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Home ยป Recipes ยป Salad Recipes

Pistachio Salad Recipe (aka Watergate Salad)

Updated: Oct 3, 2023 by Mindee ยท This post may contain affiliate links ยท 1 Comment

Looking for the recipe for that fluffy green jello salad with pistachio pudding and mini marshmallows in it that your Grandma used to make? You know, that vintage recipe that was served at church dinners or a family reunion? Look no further! You're only 5 ingredients and 10 minutes from enjoying that family favorite!

little bowl of pistachio salad garnished with mint.
A bowl of creamy pistachio salad!
Jump to:
  • Why You'll Love This Recipe
  • Ingredient Notes
  • Step by Step Instructions
  • Recipe FAQs and Expert Tips
  • Related Recipes
  • Pistachio Salad

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • This is an old-fashioned side salad that only needs 5 simple ingredients!
  • Takes less than 10 minutes to prepare!
  • Also known as Pistachio Delight, Watergate Salad, Pistachio Fluff Salad, or Pistachio Pudding Salad!
  • Perfect for summer BBQs, potlucks, holiday dinners, or family gatherings!
  • The green color makes this perfect for St. Patrick's Day too!

Ingredient Notes

  • Cool Whip - 2 Cups of freshly whipped cream can be substituted for the cool whip, aka whipped topping.
  • Pineapple - crushed, tidbits or chunks. Chunks will need to be chopped into smaller pieces.
  • Pistachio Pudding Mix - Be sure you've purchased the instant pistachio pudding mix.
Ingredients for pistachio salad.
This simple salad needs just a handful of ingredients!

Step by Step Instructions

  • In a large bowl, beat โ…”s cool whip, sour cream, and pistachio instant pudding mix together well.
Beat cool whip, sour cream, and pudding mix together.
Beat the dry pudding mix, cool whip, and sour cream together in a large mixing bowl!
  • Dump the entire can of pineapple, with the pineapple juice, into the mixing bowl.
  • Add the miniature marshmallows and the remaining cool whip.
  • Mix well.
  • Serve immediately or store in an airtight container or cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.
  • Feel free to garnish with maraschino cherries.
Fold in the last bit of cool whip to maintain the green fluff element of this classic recipe!

Recipe FAQs and Expert Tips

Why was it called Watergate Salad?

In the 1970s, at the height of the Watergate scandal, Kraft Foods released a cake recipe using dry pistachio pudding mix and called it Watergate cake.ย  Shortly after, they released this jello salad using pistachio pudding.ย  A columnist in Chicago renamed their jello salad Watergate Salad after the cake.ย  The name stuck, and it's still known by that today.

Can I use pineapple chunks or tidbits instead of crushed ones?

Yes, you will want to chop up the chunks smaller, but tidbits are fine.

Related Recipes

  • Macaroni Coleslaw Salad
  • Berries and Cream Jello Salad
  • Fluffy Lemon Jello Salad
  • Orange Creamsicle Jello Salad

Have you tried this recipe? If so, leave me a rating and a comment below! And don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter to get my latest recipes sent right to your email! You can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram!

Pistachio Salad (aka Watergate Salad)

Pistachio Salad

Mindee
Looking for the recipe for that fluffy green jello salad with pistachio pudding and mini marshmallows in it that your Grandma used to make?ย  Look no further!ย  You're only 5 ingredients and 10 minutes from enjoying that sweet side again!
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 10 minutes mins
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Servings 8 serving
Calories 180 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 8 oz Cool Whip 8 oz container
  • ยฝ Cup Sour Cream
  • 3.4 oz Pistachio Instant Pudding Mix 3.4 oz pkg.
  • 16 oz Crushed Pineapple (undrained) 2 x 8 oz cans
  • 1 ยฝ Cups Mini Marshmallows

Instructions
 

  • Beat โ…”s of the cool whip, sour cream, and pistachio pudding mix together.
  • Mix in the pineapple, juice and all, marshmallows, and remaining Cool Whip.
  • Serve or chill to allow to set up more.

Notes

  • You can sub 2 cups of freshly whipped cream for the cool whip.
  • Pineapple tidbits and chunks work as well.ย  If using chunks, chop them up into smaller pieces.

Nutrition

Calories: 180kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 2gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 207mgPotassium: 121mgFiber: 1gSugar: 30gVitamin A: 168IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 56mgIron: 0.2mg
Keyword pistachio fluff, pistachio pudding salad, pistachio salad recipe, watergate salad
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Comments

  1. Karen March

    April 16, 2020 at 11:14 am

    Absolutely delicious and so easy to make! Love it!

    Reply
5 from 1 vote

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