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This healthy carrot raisin salad with yogurt is a timeless classic that’s full of flavor without any mayo. Crisp shredded carrots, plump raisins, and juicy pineapple are tossed in a light Greek yogurt dressing for the perfect balance of sweet and tangy. Perfect as a side or on its own, this salad shines at barbecues, picnics, or anytime you want a fresh, light, and flavorful dish.
For more easy and healthy carrot salads, try our healthy carrot salad recipe and carrot apple salad next!
Table of Contents
🔍 Quick Look: Healthy Carrot Raisin Salad
- ⏱️ Prep Time: 10 minutes
- ⏱️ Cook Time: 0 minutes
- 🕒 Total Time: 10 minutes
- 🍽 Calories: ~107 kcal per serving
- 👥 Servings: 8 servings
- 🥣 Key Ingredients: Carrots, raisins, pineapple chunks, Greek yogurt
- 📖 Dietary Information: Gluten-free, vegetarian
- 👩🍳 Cook Method: No-Cook Recipe
- ⭐ Difficulty: Easy
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Healthy: We have made a healthier version of the classic carrot raisin salad!
- Made With Yogurt: The dressing is made with Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise.
- Pineapple Flavor: We added pineapple chunks to this salad, making it similar to the classic Chick-fil-A version but lightened up.
- Quick & Easy: 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!
“This recipe is delicious without the guilt! 😋”
– kimberly
Key Ingredients
- 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 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 creamy dressing is 0-fat Greek yogurt.
- Honey: Add honey to the dressing for sweetness and flavor.
Find the full measurements in the recipe card below.
Substitutions & 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 salad is delicious with regular raisins and golden raisins. Use the raisins you prefer or have on hand, or use a mix of both.
- 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.
- Sweetener Options: If you don’t want to use honey, use maple syrup or sugar-free maple syrup instead.
How To Make Healthy Carrot Raisin Salad with Yogurt
- 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 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. After that, thoroughly mix.
- Add the dressing to the bowl with the salad and thoroughly toss.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
Serving Suggestions
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 and honey and orange glazed ham!
Healthy Carrot Raisin Salad FAQs
Is Carrot Raisin Salad Healthy?
Yes, this carrot raisin salad is healthy. It’s much lighter than the traditional version. There is no mayonnaise in this recipe. Instead, the dressing is made with Greek yogurt.
Can I Make Carrot Raisin Salad Ahead of Time?
Yes, you can make 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.
How Long Does Carrot Raisin Salad Last?
This 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.
Can You Freeze Carrot Raisin Salad?
No, 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.
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.
More Healthy Carrot Recipes!
Desserts
Easy and Healthy Carrot Cake
Air Fryer
Air Fryer Carrot Chips
Breakfast
Healthy Banana Carrot Muffins
Desserts
Carrot Cake Bliss Balls
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.
Healthy Carrot Raisin Salad with Yogurt
Ingredients
- 1 pound shredded carrots
- 3/4 cup golden raisins or regular raisins
- 8 ounces 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
Instructions
- 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.
Video
Notes
- 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 or a food processor.
- Chill the Salad: You can serve this salad after making it or chill it first.
- Excess Dressing: As the salad sits, there may be excess dressing at the bottom of the bowl. If this happens, remix the salad or drain the extra dressing after mixing.
- 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.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This recipe is delicious without the guilt! 😋
Hi Kimberly, I’m so happy you enjoyed the carrot raisin salad!
This Carrot Raisin Salad is lighter and refreshing, made with a creamy Greek yogurt dressing, sweet raisins, and juicy pineapple chunks. It’s the perfect side dish for picnics, BBQs, or Easter, offering a healthy choice on a classic favorite with vibrant, tropical flavors!