Potato Salad

Recipe Ingredients

Let’s get started! Here are the main ingredients you’ll need to make our potato salad recipe.

Potatoes: Our testing confirmed the best potatoes are those with a waxy interior that hold their shape when boiled. New or red potatoes or all-purpose potatoes like yellow or Yukon Gold are great options.

Mayonnaise: Use either tangy mayo or sweeter mayo-like salad dressing, depending on your preference.

Vinegar: Our experts insist white, or cider vinegar is the secret to our potato salad recipe, giving it the sought-after iconic potato salad tang.

Hard-Cooked Eggs: We found in testing that they bulk up the salad with amazing flavor, and if you leave them out, the salad tastes flat.

Other Ingredients You’ll Need: Yellow mustard adds flavor but use whatever style you have on hand. Onion—white or yellow—adds the right bite and crunch along with the celery. Paprika can be sprinkled over the salad but isn’t critical to the flavor.

Cookware You’ll Need

To make this homemade potato salad recipe, you’ll need the following equipment.

3-Quart Saucepan with Cover: We found this is the right size to hold the potatoes and water, for the fastest, most even cooking.

Large Bowl: Used to mix the dressing ingredients before tossing with the other salad ingredients. Make and serve it from the same vessel, to cut down on dishes.

Rubber Spatula: Our experts found mixing the salad with a rubber spatula ensures that all the dressing gets tossed into the salad without damaging the potatoes.

Other Equipment You’ll Need: Dry measuring cups, measuring spoons, Chef’s knife, and cutting board.

How to Make Potato Salad

Here are our pro tips for an outstanding potato salad. Refer to the recipe itself for all the directions.

1. Prep the Potatoes

We peel the potatoes before cooking to be easier on your fingers rather than trying to do it while they are hot.

2. Cook and Cut Potatoes

Cover for fastest cooking. The potatoes are done when a fork easily pierces them in the center. Cool (until touchable) and cut into 3/4-inch cubes. Cutting after cooking helps the potatoes hold their shape.

3. Make the Dressing

Mix the dressing ingredients in a large bowl until well mixed for an evenly seasoned salad.

4. Mix the Potatoes and Chill

Toss the warm potatoes, celery, and onion in the dressing until they are evenly coated and then chill. The potatoes absorb the dressing flavor best while they’re warm. Our testing confirmed the salad takes at least 4 hours of chilling to achieve the most flavorful potato salad.

Possible Variations

With a twist or two, you can change up this potato salad recipe.

Add Herbs: Try stirring in 1 to 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves or dill weed with the eggs for added color and aromatic flavor.

Add Meat: Add smoky, saltiness by stirring in 1/2 to 1 cup crumbled crisply cooked bacon (6 to 12 slices), diced ham, pepperoni, or salami with the egg.

Amp Up the Mustard: Lovetocook ND says, “I added 2 more tablespoons of yellow mustard and 1 tablespoon of relish. It was delicious.”

Hot German Potato Salad: Just the ticket for a warm potato salad that’s not mayonnaise based.

Or try our other potato salad recipes, guaranteed to suit any taste or serving occasion.

Serving Potato Salad

Our potato salad with egg is the perfect summertime side dish to whatever you throw on the grill. It’s creamy flavor pairs well with smoky-tasting grilled meat.

Try any of these favorites to serve with our potato salad recipe: burgers, grilled chicken breasts, ribs, brats, hot dogs—take your pick. Our homemade potato salad is right at home with barbecue fare. Add in some chips, baked beans and fruit to round out the perfect backyard meal.

Storing and Reheating

These tried and trusted storage methods work best to enjoy leftover potato salad on another day.

Refrigerator

Within 2 hours of serving, transfer remaining salad into a food storage container with a tight-fitting lid. Store in the fridge up to 4 days. Over time, the seasonings will continue to mellow. If you like, perk up the flavor by stirring in an additional splash of vinegar or mustard.

Freezer

Freezing is not recommended for the salad, as the dressing will water out and the potatoes will become mushy.

Why Betty Users Love This Recipe

This highly-rated potato salad recipe is a beloved favorite among our community, evoking nostalgic memories and closely resembling cherished family recipes. It's a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, consistently earning compliments at every gathering.

Its versatility is a key advantage; users appreciate the flexibility to customize it with additions like extra mustard, different vinegars, or even a splash of dill pickle juice.

Easy to follow and perfect for barbecues and potlucks, this easy potato salad boasts a luxuriously creamy texture—BettyBoughtABitOfButter calls it the "creamiest potato salad EVER!"  It relies on simple, familiar ingredients without any unnecessary or unusual additions.