This easy four-ingredient classic Watergate Salad recipe is perfect for holiday or family dinners. Also known as pistachio fluff salad, you won't believe how quick and easy this dessert salad is to make.
Watergate Salad Recipe
I must admit that growing up, I called this Watergate Salad the green holiday salad. Although we only had it at Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, it was my favorite! I may have loaded big scoops on my plate and skipped everything else until I had my fill.
Now that I am an adult, I realize I can make this dessert salad anytime, which is epic! I have heard this salad called green fluff salad, pistachio fluff, green goop, pistachio pineapple delight, green stuff, Pineapple Pistachio Delight, or pistachio delight.
Whatever you call it, I hope you love it!!! It is a quick and easy side dish for family dinners or the holidays. This year, I am making it for St. Patrick's Day!
It is unbelievable that we have never made it for St. Patrick's Day dinner, so next year, it is happening.
I know many of you will not enjoy that I called this a salad, but that is what it is known as. I know many of these retro recipes make people shake their heads, but they have also lasted for multiple generations, making me love them.
Any recipe that can last and adapt to multiple generations of families making it amazes me.
This dessert salad is one of my favorite potluck dishes. It’s beyond me how this green salad earned its name, but some sites say that a chef at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, DC, created it.
Regardless of the story behind its creation, I am glad this retro family favorite continues to be popular today.
Ingredients
Here is a quick overview of the simple ingredients needed to make an epic Watergate Salad! The printable recipe card at the bottom of the post includes specific measurements and step-by-step instructions.
- Instant Pistachio Pudding Mix
- Crushed Pineapple with pineapple juice
- Cool Whip Whipped Topping
- Mini Marshmallows
- Maraschino Cherry
Optional Add-Ins: Pecans, Cottage Cheese, Mandarin Oranges, Fruit Cocktail, Coconut, or Cream Cheese.
Equipment Needed
- Large Mixing Bowl - We are big fans of this glass batter bowl that has a handle. It makes it easy to mix ingredients and keeps the mixing bowl steady on the counter.
- Spatula/Wooden Spoon - We use a spatula to gently fold/stir the mixture together.
- Serving Bowl
How to make Pistachio Fluff
I've included complete instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post, but here's a quick version.
Make sure to use a large bowl so you have space for all of the ingredients and to be able to mix them without the green stuff flying over the sides of the bowl.
Combine pistachio pudding mixed with crushed pineapple including the juice. Mix together until well combined.
Gently mix in Cool Whip until no streaks show in the pistachio fluff. Add in marshmallows and chill in the refrigerator.
Top with Maraschino Cherries or chopped pecans/walnuts. You can add a bit of whipped cream to the top for a fun look.
Preparation and Storage
Make-Ahead: This fluffy green delight is make-ahead-friendly! Let your Watergate Salad chill in the fridge for at least a few hours before serving to let the flavors meld together.
Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container and enjoy them within three days.
Freezing/How to Freeze: You may be surprised you can freeze Watergate Salad leftovers! Freeze leftover portions in an airtight, freezer-safe container and enjoy them within three months.
How to Reheat: Always serve this dessert salad cold. Thaw frozen leftovers overnight in the fridge before serving.
Recipe Variations
Substitutions: If you have people who don’t like crunchy nuts in their salad, you can sift them out. We used to remove the large nut chunks growing up so the salad was smoother. Some of our loved ones did not like crunching on nuts but would love this salad without any crunchy pieces.
Vegetarian Option: Use vegetarian-safe mini marshmallows to make the Watergate Salad safe for a vegetarian diet. Many marshmallow brands at your local grocery store contain gelatin, which is usually animal-derived.
Vegan Option: In addition to the guidance for vegetarians, vegans should swap Cool Whip with a plant-based alternative to avoid any dairy. Vegetarians and vegans will not need to use a different instant pudding mix, as Jell-O’s Vanilla, Banana Cream, Pistachio, and Lemon flavors are accidentally vegan!
Gluten-Free: Gluten-free diners should use gluten-free pistachio pudding and mini marshmallows to make this recipe gluten-free.
Smaller Serving Size + Larger Group/More Servings: Serve this pistachio fluff recipe in a large bowl for groups or divide it into small bowls for individual servings.
Sugar-Free: The written recipe contains 53 grams of sugar per serving. Use sugar-free pistachio pudding mix, Cool Whip, mini marshmallows, and no-sugar-added crushed pineapple to make this dessert salad sugar-free.
Tips for the Best Watergate Salad
- We do not drain the pineapple when making this recipe. The pineapple liquid mixes with the pudding mix to create the green color.
- Nutrition information is available in the recipe card below
What to Serve with Watergate Salad
The Watergate Salad is a cheery green dessert salad that pairs fantastically with any Thanksgiving or Christmas meal, St. Patrick’s Day feast, or any celebration of green! Here are some festive holiday menu planning ideas.
Sides: Cheddar Bay Sausage Biscuits, Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Smokies, Cheesy Green Beans, Apple Stuffing, Sausage Breakfast Biscuit Cups, Cranberry Salsa, Pineapple Stuffing
Main Dishes: Easy German Apple Pancake, Broccoli Casserole, Sweet Potato Casserole with Candied Yams, CrockPot Ham, CrockPot Coke Glazed Ham, Bourbon Baked Ham
Desserts: 4 Ingredient Christmas Crack, Sugared Cranberries, Easy Holiday Reindeer Chow, Grinch Bark, Cranberry Fluff Salad, Cherry Cheesecake Dip, Hot Chocolate Dip
Drinks: Broken Down Golf Cart Shot, Baileys Hot Chocolate, Grinch Jello Shots, Fireball Jello Shots, Peppermint Patty Shot, Cranberry Mimosa, Three Wise Men Shot, Polar Bear Shot
When to Serve
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Potlucks
- St. Patrick’s Day
- Christmas
- Thanksgiving
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Watergate Salad
Ingredients
- 2 boxes Pistachio Pudding 3.4 oz size
- 20 Ounce Crushed Pineapple
- 16 Ounce Cool Whip
- 10 Ounce Mini Marshmallows
- Maraschino Cherries Garnish
Instructions
- Combine pistachio pudding and pineapple with juice in a large mixing bowl. Stir together until well mixed.
- Gently fold in Cool Whip until there are no streaks. Add in mini marshmallows until evenly divided.
- Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Top with whipped topping and maraschino cherries.
Kitchen Tools
- Large Mixing Bowl
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