Frog Eye Salad is a retro side or dessert “salad” with canned fruits, acini de pepe pasta, and whipped topping–and a silly name!
This salad is a holiday classic that pairs perfectly with other side dishes like Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Vegetables, Brussels Sprouts, and/or a Sweet Potato Casserole!
Frog Eye Salad
As a born and raised Utahn, I’m no stranger to Frog Eye Salad. In fact, this salad was a staple in my home growing up! My aunt or mom made it (or this Watergate Salad) for every family potluck meal or holiday dinner.
And this brings us to the question everyone is eager to know…
Why do they call it a Frog Eye Salad?
While there isn’t necessarily a documented original story (that I know of), Frog Eye Salad is named after the acini de pepe pasta — it looks like tiny little frog eyes in this salad.
Despite the (slightly) creepy name, this salad is truly a unique pasta salad. It’s a sweet salad that can easily pass as a dessert, but in Utah, we like to call it a side salad to save room for 7 Layer Bars, Carmelitas, and Lemon Bars. 🙂
What Is Frog Eye Salad?
This is not necessarily a healthy salad, but here are a few ideas to make it a better-for-you choice:
- Make sure the canned fruit is canned in JUICE not syrup.
- Use a whipped topping alternative like Truwhip® OR whip your own cream (higher calories, but fewer chemicals), or for simply fewer calories use a “lite” whipped topping.
- Try coconut sugar in place of white sugar — it gives this salad a more coconut-y flavor.
Main Dishes that pair well with this salad:
Frog Eye Salad
Ingredients
- 1 cup acini di pepe pasta or pastina pasta
- 1 can (20 ounces) pineapple tidbits in JUICE (not syrup) drained but RESERVE THE JUICE
- 1 can (20 ounces) crushed pineapple in JUICE, drained but RESERVE THE JUICE
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon white flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/2 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 cans (15 ounces EACH) mandarin oranges in JUICE
- 1 container (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping completely thawed (Note 1)
- Optional: 1/3 cup miniature colored marshmallows, 1/2 cup shredded coconut
Instructions
- Prepare the pasta according to package directions to cook it al dente. Drain and rinse the pasta in very cold water. Place in a large bowl in the fridge.
- Drain the pineapple tidbits to get 1 cup pineapple juice. Use more juice from the crushed pineapple if needed.
- Remove 1 tablespoon of the pineapple juice and pour in a small bowl. Pour the remaining pineapple juice into a medium-sized pot and set over medium heat. Briskly whisk in the egg. Add the flour to the reserved tablespoon of pineapple juice and whisk with a fork until smooth like a paste -- add to the egg and pineapple juice mixture, whisking constantly. Add in the salt and white sugar.
- Cook over medium heat until the mixture has thickened, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat, stir in the lemon juice, and allow to cool in the fridge for about 30 minutes. Pour over the pasta and return the bowl to the fridge until both the pasta and the pineapple juice mixture are completely chilled.
- Meanwhile, open the cans and drain the mandarin oranges, the crushed pineapple, and pineapple tidbits. Make sure all the canned fruits are VERY well drained or your salad will be watery.
- Add the drained fruit into the cooled pasta mixture and gently stir together.
- Gently fold in the thawed whipped topping until all the ingredients are well combined. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to overnight.
- If desired, stir in colored miniature marshmallows and shredded coconut right before serving.
Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
There’s no frog eyes in this. I made it anyways because it has pineapple. It was delicious!!!! Loved it.
Haha, good thing there are no frog eyes right? So glad you loved it! Thanks for your comment! 🙂
Hello thanks I made this recipe many years ago love the salad name and
ingredients
So happy to hear this! Thanks Amy! 🙂
This is such a fun recipe! I loved the texture, and the family did, too. I added some fresh raspberries for color. Will make again
Yay! So happy to hear this! Thanks so much Kim! 🙂
Any way to substitute something fir pineapple my daughter is highly allergic
Hey Karol! I haven’t personally tried it, but maybe a chunky applesauce or finely diced strawberries would work!
I was wondering if anybody has ever tried this with fruit cocktail?
thanks
So welcome! 🙂
thanks for this post
You’re so welcome! 🙂
One of our families all time favorite sweet salads, it’s requested for every party, birthday or bbq. Worth every minute of prep. ❤️
I’m so happy to hear this! Thanks! 🙂
It was perfect! This was just what I’ve been looking for. I used to make it for my family, but one day I couldn’t find acini di pepe. Eventually I lost the recipe. Your recipe looked really familiar. I can’t wait for my grandkids to try this at our next family dinner. I know my kids will love it!
I am so happy to hear this! Thanks Tamara! 🙂
What are the colorful red bits in the frog eye salad? Delicious recipe, we have made this multiple times!!