Creamy Orange Gelatin Salad with Cottage Cheese and Pineapple

This old-fashioned Orange Jell-O Salad with cottage cheese combines bright citrus flavor with a creamy, fluffy texture for a nostalgic dessert or side dish. It’s perfect for holidays, potlucks, or a comforting Sunday dinner.

A Retro Classic

This blog celebrates old-fashioned sweet salads, and readers told me many families still enjoy cottage cheese gelatin salads. I revisited some classic recipes and this Orange Jell-O Salad with Cottage Cheese was one of the most popular.

Many vintage recipes use lime gelatin, but the orange version is bright and fruity — a true retro favorite.

The salad is fluffy and creamy, with mandarin oranges and crushed pineapple folded into a simple base of cottage cheese, orange gelatin, and whipped topping. It comes together quickly, can be made ahead, and brings a little nostalgia to the table.

Enjoy! Kate

Just 5 Ingredients!

How to Make Orange Jell-O Salad with Cottage Cheese

1. Stir together the orange gelatin powder and cottage cheese until evenly combined.
2. Fold in the whipped topping, drained crushed pineapple, and drained mandarin oranges. Reserve a few mandarin slices for garnish if desired.
3. Spread the mixture into an 8×8 or 9×9-inch baking dish and smooth the top.
4. Refrigerate for at least two hours, then serve with a spoon or cut into slices.

Serving Tips and Variations

Serve this salad sliced from the pan or spooned straight from a bowl. If you serve from a bowl, transfer the mixture after folding and chill for a few hours before serving.

Swap gelatin flavors to change the profile: lime gelatin is a popular alternative. If you use lime gelatin, try substituting 1 cup mini marshmallows for the mandarin oranges for a more traditional lime-cottage-cheese salad. For a crunchy addition, fold in ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans.

📖 Recipe

Orange Jell-O Salad with Cottage Cheese

This classic gelatin salad features mandarin oranges, crushed pineapple, and cottage cheese folded into a light, fruity dressing.

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 0 mins

Refrigeration time: 2 hrs

Total Time: 2 hrs 10 mins

Servings: 9

Calories: 182 kcal

Ingredients

• 16 oz cottage cheese
• 1 package (3 oz) orange Jell-O
• 1 can (15 oz) mandarin oranges, drained
• 1 can (8 oz) crushed pineapple, drained
• 1 container (8 oz) Cool Whip (or 1 cup heavy cream, whipped)
• ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

Instructions

• Place the cottage cheese and orange Jell-O powder in a large bowl and mix until combined.
• Add the drained mandarin oranges, drained crushed pineapple, and Cool Whip. Fold gently to combine. Stir in chopped nuts if desired.
• Transfer to a serving bowl or an 8×8 or 9×9-inch dish. Refrigerate at least 2 hours, until chilled and slightly set. Serve sliced or spooned into bowls.

Notes

You can use lime gelatin instead of orange. For lime, consider replacing mandarin oranges with 1 cup mini marshmallows. The salad keeps 4–5 days in the fridge when tightly covered and can be made 1–2 days ahead.

Nutrition

Calories: 182 kcal | Carbohydrates: 26 g | Protein: 8 g | Fat: 6 g | Sugar: 24 g

More Classic Sweet Salads