Easy Key Lime Pie

Prep 15 minutes
Servings 8

This Key Lime Pie recipe is sweet, tangy, and silky smooth. Only requiring 6 ingredients and no bake, it’s perfect for summer or anytime throughout the year!

How about key lime pie layered in individual glasses? You must check out our Key Lime Cheesecake Parfaits!

overhead key lime pie garnished with whipped cream and key lime slices

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Best Key Lime Pie Recipe

Truly one of our favorite pie recipes! Here’s why we love it:

  • No bake: This pie is made without any need to turn on your oven, making it a perfect dessert in the summertime.
  • So easy: Practically effortless and assembled in minutes with a graham cracker crust, instead of dough.
  • Very few ingredients: You only need 6 ingredients.
  • Make-ahead: Whip it up and place in the fridge overnight, so it’s ready to go the next day.
  • Year-round dessert: Even though it is perfect for summer, it’s really a year-round dessert since limes are always available.
  • Great for any occasion: It’s fancy enough for a holiday affair, but simple enough for any post dinner treat.
  • Delicious: The flavor is amazing. Sweet and tangy, with bright lime flavor. And the texture is melt-in-your-mouth creamy smooth.
whole lime pie with two slices cut

Easy Key Lime Pie Ingredients

You only need 6 simple ingredients for this key lime pie recipe.

  • Graham cracker crust (see note below regarding store-bought or homemade)
  • Cream cheese
  • Granulated sugar
  • Sweetened condensed milk
  • Key limes (see note below for using regular limes)
  • Whipped cream (we use our homemade whipped cream recipe)

Store-bought Pie Crust verses Homemade

Sometimes we use a ready-made graham cracker crust, eliminating a couple steps, and other times we make it from scratch. If you want to make it from scratch, it’s super easy.

In a bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups fine graham cracker crumbs, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, and 6 tablespoons melted unsalted butter. Press the mixture into the bottom and sides of a 9-inch pie dish. Chill for 30 minutes.

Key Limes verses Persian Limes

Honestly, more times than not I make this pie with regular Persian limes. To me, the taste difference is negligible and it seems silly to squeeze a million mini limes when regular limes work practically the same. But, if you want a truly authentic key lime taste, use key limes of course.

Whichever limes you choose, make sure the juice is fresh, not bottled. Bottled juice won’t taste nearly as good.

whole lime pie with 2 slices missing

How to Make Key Lime Pie

For the complete printable recipe card, scroll below. Here’s a summary:

  1. Using a handheld mixer or stand mixer, beat heavy whipping cream to stiff peaks. Transfer to a separate bowl.
  2. In the same bowl (no need to wipe out), beat cream cheese for a couple minutes until creamy.
  3. Stream in the sweetened condensed milk and mix until smooth.
  4. Add the key lime juice and mix until combined.
  5. Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture. (Fold, do not stir or whisk.)
  6. Evenly pour the filling into a chilled 9-inch graham cracker crust (see notes regarding store-bought or homemade.)
  7. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight (or at least 6 hours.) Garnish, slice, and serve.

How to Store

Does key lime pie need to be refrigerated? Yes. Because of the dairy and fruit juice in the filling, this pie needs to be stored in the fridge, covered with plastic wrap. Makes sure the pie fully chills so it sets up properly.
How long does key lime pie last? Stored properly, it will keep for up to 3 days. I recommend waiting to garnish until right before serving.
Can you freeze key lime pie? Yes. To freeze, to do not garnish. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap, then again in foil, and then transfer to a freezer-safe plastic bag. For best quality, consume within 1 month. Thaw in the fridge overnight, then garnish before serving.

slice of key lime pie on white plate with fork

Key Lime Pie Video

Other Pie Recipes We Love

Other No Bake Desserts

I hope you love this delicious and simple recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!

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Easy Key Lime Pie

Prep: 15 minutes
Chill Time: 12 hours
Total: 12 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 8
This No-Bake Key Lime Pie is sweet, tangy, and silky. Only requiring 6 ingredients and no cooking, it’s perfect for summer or anytime!

Ingredients 

  • 1 (9-inch) Graham Cracker Crust, (store-bought or homemade, see notes)
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 8 ounces full fat cream cheese, , room temperature
  • 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1/2 cup key lime juice, (plus key lime slices and zest, for garnish)
  • whipped cream, , for garnish

Instructions 

  • Chill the graham cracker crust while you make the filling.
  • Evenly pour the filling into a chilled 9-inch graham cracker crust.
  • Using a handheld mixer or stand mixer, beat the heavy whipping cream to stiff peaks. Transfer to a separate bowl. 
  • In the same bowl (no need to wipe out), beat cream cheese for a couple minutes until creamy. Stream in the sweetened condensed milk and mix until smooth. Add the key lime juice and mix until combined.
  • Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture. (Fold, do not stir or whisk.)
  • Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight (or at least 6 hours.)
  • Garnish, slice, and serve.

Video

Notes

If you want to make a homemade graham cracker crust, it’s easy: In a bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups fine graham cracker crumbs, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, and 6 tablespoons melted unsalted butter. Press the mixture into the bottom and sides of a 9-inch pie dish. Chill for 30 minutes. Proceed with the recipe as written.

Nutrition

Calories: 368kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 90mg | Sodium: 166mg | Potassium: 266mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 971IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 192mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.

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About Amy Flanigan

Well, hey there! Amy here, founder and COO at BellyFull. If you’re looking for tried and true, fuss-free, budget-friendly, delicious, every day recipes, you’ve come to the right place.

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12 Comments

  1. Emma Poe says:

    Going to make this on my ladies tea group it looks amazing and so simple thank you it’s been hot hot hot days out. Don’t want to turn on that oven. Appreciate this recipe. Be blessed.

  2. Betsy C. says:

    5 stars
    Our family loves this recipe! I use two of the smaller store bought graham cracker crusts instead of one. Also, I like that I can make it gluten free by using a store bought gluten free crust.

  3. Angela McClellan says:

    5 stars
    I loved this recipe I doubled the batch to make two pies but I ended up having enough for 3 pies. So I froze 1. My favorite of the two was my second one. I didn’t have enough fresh squeezed key limes so I did half of the recommended amount out with 100% lime juice.

  4. D.K. Pope says:

    Can I substitute an 8 oz. Container of Cool Whip for the Whipping Cream??

  5. Ann Caffey says:

    5 stars
    Love, love, love key lime pie. This was such a breeze to make. Everything already in the pantry or was delivered today in the Misfit box. I will more definitely be making this again. Thank you for sharing your recipes!! Just wished I could have found key limes or even the juice locally. I’ll be better prepared next time.

  6. Tina says:

    5 stars
    This recipe was super easy and very tasty! I added more lime then the recipe called for for extra tang!

  7. Virginia says:

    5 stars
    Awesome! I didn’t make, but had some that a friend made. She used a store bought pecan graham cracker crust. Delish!!

  8. Kelly Matthews says:

    5 stars
    This was wonderful. It was 112 degrees this past weekend where I am, but was hosting a luncheon. Loved that I didn’t need to turn on the oven for this. Not a crumb left.

  9. Thalia says:

    5 stars
    This was so easy to make and absolutely wonderful tasting!

  10. Karen says:

    5 stars
    This pie is legit. I couldn’t believe how easy it was. Love that it’s no bake because it’s 106 degrees where I am. We loved this so much I’ll make it again in the winter!

  11. Melissa says:

    I’m starving today and it’s hot, which means I kinda sorta want to eat a whole one of these myself. *heart eyes*

    1. Sara says:

      5 stars
      I love