This creamy strawberry cottage cheese salad is a favorite throwback to the early 80s. When we were first married, it was our “fancy” salad. Now, it’s just a cool and refreshing jello salad that both kids and adults enjoy.
This may well be one of the easiest and fastest salads you will ever throw together.
Strawberry Cottage Cheese Salad has only four ingredients and is gluten-free. It’s a perfect sweet relief for heavy, savory meals.
We’ve served it with every kind of protein, with casseroles, and even with pancakes! Strawberry Cottage Cheese Jello Salad is great at a barbecue with burgers (like this fabulous Smoked Burger Recipe from Couple in the Kitchen) and hotdogs or on the salad table at a summer potluck or family reunion.
Break it out for Easter dinner or Memorial Day weekend with equally happy results.
My simple strawberry Jello salad with cottage cheese is as at home next to Mississippi Pot Roast as it is served with Perfect Baked Chicken Breasts, Walking Taco Casserole or the best Crock Pot Ham.
This creamy Cottage Cheese Salad with Strawberries is a gorgeous addition to Easter dinner. Its soft pink color also makes it a pretty option for the refreshment table at a baby or bridal shower.
The Ingredients
I wasn’t kidding when I said this was the easiest salad you’ll ever make. With only four common ingredients, it’s easy to stir together at the last minute, whether you’re eating at home or taking a dish to a gathering.
- Cottage Cheese
- Cool Whip
- Strawberry Gelatin Powder
- Fresh Strawberries
Love It or Hate It
Strawberry Cottage Cheese Salad was a popular salad I ate as a kid, and as I mentioned, it was an affordable “fancy” salad that David and I often served to guests when we were first married.
Honestly, I feel like this salad will be the one recipe that divides you, dear readers. You’re either going to love it or hate it. There doesn’t seem to be any middle ground.
And that all seems to depend on whether or not you like cottage cheese. We are HUGE fans at our house! A carton of cottage cheese can disappear soon after I bring it home.
So, if you do love cottage cheese, I think you’re gonna flip for this dreamy, creamy, sweet strawberry cottage cheese salad! Eating it AND preparing it will be a pleasure.
Possible Variations
I have made Strawberry Cottage Cheese Salad with sliced bananas, instead of strawberries. It’s delicious. Slice and add the bananas just before serving to prevent them from turning brown too quickly. Two bananas should be plenty.
Try it with Pineapple Gelatin and cubes of fresh pineapple.
Use Lemon Gelatin and fresh blueberries or Lime Gelatin and a can of well-drained crushed pineapple.
You might also like Orange Gelatin with Mandarin Oranges.
But, next to strawberry cottage cheese salad, Peach Cottage Cheese Salad would be my favorite. Peach gelatin is sometimes more difficult to find. But Walmart’s Great Value brand makes a peach, and Jell-o brand does, too. Sub the peach gelatin for the strawberry and use fresh peaches cut into chunks. Heaven!!!!
How to Make Cottage Cheese Salad
- Wash and slice the strawberries. Set aside.
- Add the cottage cheese to a medium mixing bowl.
- Add the strawberry gelatin powder and stir to combine with the cottage cheese.
- Scoop the Cool Whip into the mixing bowl along with the sliced strawberries.
- Stir and combine all the ingredients.
- Refrigerate until time to serve.
The Recipe
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Strawberry Cottage Cheese Salad
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This creamy strawberry cottage cheese jello salad is a throwback to the 80’s. It was our “fancy” salad when we had company back then. Now, it’s just a cool and refreshing salad that both kids and adults enjoy. Vintage can be good!
Ingredients
- 1 (24 oz.) container small curd cottage cheese (4% milkfat)
- 1 (8 oz.) tub Cool Whip
- 1 (3 oz.) box strawberry gelatin powder
- 1/2 pound fresh strawberries, sliced
Instructions
- Wash and slice the strawberries. Set aside.
- Add the cottage cheese to a medium mixing bowl.
- Add the strawberry gelatin powder and stir to combine with the cottage cheese.
- Scoop the Cool Whip into the mixing bowl along with the sliced strawberries.
- Stir and combine all the ingredients.
- Refrigerate until time to serve.
Notes
Possible Variations
I have successfully substituted sliced bananas for the strawberries in this recipe. It’s delicious, but they will brown over time if left sitting too long. To solve this, simply wait to slice and add them just before serving.
Try it with Pineapple Gelatin and cubes of fresh pineapple.
Use Lemon Gelatin and fresh blueberries or Lime Gelatin and a can of well drained crushed pineapple.
You might also like Orange Gelatin with Mandarin Oranges.
But, next to strawberry cottage cheese salad, Peach Cottage Cheese Salad would be my favorite. Peach gelatin is sometimes more difficult to find. But Walmart’s Great Value brand makes a peach and Jell-o brand does, too. Sub the peach gelatin for the strawberry and use fresh peaches cut into chunks. Heaven!!!!
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Category: Side Sish, Salad
- Method: Cold Prep
- Cuisine: American
I’ve never ever seen this recipe anywhere, yet it has been served every Christmas in my family for over 40 years! We only have ever known it by the name “Pink Stuff,” and we use a can of drained, crushed pineapple instead of the fresh strawberries. It’s true that newcomers either love it or hate it, no middle ground, but that’s fine by me because I could happily enjoy the entire dish by myself! Thanks so much for posting, esp all the variations I’ll have to try!!
Oh Stacy, yay! I’m glad you found us and I’m like you — so happily in the “pink stuff” club! lol Have a wonderful New Year!
Oh, what a magnificent salad this turned out to be! The creaminess and tangy flavors made this salad very different from anything I tasted before. Will make it many times.
My dad used to make me cottage cheese with strawberries as a kid and this recipe tugged at my heart strings! Simple, whimsical, and wonderfully tasty. Thank you for sharing this, Glenda!
My kids were absolutely crazy about this salad! The color, the sweetness and the strawberry bites were perfect. We had it as a Valentine’s Day dessert and it was lovely and refreshing
This salad is all things childhood. Strawberries and jello are just so fantastic. A real hit with my teen.
Glad they enjoyed it, Racna. Thank you!
I’ve never actually tried this salad (my dad was dairy free in the 80’s) and so I made some if this and it tasted incredible! So delicious and refreshing!!
Yay! I’m glad it’s still great even to a first-timer. Thank you, Traci!
This salad was incredibly delicious. I can’t wait to try it with pineapple jello next time.
Thank you, Shilpa! And yes, pineapple is wonderful!
Anything strawberries is a hit in my family. Kids went crazy about this cheesecake salad. I bookmarked this recipe to do more often once the strawberry season hits.
This took me back to dinners at my Nonna’s! She made something similar with oranges. We loved this and it was perfect for our Valentine meal.
I love how nostalgic this is for everyone! So happy you enjoyed it, Bella!
This is as tasty as it is pretty! What a fantastic side dish this was at our get together last night, thank you SO much!
Thank you, Lisa!
I’m a big fan of Jell-O salads, and this is one I’ve never tried before! I think I want to try every flavor variation you suggest!
I think you’ll love them, Sue. It’s such a quick and easy throw-together salad no matter which variation you try.
This is a great salad recipe and tastes awesome! I love creamy jello salads, especially in the summer.
Thanks, Anne! I do, too!