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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.
I grew up with a version of this jello dish, but my mother did include grated carrots and also a small can of crushed pineapple. And certainly no sweet topping, since it was a salad. I still like to serve it as a refreshing counterpoint to chili.
It is such a classic jello salad! It is a perfect side dish for chili!
I love this jello salad! I always used it as a desert, though. Have taken it to many pot-luck dinners and it is always a hit!
It works perfectly as a side or a dessert! And we never have leftovers! Thanks for the feedback Chris!!
This is one of my families favorites though we make ours with the mandarin oranges and with crushed pineapple, not drained. Since there is some juice in the crushed pineapple we only use 2 cups of water for the jello. It is always a staple at Christmas and Easter as well as other times of the year. Yes we serve it as part of dinner 🙂
It is so so good! Merry Christmas to you and your family!
This looks amazing! Can it be made the day before? ?? I’d love to serve it for thanksgiving this year!
Yes it can be made the day before, though I do not put the topping on until the day we are going to serve it.
My mother loved Jello. One of my favorites was black cherry jello (set, then chunked up) with cool whip & sliced bananas stirred in. We had it often as a side dish growing up. Sadly my kids were never fond of Jello.
That sounds so good!
This looks delish! Will give it a try. Last week my sister and I made my mom’s jello salad we had eaten for Thanksgiving and Christmas growing up since the early 70’s in California. This may sound weird but was quite tasty – basically lime jello, some mayo, and lots of sliced jalapeño and put in a beautiful ring mold. My mom is no longer able to cook so it was fun to recreate this childhood memory.
I love how connected food can be to memories and traditions! Let us know what you think of this orange jello salad!
We make a slightly different version of this where we mix cooked lemon pudding with the orange jello. Here’s that version in case you want to try it:
Mell-O Jell-O
1 can (11 oz.) Mandarin Oranges
1 large pkg. Orange Jell-O
2 cups boiling Water
4 1/4 cups Water, divided
1 large pkg. Cook and Serve Lemon Pudding
2 Egg yolks
1/2 cup Sugar
Topping
1 small pkg. instant Lemon Pudding
1 cup Milk
2 cups Cool Whip
Drain the mandarin oranges. According to the package directions, dissolve the gelatin in 2 cups of boiling water, then stir in 2 cups cool water. Set aside.
Prepare the Cook and Serve Lemon Pudding with the egg yolks, sugar, and water indicated in the ingredient list.. Add it the orange gelatin and whisk to combine. Pour into a 9×13” pan. Fold in drained mandarin oranges. Refrigerate until set.
Topping: Combine instant pudding mix and milk and stir for 2 minutes to dissolve pudding mix. Fold in Cool Whip. Spread over first layer.
Note: Alternatively, use a larger 15 oz. can of mandarin oranges and reserve several for garnish on top.
That sounds amazing! Trying it for Thanksgiving this year!
Do you wait until the jello is set, before adding the lemon pudding, and the Mandarin oranges? Thank you.
Yes, wait until the jello is set. Enjoy!
I was talking about the Mello-jello recipe, when I asked if you wait until the jello is set, before adding the pudding to the jello. It didn’t sound like it had to be set first. And also, do you only add 2 1/4 cups water to the pudding, since you add 2 of the 4 1/4 cups water to the jello?
Oh gotcha! I’m not sure since it isn’t our recipe. You’ll have to see if the person who made the comment responds.
Oh yeah, we had jello in various versions often, but had a special recipe we only used for Thanksgiving and Christmas:
Cranberry Jell-O Salad
Jell-O
3 3oz pkgs. Strawberry Jell-O
3 cups boiling Water
2 small pkgs. frozen Strawberries in Sugar Syrup (10 oz. Each) (without sugar syrup probably ok too)
1 can jellied Cranberry sauce (the smooth kind, not the one with chunks of cranberries)
1 small can crushed Pineapple, drained
4 Bananas, sliced or mashed (I don’t like slimy bananas, so I mash mine. Mom always sliced them)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans, optional
Topping
6 Tbsp. Sugar
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 pint Sour Cream
Dissolve Jell-O in water. Stir in fruits and nuts. Pour mixture into a large pan, and let it set up in refrigerator.
When set; mix sugar and vanilla into sour cream. Spread over salad.
Notes:
Knox unflavored gelatin may be added to the sour cream mixture to thicken it.
If you want a top layer of Jell-O, save 1 package of Jell-O for the top. After the sour cream is on top of the set Jell-O, mix the last package of Jell-O according to the directions and let it cool and start to thicken. Carefully pour it over the sour cream layer. You may want a deeper layer of Jell-O on top…so you may want a large box for the top rather than a small. It’s a bit tricky to cover the sour cream with jello without drilling a hole in the sour cream. I try to pour the jello onto a spoon or spatula so that it doesn’t go straight down in a stream. I also tend to start in a corner and flood the top from there.
This sounds amazing! Can’t wait to try it!
I grew up in a large rural family in the 60s and Jell-O (in many different forms and salads) was on our table frequently. I love it! I have to also say that when I was nursing my babies and it seemed like everything I ate gave them horrible gas I often ate Jell-O just to fill me up.
Oh that would have been so good to know as my babies suffered too! Wish I’d thought of that.
Yes, I am one of those who ONLY had Jello for holidays and like you, I like to include it in our menu. I have several of those rolling eyes in my family too!
Sadly, I can’t tolerate instant pudding so will have to improvise somehow.
I loved your post and it brought back many happy memories!
I’m so glad to hear that! I’m sure you could whip together a cook, homemade pudding or lemon curd with whipped cream would be even better!
You did not indicate what size can of orange juice concentrate…….6 oz or 12 oz?
oh! 12 Ounce, thank you!
Could sugar free gelatin & pudding mix be substituted for this recipe?
Yes if you can find the flavors in sugar free. I don’t think I’ve ever seen sugar free orange jello or sugar free lemon pudding. Sugar free packets also usually tend to be smaller in ounces than the regular, so be sure you buy enough! Enjoy!