This post may contain references to products from one or more of our advertisers. Oh Sweet Basil may receive compensation when you click on links to such products.
This Lemon Mandarin Orange Jello Salad is a creamy, citrusy classic that has been a staple at our Thanksgiving table for as long as I can remember. The bright lemon flavor mixed with sweet mandarin oranges makes it the perfect balance of refreshing and nostalgic.
I grew up eating it every year, and now it’s one of those recipes my kids look forward to just as much as the turkey.
Growing up in Washington, I truly believed Jello salad was a universal Thanksgiving staple. It wasn’t until I casually mentioned it to a friend and she stared at me like I was speaking another language that I realized… maybe not everyone was scooping neon gelatin at holiday dinners. Then I moved to Utah and discovered that Jello salad was not only normal, but beloved. I had finally found my people!
Lemon Mandarin Orange Jello Salad Ingredients
Unlike most Thanksgiving desserts, this Jello fruit salad recipe requires very few ingredients to make. Here’s what you’ll need to make this mandarin orange salad:
- Orange Jello: gives the salad its sweet citrus flavor and signature color.
- Boiling Water: helps dissolve the Jello for a smooth, even texture.
- Frozen Orange Juice Concentrate: adds a bright, tangy punch that deepens the orange flavor.
- Mandarin Oranges: bring juicy bursts of sweetness and texture to every bite.
- Instant Lemon Pudding Mix: adds creamy thickness and a subtle tart contrast.
- Milk: combines with the pudding to create that silky, luscious base.
- Cool Whip: makes the salad light, fluffy, and perfectly airy.
What is Jello Salad?
Jello salad is a classic, old-school dish made with flavored gelatin and fruit, often layered with creamy toppings like pudding, cottage cheese, Cool Whip, or cream cheese.
Some versions include carrots, nuts, coconut, or marshmallows, but this one keeps things simple with a bright lemon pudding topping and sweet mandarin oranges throughout. It’s nostalgic, kid-friendly, and one of those recipes many of us grew up seeing on the dinner table or at holiday gatherings.
How to Make Jello Salad
This mandarin orange Jello salad couldn’t be easier to make! It takes quite a while for the salad to set, but the hands-on prep work is minimal. Here’s how to make Jello salad:
- Mix: Combine the boiling water and orange Jello in a 9×13-inch pan, stirring until fully dissolved.
- Add: Stir in the frozen orange juice concentrate and drained mandarin oranges until evenly mixed.
- Chill: Place in the fridge and let the Jello set completely.
- Whisk: Near the end of the chill time, mix the pudding and milk together until thick and smooth.
- Fold: Gently stir the Cool Whip into the pudding mixture, then spread it evenly over the set Jello layer.
- Garnish: Top with extra mandarin oranges and return to the fridge to chill before serving.
Tips for Making Lemon Mandarin Orange Jello Salad
Swap the Cool Whip if needed: If you can’t find Cool Whip, another whipped topping or homemade whipped cream works. Just remember that homemade whipped cream will soften and deflate more quickly.
Use instant pudding: Make sure you choose instant lemon pudding, not cook-and-serve, or the topping will not set correctly.
Choose oranges in water: Mandarin oranges packed in water keep the salad balanced. The syrup-packed kind will make it overly sweet.
Is Jello Salad a Dessert or a Side?
Do you think of Jello recipes as desserts or salads? Whenever it is served with whipped cream and marshmallows, it is a dessert. If it is served with tons of fruit added, it can be called a “fruit salad.” Yes, I realize this mandarin orange Jello salad should probably be a dessert, but my family always served it as a side dish when I was little so I serve it as a side today as well. Dessert is for all the pies!
Want to Make This Recipe Sugar-Free?
If you can find sugar-free versions of the lemon instant pudding and orange Jello mix, then yes, you can definitely make this Jello salad sugar-free if desired. I’ve also seen sugar free Cool Whip!
Note that sugar-free pudding and Jello mixes typically tend to be smaller than the regular versions, so you may need to buy multiple packs to make enough Jello salad to fill a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Prep Ahead and Storage Instructions
This Jello fruit salad is perfect for making ahead of a busy holiday. You can assemble the entire dish up to a day in advance, then cover it tightly with plastic wrap and keep it chilled until serving. Any leftovers should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator and will stay fresh for about 2–3 days.
There’s just something nostalgic and comforting about a simple Jello salad, and this lemon mandarin version might be our favorite. It’s cool, creamy, citrusy, and unbelievably easy. Whether you’re making it for Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or a weeknight dinner, it always brings a smile.
More Easy Thanksgiving Side Dishes:
- Instant Pot Southern Macaroni and Cheese
- Strawberry Fluff Fruit Dip
- The Best Mashed Potatoes
- Sweet Potato Casserole
- …All of our Thanksgiving Recipes!
Lemon Mandarin Orange Jello
Ingredients
- 3 Cups Boiling Water
- 1 Box Orange Jello, 6 ounce
- 6 Ounces Dole Frozen Orange Juice Concentrate, (half of a 12 oz can)
- 1 ½ Cans Dole Mandarin Oranges, 11-ounce, almost completely drained and divided
- 1 Box Instant Lemon Pudding, 3.4 ounce
- 1 Cup Milk
- 8 Ounces Cool Whip
Instructions
- Mix the boiling water with the jello in a 9×13-inch pan until all of the granules are dissolved.3 Cups Boiling Water, 1 Box Orange Jello
- Add the frozen concentrate and 1 can mandarin oranges with whatever juice is remaining and stir to combine.6 Ounces Dole Frozen Orange Juice Concentrate, 1 ½ Cans Dole Mandarin Oranges
- Place in the fridge until set, about 3 hours.
- In a bowl, combine pudding and milk until thick.1 Box Instant Lemon Pudding, 1 Cup Milk
- Fold in the whipped topping and spread on the jello salad.8 Ounces Cool Whip
- Place remaining oranges on top as garnish and chill for about 20-30 minutes until set.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Love this recipe but i think I messed it up. I weighed 8 oz of cool whip and I found the top layer to be very runny. Was it supposed to be measured as 1 cup of cool whip? Runny but still tasty!!
Hi Emily! For the topping, you want to combine the milk and the pudding powder and let it set in the fridge until it sets up as pudding. Then fold in the 8oz of Cool Whip. It shouldn’t be runny. It should be about the same consistency as the pudding. I hope this help! I’m glad you still enjoyed it!
The mandarin oranges that go into the jello are they whole or do you chop them into pieces?
Hey Pam! I just leave them whole but you could half them if you want. Enjoy!
Thanks for a great looking Jello salad/dessert. We like Jello a lot and have it often. I think it is crazy that Jello gets so many bad comments anymore. It is so versatile.
I also have enjoyed you and your site over the years!!
Thank you so much Virginia! Jello rules!
Do you think this would work in a mold? Thanks. Am excited to try.
Yes, it definitely would work in mold! Enjoy!
I just realized I bought a 3oz package yellow and not a 6-oz. Do you think I could still make it and it be okay or do I need to wait to get more jello?
This recipe is a hit at every family function. Kids and adults love it and it’s so simple and fun to make!
Thank you so much Shauna! It is a hit in our family too!
Hi, I’m making this for my fiance for his birthday. He just loves oranges and lemons and this is the perfect for him! Just a quick question, for the milk – is it fresh, evaporated, or condensed?
Thank you!
Hey Rees! Just regular milk! Happy birthday to your fiancee!!
Love it !!!! Oh so yummy this way. I do remember growing up and having something similar but this is the best.!!! Thanks for the trip down memory lane
Thanks Roxy! This is one of those recipes that takes you right back to your childhood!
Love it !!!!
Thank you!!