If you love a sweet salad filled with pineapple, marshmallows, pecans, Cool Whip, and pistachio pudding, then this Easy Watergate Salad is just perfect! A deliciously cool and creamy addition to any dinner plate, this salad is impressive yet very quick and easy with only 5 ingredients.
Easy Watergate Salad
This incredibly easy Watergate Salad is perfect for your holiday dinner table, but you might also want to make it any weeknight just because it’s delicious. Simply toss the ingredients into a bowl, stir, and chill for a short time–so simple!
While you’re here, check out these other sweet salad recipes: Easy Orange Creamsicle Salad | Ambrosia Salad | Twix Caramel Apple Salad | Strawberry Pretzel Salad
The Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make the watergate salad (the exact measurements and full recipe instructions are below in the printable recipe card):
- Instant pistachio Jell-O pudding mix
- Canned crushed pineapple
- Miniature marshmallows
- Chopped pecans
- Cool Whip
How to Make Easy Watergate Salad
Start by mixing together the dry pudding mix, crushed pineapple, mini marshmallows, and chopped pecans.
Next, fold in the thawed Cool Whip until well combined.
Chill the watergate salad until you’re ready to serve.
You may want to serve the salad in one large bowl, or you can scoop it into individual ramekins, cups, small bowls, or mugs. Individual servings are a really lovely presentation!
Substitutions and Toppings
Nuts – Instead of pecans, you could use chopped walnuts or pistachios.
Whipped cream – If you prefer real whipped cream to Cool Whip, you can definitely use your homemade whipped cream instead.
Toppings – For an extra pretty touch, top the watergate salad with a big dollop of Cool Whip and a maraschino cherry (or a few!).
How to Store Leftovers
Keep the leftover salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
More Recipes You’ll Love
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- Caramel Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail
- Best Oatmeal Cookies Recipe
Easy Watergate Salad
Ingredients
- 3.4 ounce package instant pistachio pudding mix
- 20 ounce can crushed pineapple not drained
- 2 cups mini marshmallows
- 1/2 cup pecans chopped
- 8 ounce container Cool Whip thawed
Instructions
- Start by mixing together the dry pudding mix, crushed pineapple, mini marshmallows, and chopped pecans.
- Next, fold in the thawed Cool Whip until well combined.
- Chill the watergate salad until you're ready to serve.
Last Step:
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87 comments on “Easy Watergate Salad (5-ingredients)”
Do you use 1 small box of pudding mix
Hi Deb. Yes, you will use one small box.
Very easy to make and so pretty. Favorite around here.
Love this!! So easy to make and disappears quickly. It’s made it into my go-to dish to make for potlucks as well. Haven’t had a negative comment at all.
Did the pistachio salad with walnuts. YUMM. Such an easy recipe, can’t keep my husband from making more..lol
I lightened my Watergate Salad with sugar free pudding and light cool whip without altering the flavor.
It was very good & super easy to make.
I love this recipe! Very good and easy to make.
I need to make delicious my family loved it I’ll make it all the time
Delicious and so easy! The added nuts make it even better.
This is a favorite of my grandkids.
Excellent!!
Just the recipe I remembered: Pistachio Salad!
Love Watergate Salad!
One of my new favorite treats!
Great recipe. I added a small can of mandarin oranges (drained) to this and it was delicious. 😀
Great salad. Easy
I loved making this as a kid, for the holidays. To make it more festive for Christmas I would just add some red gummy candies on top! This is also my ” go-to” dessert on a hot day when I don’t want to spend time at a hot oven or stove.
Exactly like I remember it from my childhood!
The watergate salad was so easy to make. loved it!! Perfect for a nice summer afternoon treat or anytime!!!
Thank you for this great dessert !!!
Enjoyed by all. ❤
I made this with sugar free Cool Whip & sugar free pistachio pudding,used walnuts & went very light on the sugar free marshmallows.I also used the crushed pineapple in natural juices.You couldn’t even tell the difference & it was fantastic.