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Watergate Salad is loaded with pistachio pudding, crushed pineapple, miniature marshmallows, and pecans. It’s perfect for a Spring get-together or mid-week dessert.

Three small serving dishes filled with watergate salad set on a white platter
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Growing up, salads that weren’t really salads were a staple at my Nana’s house. From Ambrosia Salad to Strawberry Pretzel Salad – these were the salads that I looked forward to at family gatherings, and Watergate Salad was no exception.

Nana and her friends always had their go-to recipes that they were famous for and could whip them up in no time flat for a church function, ailing friend, or family get-together. 

Nana was known for her cheesecake – usually cherry cheesecake, but switched up with other pie fillings depending on the season. Strawberries during spring, and lemon during the summer months.

Nana’s friend, Anita, always made an amazingly fluffy pistachio “salad” known as Watergate Salad. We come from a family that loves anything with pistachio pudding, from pudding pie to Pistachio Pudding Parfaits, so naturally, I was obsessed with the stuff as a kid. 

Watergate salad ingredients arranged on a marble counter

WHAT IS WATERGATE SALAD?

If you’re from the Midwest, you might have grown up eating Watergate Salad. Your family might have called it Pistachio Delight, Green Fluff, or even Green Goop.

Hand pouring pistachio pudding mix into a bowl of crushed pineapple

This salad, which can be served as a side dish or a dessert, is made up of a few simple ingredients:

  • Pistachio pudding
  • Canned pineapple
  • Whipped topping
  • Marshmallows
  • Pecans 

There are some variations of the dish that use jello, mandarin oranges, or even cottage cheese, but Nana’s friend Anita always made the most classic version and it’s the one I’ve come to love.

WHY IS IT CALLED “WATERGATE SALAD”?

If you’re curious about the name of this recipe…well, so is the rest of the internet, it seems.

I did some research and it seems like no one really knows where the name “Watergate Salad” came from.

Whipped topping being added to a glass mixing bowl with pineapple and pistachio pudding mix

One story says that the recipe was invented by a chef at the Watergate Hotel. Others say that it came out around the same time as Watergate Cake, and both became popular during the Watergate scandal. 

Maybe that’s why this salad goes by so many different names! No matter what name you call it, I call it delicious.

Spatula folding together whipped topping with pineapple and pistachio pudding mix

HOW TO MAKE THIS SWEET SALAD

You know how much I love a recipe that comes together in a matter of minutes and just gets better with time.

In a large bowl, mix together the undrained pineapple with the pistachio pudding mix. You need the juice of the pineapple to make this recipe come together, so make sure you don’t drain it!

Use a spatula to fold in the whipped topping until no streaks remain, then fold in the marshmallows and the pecans.

Pecans and mini marshmallows being added to a bowl of watergate salad

CAN THIS RECIPE BE MADE A DAY AHEAD OF TIME?

Make sure to let this salad chill for at least a few hours before serving it. 

If you want, you can definitely make your Watergate Salad the day before. It really only gets better with a little bit of time and will last in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Watergate salad in a glass mixing bowl, ready to chill in the refrigerator

I recommend topping the salad with a few extra chopped pecans right before serving for a bit of extra crunch. You can even add a fresh dollop of whipped topping if you like! 

If you’ve never tried Watergate Salad, you’ve got to make it immediately. And if you have tried it before, it’s time to revisit an old favorite.

Close up of watergate salad in a small serving bowl, topped with whipped topping and chopped pecans, next to a spoon
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Watergate Salad

By: Jamie
4.45 from 61 ratings
Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
Servings: 16
Watergate Salad is loaded with pistachio pudding, crushed pineapple, miniature marshmallows, and pecans. It’s perfect for a Spring get-together or mid-week dessert.

Ingredients

  • 1 can crushed pineapple 20 ounces, undrained
  • 2 packages instant pistachio pudding mix 3.4 ounces each
  • 16 ounces frozen whipped topping thawed
  • 2 cups miniature marshmallows
  • ¾ cup pecans

Instructions 

  • In a large bowl, stir together the pineapple and pistachio pudding mixes until combined. Use a rubber spatula to fold in the whipped topping until no streaks remain. Fold in marshmallows and pecans. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours before serving.

Notes

Refrigerate leftover Watergate Salad for up to 2 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 162kcal, Carbohydrates: 30g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 5mg, Sodium: 204mg, Potassium: 95mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 25g, Vitamin A: 70IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 41mg, Iron: 0.2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

4.45 from 61 votes (61 ratings without comment)

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49 Comments

  1. andrea says:

    Do you make the pudding mix or mix it dry with the pineapple?

    1. Jamie says:

      Andrea-
      Just mix the dry pudding mix in. Thanks for stopping by!
      -Jamie

  2. Cindi Flynn says:

    I make this all the time. ย I use a slightly modified recipe: ย same sises as you list, just different amts. ย 3 pkgs pudding, 3 tubs cool whip, 2 cans (drained) pineapple (i get to drink the juice), I use 1 bag of colored marshmallows. ย My mom used to use walnuts rather than pecans. ย I think with the pistachios there are just the right amount there. ย I like to also add shredded coconut from time to time. :D

    1. Jamie says:

      Shredded coconut sounds like a delicious option, Cindi! Thanks for sharing.
      -Jamie

  3. Erika says:

    My mom used to make this a lot when I was a kid but she also included chopped maraschino cherries. After seeing this post, I want to go home and make some tonight!

  4. Melissa says:

    We’ve always made this using the colored mini marshmallows. Wonderful!

    1. Jamie says:

      Melissa-
      Thanks so much for stopping by.

      -Jamie

  5. Mary @chattavore says:

    I love Watergate salad, like any good Southern girl! It’s such a great summer dish.

    1. Jamie says:

      Mary-
      It’s just not summer without it, is it? Thanks for stopping by.

      -Jamie

  6. Karen says:

    I haven’t made this in years… copied it again and hope to make it soon… thanks for the memories.

    1. Jamie says:

      Karen-
      I hope you get a chance to make it! Thanks for visiting.

      -Jamie

    1. Jamie says:

      Addia-
      I’m sorry to hear that the pistachio pudding isn’t available to you. I appreciate you stopping by.

      -Jamie

  7. Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen says:

    This is my favorite! My mother-in-law makes this but I had no idea it is called Watergate Salad. So, so delicious!

    1. Jamie says:

      Miss-
      Thanks for visiting!

      -Jamie

  8. grace says:

    i was also raised eating those pseudo-salads, but i don’t know this one! sounds perfectly potluck-worthy. :)

    1. Jamie says:

      Grace-
      I hope you get a chance to try it! Thanks for visiting.

      -Jamie

  9. Erin @ Miss Scrambled Egg says:

    I’ve never had watergate salad, but it sounds delicious. Pistachio is a totally underrated dessert flavor. :D

    1. Jamie says:

      Erin-
      I agree, we all need to use pistachio more! Thanks for stopping by.

      -Jamie