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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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Jill

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5 from 139 votes (62 ratings without comment)

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163 Comments

  1. Marilyn says:

    5 stars
    Great salad for parties and holidays. Very easy and quick to make.

  2. Ann says:

    5 stars
    I do not remember if I liked it when I was a child,(it was green.. lol) but I remember seeing it and this is delicious. I have it in my sweets folder so we don’t have it often but we do enjoy it! Thank you

    1. Jill says:

      Thanks Ann!

  3. Jen says:

    5 stars
    Perfect recipe.

    1. Jill says:

      Thanks Jen!

  4. Anita says:

    My whole family loves this recipe . I will be fixing it for the holidays .

  5. Pat Whiting says:

    5 stars
    Made this for a Christmas brunch at church. Easy to make and tastes great

    1. Jill says:

      Thanks Pat!

  6. Laura says:

    5 stars
    Love how easy & delicious this is. So pretty & quick to make.

    1. Jill says:

      Thanks Laura!

  7. Sue says:

    5 stars
    This was delicious!! I followed an old recipe off the Jello box of pistachio pudding and it only called for 1 cup of Cool Whip. It needed more and adding the whole container of 8 0z whipped topping was perfect! One cup v.s. a 8 oz whole container make a complete difference in how it tastes..:)

    1. Jill says:

      Glad it was delicious! Thanks Sue.

    2. Bettilynn Gay Ford says:

      I’ve had it both ways an I like a compromise of 2 cups of whipped topping best

  8. Ramona says:

    5 stars
    Fast and easy!! Super delicious.

    1. Jill says:

      Thanks Ramona!

  9. Megan says:

    5 stars
    Simple instructions and easy recipe. Anyone can do it! I love that you include the pictures as well.

    1. Jill says:

      Thanks Megan!

  10. Joan says:

    5 stars
    Love the recipe! Easy and yummy

    1. Jill says:

      Thanks Joan!