By Laurel Perry
Published Nov 8, 2024
Watergate salad is one of my favorite classic chilled fruit salads. There’s not much salad-y at all about it, but it’s a tasty side dish that deserves a place on every holiday table. It’s sweet, tangy, and has a mouthwatering texture. I mixed toasted walnuts, pistachio pudding mix, crushed pineapple, marshmallows, and whipped topping to create this pistachio fluff salad. It truly is that simple to make– just mix and chill!
Watergate salad is one of those dishes that seems to have a million different names. The original recipe was called Pistachio Pineapple Delight , but it also goes by Pistachio Delight, Green Fluff, or my personal favorite, Pistachio Fluff. Whatever you call it, this salad is so delicious and super simple to make. I used just 5 pantry staple ingredients to put it together, and it took just 15 minutes.
What’s in This Watergate Salad Recipe?
- Walnuts: Add a delightful crunch and nutty flavor to the salad. Pecans would also work well.
- Pistachio Instant Pudding Mix: Adds classic pistachio flavor and a lovely green color. Make sure to use instant pudding mix, not the cook-and-serve kind!
- Crushed Pineapple: Adds a pop of freshness and tanginess to the salad. The juices help to dissolve the pudding mix, so make sure not to drain them off!
- Miniature Marshmallows: Add sweetness and texture to the salad. They also help to absorb excess moisture, so I don’t recommend leaving them out. If you can’t find miniature, you can quarter regular-sized marshmallows with sharp kitchen shears.
- Whipped Topping : Makes the salad light and fluffy.
Tips for Success
- Don’t skip toasting the nuts. It helps them stay crunchy for longer in the salad.
- You can use sugar-free versions of the pudding mix and the whipped topping if you prefer.
- I like to add 1 cup of sweetened shredded coconut to the mix for a more tropical flavor.
- I do not recommend attempting to use regular whipped cream in place of the whipped topping, as it will deflate and disintegrate as the salad chills.
- You can also fold in 8 ounces (1 brick) of softened cream cheese or ½ cup of cottage cheese to give the salad more heft.
How to Store
Store leftover Watergate salad tightly covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I do not recommend freezing this salad, as the texture turns unpleasant once thawed.
Serving Suggestions
I think a salad this beautiful deserves a place on my Easter table ; it goes so well with pineapple ham ! But this Watergate salad is delish any time of year. It’s a great BBQ side dish , too, especially alongside some Huli Huli chicken .
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ ¾ cup walnut halves and pieces
- ▢ 3.4 ounces pistachio-flavored instant pudding mix (1 box)
- ▢ 20 ounces crushed pineapple (1 can)
- ▢ 1 cup miniature marshmallows
- ▢ 8 ounces whipped topping thawed, plus more for garnish if desired (1 tub)
- ▢ Maraschino cherries optional, for garnish
Video
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Arrange the walnuts on a baking sheet and toast for 7-10 minutes or until the walnuts are fragrant and toasted. Once cool, coarsely chop. ¾ cup walnut halves and pieces
- To a large bowl, add the pistachio pudding mix, crushed pineapple with its juice, miniature marshmallows, 8 ounces of whipped topping, and 1⁄2 cup of the walnuts. Refrigerate until ready to use. 3.4 ounces pistachio-flavored instant pudding mix, 20 ounces crushed pineapple, 1 cup miniature marshmallows, 8 ounces whipped topping
- Top portions of the salad with dollops of whipped topping (if desired), the remaining walnuts, and maraschino cherries. Maraschino cherries
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
Becky’s Tips
- Nutritional information does not include optional ingredients.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Watergate Salad Step by Step
Toast the Nuts: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Arrange ¾ cup of walnut halves and pieces on a baking sheet and toast for 7-10 minutes or until the walnuts are fragrant and toasted. Once cool, coarsely chop.
More Sweet Salad Recipes to Try!
Marshmallow Salad
Pineapple Pretzel Salad
Grape Salad
Sugar Free Pretzel Salad
Cranberry Fluff Salad
Watergate Salad Recipe
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
Ingredients
- ¾ cup walnut halves and pieces
- 3.4 ounces pistachio-flavored instant pudding mix (1 box)
- 20 ounces crushed pineapple (1 can)
- 1 cup miniature marshmallows
- 8 ounces whipped topping thawed, plus more for garnish if desired (1 tub)
- Maraschino cherries optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Arrange the walnuts on a baking sheet and toast for 7-10 minutes or until the walnuts are fragrant and toasted. Once cool, coarsely chop. ¾ cup walnut halves and pieces
- To a large bowl, add the pistachio pudding mix, crushed pineapple with its juice, miniature marshmallows, 8 ounces of whipped topping, and 1⁄2 cup of the walnuts. Refrigerate until ready to use. 3.4 ounces pistachio-flavored instant pudding mix, 20 ounces crushed pineapple, 1 cup miniature marshmallows, 8 ounces whipped topping
- Top portions of the salad with dollops of whipped topping (if desired), the remaining walnuts, and maraschino cherries. Maraschino cherries
Video
Notes
- Nutritional information does not include optional ingredients.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
