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Pistachio Salad is a retro dessert salad recipe that also makes a great side dish! This fluff salad has pineapple, pistachios, marshmallows, and cherries!
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Pistachio Salad
Some of you may remember this dish from your childhood. It seems like every family had their own way of making it – and they were all delicious!
I remember my mom and grandma making this easy salad many times growing up. It is almost dessert-like but makes a great side dish, too. It’s a nice change from the typical coleslaw, potato salad, or macaroni salad … and perfect for warm weather! It’s also a holiday favorite!
Pistachio Salad Recipe
- pistachio instant pudding
- crushed pineapple
- chopped nuts
- miniature marshmallows
- frozen whipped topping
- maraschino cherries, optional
How to make dessert salad recipes
Time needed: 2 hours and 20 minutes
How to make Pistachio Salad
- In a large bowl combine the dry pudding mix with pineapple, nuts, and marshmallows.
- Add the whipped topping and mix well.
- If using, mix in the cherries.
- Chill until serving, at least 2 hours.
Pistachio Salad: FAQs
Be sure to read this section if you run into any problems or have questions about the recipes before leaving a comment.
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Yes! It can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
You can freeze it! Make sure it’s wrapped well in plastic wrap before freezing. It can be stored for up to three months. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
I wouldn’t call it healthy … but everything in moderation can be part of a healthy diet.
My personal opinion – pistachios, pecans, or walnuts. Use whatever kind of nuts your family likes.
For my family, we sometimes serve this as a fruit salad. Anywhere it makes sense to serve a fruit salad, it makes sense to serve this dish, in my opinion. It’s especially nice on days when it’s too hot to cook much – so we tend to serve it more when we have cookouts with a burger or hot dogs. It’s also a staple at every holiday!
My family always added them , so I do too. If you prefer, you can totally leave them out!
How did you like this recipe?
Doesn’t this recipe take you back to the good old days?! If you’re old enough to remember this dish, then you know how much of a blast from the past this is – everyone had a recipe for this salad!
I would love to know what your thoughts are … did you run into any problems or did you change it up? Maybe you loved it and it brought back a flood of memories. Let me know about your experience in the comments!
Other recipes you may enjoy
- Cherry Chiffon Salad
- Caramel Apple Snickers Salad
- Orange Fluff Salad
- Pina Colada Fluff
- Orange Gelatin Pretzel Salad
Pistachio Salad
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 box pistachio instant pudding, 3.4 oz.
- 1 can crushed pineapple, 20 oz.
- ½ cup chopped nuts
- 1 cups miniature marshmallows
- 1 container frozen whipped topping, thawed, 8 oz.
- ½ cup maraschino cherries, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine the dry pudding mix with pineapple, nuts, and marshmallows.
- Add the whipped topping and mix well.
- If using, mix in the cherries.
- Chill until serving, at least 2 hours.
Notes
- In my opinion, the best nuts to use for this are pistachios, pecans, or walnuts.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Originally published on July 8, 2012. Updated on September 9, 2020.
The subject of this week's Food on Friday is Salad. It would be great if you linked this in. This is the link .
I haven't had this salad in a very long time. I remember that is was quite yummy. I think the one I had before had cherries in it though!!
Definitely a classic salad! Thank you for stopping by! 🙂
This sounds so COOL and yummy. Thanks for reminding me of an old family favorite! (Stopping by from the IMPROMPTU, COOL Linky Party @ Hating Martha.)
Thank you for stopping by! Seems a lot of people have fond memories of this salad 🙂
Hi Jamie,
My husband just love anything pistachio, I will have to make this for him, it looks awesome! Hope you have a fantastic week and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Thank you for stopping by, Miz Helen. I hope your husband likes it as much as we do!
My sister makes a very similar recipe but calls it WhiteHouse Salad. I have no clue why, but it is delicious! Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friends Friday! Please come back next week!
Thank you for stopping by 🙂
Pistachio Pudding in the salad sounds like fun. Would love to try it out on one fine summer day 🙂
Come over and link your recipe to Piquant Potluck @ QuickAsianRecipes.com
Thank you!
I used to love when my Grandma made this when I was little. We called it "green goop"…I am going to have to make this!!!
Hope it is close to your grandma's!
This is similar to a 5 cup salad that I used to make but not with pistachio. What a cool twist to use the pistachio pudding! Sounds wonderful. Thank you for sharing at Freedom Fridays:)
Thank you, Evelyn 🙂
Yum! perfect salad for summer. Cool and creamy for those blazing hot days. Thanks for sharing at Creative Thursday 🙂 Have a great weekend.
Thank you, Michelle 🙂
This is so pretty. I used to make a salad with lime yellow, Cook Whip, cukes and other ingredients that looked like this. I have to says that yours sounds better with the pistachio flavor.
Thank you, Chaya!