Watergate salad is one of those sweet salad recipes that makes a fantastic dessert salad or a delicious dessert. It’s a perfect dump-and-go salad.
Given its pretty light green color, it’s great served at Easter or Christmas. And because of its refreshing flavor it’s equally wonderful served at Sunday supper, summer potlucks, and barbecues. It seems like it’s been around forever, but it really just made its debut in the 1970s.
Watergate Salad is one of those fun, fluffy favorites that always disappears fast. If you love easy, creamy dessert salads like this one, be sure to browse my No-Bake Desserts collection, then try Frog Eye Salad, Strawberry Cheesecake Salad, or Ambrosia Salad next — they’re all cool, make-ahead favorites that are perfect for potlucks, cookouts, and family gatherings. ♥
Let’s make this!
What I Love About This Recipe
- Sweet and fruity
- Refreshing and simple
- Pretty color
- 6 Ingredients
What Is Watergate Salad?
Watergate salad is a dessert-style salad that’s made with pistachio pudding, pineapple, marshmallows, nuts, and whipped topping. It’s refreshing, light, and fluffy.
No one is sure about where the name came from, but many believe it came from a recipe invented by the sous chef, at the Watergate hotel. It’s been popular since the 1970s.
Watergate Salad Recipe + Ingredient Notes
- Pudding – the recipe won’t work if you make the pudding first. Instead, it is used as an ingredient, pour the powdered pudding mix into the bowl. There’s no milk in the recipe.
- Whipped Topping: A.K.A Cool Whip. I’ve used the Kroger brand whipped topping with equally good results as I’ve had with Cool Whip. Be sure to thaw overnight in the fridge for best results.
- Pineapple – As you know, there are several types of canned pineapple in stores. Pineapple can be canned in its own juice or it can be canned in syrup. Steer clear of the pineapple packed in syrup. Not only will you be filling your dessert with useless sugar, but it’ll also turn out way too sweet. Instead, use the pineapple packed in its own juices.
- Fresh pineapple doesn’t work in this recipe. Pineapple has enzymes that won’t react well with the whipped topping, and you’ll be left with a soupy mess. Stick with crushed, canned pineapple packed in pineapple juice and you’ll be just fine.
- Nuts – you can technically use any type of nuts that you’d like. But I’ve tried a few, including walnuts, and my family didn’t care for it. The taste of the walnuts was too earthy for the salad. But fresh pecans? Oh, heaven.
Storing + Freezing + Make-Ahead
- How Long Can You Keep This In The Fridge? Your scrumptious salad will stay fresh and yummy in the fridge for 3-4 days when stored properly. Keep it covered with cling wrap for the best results.
- Can You Freeze This? Unfortunately, the pudding and fruit just don’t freeze well.
- Make-Ahead Tips: One of the things I like best about this salad is that it’s so easy to make in a pinch. The key, however, is to make it the night before. Prepare the salad, cover it in plastic wrap, then let it sit overnight in your refrigerator. If you prepare this salad the same day, it will end up tasting like an unprepared pudding. Remember, there’s no milk. So you’re depending on the whipped topping to bring the flavors of the fruit and pudding mix together.
- Wait until just before serving to add some of your nuts and the cherries. Your nuts will stay crunchy and your cherries won’t change the color of your Watergate salad if you add them right before you serve your guests.
- Food Safety: If you’d like more info on food safety check out this link.
Serving Recommendations
It serves well in a large glass bowl garnished with pecans and cherries. You can also serve it as a retro dessert in some pretty little glasses or pudding cups. The possibilities are endless.
Serve with more of my favorite warm weather sides like KFC coleslaw, classic macaroni salad, authentic Hawaiian macaroni salad, carrot salad, broccoli salad, or 7 layer salad.
How To Make Watergate Salad Recipe
- Simply mix everything together and chill it in the fridge overnight.
- Garnish and enjoy it.
More Fruity Dessert Salads You’ll Love
If you love sweet, creamy salads like this one, these fruity favorites are always a hit at potlucks and family gatherings:
- Creamy Fruit Salad – light, sweet, and packed with fresh fruit in a creamy dressing
- Frescas Con Crema – fresh strawberries in a rich, lightly sweetened cream
- Cherry Fluff – fluffy, creamy, and always a crowd favorite
- Strawberry Fluff – sweet, fruity, and perfect for spring and summer
- Ambrosia Salad – a classic fruit salad with a creamy, nostalgic twist
- 5 Cup Salad – simple, sweet, and perfectly balanced with just a handful of ingredients
Tried This Recipe?
Leave a review, I love hearing your feedback! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Watergate Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 (3.4-ounce) box Instant Pistachio Pudding
- 1 (20-ounce) can crushed pineapple drained with 1/2 cup juice reserved
- 1 cup miniature marshmallows
- 1 cup pecans Chopped~Divided
- 1 3/4 cups frozen whipped topping thawed
- Maraschino cherries
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, stir together Pistachio pudding (1 box), drained pineapple (1 can), 1/2 cup reserved pineapple juice, marshmallows (1 cup), and 1/2 cup pecans.
- Fold whipped topping (1 3/4 cups). Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- To serve, sprinkle the top of the salad with the remaining cup of pecans and top with a Maraschino cherry.
Fans Also Made:
Notes
- Pudding – the recipe won’t work if you make the pudding first. Instead, it is used as an ingredient, pour the powdered pudding mix into the bowl. There’s no milk in the recipe.
- Whipped Topping: A.K.A Cool Whip. I’ve used the Kroger brand whipped topping with equally good results as I’ve had with named brand Cool Whip. Be sure to thaw overnight in the fridge for best results.
- Pineapple – As you know, there are two types of pineapple in stores. Pineapple can be canned in its own juice or it can be canned in syrup. Steer clear of the pineapple packed in syrup. Not only will you be filling your dessert with useless sugar, but it’ll also turn out way too sweet. Instead, use the pineapple packed in its own juices.
- Fresh pineapple doesn’t work in this recipe. Pineapple has enzymes that won’t react well with the whipped topping, and you’ll be left with a soupy mess. Stick with crushed, canned pineapple packed in pineapple juice and you’ll be just fine.
- Nuts – you can technically use any type of nuts that you’d like. But I’ve tried a few, including walnuts, and my family didn’t care for it. The taste of the walnuts was too earthy for the salad, and I didn’t find that it was successful. But fresh pecans? Oh, heaven.
Nutrition
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I like “everything except the kitchen sink”. I added a can of diced peaches (mostly drained), a can of mandrin oranges (mostly drained) and a dozen white seedless grapes (quartered, one cut lengthwise and second cut crosswise). The peaches and oranges were also NOT in syrup (in their juice or water). I like the pinapple Tidbits instead of the “chunks” or “crushed” pineapple. Since I added a lot of extra, I was going to use the larger box of Pistacho Pudding, but the store was out, so I used 2 small boxes.
I put chopped Walnuts in a side bowl and chopped Pecans in a second side bowl for toppings if they chose to add one or both. There are a lot of people at my work who can’t eat nuts, so I didn’t put them in the salad. I also put some maraschino cherries (cut in half) in a third side bowl for topping.
Everyone like it a lot.
Hey Jerry. Wow! I love all your tweaks.Great idea to put the nuts on the side so everyone could enjoy the salad. So happy it was a hit for you! Thank you for leaving a comment and the 5 star rating!! Happy cooking!
I’ve made this for decades and just learned it’s actual name more recently. We use the whole can crushed pineapple not drained, mixed with the pudding, fold in a whole container of Cool Whip, and the fruity colored marshmallows. No nuts but would add pistachios if I did. We sometimes skimp on the marshmallows as it is a very sweet dessert. My 4 year old grandbaby will be making this for us 🙂
Hey, Theresa! Your version sounds wonderful! It’s so cute that your grandbaby will make this! <3
Can this be doubled and still delicious.
Hi, Mary. I haven’t tried that but I think that’ll work. 🙂
Let us know how it turns out!
My niece named this grasshopper salad because of the color and the crunchy pieces. She’s 44 and we all still call it this.!!!!
That’s a cute name, Diana ❤️❤️ I’m happy to hear you like it!
It’s gone in a flash! They love it
You can drink the remainder or throw out. Good to make a marinade with as well.
Have made this salad for at least 50 years. My recipe is the same as yours, except I don’t put in any nuts. Allergies and the fact my family prefers it without nuts
That’s amazing, Helen! 😀 I sometimes don’t put nuts in the salad too.
Oh, yum!
Enjoy! ❤️
No pudding in this recipe?
Hi Kim, yes it uses 1 3.4 Ounce Box Instant Pistachio Pudding <3
How much pineapple juice are you using or are you using just the 1/2c reserve and throwing out the rest?
Hi Bonnie. Yes, I only use the 1/2 cup and discard the rest. 🙂
I lost my best friend to cancer several years ago. Whenever Rudi went to a family dinner she was required to bring this salad. Ive become a diabetic and I want to see if I can make this sugar free. I love experimenting with new recipes.
Hi Patricia! I’m so sorry about your friend. I love that food ties us to the people in our lives so strongly <3
I have made this recipe for years and every one always loves it and asks for seconds. No matter what jello or pudding salad i make, my family always asks, “why didn’t you make the pistachio salad.
Marice, I am glad that your family enjoys this recipe! Looks like a guaranteed hit if they continue to ask for this Watergate Salad. Thank you for sharing with us!