This delicious carrot salad recipe, featuring raisins and pineapple, is packed with antioxidants and flavor. The ingredient list is short, with no unique, hard-to-find, or costly ingredients, making it ideal for a light lunch or side dish.
Grandma’s Carrot Salad
This easy salad is a carrot lover’s dream come true and a pleasant change from the usual fare with just the right amount of sweetness. With the help of a food processor, this dish can be on the table in less than 15 minutes. My family and friends love to rant and rave about this salad. The main courses it pairs well with are endless, but I like serving it with ham steak, grilled pork tenderloin, air fryer salmon, and roasted pork loin.
Carrot Salad Ingredients
- Carrots
- Mayonnaise – I use Duke’s
- Honey
- Lemon Juice
- Pineapple – fresh or canned tidbits
- Raisins
- Kosher salt
- Black Pepper
How to Make Carrot Salad
Start by shredding your carrots in a food processor or with a mandoline or a box grater. Then, whisk together the mayo, honey, lemon juice, salt, and pepper to taste. Stir in the shredded carrots, pineapple, and raisins and toss to coat. Refrigerate for about 1 hour before serving.
Recipe Tips
- I like using fresh pineapple with this recipe, but you can substitute canned pineapple tidbits or crushed pineapple. If you don’t like pineapple, try apples.
- Are you watching your sugar intake? Simply omit the honey. It will still be delicious, as pineapple and raisins are naturally sweet.
- Cut off the ends and peel the carrots before shredding them. This will give this carrot-raisin salad a bright, gorgeous orange color.
- Are you feeling a little sassy? Add 1/2 shredded coconut and 1/2 chopped pecans, walnuts, or sunflower seeds.
- Are you not into mayo dressing? Try swapping it out for a honey Dijon mustard vinaigrette made with olive oil or Greek yogurt. Or try fresh herbs like parsley, cilantro, or coriander.
- Dried cranberries can be substituted for raisins.
- Add nuts for a little extra crunch. Try chopped almonds, pistachios, walnuts, and pecans.
- For best results, chill before serving so all the flavors meld together.
Three Ways to Shred Carrots
- Food processor – trim both ends, and for best results, peel the carrots. Cut the carrots into 3 – 3 1/2-inch sections, and using your shredding blade, send them through the safety shute pulsing to shred them. This will produce a fairly finely shredded carrot.
- Mandoline – trim both ends, and peel the carrots for best results. Cut the carrots in half, especially if they have a bend in them. Use the mandoline blade that produces small matchstick cuts. This cut produces more crunch, and I think it makes for a much prettier presentation for company and perhaps a better overall texture.
- Box grater – trim both ends, and for best results, peel the carrots. Leave the carrots whole and use the large holes on the box cutter. This produces a very similar shred to the food processor, with less cleanup but with more elbow grease.
Storage
This dish can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance and stored in an airtight container in the fridge. Stir again before serving. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
More Carrot Recipe
Easy Carrot Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb. carrots peeled and shredded
- ⅔ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 cup pineapple tidbits preferably fresh
- 1 cup raisins
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, honey, and lemon juice. Gently stir in carrots, pineapple, and raisins. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Chill for 45-60 minutes before serving.
Notes
- I like to use fresh pineapple with this recipe, but you can substitute canned pineapple tidbits or even crushed pineapple. If you don’t like pineapple, try apples.
- Are you watching your sugar? Simply omit the honey. It will still be delicious as pineapple, and raisins are naturally sweet.
- Cut off the ends and peel the carrots before shredding them. This will give this carrot-raisin salad a bright, gorgeous orange color.
- Feeling a little sassy! Add 1/2 shredded coconut and 1/2 chopped pecans, walnuts, or sunflower seeds.
- Are you not into mayo dressing? Try swapping it out for a honey Dijon mustard vinaigrette made with olive oil or Greek yogurt. Or try fresh herbs like parsley, cilantro, or coriander.
- Dried cranberries can be substituted for raisins.
- Add nuts for a little extra crunch. Try chopped almonds, pistachios, walnuts, and pecans.
- For best results, chill before serving so all the flavors meld together.
Nutrition
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Kristyn
I had no idea how tasty this is!! I would have never thought to add pineapples with carrots & raisins, but it’s a delicious combination. The dressing brings all the flavors together!
Natalie
I wasn’t sure how my kids would like this, but they actually really liked it & one even asked for seconds! My favorite is the sweetness from the pineapple. The flavors go great together!
Valentina
Such an EASY carrot salad recipe! Thank you for the recipe.
Corrie
My mother-in-law made a carrot salad years ago, she called it a “Sunshine Salad”.Her’s was pain, grated carrots, raisins, and some mayonnaise before serving. It has always been a favorite of mine.
Lovely to see that you also have a recipe for this.
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Corrie! I hope you give it a try!!
Jen
I’m glad your friends rave about this, but hope they DONT rant! Lol. I like the texture of matchstick over shredded. I leave out the raisins. You can make it more salad-like by adding celery, cucumbers, green pepper, parsley, other herbs.
Sara
Gave this a try with dinner last night and it didn’t disappoint! Even my picky eaters gobbled this up!
Catalina
This carrot salad can be an amazing side dish for my holiday table! Love it!
Toni
I loved it!! Everyone at my house enjoyed this salad!
Erin
This Carrot Salad is seriously making me hungry!
Kimberly
I remember my mom used to make this when we were growing up, it’s yummy!
Amanda
This is a fantastic combination, everyone loved every bite!
Taylor Kiser
This side dish will be a perfect addition to the holiday menu! I love how easy it is to make…so fresh and delicious too!
Heidy M
I made this Carrot Salad for a luncheon and everyone loved it. The textures and flavors were spot on. I will be passing along your recipe link to a few friends. Super excited to see your next creation!
Have a great day
Jacqueline
Oh that looks so tasty. I’d never have thought of adding pineapple. Nice idea!
Jenn
I’m a carrot salad fan but have only ever tried it with raisins. I bet the pineapple gives it even more flavor! I can’t wait to make this salad – I bet it’s delish!
Angela
One of my favorite dishes! I love how easy this is to make. The sweetness of the pineapple and raisins make this dish extra special. YUM!