Watergate Salad – A classic & traditional holiday side dish that everyone loves.
This Watergate Salad is deliciously creamy and perfect for the holiday dinner table. Made with Cool Whip, marshmallows, pistachio pudding, and pineapple, it’s deliciously easy and super simple to make. Everyone will devour it on sight!
This Watergate Salad recipe is one I grew up with every holiday. Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Fourth of July, and so on – if you name the holiday, it was there.
It’s a classic, and I honestly thought for years that this side dish was just for me. It wasn’t until recently I found out this dish is more than just a tradition in my family, but many, many, many other families, too.
Of course, everyone has their twist on this classic, and my mom always made her Watergate Salad with no walnuts because of my sister’s allergies.
But since all of my kids love walnuts, we add them back in, and to add some extra holiday cheer, we add some chopped cranberries, which makes this version of Watergate Salad look perfectly festive for Christmas.
Ingredients
- Cool Whip
- Instant pistachio pudding mix
- Canned crushed pineapple
- Marshmallows
- Chopped walnuts
- Chopped dried cranberries
This is one of those dishes you can pick up all the ingredients at the store and make in a jiffy.
That’s where I picked up the Watergate Salad ingredients I needed and a new hand mixer {I go through these too often}. I had no idea the variety of offerings in their appliance sections, including a griddle, slow cooker, blender, and toaster.
They had holiday decorations everywhere, tons of gift ideas, and endless house supplies. My Christmas shopping turned into more of a grocery run. I was amazed at the assortment and ease of shopping. This was super convenient for me – a one-stop shop that day for the potluck we’d be attending later.
Easy Watergate Salad Recipe
My favorite thing about this Watergate Salad recipe is its ease. This is a great side dish that doesn’t need the oven, stovetop or a ton of refrigerator space.
You can make it a day or two in advance or immediately before; it only takes minutes to prepare.
Recipe Steps
In a medium/large mixing bowl, add Cool Whip and pistachio pudding and beat until combined and you can no longer see any of the pudding powder.
Add crushed pineapple and beat again until well combined.
Stir in marshmallows, walnuts & dried cranberries (optional).
Top with a sprinkle of dried cranberries and walnuts, and serve immediately.
Or cover and store until ready to eat.
FAQ
Yes, you can make it up to a day in advance. Just keep it covered and chilled.
Sometimes Watergate salad is called pistachio fluff!
It’s considered a side dish, but it can also be served as a dessert. These “salads” are popular in the Midwest and Southern parts of the US and often served at potlucks or for holiday dinners.
Try a Watergate Salad this year at your holiday table, and make it a tradition if it isn’t. Take this to your next holiday get-together, and you’ll be sure to leave with an empty bowl.
Don’t forget to pin this Watergate Salad recipe to your favorite Pinterest board for later.
More Side Dish Salad Ideas
Watergate Salad
Ingredients
- 8 ounces Cool Whip
- 3.4 ounces instant pistachio pudding
- 20 ounces crushed pineapple
- 3 cups marshmallows
- 4 ounce chopped walnuts pecans work great too
- 2/3 cup chopped dried cranberries optional
Instructions
- In a medium/large mixing bowl add Cool Whip and pistachio pudding and beat until combined and you can no longer see any of the pudding powder.
- Add crushed pineapple and beat again until well combined.
- Stir in marshmallows, walnuts & dried cranberries (optional).
- Top with a sprinkle of dried cranberries and walnuts and serve immediately. Or cover and store until ready to eat.
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[…] am not a huge marshmallow salad fan except for my mom’s Watergate Salad recipe. I do like that one. But when reading in the salad section of this cookbook I sawy Pineapple […]