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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

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

ingredients to make Easy Watergate Salad

How to Make Easy Watergate Salad

Start by mixing together the dry pudding mix, crushed pineapple, mini marshmallows, and chopped pecans.

stirring together pecans, crushed pineapple, mini marshmallows, and Jello mix

Next, fold in the thawed Cool Whip until well combined.

watergate salad in a mint green bowl

Chill the watergate salad until you’re ready to serve.

Easy Watergate Salad with mini marshmallows and pecans

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!

Easy Watergate Salad in glass mugs

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!).

Easy Watergate Salad

How to Store Leftovers

Keep the leftover salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Easy Watergate Salad

More Recipes You’ll Love

5 from 139 votes

Easy Watergate Salad

If you love a sweet salad filled with pineapple, marshmallows, 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.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 0 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Servings: 8
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Ingredients 

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.

Nutrition

Calories: 213kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 2gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 205mgPotassium: 146mgFiber: 2gSugar: 33gVitamin A: 89IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 48mgIron: 0.4mg

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

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Easy Watergate Salad on Pinterest

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5 from 139 votes (62 ratings without comment)

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163 Comments

  1. Deidre says:

    5 stars
    Excellent!!
    Just the recipe I remembered: Pistachio Salad!

  2. Martha Miller says:

    5 stars
    Love Watergate Salad!

  3. Jennifer says:

    5 stars
    One of my new favorite treats!

  4. Gillian says:

    Great recipe. I added a small can of mandarin oranges (drained) to this and it was delicious. 😀

  5. Joan Altman says:

    5 stars
    Great salad. Easy

  6. Dionne says:

    5 stars
    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.

  7. Dustin says:

    5 stars
    Exactly like I remember it from my childhood!

  8. Barbara Bush says:

    5 stars
    The watergate salad was so easy to make. loved it!! Perfect for a nice summer afternoon treat or anytime!!!

  9. Patty Dennis says:

    5 stars
    Thank you for this great dessert !!!
    Enjoyed by all. ❤

  10. Emily Scott says:

    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.