Easy key lime pie is a refreshing, no-bake summer dessert that is perfect for summer cookouts and pot lucks.
My easy key lime pie recipe is a summer treasure, internet friends. Minimal effort, maximum deliciousness and all the refreshing vibes make this one a hit, y’all.😎
Side note: This particular recipe reminds me of the days after I first gave birth to Canon almost 6 years ago! My mom came and stayed with us, and she made this a bunch of times. Sweet memories!
Mom has made this for us for many years prior to that too, and it is so easy and delicious!
And I love that it is sticking to me no-cook theme that I have been running with lately. 😆👌🏻This recipe is perfect to make on vacation at the lake or the beach.
And if you prefer lemons, you make want to make my no bake lemon cheesecake instead.
Tips for making easy key lime pie
Tip 1
You can make a homemade crust if you insist, but in the spirit of chill and easy I used a store-bough graham cracker crust. 💁🏼♀️
Tip 2
Also, I do not use true key limes, but just regular limes.🤷🏼♀️ To me, the difference in taste is minimal and doesn’t justify all the extra work of juicing all those key limes.
But feel free to use actual key limes if you prefer. You’ll need to zest 3 or 4 of them, instead of just 1.
Tip 3
You will want to let your cream cheese come to room temperature. Mine sat out for about 2 hours in a 75 degree house, and it was perfect.
This step is key for creamy consistency. If it is still chilled, your filling will be a little lumpy. It’ll still taste good, though, speaking from experience. 😉
How to make easy key lime pie
The filling is super simple to make, and it only has three ingredients: cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk and lime juice + zest. I just add the softened cream cheese to a mixing bowl and pour everything over top.
You want to use about 1/3 cup of lime juice. This was the juice of two large-ish limes for me. (👈🏻A citrus juicer is very helpful for this.)
Plus, you will want the zest of one of them. I added about 2/3 of that zest to the mixing bowl (eye-balling it), and I reserved a little to sprinkle on top later.
Once you have everything in there, you are going to beat it with a mixer.
It’ll look lumpy at first. 😬Like this.
No worries, though! A few minutes with the mixer will make it creamy like this. This is where softened cream cheese is key!
Then you pour your creamy filling into the shell, and spread it around to even things out.
And sprinkle the remaining lime zest on top.
Then you refrigerate for a few hours to let everything firm back up. Mine took about 3 to 4 hours.
And you are left with the yummiest dessert. Nobody will suspect how little time and effort you put into it either. This is summer recipe jackpot, my friends. 😎🙌🏻
Garnish with lime slices if you want to fancy things up a bit. Honestly, I did this for the photos. We don’t have patience for that in real life.😜😆👌🏻
Enjoy the best easy key lime pie you will ever make!
Easy Key Lime Pie Recipe
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Easy Key Lime Pie (no bake)
Easy key lime pie is a refreshing, no-bake summer dessert that is perfect for summer cookouts and pot lucks.
Ingredients
- 16 ounces cream cheese (I used 2 8 ounce blocks, softened at room temperature)
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk (1 can)
- 1/3 cup lime juice (2 large limes was enough for me, but get some extras just in case)
- zest of 1 lime divided (leave 1/3 for garnish)
- graham cracker crust (10-inch, store bought)
Instructions
-
Add softened cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, lime juice and 2/3 of the lime zest to a large mixing bowl, and beat on high until smooth and creamy (about 4 minutes).
-
Transfer to a graham cracker crust.
-
Sprinkle reserved lime zest in top, and refrigerate until filling is set, about 3 to 4 hours.
-
Serve chilled, and garnish with extra lime slices, if desired.
Recipe Notes
I used a store-bought crust, but if you want to use homemade, that works too!
It may set quicker than what I recommend here, but this is how long until I checked mine.
You could use light (1/3 less fat) cream cheese, but for best taste use regular. I would not recommend fat free cream cheese.
I do not use true key limes, but just regular limes.🤷🏼♀️ To me, the difference in taste is minimal and doesn't justify all the extra work of juicing all those key limes. But feel free to use actual key limes if you prefer. You'll need to zest 3 or 4 of them, instead of just 1.
Marion McFadyen says
I absolutely loved this and so simple to make . I made my crust with ginger nut biscuits the ginger and lime really complemented each other fabulous was the comments. My go to cheesecake. Thankyou
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Yay Marion! Glad to hear it💚
Alicia says
There was not enough lime flavor for my taste even after adding more than the 1/3 cup noted in the recipe . I also added zest of a whole lime.
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Ym says
This my third time to make this recipe my husband favorite.
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Yay! So happy to hear that.💚
Pat DeDear says
I made this Key Lime pie for my quilting group. I actually made two. We didn’t eat but 2 pieces of the 2nd one. My friend took it home to her husband. He said it was the best pie he’s ever eaten!!! It’s a great recipe.
Eileen says
Hello,can this filling be frozen?
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Hi Eileen! Yes, it can be frozen. I would not recommend serving it fully frozen, though. I would recommend thawing in the fridge for a day or so prior to serving. Enjoy!
Missy says
Very easy recipe! Mine didn’t set in three hours but it was for my husband’s birthday so he ate it anyway lol and loved it. Thank you soooo much
Cathy F. says
Really good. So glad I found this recipe. Unbelievably easy and tastes better than the bakery or any restaurant. This is impressive. thank you.
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Woo hoo! So happy to hear that.💚
Jeanna says
My husband and neighbors love this pie!
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Yay!💚
Donna Lord says
This is my brothers favorite dessert. I made two pies just doubling the recipe and they were great!!! I softened my cream cheese in the microwave then whipped that for smoothness and added condensed milk, beat it, then lastly added the lime juice. Mixed very well. I had to make two because one never seems to be enough…. Not when everyone wants second layer on. I really can’t imagine why anyone would give this less than a 5.
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
I am so happy to hear this Donna!💚
Donna Lord says
This is my brothers favorite dessert. I made two pies just doubling the recipe and they were great!!! I softened my cream cheese in the microwave then whipped that for smoothness and added condensed milk, beat it, then lastly added the lime juice. Mixed very well. I had to make two because one never seems to be enough…. Not when everyone wants second layer on. I really can’t imagine why anyone would give this less than a 5.