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
Did you try this recipe? If you try this recipe, give it a star rating. If it looks good to you, please pin it and share it! And be sure and stay connected on social media!
Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook | YouTube | Twitter
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.
lynn says
can I make this a week in advance and freeze it?
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Hi Lynn! I have never done this myself, but several members of my audience have told me that freezing works well. Enjoy!
Beverly Ann Clark says
I just made this for Christmas. Absolutely easy and so delicious!!!
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Yay! I am so glad you enjoyed it.❤️
Ruth Davis says
Just finished this pie. Haven’t cooled in refrigerator yet. But it tastes great already! So easy!
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Glad to hear it Ruth! Enjoy!
LaTasha says
I just made this for Thanksgiving. The simplest recipe I found. I tasted the mix and it is so good! This will be the perfect light dessert after a heavy meal! Can’t wait to eat this with family tomorrow. Thank you for sharing!
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Yay LaTasha! So happy to hear it
Gary Jaworski-Sult says
Amazingly easy and delicious!!
Perfect when your in a pinch and need a first rate desert!!
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Yay Gary!! Glad to hear this.
Caroline says
East. Quick and yummy!
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Glad to hear it, Caroline!💚
jean says
Will it keep in the fridge for a few days?
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Hi Jean! Definitely, we generally keep it for 3 – 5 days with good results. Enjoy!
MICHELLE COOK says
Easy peasy
So yummy good!
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
So glad to hear you enjoyed it!!🙌🏻
April says
I found this recipe yesterday and made it since it’s one of my mom’s favorites! I am new to key lime pie and it was absolutely refreshing. I used key limes ( 12 of them to get 1/3 cup, I’ll try regular limes next time) and I got the mini graham cracker crusts from the store. This recipe yielded 12 minis with an ice scoop of the filling. They make the perfect single serving and I’m hoping they freeze well since I wouldn’t want us eating 12 mini pies in a couple of days.
The best part was sharing with my mom and her loving them! She said they were so good and delicious. She has already put in a request for our holidays.
Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Lainey Shines says
Thank you! Loved the no baked aspect, for sure! Made the Key Lime before, it was tha bomb!!!🙏🏻✌🏼😋, so I used the same filling this time and put a bit of mandarin orange juice, lemon juice squeezed, A Ton of strawberries and Blueberries on top with a dollop of Coolwhip in the center… perfect!! Thx again for a truly easy delicious summer treat!!
And inspirations!
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Yum! That sounds so delicious!