Easy Tropical Fruit Salad (Delicious Summer Side Dish!)

This delicious recipe for Tropical Fruit Salad is loaded with bite sized pieces of all the best tropical fruits, drizzled with a simple honey lime dressing, and garnished with toasted coconut. Craving sweet fruits with the warmer weather? Tropical fruit salad recipe is sure to satisfy your cravings!

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What I Love About Tropical Fruit Salad

5 reasons I think this is the best tropical fruit salad recipe:

• I love that this tropical fruit salad is so fresh and juicy tasting.
• This recipe is perfect for summer BBQs and potlucks. No one else will show up with a dish that tastes just like yours.
• The delicious Honey Lime Dressing on the tropical fruit adds an extra pop of flavor.
• It is so bright and colorful, and you can make it even more colorful by adding other fruits.
• This recipe for tropical fruit salad is easy to make but it tastes special since these aren’t flavors that we eat every day.

Creating this Tropical Fruit Salad

When Madeline turned 1, we had just finished landscaping our backyard in our new-ish home, so we decided to throw a backyard BBQ to celebrate. This way all the kids could enjoy the big play area and the adults could enjoy the nice weather.

I found the cutest little tropical sundress for her to wear for her special day, and I decided to work all the food into the tropical theme. This Tropical Fruit Salad is one of the recipes we served. Everyone loved it!

This recipe was originally published in 2008. It has been edited to include additional information.

Tools for Making Tropical Fruit Salad

Here’s a quick list of some of the different kitchen tools you’ll need to prepare this easy recipe for fruit salad:

• Sharp Knives – a good set of knives is needed to cut the fruits (related: How to Sharpen Knives).
• Measuring Cups and Spoons – to measure the ingredients.
• Large Serving Bowl – use a big bowl to combine all of the fruits with the dressing and toasted coconut for serving.
• Glass Measuring Cup or Small Bowl – you will combine the dressing ingredients and whisk them together.
• Wire Whisk – used to combine the the dressing ingredients.
• Serving Spoon – a large serving spoon works great for serving the salad.

What Fruits are in Tropical Fruit Salad

This recipe for a Tropical Fruit Salad uses some of my favorite tropical fruits for a delicious combination. It’s like a fruit cocktail for grown ups. Here’s what you’ll need to prepare the recipe:

• Fresh Pineapple
• Oranges
• Fresh Papaya
• Fresh Mango
• Kiwi

Ingredients in the Fruit Salad Dressing

This simple honey lime dressing is the perfect way to dress this delicious fruit salad. Here is what you’ll need for the fruit salad dressing recipe:

• Honey
• Fresh Lime Juice
• Lime Zest
• Orange Zest
• Toasted Coconut, for garnish

For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.

How to Make this Tropical Fruit Salad Recipe

This beautiful fruit salad is loaded with Vitamin C and tropical flavors and is an easy side dish for a picnic or BBQ during the summer months. Here’s an overview of the steps to prepare it:

Preparing the Tropical Fruits

1. To prepare the fruit, start by peeling the exterior skins, rinds, or peels (where applicable). Then, discard the peels.
2. Next, cut all of the fruit into evenly sized bite size pieces. Then, add them to a large serving bowl.
3. After, gently stir to distribute all of the fruit types throughout the salad.

TIP: Don’t waste any part of that fresh pineapple! This post shares how to cut a pineapple six different ways, as well as ideas for using the pineapple top and tough skin. 

Preparing the Dressing

1. To prepare this simple dressing, combine the honey, lime juice, and orange zest together in a small, glass measuring cup.
2. Then, whisk until well mixed.

Assembling the Tropical Fruit Salad

1. First, drizzle the dressing over the prepared tropical fruit and gently toss to coat.
2. Then, mix in half of the toasted coconut. Cover and chill for up to 8 hours, but at least 2 hours.
3. Next, garnish with the remaining toasted coconut just before serving.
4. Optional: for an extra pretty presentation, garnish with fresh mint leaves and sliced lime wedges.

The above is simply a quick summary of this recipe. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.

How to Toast Coconut

Learn how to toast coconut flakes in 3 different ways (they’re all super easy!), how to store toasted coconut, how long toasted coconut lasts, and the many different ways you can use this fun, tasty ingredient! 

What is the Best Way to Cut Oranges for Fruit Salad

I like to supreme the oranges, and then cut each segment into smaller pieces. Learn How to Supreme an Orange, which removes the white pith and the skin. It’s the best way to segment an orange!

Are There Other Fruits I Can Add?

Want to add more, or different, fruits to this recipe for a variety of colors? Pretty much any fresh tropical fruit would taste good in this salad recipe.

Below are some of my suggestions for great additions to this fresh fruit salad recipe, however some may be harder than others to find in your local grocery store.

• Guava
• Lychee
• Avocado
• Bananas
• Star Fruit
• Rambutan
• Mangosteen
• Golden Kiwi
• Dragon Fruit
• Passion Fruit
• Different Oranges: Cara Cara Oranges, Mandarin Oranges, Blood Oranges, Tangerines

If you do add different, or additional, fruits, then the nutrition facts that are displayed in the recipe card will likely be different.

Can I Make Fruit Salad Ahead of Time?

If you are pressed for time the day you plan to serve this tropical fruit salad, you can easily prepare it the day before. You’ll need to store it in an airtight container or covered tightly with plastic wrap.

For the best flavor results, I don’t recommend preparing it more than 24 hours in advance since fruit salad only lasts a few days in the refrigerator anyway.

The dressing, however, can be made 2-3 days in advance as long as all of the ingredients are fresh and you store it in the refrigerator.

What is the Best Way to Store Leftover Fruit Salad?

If you have leftovers that you’d like to save for the next day, the best way to store it is in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Make sure you don’t let the fruit salad sit out for too long before storing the leftovers. Leftover Tropical Fruit Salad will taste best within about 3 days of preparing it, but it can last up to 5 days.

Can I Freeze Fruit Salad?

Technically, yes. However, the consistency and texture will be no where near the same.

If you’re going to freeze this tropical fruit salad, it is really only good for blending in smoothies, a smoothie bowl topper, making a fruit sorbet, or as part of a breakfast parfait.

Ways to Serve This Fruit Salad Recipe

This fruit salad recipe tastes in so many different ways besides just the typical side dish option! Here are some of my serving suggestions:

• For Breakfast – Tropical Fruit Salad tastes amazing on Greek Yogurt for breakfast. Or, try adding some sliced almonds and/or some granola for a little crunch!
• Dessert – Serve this Tropical Fruit Salad with vanilla ice cream on whipped cream for a cold, light dessert during the summer. Want to get fancy? Try serving it with dessert crepes.
• Side Dish – add a large bowl of this fruit salad as a side dish at a weekend brunch or along with an evening meal on hot summer days (see my recipe ideas in the section below)
• Topping for Meats – You can also use it as a topping for grilled meats. It goes especially great on grilled chicken or fish.
• Inside Tacos – use it as a fruity salsa and add some to your tacos!

What to Serve with this Tropical Fruit Salad

I’ve been wanting to get together all the recipes I used for Madeline’s Tropical Birthday Party. I was so pleased with how all the food turned out and the guests were too! Here’s what we served with it:

• Caribbean Chicken with Pineapple Salsa
• A Green Salad made with romaine lettuce, mango, avocado, and lime vinaigrette
• Coconut Jasmine Rice (or Coconut Quinoa)

For drinks, these recipes Fresh Pineapple Moscow Mule and Pineapple Cooler would go great!

More Tropical Recipes

In this Pineapple Coconut Kale Smoothie, frozen pineapple is combined with kale, coconut oil, chia seeds, water, and orange juice for a refreshing green smoothie.

Coconut Chia Pudding Parfaits with Tropical Fruit Turmeric Puree are a delicious breakfast treat or afternoon snack featuring coconut milk chia pudding layered with blended tropical fruits.

Thanks to its bright, fruity flavors, Coconut Lime Banana Bread is perfect for spring baking with its fun, tropical twist.

Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies get a make over with white chocolate, coconut, macadamia nuts, and lemon. These White Chocolate Lemon Coconut Cookies are the perfect spring and summer cookie.

This quick and healthy Pineapple Orange Smoothie is made with frozen fruit, coconut milk, and a secret ingredient that really amps up the orange flavor.

These Coconut Lime Bars are so tasty! They have a Macadamia Nut Crust with a sweet and tangy filling that is topped off with a sprinkling of toasted coconut. Learn how easy it is to make this Lime Bar Recipe. It’s perfect for a summer dessert!

Don’t see what you’re looking for here? You can always head over to check out the recipe index to look for more recipes.

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Photography: photos taken in this post are by Rachael from Set the Table.