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    Home » Recipes » Dessert Recipes

    Watergate Salad Recipe

    June 19, 2022 Updated: January 20, 2023 By Katie Crenshaw 3 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
    Watergate salad is made with pistachio pudding, cool whip, mini marshmallows, pineapple, and pecans. The combination creates a creamy, sweet salad that is quick and easy to make. The tasty classic dish can be served as a side or dessert. Make it for parties, pot lucks, and cookouts.
    Watergate salad is made with pistachio pudding, cool whip, mini marshmallows, pineapple, and pecans. The combination creates a creamy, sweet salad that is quick and easy to make. The tasty classic dish can be served as a side or dessert. Make it for parties, pot lucks, and cookouts.
    Watergate salad is made with pistachio pudding, cool whip, mini marshmallows, pineapple, and pecans. The combination creates a creamy, sweet salad that is quick and easy to make. The tasty classic dish can be served as a side or dessert. Make it for parties, pot lucks, and cookouts.
    Watergate salad is made with pistachio pudding, cool whip, mini marshmallows, pineapple, and pecans. The combination creates a creamy, sweet salad that is quick and easy to make. The tasty classic dish can be served as a side or dessert. Make it for parties, pot lucks, and cookouts.
    Watergate salad is made with pistachio pudding, cool whip, mini marshmallows, pineapple, and pecans. The combination creates a creamy, sweet salad that is quick and easy to make. The tasty classic dish can be served as a side or dessert. Make it for parties, pot lucks, and cookouts.

    Watergate salad is made with pistachio pudding, cool whip, mini marshmallows, pineapple, and pecans.

    The combination creates a creamy, sweet salad that is quick and easy to make.

    Watergate salad with cherries on top in a white bowl that is placed on a red and white checkered napkin

    This tasty classic dish can be served as a side or dessert.

    Make it for parties, pot lucks, and cookouts.

    Watch how to make watergate salad

    Watergate salad brings me back to happy childhood memories.

    My grandma made this or her ambrosia fruit salad for our family cookouts.

    The watergate salad was the first thing I would dart for on my dinner plate skipping over all the other dishes.

    I loved the flavors of the pistachio pudding salad and could not get enough of it.

    It continues to be favorite in our home. I hope it will be a favorite in yours!

    ingredients for watergate salad-chopped pecans, mini marshmallows, cool whip, pistachio pudding, crushed pineapple

    Ingredients

    You will need the following ingredients to make the classic Watergate salad.

    • chopped pecans- You can substitute with chopped pistachios or walnuts. If you do not like nuts, you can omit them. However, the nuts add a nice crunch and flavor.
    • mini marshmallows
    • cool whip
    • pistachio pudding mix
    • crushed pineapple with its liquid

    Notes

    Some people like to add in shredded coconut.

    steps to make watergate salad

    Steps

    Follow these steps to make watergate salad recipe.

    1. In a mixing bowl, mix pistachio pudding mix with canned crushed pineapple and its liquid.
    2. Mix in cool whip.
    3. Add mini marshmallows and chopped pecans. Mix. Refrigerate 4 or more hours before serving.

    **Note** Exact ingredient measurements are in the recipe card at the end of the post.

    Pistachio pudding salad with cherries on top in a white bowl that is placed on a red and white checkered napkin

    How to store leftovers

    Watergate salad (aka pistachio pudding salad) is best made 4 hours to 24 hours in advance. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

    Try these other retro recipes too!

    • Ambrosia Fruit Salad
    • Bacon Pea Salad
    • Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad
    • Port Wine Cheese Ball
    • Ground Beef Chow Mein
    • Haystacks
    • Homemade Sloppy Joes

    Please leave me a comment below if you make this Watergate salad recipe and tell me what you think about it. I would love to hear back, and so would my readers.

    Also post your picture of your pistachio pudding salad on Instagram or Facebook, and tag @aforkstale with #aforkstale hashtags! I will share with my followers! xoxo!

    watergate salad with cherries on top in a white bowl on a red and white checkered napkin

    Watergate Salad Recipe

    Watergate salad is made with pistachio pudding, cool whip, mini marshmallows, pineapple, and pecans. The combination creates a creamy, sweet salad that is quick and easy to make. The tasty classic dish can be served as a side or dessert. Make it for parties, pot lucks, and cookouts.
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Save Recipe Saved! Rate
    Course: Dessert, Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Regrigerate: 4 hours
    Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 203kcal
    Author: Katie Crenshaw

    Ingredients

    • 3.4 ounce instant pistachio pudding mix
    • 20 ounce can crushed pineapple do not drain
    • 8 ounce cool whip
    • 1½ cup mini marshmallows
    • ½ cup pecans chopped

    Instructions

    • In a mixing bowl, mix pistachio pudding mix with canned crushed pineapple and its liquid.
      3.4 ounce instant pistachio pudding mix, 20 ounce can crushed pineapple
    • Mix in cool whip.
      8 ounce cool whip
    • Add mini marshmallows and chopped pecans. Mix.
      1½ cup mini marshmallows, ½ cup pecans
    • Refrigerate 4 or more hours before serving.

    Video

    Notes

    • Some people like to add in shredded coconut.
    • You can substitute with chopped pistachios or walnuts. If you do not like nuts, you can omit them. However, the nuts add a nice crunch and flavor.

    Nutrition- Nutrition info is based on estimation only.

    Calories: 203kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 202mg | Potassium: 146mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 89IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 0.4mg
    Tried this recipe? I want to see it!Mention @aForksTale or tag #aForksTale!

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    • Pretzel Turtles with Rolos

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Amy Liu Dong

      June 24, 2022 at 2:53 pm

      5 stars
      A simple and delicious dessert to make, and I am sure everyone will love it!

    2. Veronika

      June 26, 2022 at 6:14 pm

      5 stars
      This is such a classic! My mom used to make this salad, I can't wait to make it for our next cookout.

    3. Ann

      June 26, 2022 at 7:30 pm

      5 stars
      I made this for over the weekend, and it barely lasted one day! Everyone loved it - my kids requested for it again!

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    Katie Crenshaw-A Fork's Tale

    Hi, I'm Katie!

    Thanks for stopping in!! I am a foodie and I LOVE to eat. I am so excited to share my recipes and adventures with you! My recipes are simple and easy for the modern cook.

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