Creamy Grape Salad with Cream Cheese
Nothing disappears faster at a Southern potluck than a big bowl of Creamy Grape Salad with Cream Cheese. Fresh red and green grapes are coated in a rich, sweet cream cheese dressing, then finished with a buttery brown sugar and pecan topping that adds the perfect crunch. Perfect for the holidays.
Whether you’re planning an Easter dinner, summer barbecue, Thanksgiving feast, Christmas gathering, or church potluck, this easy make-ahead grape salad is always one of the first dishes to disappear.
Looking for more easy make-ahead dishes? Pair this Creamy Grape Salad with cream cheese with favorites like Make-Ahead Macaroni Salad, Best Broccoli Salad Recipe, Easy BBQ Baked Beans with Bacon, and Sweet and Spicy Oven-Baked Ribs for the ultimate Southern meal.
Jump to:
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick & Easy
- No Cooking
- Kid Friendly
- Holiday Favorite
- Make-Ahead
- Doubles Easily
Simple Ingredients Needed
- Grapes: I use both red and green grapes for this recipe. I like the contrast of colors. Choose any fresh seedless grapes.
- Cream Cheese: You’ll need softened cream cheese for a rich and smooth dressing. I use full fat cream cheese.
- Sour Cream: Adds tanginess and keeps the dressing creamy. I use full fat sour cream for the best consistency.
- Sugars: You’ll need white sugar and brown sugar for added sweetness.
- Pecans: Add a crunch. Feel free to toast the pecans if desired or swap them for walnuts.
Recipe Variations
How to Make Southern Grape Salad
Step 1: Wash and dry the grapes well.
Step 2: Using a mixer, blend sour cream, cream cheese, and sugar.
Step 3: Add grapes and gently mix until everything is well coated.
Step 4: Refrigerate for 2-4 hours or overnight. You can serve immediately, but it is better if you can chill it before serving. If serving immediately: Toss together pecans and brown sugar. Then add to the top of the grape mixture. If not serving immediately: Wait to add the topping just before serving.
Recipe Tips
- Dry your grapes well before making this easy grape salad.
- Be sure to use seedless grapes.
- Allow a couple of hours of chilling to improve the flavor.
- Refrigerate for 2-4 hours or overnight. You can serve immediately, but it is better to chill it before serving.
Storing Leftovers
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a few days. It tends to get watery, and the dressing begins to thin out after a day or two.
Make Ahead
This Creamy Grape Salad is the perfect make-ahead recipe for holidays, potlucks, and family gatherings. If you’re preparing it a day in advance, you can mix and prepare following the instructions, or wash and thoroughly dry the grapes, then refrigerate them. Prepare the cream cheese dressing and refrigerate it in a separate airtight container. Mix the brown sugar and chopped pecans and store them in a zip-top bag or airtight container. When you’re ready to serve, gently toss the grapes with the dressing and sprinkle the brown sugar pecan topping over the salad just before serving for the best flavor and crunch.
Perfect Occasions to Serve Creamy Grape Salad
Creamy Grape Salad is a versatile make-ahead dish that’s perfect for gatherings all year long. Serve it at Easter dinner, Mother’s Day brunch, Memorial Day cookouts, and Fourth of July barbecues, or add it to your menu for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. It’s also a favorite for church potlucks, family reunions, baby showers, bridal showers, and Sunday suppers, where its sweet, creamy flavor and easy preparation make it a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Recipe FAQs
Be sure to pat the grapes dry before mixing with the dressing.
Yes! In fact, it tastes even better after chilling. Add the brown sugar and pecans just before serving.
No. You can use all red or all green grapes if that’s what you have.
It can be served as either. In the South, it’s commonly served alongside barbecue, fried chicken, ham, and holiday meals as a sweet side dish.
Freezing isn’t recommended because the creamy dressing separates after thawing.
You could substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream if desired.
More Easy Salad Recipes
If you tried this Creamy Grape Salad with Cream Cheese or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments. Thanks for visiting!
Creamy Grape Salad with Cream Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds green seedless grapes washed and dried
- 1½ pounds purple seedless grapes washed and dried
- 16 oz. sour cream
- 8 oz. cream cheese softened
- 1 cup sugar
- ¼ cup Brown Sugar
- ½ cup pecans chopped
Instructions
- Mix together sour cream, cream cheese, and sugar. Use a mixer to blend until smooth.
- Add grapes to the creamy mixture and gently mix everything together until all is coated.
- Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight. You can serve immediately, but it is better if you can make ahead and chill before serving.
- If serving immediately: Toss together pecans and brown sugar. Then add to the top of the grape mixture. If not serving immediately: Wait to add the topping just before serving.
Notes
- Dry your grapes well before making this easy grape salad.
- Be sure to use seedless grapes.
- Allow a couple of hours of chilling to improve the flavor.
- Refrigerate for 2-4 hours or overnight. You can serve immediately, but it is better to chill it before serving.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a few days. It tends to get watery, and the dressing begins to thin out after a day or two. The nutritional facts are based on an online calculator.
Perfect summer side dish, can’t wait to try!
This looks delicious Gina! And, grapes is one of my favorite fruits, I will give it a try. 😉
Thank you for sharing!
This looks really yum! Grape salad is something new to me, so definitely going to give this a try.
Looks fantastic! I need to try it!
WOW! This looks amazing! I can’t wait to try this recipe for our next family potluck!
I have never heard of grape salad before. It looks delicious. You always share such good recipes!
Thank you! This salad is delicious! Let me know if you try it.
My grandmother used to make grape salad. I haven’t had it in years. I might have to make this soon.
I’d never heard of grape salad before but the combination of ingredients certainly has me intrigued. It does sound like a nice refreshing treat for a warm summer day. I will have to give this a try.
Cream cheese and grapes, sealed the deal! That looks and sounds divine! I can’t wait to try this recipe.
Wow, this sounds fantastic! Never did a salat with grapes before, but I should try this. Thank you for sharing!
This looks so good! I love grapes and I’m definitely making this, thanks for sharing
This recipe looks absolutely amazing! Perfect for summer picnics and easy to do with dinner on a warm night when you don’t want to be cooking! 🙂
This recipe is so refreshing and cool on these hot summer days. Let me know if you try it!
This sounds fantastic! I’m definitely going to give it a try.
Yes, please do! Let me know what you think about the grape salad. It is so refreshing!
I’ve never made a grape salad, but this sounds delicious! And I agree with Melissa… anything with cream cheese is good in my book! I could eat a bowl of just the pecans alone!
Yum, you had me at cream cheese. This reminds me of my favorite salad (lettuce, feta cheese, grapes, pecans, apples), but in a dessert form. Can’t wait to try!