Delicious and easy grape salad recipe made completely dairy-free! This creamy side dish features pecans and bacon for extra crunch and flavor. It’s perfect for a picnic or a potluck and is made healthy without any added sugar or sweetener!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
The first time I had a creamy grape salad was several years back at a book club potluck. I didn’t even know that it was a popular Southern dish, and I was fascinated by how surprisingly delicious it was. However, I remember not feeling too great afterward from the high amount of dairy and added sugar in the dish— traditional recipes use cream cheese, plain Greek yogurt, or sour cream, and brown sugar/white sugar for added sweetness.
Grapes are super easy to find right now, and recently, when I was at the grocery store, I was reminded of that yummy dish I ate so long ago. I decided to make a Paleo and Whole30 Grape Salad Recipe that’s low in sugar and dairy-free but just as creamy and delicious as the original!
Instead of the classic recipe ingredients, this dairy-free grape salad is made with a tangy dressing of mayonnaise and apple cider vinegar. The crunchy pecans and bacon complement the creaminess of the salad perfectly. I also can’t get enough of how the salty bacon balances out the sweetness of the juicy grapes! Easy recipe, tons of flavor–the BEST!
How to Make Grape Salad with Pecans and Bacon
With just 5 simple ingredients and 10 minutes of cooking time, you don’t need fancy kitchen skills to make this easy grape salad. Plus, because we’re not using cream cheese, you don’t need an electric mixer or hand mixer. See the printable recipe card below for amounts and notes.
Watch a Short Video of This Recipe
Ingredient Notes
- thick-cut bacon: Look for sugar-free and nitrate-free bacon for Whole30.
- green seedless grapes: I like to use both red and green grapes for dimension and flavor, but you can use just one type of grape or even the additional black grape if desired. A variety of grapes adds to the presentation of the salad. I do recommend using crisp grapes, as softer ones make the salad a bit too mushy.
- seedless red grapes
- mayonnaise: I like to use mayonnaise made with high-quality oils like avocado oil or olive oil. This is my favorite brand.
- apple cider vinegar
- chopped pecans: I love pecans, but you can use different nuts if preferred. Walnuts would also work really well.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Heat a dry skillet over medium heat and add the bacon slices. Pan fry for 8-10 minutes, turning every few minutes, until brown and crispy.
- Remove the bacon slices and crumble into bits.
- In a large mixing bowl, add grapes, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, and half of the bacon bits. Fold to combine and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
- When ready to serve, gently toss the grape salad mixture again to coat with the creamy dressing that can settle to the bottom.
- Sprinkle in the chopped pecans and the rest of the bacon, and toss together.
That’s it! The hardest part is waiting for the flavors to meld together while it chills before serving.
Expert Tips
While the instructions are simple and pretty straightforward, here are some additional tips to make this delicious grape salad recipe.
- To halve the grapes in a short amount of time, sandwich several grapes between the bottoms of 2 plates of the same size. Hold down the top plate with one hand, and with the other hand, run a sharp knife between the two plates to slice the grapes at once. Repeat until all the grapes are halved.
- To keep this healthy grape salad recipe Whole30 and paleo compliant, use mayonnaise made with high-quality oils like avocado oil or olive oil. This is my favorite brand. Also – use bacon that’s free of sugar and nitrates.
- For the crunch factor, I like to use pecans because of their amazing buttery taste, but walnuts will also work well!
- Some recipes call for a little bit of brown sugar for sweetness. I don’t find that to be necessary, but if you need a little more sweetness, feel free to add coconut sugar. Keep in mind that it will not be considered Whole30 with the added sugar.
- If you want to add some protein or turn this into a chicken salad, you could add a cup or two of cooked shredded chicken or chopped chicken. Keep in mind that you might need to add a bit more mayo.
- Keep in mind that whole grapes can be a choking hazard, so it’s best to cut them in halves or quarters, especially if kids will be eating this delicious recipe.
Serving Tips
Serve chilled, as it’s not as good at room temperature. It is a great make-ahead side dish for a potluck or family dinner on a hot summer day or really any time of year. Make it, store it in the refrigerator, and serve it when ready!
This perfect dish is full of creamy goodness and is such a crowd pleaser. No one will even know it’s a healthier alternative to the classic Southern grape salad.
Storage Tips
Store your leftover grape salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Give it a good stir before serving.
Recipe FAQs
To halve the grapes in a short amount of time, sandwich several grapes between the bottoms of 2 plates of the same size. Hold down the top plate with one hand, and with the other hand, run a sharp knife between the two plates to slice the grapes at once. Repeat until all the grapes are halved.
More Salad Recipes
Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad
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Amazing Creamy Grape Salad Recipe (Dairy-Free)
Video
Ingredients
- 4 slices thick-cut bacon
- 1 lb green seedless grapes halved
- 1 lb red seedless grapes halved
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
Instructions
- Heat a dry skillet over medium heat and add the bacon slices. Pan fry for 8-10 minutes, turning every few minutes, until brown and crispy.
- Remove the bacon slices and crumble into bits.
- In a large mixing bowl, add grapes, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, and half of the bacon bits. Stir to combine and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- When ready to serve, gently toss the grape salad again to coat with the creamy dressing that can settle to the bottom.
- Add the chopped pecans and rest of the bacon, and toss together. Serve.
Notes
Expert Tips
While the instructions are simple and pretty straightforward, here are some additional tips to make this delicious grape salad recipe.- To halve the grapes in a short amount of time, sandwich several grapes between the bottoms of 2 plates of the same size. Hold down the top plate with one hand, and with the other hand, run a sharp knife between the two plates to slice the grapes at once. Repeat until all the grapes are halved.
- To keep this healthy grape salad recipe Whole30 and paleo compliant, use mayonnaise made with high-quality oils like avocado oil or olive oil. This is my favorite brand. Also – use bacon that’s free of sugar and nitrates.
- For the crunch factor, I like to use pecans because of their amazing buttery taste, but walnuts will also work well!
- Some recipes call for a little bit of brown sugar for sweetness. I don’t find that to be necessary, but if you need a little more sweetness, feel free to add coconut sugar. Keep in mind that it will not be considered Whole30 with the added sugar.
- If you want to add some protein or turn this into a chicken salad, you could add a cup or two of cooked shredded chicken or chopped chicken. Keep in mind that you might need to add a bit more mayo.
- Keep in mind that whole grapes can be a choking hazard, so it’s best to cut them in halves or quarters, especially if kids will be eating this delicious recipe.
Serving Tips
Serve chilled, as it’s not as good at room temperature. It is a great make-ahead side dish for a potluck or family dinner on a hot summer day or really any time of year. Make it, store it in the refrigerator, and serve it when ready! This perfect dish is full of creamy goodness and is such a crowd pleaser. No one will even know it’s a healthier alternative to the classic Southern grape salad.Storage Tips
Store your leftover grape salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Give it a good stir before serving.Regarding other affiliate links and affiliate relationships: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog. Thank you for your support and understanding.
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