, creamy and luxurious.

      Reply
      • Valya of Valya's Taste of Home says

        December 31, 2019 at 5:26 pm

        That sounds delicious! Thank you for sharing!

        Reply
    3. Ashley Xefer says

      October 14, 2017 at 2:52 am

      wow.looks very yummy.cant wait to taste it.thanks for sharing this with us.waiting for another recipe .

      Reply
      • www.valyastasteofhome.com says

        October 14, 2017 at 2:51 pm

        You are very welcome, enjoy! 🙂

        Reply
    4. David says

      August 03, 2017 at 4:04 am

      wow... sooo color full. Looks like all color are available on this salad itself! Cannot be able to describe how it looks in words for sure. Going to try this weekend.

      Thanks Valya for this salad.

      Reply
      • valya'stasteofhome.com says

        August 03, 2017 at 7:44 am

        Thank you kindly! This fruit salad sure tastes delicious and is a huge hit at parties. Appreciate your feedback. 🙂

        Reply
    5. James C says

      February 10, 2017 at 5:51 am

      5 stars
      You eat with your eyes, and this is a real treat. A visual feast. It tastes great too. The clover honey adds a really interesting background flavour. Thanks for the recipe.

      Reply
      • valya'stasteofhome.com says

        February 10, 2017 at 4:04 pm

        Thank you very much! And..., yes! Honey makes the whole difference in taste here. Give it try! You won't regret!

        Reply
    6. Bill says

      December 24, 2016 at 6:12 pm

      5 stars
      Thanks. I made this at my party and all my guests LOVED it. Will be making more in the future!

      Reply
      • valya'stasteofhome.com says

        December 24, 2016 at 8:26 pm

        That's awesome! Thank you for your feedback! 🙂

        Reply
    7. Paul says

      May 31, 2016 at 5:56 am

      5 stars
      Wow, now this looks sooo tastyy and healthy!! 🙂 wow

      Reply
      • valya'stasteofhome.com says

        May 31, 2016 at 9:27 am

        Thank you very much. It is truly delicious.

        Reply
    8. Tanya says

      September 03, 2015 at 11:56 pm

      Very good salad, but wondering if I can use canned pineapple?

      Reply
      • valya'stasteofhome.com says

        September 04, 2015 at 2:59 pm

        Thank you Tanya. I didn't try it with canned pineapples. If you make it with canned and fresh pineapples let me if there are any differences.

        Reply
    9. Anthony | MyInflatablePoly.com says

      June 17, 2015 at 4:56 pm

      Wow! A colorful recipe!

      Reply
      • valya'stasteofhome.com says

        June 17, 2015 at 5:48 pm

        Thanks

        Reply
    10. Kani Poly Design says

      June 16, 2015 at 8:58 pm

      So great salad! I am obsessing over this salad!

      Reply
      • valya'stasteofhome.com says

        June 16, 2015 at 11:24 pm

        It's perfect for any time of the year, snack or desert. Great for parties or picnics too. 🙂

        Reply
    11. Chris Scheuer says

      June 16, 2015 at 2:58 pm

      5 stars
      I could eat myself silly on this, it looks fantastic! And the poppy seeds make it look so pretty!

      Reply
      • valya'stasteofhome.com says

        June 16, 2015 at 11:20 pm

        I know. I'm with you Chris. It's hard to get your hand away from it 🙂

        Reply
    12. Mira says

      June 16, 2015 at 8:55 am

      5 stars
      Beautiful salad Valya! Perfect for the summer! Pinned!

      Reply
      • valya'stasteofhome.com says

        June 16, 2015 at 10:37 am

        Thanks for pinning Mira! I love fruit salads. They are so delicious and healthy for summer snacks. 🙂

        Reply
    13. PumpkinnSpice says

      June 16, 2015 at 6:06 am

      What a gorgeous fruit salad! Love the flavors in here! So perfect for the summer!

      Reply
      • valya'stasteofhome.com says

        June 16, 2015 at 10:34 am

        Thank you Gayle! You are right, it's so perfect for summer desert. Healthy one too 🙂

        Reply

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    A food blogger, recipe developer, photographer, editor, and author behind Valya’s Taste of Home website. Sharing family-proven tasty recipes with step-by-step photos and videos. Read more...

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