This recipe is everything you love about any Grape Salad Recipe, except it’s a bit lighter and healthier – thanks to Greek yogurt! It only takes about 5 minutes to make and has a handful of simple ingredients; cream cheese, Greek yogurt, sugar, vanilla, grapes, and walnuts! It’s creamy and has a brown sugar/walnut topping to give it the perfect amount of crunch and sweetness! Plus, it can be made ahead of time which makes it the perfect barbecue side dish!
Note: This post was originally published several years ago. I’m updating it with new photos and a video to show you exactly how to make a grape salad.
You guys this salad is one of my absolute favorite go-to salads! It’s the one I make when I’m in a huge hurry and need to bring an impressive salad to share at an event! There’s something magical about the combination of juicy grapes tossed in a creamy dressing, topped off with crunchy nuts.
Maybe it tastes a little bit like dessert, but I’m never going to complain about getting credit for eating salad and having it taste like no bake dessert or cheesecake dessert! Plus, I’m getting my servings of fruit for the day!
TIPS FOR MAKING THE BEST GRAPE SALAD
- Serve it in a shallow bowl to ensure that each serving gets a good amount of that divine streusel topping!
- This salad is best made ahead and actually needs to chill for at least an hour before serving. Longer is even better!
- Don’t add the streusel topping until you are ready to serve it or else the brown sugar will dissolve into the salad.
GRAPE SALAD INGREDIENTS
- Grapes – Red, Green, or a combination (my favorite)
- Cream Cheese – Make sure it’s room temperature
- Greek Yogurt- You can use sour cream if you’d rather
- Vanilla – Optional
- Sugar – Can be reduced, especially if you’re using Vanilla Greek yogurt
- Brown Sugar – For the topping
- Walnuts – For the topping (may substitute pecans, almonds, chopped Butterfingers or snickers, toffee bits
HEALTHY/LIGHTER GRAPE SALAD
It’s easy to make a healthier and lighter version of the grape salad. Of course, adding brown sugar to the top makes it really delicious and more like a dessert salad than a healthy salad. But, with a few ingredient substitutes, this recipe will still taste amazing in a lightened up version.
- Use Neuchâtel – it does have higher water content and results in a bit runnier and less creamy dressing. Reduce Greek yogurt by 1/4 of a cup to compensate.
- Reduce sugar – I promise it will still be delicious!
- Use Vanilla Greek Yogurt – it’s sweet enough you can omit the sugar in the salad
- Skip the brown sugar topping – and use extra nuts
WATCH THE VIDEO TO SEE HOW TO MAKE GRAPE SALAD…SO EASY!
OTHER PICNIC SIDE DISHES
- Crockpot Baked Beans – throw everything in the slow cooker and let it go
- Marinated Cucumbers – everyone asks for the recipe
- Skinny Broccoli Salad – with Greek Yogurt and pasta
- Grilled Zucchini Recipe – in a foil packet for the easiest cleanup
- KFC Copycat Coleslaw Recipe – just like the original
- Three Bean Salad Recipe – toss the ingredients together and refrigerate
- Cauliflower Salad Recipe – with green peas and ranch
Grape Salad Recipe:
Grape Salad Recipe (healthy/lightened up with Greek yogurt)
Ingredients
FOR THE GRAPE SALAD
- 8 ounce pkg cream cheese room temperature
- 1 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 tsp. vanilla
- 3 cups red grapes washed and dried
- 3 cups green grapes washed and dried
FOR THE TOPPING
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup walnuts roughly chopped
Instructions
- Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add Greek yogurt and mix together until smooth. Add 1/4 cup sugar and vanilla. Mix. (See notes about omitting sugar)
- Fold grapes into the creamy mixture.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour, or overnight.
- Just before serving sprinkle top of the salad with brown sugar and walnuts. (See notes about omitting sugar.
Notes
- If using Greek yogurt you make omit the sugar
- Skip sprinkling brown sugar to the top of salad and use extra nuts instead.
- Use reduced-fat cream cheese- this will make the salad thinner so I’d reduce Greek yogurt by 1/4 a cup.
Sue Gee says
I make this for every holiday for my grandkids – it’s their number one request. They like it without the brown sugar and nuts. I make it the day before so it chills, and they enjoy it as an appetizer, and if there is any left over, the next day for breakfast. It’s a special treat when Cotton Candy grapes are in season.
Amy Engberson says
Cotton Candy grapes are the best! I’ve never served this salad for breakfast, but it’s a great idea! Have fun with your grandkids!
Bonnie says
Can you cut the grapes in half to make them safer for small children?
Amy Engberson says
Yes! That’s a great idea! It might make the dressing a little thinner but it should still be fine! Enjoy!
Jane Ropp says
Number of servings?
Amy Engberson says
This salad is perfect for bringing to potlucks or BBQs because it makes quite a bit- 16 servings. You can always cut the recipe in half if you’d like to make fewer servings. This is one of my favorite salads! Enjoy!
karly says
I am always looking for a great dessert salad!
Amy Engberson says
Isn’t eating something that tastes like dessert and being able to call it a salad the best! This one is different than so many of the other dessert salads out there and it’s always a huge hit!
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says
Such a great flavor! It looks so delicious!
Amy Engberson says
Thanks! Amazing things happen when you mix juicy grapes and creamy dressing together! I have to admit that topping is pretty good too though! Enjoy!
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says
My aunt used to make a grape salad that I loved! I can’t wait to make this for my kiddos!
Amy Engberson says
It’s so fun how food brings back memories of people we love! This salad is so yummy I bet your kids will go crazy for it!
Dee says
This is definitely a must-make for potluck season!
Amy Engberson says
YES! It’s so quick and easy you just can’t go wrong with this one!
Anna says
This grape salad sounds so delicious! My family will love it!
Amy Engberson says
It’s such a fun way to get the kiddos to eat more fruits and get some yogurt in too!
Demeter says
This might just become my new summer side dish to bring to events. Love how easy it is to make!
Amy Engberson says
It’s my go to summer salad! I bring it to every single event and it always gets rave reviews!
Brittni Mecham says
I made this for Mori’s gmas birthday and it was a huge hit!!! So delicious! Thanks for sharing your yummy recipes! 🙂
Amy Engberson says
Glad it was a hit! Easy recipes save my life!
Sheila Larson says
Amy, your grape salad that your mom brought to our Empty Nesters’ potluck was awesome. She led us to your blog and I find it awesome too. I love your love of your role in life. I can hear your mom talking as I read your funny stories. I’ll check back often to see what new entries are on site.
Sheila
Amy Engberson says
Glad you found me! I hope I sound just like my mom, I would love to be just like her. That salad is one of my favorites! Thanks for stopping by. My boys are always giving me funny things to post about so stop by again!
Elaine Duckett says
Well, ok then. This will be my new pot luck go to as well. We have a RS getting to know social on Tuesday the 13th, and even if they assign A – N to bring desserts, I will surprise them and bring this for a salad.
I will even tell them where I got the recipe.
Fast and easy, way to go little girl.
Mom
Dad says
Thanks for telling Sheila you want to be just like me, how sweet of you. Can you believe she thinks we sound alike when you write? She is a neat lady. Hope she stops by often and shares your blog w her family and friends too.
Dad was kind enough to let me use his iPad. We are just about to Fairfield, we are going to stop and get a milkshake.
We’ve had so much fun today taking a road trip in the Pathfinder. It beats doing housework on a Saturday. Why didn’t somebody tell me a long time ago !!
Love
Mom
shea says
I loved this salad and so did my family
Amy Engberson says
This is one of my families favorite salads too, Shea! And you just can’t beat how simple it is to toss together!