Carrot Raisin Salad

CARROT RAISIN SALAD

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This carrot raisin salad is a timeless classic, given a healthier makeover without sacrificing flavor. I love the crispness of the shredded carrots, plump raisins, and the tropical addition of juicy pineapple. This carrot raisin salad with pineapple has a light tangy dressing made with a base of Greek yogurt for the perfect blend of flavors. Whether accompanying a barbecue or a picnic, this wholesome salad with its fresh ingredients truly shines. Enjoy it as a side dish or savor it on its own for a simple and delicious light meal.

Why You Will Love Carrot Raisin Salad

  • We have made a healthier version of the classic carrot raisin salad!
  • The dressing is made with Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise.
  • You can customize this carrot salad to your preferences.
  • We added pineapple chunks, but feel free to add diced apples or nuts.
  • The dressing is creamy and flavorful.
  • This salad is easy to make and comes together quickly in about 10 minutes.
  • You can use pre-shredded carrots to make it even easier or shred them yourself.
  • This recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free.

What Is Carrot Raisin Salad?

Carrot raisin salad consists of shredded carrots, raisins, and a dressing. It is a simple and refreshing salad that combines the sweetness of shredded carrots with the tanginess of the dressing. We have lightened up the classic carrot raisin salad by using Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise as the base of the dressing. Our dressing contains lemon juice, pineapple juice, and honey for tang, flavor, and sweetness. Also, we added pineapple chunks to this salad, making it similar to the classic Chick-fil-A version but lightened up.

Ingredients Needed For Carrot Pineapple Raisin Salad

Ingredients for carrot raisin salad
  • Carrots: Use one pound of shredded carrots. You can shred the carrots yourself or buy pre-shredded carrots. Keep in mind that pre-shredded carrots will have a crunchier texture, so use what you prefer.
  • Raisins: Make this carrot raisin salad with golden raisins, regular raisins, or a combination of both!
  • Pineapple: If you want, you can add pineapple chunks to the salad. Use drained canned pineapple chunks or cut fresh pineapple into chunks. If you use canned pineapple, drain it, but reserve one tablespoon of the pineapple juice for the dressing.
  • Greek Yogurt: The base of the dressing is 0-fat Greek yogurt.
  • Lemon Juice: Add fresh lemon juice to the dressing.
  • Pineapple Juice: Add pineapple juice to the dressing for flavor.
  • Honey: Add honey to the dressing for sweetness and flavor.
  • Salt: Add salt to enhance the flavors of the dressing.

How To Shred Carrots

To keep this recipe super simple and easy we used pre-shredded carrots. The texture of pre-shredded carrots is crunchier than that of freshly grated carrots. If you prefer, you can peel whole carrots and shred them using the large side of a box grater. Either one will work perfectly for this recipe.

How To Make Carrot Raisin Salad

Step 1: Wash, peel, and grate whole carrots. Or, use pre-shredded carrots.

Step 2: Drain the canned pineapple chunks, but reserve one tablespoon of the pineapple juice for the dressing. Then, add the shredded carrots, raisins, and pineapple chunks to a large bowl.

Carrot pineapple raisin salad in bowl

Step 3: Mix the ingredients in the bowl.

Mixed carrot salad

Step 4: Add the 0-fat Greek yogurt, lemon juice, pineapple juice, honey, and salt to a bowl. After that, thoroughly mix.

Step 5: Add the dressing to the bowl with the salad and thoroughly toss.

Dressing on carrot salad

Expert Tips

  • Texture Of Shredded Carrots: For a less crunchy salad, grate the carrots yourself. Or, for a faster and crunchier salad, use pre-shredded carrots. Either way, use one pound of shredded carrots.
  • Chill The Salad: You can serve this salad after making it or chill it first. Chilling it in the refrigerator allows the flavors to continue to develop and meld together.
  • Soak The Raisins: It is not necessary to soak the raisins, but if your raisins are dry and hard, you can soak them in hot water for 5-15 minutes to help make them more plump and juicy. Make sure to drain all the water when they are done soaking.
  • Excess Dressing: As the salad sits, there may be excess dressing at the bottom of the bowl. If this happens, remix the salad. As an option, drain the extra dressing after mixing.
  • Taste The Dressing: Taste your dressing after mixing all the ingredients to make sure the flavors are balanced to your liking and that it is sweet enough.
  • Thoroughly Combine: Thoroughly mix the dressing so there aren’t any lumps of Greek yogurt and to evenly distribute the honey.
  • Make More: If you are serving a crowd or making this salad for a potluck, barbecue, or Easter and need to make more, you can double this recipe. This recipe makes about six cups of carrot salad.

How To Serve Carrot Raisin Salad

This carrot raisin salad is a great light meal or side dish. Serve it in a large bowl or on individual plates or bowls. You can drain any excess dressing from the bottom of the bowl or remix the salad before serving. This salad is perfect for picnics, potlucks, and barbecues. Also, it is an excellent side dish for Easter served alongside our healthy carrot cake!

Mixed carrot raisin salad with dressing

Storage Instructions

Store leftover carrot pineapple raisin salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will last 2-3 days if you store the dressing in a separate container. Then, add the dressing when ready to serve. Or, if the dressing is already added, this salad will last 1-2 days. As the salad is stored in the refrigerator, it marinates in the dressing which adds flavor. However, there may also be extra dressing at the bottom of the container. Remix the salad before serving again, or drain the excess dressing after mixing.

Carrot Raisin Salad Variations

  • What Pineapple To Use: You can make this carrot raisin salad with or without pineapple. Use drained canned pineapple chunks or cut fresh pineapple into chunks. If you want more pineapple, use two 8-ounce cans of pineapple chunks rather than one.
  • Raisins To Use: This carrot raisin salad is delicious with regular raisins and golden raisins. Use the raisins you prefer or have on hand, or use a mix of both like we did.
  • Add Apple: This carrot salad would be delicious with diced apples. You can add one cup of diced apples to this recipe, which is about one large apple or two small apples. We recommend using a pink lady, Granny Smith, Gala, or Honeycrisp apple.
  • Add Seeds: Pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds are an excellent addition to this salad.
  • Nuts: Add chopped nuts to this salad for flavor and crunch. Some great options are walnuts, pecans, or slivered almonds.
  • Add Mayonnaise: The dressing is made with Greek yogurt, which adds tanginess and makes this salad healthier. If you want, you can add one teaspoon to one tablespoon of mayonnaise to the dressing or replace some of the Greek yogurt with mayonnaise.
  • Sweetener Options: If you don’t want to use honey, use maple syrup or sugar-free maple syrup instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Make This Carrot Raisin Salad Ahead Of Time?

Yes, you can make this carrot salad ahead of time. Mix the salad, but don’t add the dressing until ready to serve so this salad lasts longer. Store the salad and dressing in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator.

Is Carrot Raisin Salad Healthy?

Yes, this carrot raisin salad is healthy. It is much lighter than the traditional version. We did not use any mayonnaise in this recipe. Instead, the dressing is made with Greek yogurt. This salad consists of simple ingredients such as carrots, raisins, pineapple, and a creamy dressing. It is incredibly flavorful while being lightened up.

Do I Have To Add Pineapple?

You don’t have to add pineapple to this carrot salad. If you want to make it similar to the classic Chick-fil-A version and like the flavor of pineapple, add it to this salad. Or, omit the pineapple and just add the carrots, raisins, and dressing.

How Long Does Carrot Raisin Salad Last?

This carrot raisin salad will last up to three days when stored without the dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will last up to two days when stored with the dressing.

Where Did Carrot Raisin Salad Originate?

The origins of carrot raisin salad are often associated with the United States and American cuisine. This timeless classic has been around for a long time and is a popular dish, traditionally known for its simple and refreshing combination of shredded carrots, raisins, and dressing. The fast food chain Chick-fil-A also had its own version of this salad featuring pineapple, which has since been discontinued.

Can You Freeze Carrot Raisin Salad?

I wouldn’t recommend freezing carrot raisin salad. It won’t retain its texture very well and it tastes better fresh. If frozen, the dressing may start to separate, and the carrots might get mushy. Enjoy this salad fresh, or store leftovers in the refrigerator.

More Recipes To Try Next!

If you try this recipe please be sure to leave us a comment and star rating ★★★★★ letting us know how it turns out for you.

CARROT RAISIN SALAD

Recipe by Shawna
5.0 from 2 votes
Course: SaladsCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

8

servings
Prep time

10

minutes
Cooking time

1

minute
Calories

107

kcal

This carrot raisin salad is a timeless classic! I love the crispness of the shredded carrots, plump raisins, juicy pineapple, and creamy Greek yogurt dressing.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound shredded carrots

  • 3/4 CUP golden raisins or regular raisins

  • 8 oz pineapple chunks canned in their own juice

  • 1 CUP 0-fat Greek yogurt

  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

  • 1 tablespoon pineapple juice

  • 1 tablespoon honey

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

  • Wash, peel, and grate whole carrots, or use pre-shredded carrots.
  • Drain the canned pineapple chunks, but reserve one tablespoon of the pineapple juice for the dressing. Then, add the shredded carrots, raisins, and drained pineapple chunks to a large bowl.
  • Mix the ingredients in the bowl.
  • Add the 0-fat Greek yogurt, lemon juice, pineapple juice, honey, and salt to a bowl. Then, thoroughly mix.
  • Add the dressing to the bowl with the salad and thoroughly toss. Serve the salad or store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Re-mix the salad again before serving. Optional: You can drain any leftover dressing at the bottom.

Recipe Video

YouTube video

Notes

  • WW Points™: 2 points per serving; This recipe serves 8 and makes about 6 cups of carrot raisin salad.
  • To see your WW Points™ in the WW app for this recipe click here! Or, please manually add the ingredients to the recipe builder.
  • Nutritional information is provided as a reference, using an online calculator. We recommend verifying the information independently. It could vary based on cooking methods and ingredients used.

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Nutrition Facts

8 servings per container


  • Amount Per ServingCalories107
  • % Daily Value *
  • Total Fat 0.1g 0%
    • Saturated Fat 0g 0%
  • Cholesterol 1mg 1%
  • Sodium 182mg 8%
  • Potassium 108mg 4%
  • Total Carbohydrate 24.1g 8%
    • Dietary Fiber 2.1g 8%
    • Sugars 18.8g
  • Protein 4g 8%

    * The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

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