Friends, I’ve finally cracked the code for recreating the famous Chick-fil-A carrot raisin salad at home!
Discontinued in 2013, this retro dish is the perfect blend of sweet and tangy. It combines crisp shredded carrots, plump raisins, and juicy pineapple in a creamy dressing.
One bite, and you’ll agree this copycat recipe is spot-on.
Whip up a batch for your next picnic, potluck, or barbecue, and watch it disappear!
Why You’ll Love This Carrot Raisin Salad
Quick & Easy: With just six ingredients and minimal prep, you can throw this dish together in 10 minutes or less.
Nostalgic Appeal: Full of nostalgia, this retro salad is a blast from the past! So it’s guaranteed to satisfy.
Make-Ahead Marvel: Simply prep and chill the salad until ready to serve.
Versatile Pairing: From grilled meats to sandwiches, this salad pairs well with a wide variety of main dishes.
Ingredients
- Shredded Carrots: Crunchy, sweet, and packed with vitamins. Use freshly grated carrots for the best flavor and texture.
- Raisins: They add a chewy texture and little bursts of sweetness.
- Crushed Pineapple: Adds a little tropical tang in every bite! The juices infuse the salad with a subtle sweetness and helps marry the flavors.
- Granulated Sugar: A pinch to balance the acidity and enhance the natural flavors of the ingredients.
- Mayonnaise: For the dressing. The creaminess coats every shred and morsel, creating a luxurious texture and rich mouthfeel.
- Lemon Juice: Adds a bright citrus pop! It also helps prevent the carrots from browning.
- Pineapple Chunks (optional): For garnish.
How to Make Carrot Raisin Salad
This salad comes together in minutes with minimal ingredients. Just combine, stir, and chill.
1. Combine. In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded carrots, raisins, crushed pineapple (with its juice), sugar, mayonnaise, and lemon juice.
2. Mix. Stir everything together.
3. Chill. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
4. Serve. Serve chilled with extra pineapple chunks and enjoy!
Tips for the Best Carrot Raisin Salad
To achieve that signature Chick-fil-A flavor, follow these tips:
- Fresh is best. Use a box grater or food processor to shred fresh, whole carrots for the best texture. Pre-shredded carrots are too dry.
- Plump up the raisins. Soak the raisins in warm water for a few minutes to plump them up before adding to the salad.
- Select your sweetness. The original Chick-fil-A recipe used 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons sugar. But you can adjust the amount of sugar to taste.
- Swap out the mayo. For a healthier, tangy twist, substitute some or all of the mayo with Greek yogurt.
- Have fun and experiment. Try adding chopped apples, nuts, seeds, or swapping raisins for dried cranberries for variety.
How to Store
For the best flavor and texture, enjoy this salad within the first 2 days. Also, give it a good stir before serving to redistribute the dressing.
To Store: Place the salad in an air-tight container. Refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.
Carrot Raisin Salad
6
servings10
minutes211
kcalThis copycat Chick-fil-A carrot raisin salad is so spot-on! It has all the classic flavors of raisins, pineapple, sugar, mayo, and carrots you know and love.
Ingredients
4 1/2 cups shredded carrots
3/4 cup raisins
1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple, including the juice
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 1/2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 cup pineapple chunks or tidbits, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded carrots, raisins, crushed pineapple (with its juice), sugar, mayonnaise, and lemon juice.
- Stir everything together thoroughly until all the ingredients are evenly coated.
- Cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to develop and meld together.
- Serve chilled with pineapple chunks for garnish, and enjoy!
What size can of pineapple are you using? The large or the small?
You call for crushed pineapple yet in the photos I see chunk pineapple. I do not know what one to use. please explane
Hi William!
You’ll need crushed pineapple. The chunks are just for garnish and are optional.
I’ve clarified that in the recipe, so thanks for asking!