Old Fashioned Pistachio Salad

Old Fashioned Pistachio Salad, also known as Watergate Salad, is a sweet side dish or dessert that your guests will love. It’s made with just 5 ingredients and takes 10 minutes to put together.

glass parfait glasses filled with pistachio salad, on a green napkin

For many people, an Old Fashioned Pistachio Salad is a nostalgic treat. The recipe dates back to the 1970s (just like this Pistachio Cake) and it was a staple at potlucks and parties for a number of years.

It’s easy to see why—it’s really easy to make, and despite often being served as a side dish, it tastes like dessert!

I love serving sweet salads like this one (plus 5 Cup Salad, Orange Dreamsicle Salad, or my Easy Cherry Salad) for holiday dinners, potlucks, and cookouts.

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Origin of Pistachio Salad

According to Kraft, their team of scientists developed Jell-O pistachio pudding in 1975. Soon after, they provided a recipe for “Pistachio Pineapple Delight” on the side of the box. The recipe was similar to this one, but it didn’t have any marshmallows in it.

It is thought that the addition of marshmallows came in the early 1990s, when the name of the salad was changed to “Watergate Salad.” There are a number of legends as to who changed the name and why, but most agree that it was a Chicago-based food columnist who re-named it.

Ingredients

ingredients for pistachio salad
  • Jell-O pistachio pudding provides the flavor, sweetness, and a gorgeous light green hue to this salad.
  • Canned pineapple adds sweetness with a bit of acidity to balance the flavors.
  • Chopped walnuts add crunch.
  • Mini marshmallows add sweetness and volume.
  • Whipped topping is essential here. Do not substitute whipped cream, as the whipped cream isn’t stable enough to withstand the weight of the other ingredients without deflating.

How to make pistachio salad

This recipe is impossibly easy.

1. Drain the pineapple chunks. Reserve the juice for another use (or just drink it!).
2. Stir together the whipped topping and pistachio pudding mix using a spatula.
3. Stir in the marshmallows, drained pineapple, and walnuts.
4. Place the salad in a serving bowl and top with additional walnuts.

Can I make pistachio salad ahead of time?

Pistachio Salad is perfect for making ahead of time. Combine all of the ingredients up to one day in advance, cover, and refrigerate until ready to serve.

You can even freeze Pistachio Salad! Keep it in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months. Defrost in the refrigerator for 24 hours before serving.

pistachio salad in individual parfait dishes

Serving tips and suggestions

You can serve Pistachio Salad in a big bowl, topped with chopped walnuts or even a maraschino cherry or two. Or, you can spoon it into individual parfait dishes or dessert dishes, like I did here.

Some people like to top it with maraschino cherries, which is really pretty for Christmas with the red + green combination.

The season for serving this salad varies widely. I love it for summer picnics and cookouts. It’s light and easy, and it’s no cook. Taffy Apple Salad and 5 Cup Salad are other favorites of mine for summer!

Some people serve it with Easter dinner, or for other spring events (like St. Patrick’s Day). I can see why—the color is perfect for spring!

Yet others serve Pistachio Salad for Thanksgiving or holiday gatherings. I can imagine that the tradition started in their family a number of years ago, and they want to keep it alive.

close up photo of pistachio pudding with walnuts in a glass dish, on a green cloth napkin

Variations

As with many recipes that have been around for decades, variations are a given! Here are a few ideas to make it your own.

  • Swap walnuts for shelled, chopped pistachios
  • Add maraschino cherries to the top for a pop of color
  • You can use lite whipped topping if you prefer
  • Add 1–2 drops of green food coloring for a deeper green hue

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use whipped cream instead of whipped topping?

No, unfortunately. Whipped topping contains stabilizers that support the weight of the pineapple and walnuts. Fresh whipped cream doesn’t contain the same stabilizers, and the other ingredients will cause the whipped cream to collapse under their weight.

Is pistachio salad gluten-free?

The ingredients in this recipe don’t typically contain gluten. However, please check the labels of your individual ingredients if you are serving this to gluten-free guests.

Can I use large marshmallows instead?

You can use large marshmallows for this, just cut them into quarters before stirring them into the salad. A pair of kitchen shears usually works best for this. 10 large marshmallows equals approximately 1 cup of mini marshmallows.

pistachio salad in mini parfait dishes, topped with chopped walnuts.

More sweet salads

Man, do I love a sweet “salad”. Here are a few more favorites!

Have you tried this recipe? Please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and/or comment below!

📖 Recipe

glass parfait dishes filled with pistachio salad, topped with chopped walnuts

Old Fashioned Pistachio Salad

Published by Kate
This easy salad takes just 10 minutes to make, and you can serve it right away—no need to wait for it to firm up!
5 from 5 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
0 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 –8 servings
Calories 260 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 (20 oz) can pineapple chunks
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1 cup miniature marshmallows
  • 1 (3.4 oz) box Jell-o pistachio pudding
  • 1 (8 oz) container whipped topping (like Cool-Whip)

Instructions
 

  • Drain the pineapple chunks in a colander. Reserve juice for another use. 
  • Put the whipped topping and pistachio pudding mix in a large bowl. Use a spatula to gently fold the pudding mix into the whipped topping. 
  • Gently stir in the pineapple chunks, chopped walnuts, and miniature marshmallows. 
  • Transfer to a serving bowl and serve immediately, or refrigerate until ready to serve.

Video

Notes

Do not substitute whipped cream for the whipped topping. It will not be able to hold all of the other ingredients without deflating.
You can use regular 10 regular marshmallows instead of mini marshmallows. Cut them into quarters with kitchen shears before adding to the salad.
You can use the reserved pineapple juice in a fruit salad or a smoothie. Or toss it with sliced apples to prevent them from turning brown.
Make it ahead: you can prepare the salad up to 24 hours in advance. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/8 of the recipeCalories: 260kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 4gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 54mgFiber: 2gSugar: 16g
Keyword jell-o salad, pistachio salad
Did You Make This Recipe?Please leave a star rating and comment below!

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6 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Awesooooome ! My absolute favorite sweet salad ! Brings back memories of Marcelle Lively, ( my beloved Mamo ) who was a wonderful cook & beautiful human being whom I miss even after all these years ♡

  2. I would love to make this salad but I haven’t been able to find the pistachio pudding since October. It is not available in my region at any store. What’s up with that. I guess there are alot of hoarders buying up all the Jell-O Pistachio Pudding.

    1. Oh no! That’s crazy how it’s just not available. I’m sorry you can’t find it. 🙁

    2. 5 stars
      I experienced the same thing only with Cherry Chip cake mix & the corresponding icing ! Finally found it @ GroceryOutlet & now it’s @ 1 Safeway grocery store. My friends thought I was crazy because they never even heard/saw the cherry chip cake mix in this area. ( Seattle ) Have you tried ordering online ?

  3. Hi most recipes for watergate salad requires you to mix the pineapple untrained with pistachio pudding saying the juice is what dissolves the pudding. I what is the difference
    Does mixing pudding with whip topping leave pudding dissolved. I have already tried by mixing pineapple undrained with pudding. It was good but was wandering would it be more fluffy this way. Thank you.

    1. Hi Lisa! I haven’t tried it with undrained pineapple, but I suspect what you are saying is correct—it would perhaps be more fluffy with less liquid weighing down the other ingredients. Let me know if you try it!

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