Classic Watergate Salad Recipe (Pistachio Fluff)

Watergate Salad is a quick and easy fruit salad dessert to whip up in about 5 minutes with no cooking required. Cool Whip, instant pistachio pudding, and pineapples come together for a light and tasty dessert.

Classic Watergate Salad is somewhat of a misnomer for a name because this Fruit Fluff Salad is a dessert! It’s super easy to make with only three ingredients. This dessert salad is one of the more popular dishes served at Thanksgiving. Scroll down to our Fun Facts to read more.

Do you love recipes with pineapple for your holiday table? Try this Easy Pineapple Upside Down Cake Recipe.

Other Names for Watergate Salad

Watergate salad, also known as pistachio fluff or pistachio delight, and sometimes even that green stuff is a no-bake jello salad. Although there are variations, the original recipe uses only three simple ingredients.

The History of the Watergate Salad dates back to the mid-1980s. Originally the recipe was shared by Kraft and called Pistachio Pineapple Delight.  Soon, the name was changed to Watergate Salad, and marshmallows were added to the recipe. This delicious quickly became a family tradition in homes all across the nation.

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Ingredients

• 1 small pkg. (3.4 oz.) Pistachio pudding
• 1 (20 oz.) can of crushed pineapples in juice, undrained
• 1 (12 oz) container of whipped topping, preferably Cool Whip
• ¼ cup chopped pecans for topping, optional
• 1 Cup miniature marshmallows, optional
• maraschino cherries for topping if desired

Directions

Step 1

In a large bowl, pour the pudding mix and pineapples together, stirring until well blended.

Step 2

Add the whipped topping to the bowl, the mini marshmallows, and chopped pecans if you are using those. Fold the fruity sweet mixture together until completely blended.

Some folks do not care for the texture of the marshmallows so it is okay if you leave those out.

Step 3

Cove the bowl with plastic wrap and chill your green fluff salad in the refrigerator for at least one hour before serving.

Serve and enjoy! Top with pecans or maraschino cherries prior to serving, if desired. This pretty fruity salad is nicely served in dessert dishes like these.

The fact that you can make this no-bake fruit salad dessert with only three ingredients is not lost on a busy cook either! If you plan to make this fruit dessert for Thanksgiving, you can make it a day ahead and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

I sometimes make mine without the marshmallows. That’s how Momma always made it. Plus it’s Low Carb when you leave the marshmallows out. 

Fruit Fluff Salad is a perfect make-ahead dessert for entertaining. You can store this retro dessert in the refrigerator and bring it out at the right moment. Serve your Watergate Salad in pretty dessert dishes for that extra touch to impress your guests. 

More No-Bake Dessert Recipes

• Cherry Cheesecake No Bake Dessert
• Ultimate Homemade Cookie Jar Ice Cream Recipe
• No Bake Triple Berry Cheesecake Parfait
• Easy No Bake Sweet & Salty Halloween Dessert Bars
• No-Churn Ice Cream Chocolate Toffee Flavor
• 3 Ingredient Crockpot Apple Dumplings

Fun Facts: Watergate Salad Trivia

(Answers at the bottom of this page)

What month of the year is Watergate Salad most popular based on internet searches for the recipe?

1. March
2. July
3. November

How many people search the internet for the Watergate Salad recipe during its most popular month?

1. 25,000
2. 100,000
3. 50,000

Watergate Salad is great for

• Easter or
• Mother’s Day brunch,
• Summer soirees,
• Thanksgiving and
• Christmas
• If you are looking for green food for St. Patrick’s Day, don’t forget this easy 3 ingredient delight!

Trivia Answers. November. 50,000. All of the holidays and any time of year.

Updated 12-5-2021