Easy Key Lime Pie

8 servings
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Easy Key Lime Pie is made in just 15 minutes! It’s sweet, tart and is the perfect refreshing dessert for summer or any occasion. Try it today!

This easy Key Lime Pie is a creamy, flavorful Pie with the perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors. If you love bright, creamy desserts, you’ll also want to try this Lemon Tart and Cream Pie Recipe

Recipe Snapshot

Why You’ll Love This Pie?

  • The sweet and tangy flavor makes every bite of this pie completely irresistible.
  • It comes together quickly for a simple dessert that feels special.

Sabrina’s Easy Key Lime Pie Recipe

This pie filling takes less than 3 minutes to make and with less than 10 minutes of cook time you will spend almost no time at all making this American comfort food dessert. The result is a creamy, refreshing Key Lime Pie that’s perfect when you want an impressive dessert without spending hours in the kitchen.

Recipe Card

Easy Key Lime Pie Recipe

Easy Key Lime Pie is made in just 15 minutes! It's sweet, tart and is the perfect refreshing dessert for summer or any occasion. Try it today!
Yield 8 servings
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Author Sabrina Snyder

Ingredients
 

  • 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs , (one packet from a box of 3 packets)
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter , (melted)
  • 3 cups sweetened condensed milk
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 3/4 cup key lime juice

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  • Mix graham cracker crumbs, sugar and butter well. Press mixture into an 8 inch pie plate.
  • Bake for 7 minutes. While the crust is baking, make the filling.
  • In a bowl, combine condensed milk, sour cream, lime juice and add to the crust.
  • Put it back in the oven for 5 to 8 minutes until you start to see the smallest of bubbles forming.
  • Do not let the pie brown.
  • Cool before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 576kcal | Carbohydrates: 85g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 69mg | Sodium: 336mg | Potassium: 500mg | Sugar: 75g | Vitamin A: 670IU | Vitamin C: 9.9mg | Calcium: 360mg | Iron: 0.9mg

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Sabrina’s Tips

Regular limes are not a good substitute for key limes in this recipe so I do not recommend you using them. If fresh key limes are not available in your store take a leap of faith and buy the bottled key lime juice.

About this Recipe

Easy Key Lime Pie has been a dessert I’ve been making since I moved into my first apartment – mostly because it is so easy to make that it is pretty much fail-proof. I’ve made it so many times I actually don’t even reference the recipe anymore. Key Lime Pie is popular all summer long, during the holidays (especially Easter) and if you freeze wedges with a popsicle stick it can be a year round dessert your whole family will love. It’s so simple, you don’t even need an electric mixer to make the filling, just a whisk!

Baking Tips & Tricks

  • The most important thing to remember about it is that the pie should not brown.
  • As soon as the time is up and you see the tiniest of bubbles you are done!
  • Using a pre-made graham cracker crust will not hold up to slicing because it doesn’t contain enough melted butter, I highly recommend making your own Graham Cracker Crust.
  • Hand squeezing key limes will take a very long time, I used bottled key lime juice and quality is unaffected in this recipe.

Pairing Suggestions

There are so many delicious options for topping and pairing with Key Lime Pie, so you can easily make it your own. Top each slice with Easy Whipped Cream, Homemade Cool Whip, or a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream, then garnish with lime wedges, lime slices, or a little fresh lime zest for an extra pop of flavor!

How to Store

  • Serve: Make sure to chill pie in the fridge for at least 4 hours before slicing and serving. This pie can be at room temperature for up to 2 hours but it is best served cold.
  • Store: To store this pie, cover it in plastic wrap or tin foil and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • Freeze: You can freeze this pie for up to 3 months. Cover in plastic wrap then aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. Transfer it to the fridge to thaw before serving again.

Ideas to Serve

If you have some heavy cream and would like to turn this recipe into a Key Lime Meringue pie, the next steps are so simple to bring your pie to the next level. You’ll want to beat egg whites and cream until stiff peaks form. If you do make a meringue topping, lightly smooth it in a mound over the top of your key lime filling and bake for 5 additional minutes. Check out Lemon Meringue Pie for more detailed directions and another option to add to your dessert table.

Variations

  • Mini pies: Make the pie into mini pies using muffin tins.
  • Popsicles: Cut into wedges, add a popsicle stick and freeze. Best popsicle EVER.
  • Chocolate Popsicles: Dip the wedges in melted chocolate and then freeze.
  • Toppings: Top with my homemade Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Crumb Topping or add chopped strawberries to the top before baking.
  • Bars: Make it in an 8×8 square pan and cut into Key Lime Bars
  • Ice cream: The filling can also be turned into an ice cream if churned in an ice cream machine.

More Lime Dessert Recipes

pie pin pic

Photos used in previous posts:

Easy Key Lime Pie with just six ingredients in 15 minutes. A perfect summer dessert thats sweet, tart and buttery!
previous pin image

About the Author: Sabrina Snyder

Sabrina is a professionally trained Private Chef of over 10 years with ServSafe Manager certification in food safety. She creates all the recipes here on Dinner, then Dessert, fueled in no small part by her love for bacon.

Sabrina Snyder is a professionally trained personal and private chef of over 10 years who is the creator and developer of all the recipes on Dinner, then Dessert.

She is also the author of the cookbook Dinner, then Dessert – Satisfying Meals Using Only 3, 5 or 7 Ingredients, published by Harper Collins.

She started Dinner, then Dessert as a business in her office as a lunch service for her coworkers who admired her lunches before going to culinary school and becoming a full time personal chef and private chef.

As a personal chef Sabrina would cook for families one day a week and cook their entire week of dinners. All grocery shopping, cooking and cleaning was done along with instructions on reheating. As a private chef she cooked for private parties and cooked in family homes in the evenings for families on a nightly basis after working as a personal chef during the day.

Sabrina has been certified as a ServSafe Manager since 2007 and was a longstanding member of the USPCA Personal Chef Association including being on the board of the Washington DC Chapter of Chefs in the US Personal Chef Association when they won Chapter of the year.

As a member of the community of food website creators Sabrina Snyder has spoken at many conferences regarding her experiences as a food writer including the Indulge Food Conference, Everything Food Conference, Haven Food Conference and IACP Annual Food Professionals Conference.

Sabrina lives with her family in sunny California.

Dinner, then Dessert, Inc. owns the copyright on all images and text and does not allow for its original recipes and pictures to be reproduced anywhere other than at this site unless authorization is given. Read my disclosure and copyright policy. This post may contain affiliate links.

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Comments

  1. Thank you Sabrina! This is the best pie, I’ve made it lots of times since I found your recipe. Everyone loves it. So easy to make too. Heavenly!!! <3

  2. Hi! I have a question! In the narrative, i’m told i’ll need just under 3 14-oz cans of sweetened condensed milk. The recipe says 3 cups, which would be 24 ounces which is just under 2 cans. What am i missing?
    Thank you

  3. Great recipe! I used pre made pie crust and buttered it before pre baking the crust. It hardens and serves as a perfect base for this perfect recipe! ??

  4. This key lime pie is phenomenal. Literally everybody who ate it could not get enough. My mom said it was literally the best she’s ever had. Make and enjoy this super easy and even more delicious pie!

  5. I made it with a store-bought pie crust (not a fan of graham cracker crusts), and it turned-out perfect! I made the filling exactly as instructed, and baked as instructed until the bubbles just started to form. The consistency is perfect!

    1. Nothing wrong with a store-bought crust. Makes it that much easier and faster to enjoy! 🙂 So glad you liked it!

    1. I waited until the little bubbles started to show as instructed which was a few minutes longer than expected, but I wasn’t using the graham cracker crust.

  6. Great pie and so easy to make. I love the simplicity of your recipes and have never been disappointed. Thank you for sharing your talent!

  7. This is the exact pie that they serve at a restaurant in Key Largo and I accidentally found it! They are known for their world famous key lime pie. They used to ship it around the globe overnight on dry ice for like $100. I know because I used to work there. We would serve it frozen because it would be too soft refrigerated. This is the pie!! I moved back to central Florida over 4 years ago and I haven’t had an even close resemblance until now!! Soooooo glad I found this recipe!

  8. 15 minutes – golly! Can’t beat that, I’ll definitely have to try that next time I’m in a pinch and need dessert

      1. I did the same conversion calculation before I headed out to buy the sweetened condensed milk & ingredients. Since cans were sold in 14 oz, I bought 2, thinking that combined the 28 oz would be more than enough. Instead of measuring out 3 cups, I measured out the extra 4 oz from the 2nd can that I wouldn’t need, assuming it would leave behind 10 oz in the can. But after pouring out 4 oz, I was left with under half a can, so I poured the remaining milk into a measuring cup to double check & it didn’t even fill an 8 oz measuring cup…so very confused. Since measurements matter when baking. Read online that the milk ounces is by weight, not fluid oz. So wish this was clearer.

        Scrambling to borrow a 3rd can now to be able to pour out 3 full cups, but seems like a lot of sweetness. Always as it goes for me when I think I can just whip up a 15 minute dessert!

  9. Can’t wait to make this. Do you have any menu suggestions that would pair nicely with this dessert? I’m thinking of making shrimp and grits with either tasso ham or andouille sausage. I’m curious to get your thoughts! Thanks in advance.

  10. This looks perfect. And I like the idea of making it in 15 minutes. Not sure if I can achieve that though! Still, I’ll try. Thanks for sharing the recipe.

  11. This reminds me of our favorite vacation treat – key lime pie on a stick from a street vendor at the beach. This recipe is so quick and easy that I could whip it up on a school night… and I just might! Thank you!

    1. Yes! We have enjoyed it on a stick in Florida too. It was such a unique way to eat it that it stuck with me.

  12. I love key lime pie and this version looks just perfect! I wish I could have a slice right about now!

  13. I have been obsessed with key lime pie since I visited the Florida Keys a LONG time ago! 🙂 And yes- bottled key lime juice is key, lol.

  14. Oh my gosh. YES! I love that you made a huge thick layer of filling. Too many key lime pies are skimpy when it comes to that!

    1. What a great and simple recipe to have! Going to make this for a BBQ that my wife and I are attending later in the month! Should be a hit!

      Thanks ?

      I’ll keep you posted after the BBQ!

      Phil ???

  15. I love key lime pie. This one is sheer perfection. Great tips too. I have a sudden craving for key lime pie. In a big, bad way.

  16. Sabrina, this looks absolutely amazing!! What a fantastic easy dessert & perfect for summer!!

  17. wow….it looks simple to make! definitely will give a try. On my waiting list to make now! thx for sharing