Thanks to my friends at NESTEA for sponsoring this post! The thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own… just as always! Thanks for supporting the brands that support me. 
You know, Key Lime Pie is one of those recipes that I feel like a lot of people are intimidated by, but I’ve made it SO easy for you here! In fact, you can get this one on the table with as few as 6 ingredients… seriously.
A more authentic Key Lime Pie calls for eggs, but I find that leaving them out and adding sour cream produces a smoother and creamier pie that we just love. In fact, I made both versions and served them to the family and everyone picked this version as the best. Just try it and you’ll see what I mean.
A quick note about the crust: If you’ve been around here any time at all, then you know I’m all about using shortcuts to make meal prep easy and less time consuming, so using a pre-made graham cracker pie crust is perfect here. Just try to get a deep dish one, if possible. Otherwise all the filling may not fit. If you want to make one from scratch (it’s super easy), you’ll find my recipe below.
Let’s also chat about Key Lime juice here. What makes this a KEY Lime Pie are the Key Limes. They’re not your standard Persian lime. The flavor is a bit different and they are much smaller. That means it will take a lot more to get the juice you’ll need for this pie. It took me about 20 Key Limes to get 3/4 cup juice. Now, you are welcome to use regular lime juice or even use bottled Key Lime juice, just know it will affect the flavor.
My friends at NESTEA are all about simplicity and great taste, too. That’s why they recently relaunched NESTEA with a simpler recipe with ingredients you can actually pronounce. The real brewed varieties are made with just tea, sugar, citric acid, and water. Available in a variety of sweetness levels, a line of real brewed teas, and fruit flavored teas like Peach, Raspberry, and Lemon, there’s a flavor to suit every taste. Be sure to get taste by visiting their site at NESTEA.com.
The BEST Key Lime Pie
Ingredients
- 1 (9-inch) deep dish prepared graham cracker crust
- 2 (14-ounce) cans sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 3/4 cup key lime juice
- 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° F. In a large bowl, whisk together the condensed milk and sour cream. Once smooth, add the lime juice. Whisk until smooth and thickened. Pour into the prepared pie crust. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes. Cool on the counter, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
- Once ready to serve, beat the cream and powdered sugar together until you get stiff peaks. Top the pie with the whipped cream and serve.
Notes
Graham Cracker Crust
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs about 12 crackers
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, salt, and melted butter in a medium bowl, being sure the mixture is well blended and all the crumbs are moistened. Firmly press the mixture into the bottom and sides of a 9-inch pie plate. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Allow to cool completely before filling.
Native Floridian says
Key limes are yellow when they are ripe. And the juice is not green so I’m not sure why your pie is green. Real key lime pie is yellow.
But I do love the idea of adding the sour cream and I will try it.
Stacey says
While that is true, most commercially sold Key Limes are harvested when they are green. They don’t continue to ripe once picked. Being that I don’t have access to a Key Lime Tree, I have to rely on what’s available at my local grocery store – as will most of my readers. But to clarify, the pie is actually yellowish – it just looks slightly green in the photos because of the other colors.
Debbie says
Please don’t call it a key lime pie if it DOESN’T have key lime juice in it! As a native Floridian I am offended when I go someplace and they advertise they have key lime pie and it doesn’t have a drop of key lime juice in it!! Key lime pie is NOT GREEN, it is a pale yellow!! If you use regular lime juice then you are making a lime pie! The traditional key lime pie consists of one can sweetened condensed milk, one egg yolk, 1/2 cup KEY LIME juice, and one egg white beaten. You pour this into a graham cracker crust and chill until firm. Then you can put whipped cream on top.
James says
Aren’t we fragile. If you don’t lie the recipe don’t make it, If that offends you I feel very sorry for you, I imagine life is pretty tough for you. If it tastes good I don’t care what it is called, is it that important. By the way instead of being offended maybe you should read the recipe, it does have key line juice in it.
Stacey says
Thanks, James! And you’re right, it’s made with 100% Key Lime juice. 🙂
Rose Beatrice says
James, This is a deliciuos pie. All I can say to Debbie is, how rude!
Absolutely delicious and so so easy.
Stacey says
Hi Debbie! I would imagine you’re the type of person that gets offended easily, if that’s the case. That said, let me clarify… The recipe does use Key Lime juice. Simply reading the recipe will show that. I do mention that regular lime juice can be used if folks can’t find Key Limes in their grocery store, simply as a substitute. I also let them know the flavor will be different. I didn’t tell them they had to call it Key Lime pie, though. As I mentioned before, this pie is a pale yellow color, it just happens to appear greenish in the photos. I sure hope your day gets better from here on out! 🙂
Joy says
This recipe does use Key Lime Juice. 🙂 I squeezed a whole bag of Key Limes and it was the perfect amount- 3/4 cup. This pie was DELICIOUS! 🙂 And everyone I served it too voiced similar opinions. Thank you for the recipe, Stacey!
Joy says
*Sorry, just a hair under 3/4 cup, but I went with it and I was perfectly happy with the results! 🙂
Stacey says
I’m so glad it turned out great for you, Joy!
Etta says
Good grief, are you for real? You’re offended? You must live a sad little life. Read the recipe before bitching.
Julie says
OMG… Offended by the name of a pie?
Susan says
I see key lime juice listed in the recipe. I think it looks great! I assumed you added a dash of green food coloring just for looks, no biggy. Its your recipe and you can add what ever you want. : ) Some people just get up in the air at every little detail. It looks refreshing in this heat, so I’ll be trying it asap !
Stacey says
You are SO right, Susan! I actually didn’t add any coloring to the pie. It is really more of a yellowish. It just appears slightly green in the photos. Regardless of what it’s made with or what color it is, I promise it tastes delicious! Have a great one, my friend!
Sandy says
Oh boy, I can’t wait to make this. And I live in Florida too. Very hard even here to get a good key lime. I planted one in my yard and everyone loved it for baking, drinks. Personally I don’t care if it’s purple, if it’s good go for it. Can’t wait to make this tonight.
Stacey says
Ha! Hope you enjoy!!
Jen says
Where can real key lime juice be found? I don’t want to substitute with lime juice.
Thanks!!!!
Stacey says
You can usually find a shelf stable version right next to the other fruit and lemon juices.
Sandy says
This pie is awesome. I had some reservations cause I am a key lime pie lover for years.
So smoother and creamy and I used bottled keylime juice they have now. Lots easier then driving time to the keys and grabbing a few limes off the trees. Thank you and I am sure wirh a little dash of real key limes not one would know the difference. So happy with this now
.
Stacey says
Awesome, Sandy! I’m tickled you tried it and enjoyed it!
Dolores Evans says
I added a small can of crushed, drained pineapple to all and served it…..everyone flipped over it…….had this recipe for over 60+ years. Limelight Pie….
Stacey says
Yum!
Pam says
Yum!! I know what I am making for Christmas day!!!
Stacey says
Hope you’ll enjoy!!
McKenzie says
This pie was a huge hit! Had the perfect amount of tart and sweet. LOVE!
Stacey says
So glad y’all enjoyed it!!
Cory says
This is EXACTLY the pie I have been looking for for YEARS. THANK YOU!!! Super delicious, creamy, perfect combo of tart and sweet. You have no idea that you made my YEAR with this pie.
Stacey says
Well, I’m just tickled you finally found THE RIGHT one! 🙂
Stacey English says
I look forward to making this pie for our Friday lunch at work, with green food coloring added. I love key lime pie!
Stacey says
Awesome! I hope everyone will enjoy!!
Sandra says
Once it is chilled, will the filling set up nicely so it can be sliced in neat slices?
Stacey says
It should! Are you having trouble with it?
emily says
This is probably a really dumb question but why do you have to bake it if it doesn’t have eggs? What is changing when you bake it?
Stacey says
That’s not dumb at all. The heat helps to set the pie a bit.
Elizabeth Brown says
I make a LOT of Key lime pies using the recipe from Kermit’s Key Lime Pie Shop in Key West. People here seem to really like them. I am open to new recipes, so I plan to try yours. You can’t have too many good Key lime pie recipes!
Bigred – Russellville, AR
Stacey says
This one has a super creamy texture that we just love.
Anna Banana says
That couldn’t possibly compare to the wonderful key lime pies that the legendary Captain Kutchie Pelaez bakes at his key lime pie factory.
Stacey says
What couldn’t compare? My pie?
Angela Oddo says
Excellent! I made it for my son, & he loved it! Thanks!!!!
Stacey says
So glad y’all enjoyed it!!
Susan says
This looks and sounds delicious. I’m going to the store for key limes so I can make this soon.
Stacey says
Hope y’all enjoy it!!
Linda says
Hi there! This looks wonderful! I have a couple questions:
1. Can low-fat sour cream be used
2. If using your recipe for the graham cracker crust, does it still need to be prebaked before filling? I wondered since the pie is baked after the filling is poured in the crust.
Thank you!
Stacey says
Hi Linda! I’ve not tried it with the low fat sour cream, so I can’t say for sure. I would still recommend baking the crust.
Eva says
Stacy, the lady with the “REAL” key lime recipe is a bit persnickity to say the least, I have never wanted to try that recipe because of the raw egg, I don’t care if it’s technically cooked by the acid in the juice. I will give this a try, and I must say your graham crust recipe is better than most I’ve seen in the past year, a small amount of sugar not the 1 cup a lot call for. But I make mine without because I find it’s sweet enough. I love key limes, they do have a totally different taste, they are hard to find way up here in Northern Canada but they do occasionally show up.
Stacey says
I sure hope you can find some up that way and will get a chance to make this one. Thanks, Eva!
Cathy says
I can’t believe the comments Debbie made, I cannot eat eggs so traditional key lime pie kills me. This pie tastes just like the ones we get when we are in Florida! However I have never been to Key West but if the people are mean and bitter, like Debbie, I may never visit that area. Who really cares what color the pie is? So petty, maybe you should focus on being grateful and not tear others down. I don’t see your blog!
Stacey says
Thanks so much, Cathy. You just can’t please everyone, I suppose.
Lynda Blocker says
Hi Stacey,
I had a recipe for Key Lime Pie that I had used for years but after trying your recipe, I threw my old recipe away. I love yours and everyone that has tried the pies I’ve made from your recipe seem to love it. As for Debbie and her complaints, I will say what my grandmother always said. “If you can’t say something good, don’t say anything at all”. She was a smart woman and a good cook too!
Thanks for sharing your recipe and I’m happy I found it!
Lynda
Stacey says
What a compliment! Thanks so much, Lynda! So glad you enjoyed it! Now it’s got me thinking about Key Lime Pie too!
Jenny McGee says
This is a great recipe. First one that I have tried at home and this Will be my go to recipe for my key lime pie cravings. It is wonderfully sweet and tart. I used Nellie and Joe’s bottled key lime juice. Thanks so much for sharing.
Jenny McGee says
Forgot to post the stars. I gave it 5.
Stacey says
So glad you enjoyed it, Jenny!
Cheryl Lesley says
My sister has a Key Lime tree in her back yard. We live in Florida. I baby the tree all year, watering and making sure it has everything it needs so when it is ready to give limes we are ready and willing to pick and make our pies. The lines are great in cocktails as well.
Stacey says
You’re so fortunate to have access to fresh limes like that!
Marissa says
Love this recipe!
Do you think you could freeze the pie after cooking to cut down the setting time?
Stacey says
I don’t see why not. Enjoy!
Kris says
Every year I make my nephew something key lime for Christmas, after he fell in love with key lime pie after visiting Key West. This year I tried your recipe. I got a late night text from him saying “this is the best key lime pie I’ve ever had” and that means a lot coming from him. He commented how smooth and balanced it was. I didn’t have the heart to admit how easy this recipe was!! This is the new go-to recipe for his Christmas key lime pie (which he eats the whole thing with a fork out of the plate, and doesn’t share with anyone). Thank you!
Stacey says
LOVE hearing stories like this! So glad your nephew enjoyed it!
Kris says
Oh, adding 5 stars!!!
Cara says
Fuck all these haters about the color of the pie Stacey. Dont even worry about that shit. Thanks for sharing your pie recipe
Cara
Bonnie says
I made this for my husband’s Birthday, since Key Lime pie is his favorite ever since he visited Key West as a kid. We only could get regular limes and no juice (due to pandemic situation). I squeezed limes and one lemon to reach 3/4 cup. I followed everything else exactly. I also used a zip lock bag corner to pipe the whipped cream on the outside edge and a little in the center. I sprinkled lime zest over the top. He absolutely LOVED it, and I did too!!! We put his birthday candles in the pie and sang! I will definitely make this again. The flavor and texture were amazing!!!!
Stacey says
Thank you so much, Bonnie! I’m so glad the recipe made his birthday special!
JAMIE says
Loved it, very good. My husband and I don’t like whipped cream so we skipped it but actually may try it next time. This set perfectly and the homemade crust was solid as well. I halved both recipes and used a standard pie plate since I didn’t have a deep dish.
Stacey says
So glad to hear that you enjoyed it, Jamie! This is one of my most favorite recipes!
Tara says
Made this for my uncles birthday tonight. Our family raved .. my born and raised in FL mom even said it was the best key lime pie she’d had. The creamy texture is amazing and it’s the perfect tart / sweet ratio. This is replacing a recipe that we’ve used for over 20 years.
PS – the color is spot on.
Thank you for another winner. Your recipes have been a bright spot for our family during this quarantine!
Stacey says
Thank you so much, Tara! Your sweet words mean so much. And I’m so glad everyone enjoyed the pie!!