Best Ever Potato Salad!
110 Comments
Posted: 08/04/23
Updated: 10/14/23
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There’s nothing like a hot summer day and Potato Salad! This recipe is a basic recipe that you can build on and make your own. A creamy dressing, tender potatoes and chopped hard boiled eggs.
Fire up the grill and pair it with your favorite burgers, baked beans and more!
Who’s with me on the fact they love, love, love potato salad, but they are super picky about the texture and flavor? Well, this version is a delicious classic recipe with just the basics. You can add any of your favorite additions to customize it!
You don’t have to be intimidated to make this classic side dish. In fact, it’s easier than you think it is. And if you want an even easier way to make it, try our famous Instant Pot version. But before you know it, you’ll perfect this recipe with any of your customizations and have the best potato salad!
Why You’ll Love this Potato Salad
- It only takes about 30 minutes to make this easy potato salad. Great to whip up for any party, potluck, or evening dinner that needs a tasty side dish.
- You can easily make this dish ahead of time and store in the refrigerator until it is needed. Cold potato salad is much better than warm!
- This recipe is easily adaptable. People typically don’t like potato salad because it doesn’t fit their preference. But when you can add anything to it, you can make it how you like!
Ingredients for the Best Potato Salad
- Potatoes – The best potatoes are red potatoes or yellow potatoes. They tend to have better flavor and texture.
- Mayonnaise – Use a high quality for the best flavor. Cheap mayo can leave a funny aftertaste.
- Yellow mustard – The tang of yellow mustard gives that quintessential zing that is needed!
- Hard boiled eggs – I’ve got two great ways for you to make the best hard boiled eggs. You can make them in the Instant Pot and in the Crock Pot.
- White vinegar – It may sound a little weird to use white vinegar to balance out the flavors!
- Seasonings – This blend of seasonings flavors this cold salad so well.
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
- Onion powder
How to Make Potato Salad
- Clean your potatoes well, then peel and dice them into chunks. Place the potatoes into a large stock pot and then cover with water.
- Bring the diced potatoes to a rapid boil, then turn down to medium heat and boil for 5-7 minutes until the potatoes are tender. Drain the cooked potatoes and then allow them to cool.
- In a medium bowl, mix together mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder until well combined.
- Pour the condiment mixture over cooled potatoes and then peel and dice three hard boiled eggs. Add the eggs to the salad and gently mix until combined.
- Peel the last three hard boiled eggs and slice them to use as a garnish on top of the finished potato salad.
- Sprinkle with paprika and serve!
What to Serve with Potato Salad
It’s is a staple for any cook-out and barbecue you host. It’d be super tasty with crock pot BBQ chicken and air fryer BBQ chicken legs. But if you’re firing up the grill or smoker, make some burgers or brisket to go with homemade potato salad.
Smoked ribs and smoked chicken wings would make a great main dish too. And don’t forget, BBQ baked beans on the grill are a classic side dish to pair with cold potato salad!
How to Store Leftover Potato Salad
Place leftovers in a freezer safe zip top bag or an airtight container, and smush it out to one even layer.
FRIDGE: Store leftovers in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. The longer the salad sits, the more the texture will change.
FREEZER: Leftovers can be frozen as well. Store in a freezer bag or airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.
What can I add to homemade potato salad?
Like I previously mentioned, this is a classic, basic potato salad recipe. If you want to create different flavor profiles please feel free to add in the ingredients mentioned above to suite you taste buds. This is a great recipe to jump off from and make it your own!
Traditional potato salad usually uses mayonnaise, but you can use Miracle whip if you prefer! It will give it a slightly sweeter taste. Adding onion will also give your potato salad a different flavor.
If you want some more tang, add 1/2 cup of sweet pickle relish…dill relish is good too! Diced celery will add a lovely little crunch to this dish. You can also add some bacon for a savory crunch. To change things up a lot, roast your potatoes!
Pro Tips!
- Make sure to boil the potatoes until just tender. Over cooked potatoes will crumble and create a mush when you mix everything together.
- Planning to serve this potato salad at a party? Make it ahead of time and allow it to chill for the best flavors.
- Don’t dice your potatoes too small. Once inch chunks are the perfect size!
This perfect recipe is going to be a go-to for your cookouts and parties! Let us know what customizations you make, don’t be afraid to get creative!
More Salad Recipes You’ll Love
- Broccoli Salad is another classic side dish that you absolutely need a tried and true recipe for!
- This Crab Pasta Salad is super easy to make and great to pair with tons of different dishes.
- Lettuce Frito Salad is crunchy, salty, and oh so good.
- Tuna Pasta Salad is a fun twist on the classic favorite tuna salad. A great dish for a potluck!
- Warm, tangy German Potato Salad that’s a perfect side dish for summer parties!
- Creamy Grape Salad is a classic Midwestern recipe that everyone loves for a side dish.
- Light and Healthy Chicken Salad Recipe is a quick and easy chicken salad recipe is low-calorie, can be made ahead of time, and perfect on a sandwich or as an appetizer!
- Old fashioned classic Pea Salad is a favorite that is served cold and enjoyed all year long!
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!
Potato Salad
Tender potatoes and hard boiled eggs make this traditional potato salad the BEST.
Video
Ingredients
- 5 pounds red potatoes
- 6 hard boiled eggs
- 2 cups Miracle Whip or Mayonnaise
- ¾ cup whipping cream
- 2 Tablespoons prepared yellow mustard
- ¼ cup sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ cup white vinegar
Instructions
- Peel and dice potatoes. Place in large stock pot and cover with water. Bring to rapid boil, turn down to medium heat and boil 5-7 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Drain potatoes and let cool.
- In a medium mixing bowl whisk whipping cream for 1 minute. Stir in Miracle Whip, mustard, sugar, salt, pepper and vinegar. Mix until combined.
- Pour mixture over cooled potatoes. Peel and dice three hard boiled eggs and add to potatoes. Mix until combined.
- Peel last three hard boiled eggs and slice and place on top of salad.
- Refrigerate until thoroughly cooled.
Tips
- Traditional potato salad usually uses Mayonnaise instead of Miracle Whip. The Miracle Whip will give it a slightly sweeter taste. You can totally substitute Mayonnaise for the Miracle Whip if you prefer that.
- If you’d like onion, add in 1/2 c. sweet onion finely diced.
- Another great addition if you like pickle relish is adding in 1/2 c. sweet pickle relish.
- Many people like to add in 1 Tbsp celery seeds or 1 tsp celery salt. You can even finely dice a few stalks of celery if you want that crunch!
- I’ve also seen fresh chopped dill added to create another flavor profile.
- Another option is to roast your potatoes like we do in this recipe.
- Or, you could add bacon and ranch to it like we do in this one!
- Make sure you boil your potatoes until just tender, over tender potatoes will crumble when you mix everything together.
- We prefer using Yukon Gold potatoes, but red potatoes will work too. Just make sure your potatoes are starchy!
- Make it ahead of time! Did you know it tastes better then next day after it’s been chilled because the flavors come together? Perfect for party planning!
Nutrition Information
Calories: 494kcal (25%), Carbohydrates: 35g (12%), Protein: 8g (16%), Fat: 36g (55%), Saturated Fat: 9g (56%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 17g, Monounsaturated Fat: 9g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 126mg (42%), Sodium: 382mg (17%), Potassium: 917mg (26%), Fiber: 3g (13%), Sugar: 8g (9%), Vitamin A: 388IU (8%), Vitamin C: 16mg (19%), Calcium: 46mg (5%), Iron: 2mg (11%)
Diane Meserve says
Love it
Courtney says
Thank you!
Teri says
Where did the recipe go of Grandma’s potato salad with whipping cream?
Julie Evink says
It’s been reverted to that version of the recipe!
Mary Diane McFarland says
I just wanted to say that I made potato salad at least once a week for 28 years for a restaurant salad bar. We found that cooking the potatoes, then peeling and dicing was the easiest, most efficient way for me anyway LOL. If you mix the potatoes and dressing together while the potatoes are still warm, your salad stays creamy and doesn’t get watery like some potatoes do. Our basic dressing was Miracle Whip, mustard, sugar and celery seed. We used it for potato salad, macaroni salad, and cole slaw. I just wanted to share that with y’all.
Courtney says
Thanks!
Albert W. Greenfield says
No vinegar listed in ingredients or amount?
Courtney says
We will get that fixed. Thank you!
Anna says
My husband said best I have ever made!!!
Julie Evink says
That’s awesome Anna! Thanks for commenting and rating this recipe!
Susan says
If you were to add dried dill how much would you use?
Julie says
I would start with 1/2 tsp and you can always increase if desired.
Jo says
Julie, this sounds like s great recipe. Actually it is like my mothers except for the whipped cream. And thank you for the measurements. My moms was this and that to taste. So mine is a taste and see. That always makes it harder to pass down. But everyone always liked our potato salad. I will try the cream but again thank you for the measurements. That means there will be a little more potato salad when its ready because I wont have to “taste test” as much. lol thanks again
Jo says
I grew up on Miracle Whip. (Loved those tomato, fresh out of the garden, and Miracle Whip sandwiches) But even those that said they couldn’t stand Miracle Whip always happily ate Mom’s potato salad!. They never guessed it was Miracle Whip. So for those doubters you might try this.
Julie says
Hi Jo! I’m glad you found my recipe, thanks for sharing!!
Ellen Johnson says
Oh, Julie, you have found my favorite Aunt’s recipe that I thought was lost to me when she passed! I just made a big dishful for my brothers and me, and it’s scrumptious! The only thing my Aunt Catheren did differently was to add creamy horseradish to taste rather than vinegar. Thank you so much!
Ellen Johnson says
Julie, let me add that I sat with my Aunt Catheren only once while she made this potato salad for our 88th annual Van Arsdale family reunion in Southwestern NY state. (That was 10 years ago). I watched her carefully, but stupidly I didn’t write down the ingredients! It all came back to me when I read your grandma’s recipe! I do remember my Aunt grinning at me while she drizzled the creamy horseradish into the mix! Thank you so much for resurrecting this recipe from my memory banks!
Julie says
You are so welcome, Ellen! I’m so glad you were able to find this recipe! Thanks for coming back to share it with me!
Susie Myers says
My god get to the dang recipe .. no one cares about all that jazz and crap on how you got to making the potato salad. Really.
Julie says
Hi Susie – there is a “Jump to Recipe” option that will bring you right to the recipe card for next time 🙂
Donna says
What an ungrateful jerk!
Shannon Clark says
I make a very similar tater salad (my grandmother’s recipe). So anyone that’s wants to be rude or disrespectful to this woman that posted a recipe??? Let me just just, WOW, you have way too much time on your hands!!!!!! I’m only taking time out of my day to post this, too tell all you dumb a$$ trolls, go away, JEALOUS MUCH? Bc y’all can’t cook apparently
Thank you for your recipe and the additional ideas I may try ??
Shannon Clark says
Thank you JULIE!!!!!! ?
Julie Evink says
Awwww thanks Shannon!
Alanna Knerr says
THIS is how my mom has always made it, but she is a “dump cook” so I’ve never known how much of anything to put in so thank you, thank you, thank you! Have a lovely Easter!
Julie Evink says
YAY! Love this. This came from a “dump” cook until I sat down while she made it and measured it!
Sharyn says
I had a craving for potato salad for a week now and decided to try your recipe. The only change I made was to use Hellman’s but I used all of the other ingredients right down to adding cream and yellow mustard. I must tell you that your recipe is outstanding! Better than mine and mine was pretty good! ?
Julie Evink says
Ooooo I’m so glad to hear that you loved it!!!
Carol Parr says
Your Potato Salad is just like the one I grew up with. The only difference is Mother added onions an chopped sweet pickles which is my families preference. That’s true of any recipe u use. U have the right to add or delete any item. I use Miracle Whip instead of Mayo simply because it has a better taste. It has more flavor
an smoother which Mayo doesn’t have. That’s why it’s called Cooking. Carol Parr
Julie Evink says
That’s what makes recipes fun! Everyone has their little twist on them and we can all learn from each other 🙂