My grandmother brought this to every summer potluck and the bowl was always licked clean. It only takes 4 ingredients to make this sweet and creamy fruit classic that screams summer.

Ambrosia salad is one of those retro potluck staples that has never really gone out of style, especially in the Midwest where a cool, creamy fruit salad still earns a place next to burgers, baked beans, and picnic plates. This four-ingredient version keeps things wonderfully simple: sweet mandarins, soft marshmallows, coconut, and a creamy base come together in minutes for a nostalgic dish that tastes like summer gatherings, church suppers, and family reunions.

Serve this ambrosia salad well chilled alongside grilled chicken, pulled pork sandwiches, ham, or any backyard barbecue spread. It also fits right in on holiday buffet tables and brunch menus, and because it is sweet enough to feel like dessert, it pairs nicely with simple butter cookies, pound cake, or a bowl of fresh berries.

4-Ingredient Ambrosia Salad

Servings: 8

Finished ambrosia salad in a clear glass bowl

Ingredients

1 cup sour cream
1 (15-ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained well
2 cups miniature marshmallows
1 cup sweetened shredded coconut

Directions

1. Drain the mandarin oranges very well and pat them lightly with paper towels if needed so the salad stays thick and creamy instead of watery.

Drained mandarin oranges in a strainer over a sink

2. In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the sour cream, miniature marshmallows, and shredded coconut until evenly combined.

Sour cream, marshmallows, and coconut being mixed in a bowl

3. Gently fold in the mandarins, taking care not to break them up too much.

Mandarin oranges folded into creamy ambrosia mixture

4. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour before serving so the flavors meld and the marshmallows soften slightly. Spoon into a serving bowl and serve cold.

Chilled ambrosia salad served in a glass bowl

Variations & Tips

Make-ahead tip: This salad is best made a few hours ahead so it has time to chill and thicken. If you are making it the day before, give it a gentle stir before serving.

Whipped topping version: For a sweeter, fluffier texture, replace part or all of the sour cream with whipped topping. That version is especially popular for holiday tables and tastes more like a dessert salad.

Fluffier ambrosia salad made with whipped topping

Add-ins: If you do not mind going beyond four ingredients, maraschino cherries, pineapple tidbits, or chopped pecans are all classic additions that give the salad more color and texture.

Ambrosia salad variation with cherries and pineapple

Ingredient balance: Be sure the mandarins are drained thoroughly, because extra liquid is the main reason ambrosia salad turns soupy. If it seems a little loose at first, chilling usually fixes it.