Carrot Raisin Salad

This simple carrot raisin salad is creamy, refreshing, and comes collectively in simply 10 minutes with 7 easy components. It’s the right aspect dish for potlucks, picnics, and household meals!

In the event you’re searching for a scrumptious and straightforward salad that’s surprisingly addictive, this carrot raisin salad is a must-try!

This recipe is my home made tackle the favored Chick-fil-A carrot raisin salad that I used to like (earlier than it was sadly discontinued). However belief me — this home made model is simply pretty much as good, if not higher! The mix of crunchy shredded carrots, candy chewy raisins, and a creamy dressing is solely irresistible. I might actually eat this complete salad to myself!

And in case you love Chick-fil-A copycat recipes, make sure to take a look at my kale crunch salad or wholesome Chick-Fil-A sauce — each are filled with the identical crave-worthy flavors however with a more healthy twist!

Why This Wholesome Carrot Raisin Salad is a Should-Strive

Fast and straightforward – This salad comes collectively in lower than 10 minutes!
Minimal components – You solely want 7 easy components.
Versatile – That is the right salad to get pleasure from by itself or as a aspect dish.

Elements Wanted for Carrot Raisin Salad

You solely want seven easy components to make this carrot salad with raisins. I wager you have already got most of these things in your kitchen proper now.

carrots – the star of the dish, offering a contemporary, candy crunch. I like to recommend utilizing complete carrots that you simply hand-shred with a field grater as a substitute of utilizing pre-shredded carrots from the shop. They gained’t look the identical and the feel will probably be totally different.
raisins – one other key ingredient on this salad. Raisins add a chewy texture, pure sweetness and pair completely with the carrots. I used common raisins, however golden raisins may also work if that’s what you might have available.
Greek yogurt – provides a creamy base for the dressing. I like to recommend utilizing plain, full-fat or 2% Greek yogurt. In the event you’re not a fan of Greek yogurt or don’t have any available you should utilize bitter cream or a plant-based yogurt in its place.
mayonnaise – enhances the tangy yogurt to create a wealthy, easy dressing.
honey – a contact of pure sweetness to stability out the flavors of the dressing. Maple syrup can be substitute in case you don’t have any honey available.
lemon juice – provides a shiny, tangy word to the dressing.
pinch of salt – enhances the general style of the salad.

Non-obligatory Add-Ins & Variations

I like this simple carrot salad as is, however you possibly can all the time customise this recipe by including some further mix-in’s. Listed here are some concepts:

Add herbs: Sprinkle some contemporary chopped parsley or mint for a refreshing contact that cuts by means of the creaminess of the dressing.
Nuts or seeds: Add a handful of sunflower seeds or chopped walnuts, almonds or pecans for a pleasant crunch and an additional dose of wholesome fat.
Pineapple: The Chick-Fil-A carrot raisin salad that I cherished a lot had pineapple chunks in it, which might make for an awesome addition to this recipe. You possibly can add a can of drained pineapple chunks or tidbits, however I wouldn’t use crushed pineapple.
Apple: A chopped tart apple like Pink Woman or Honeycrisp would make for an awesome addition to this salad.
Add spices: Add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the dressing for a heat, spicy word that pairs splendidly with the sweetness of the carrots and raisins.

Easy methods to Make Carrot Raisin Salad

One of the best factor about this salad is how easy it’s to make. As soon as your carrots are shredded this salad comes collectively in a matter of minutes!

Step 1: In the event you haven’t already, peel and shred your carrots. Add the shredded carrots and raisins to a medium mixing bowl, then add the Greek yogurt, mayo, honey, lemon juice and salt.

Step 2: Stir to totally mix till the whole lot is coated with the dressing. Get pleasure from straight away or retailer within the fridge till you’re able to serve. How simple is that?!

Skilled Ideas for the Finest Carrot Raisin Salad

Use complete carrots that you simply hand-shred as a substitute of pre-shredded ones from the shop. In the event you’re in a pinch, you should utilize the store-bought carrots, however the texture gained’t be the identical.
In case your raisins are a bit dry, plump them up by soaking them in heat water for a couple of minutes. Drain effectively earlier than including to the salad.
Regulate the Greek yogurt and mayo ratio based mostly in your desire for creaminess. Extra yogurt makes it tangier, whereas extra mayo provides richness.
Letting the salad chill within the fridge for at the least half-hour permits the flavors to meld collectively properly.

Methods to Serve Carrot Raisin Salad

I might actually eat an entire bowl of this creamy carrot raisin salad by itself, however I additionally love including it to different salad or bowl recipes like this grilled hen salad or buddha bowl.

This salad additionally makes for an awesome aspect dish to any dinner, potluck or summer time cookout served alongside my fave turkey burgers, cilantro lime hen burgers, grilled candy potatoes and this wholesome pasta salad.

Easy methods to Retailer & Meal Prep

Retailer this carrot and raisin salad in an hermetic container within the fridge for 3-4 days.

In the event you’re planning to retailer the salad for a couple of days, contemplate retaining the dressing separate and mixing it in simply earlier than serving to take care of the perfect texture of the carrots and raisins.

In the event you retailer the salad for greater than 2 days within the fridge it might change into watery as among the moisture will get pulled from the carrots.

Carrot Raisin Salad FAQs

What’s one of the best ways to shred carrots for this salad?

Hand-shredded carrots have the perfect texture! Use a field grater or meals processor for the freshest outcomes. Pre-shredded store-bought carrots are typically too dry and difficult for this recipe.

How do you retain carrot raisin salad from getting watery?

Shredded carrots launch moisture over time, which might skinny out the dressing. If making this prematurely, retailer the dressing individually and blend earlier than serving.

Is carrot raisin salad good for you?

Sure! This salad is filled with fiber, nutritional vitamins, and antioxidants from the carrots and raisins. Plus, utilizing Greek yogurt as a substitute of conventional heavy dressings retains it lighter and protein-rich whereas nonetheless being creamy and scrumptious.

Are you able to freeze carrot raisin salad?

Freezing isn’t beneficial because the carrots will lose their crunch and the dressing could separate when thawed. For finest outcomes, retailer it within the fridge and revel in it contemporary inside a couple of days.