If you want to know how to make the best potato salad ever, you are in the right place! There are so many different variations of potato salad now-adays, but nothing beats a good classic creamy recipe. It’s a must have in your recipe collection for the summer! This potato salad can be made the day before your summer Barbeque or picnic and it is delicious with ribs, cheeseburgers, grilled sausages, chops, chicken skewers, or anything else you like to throw on your grill.
Traditional potato salad can be made with just a handful ingredients; mayo, mustard, salt and pepper, but we are going to vamp up this one with flavorful ingredients that will have you craving it at every cookout: hard boiled eggs, chopped red onion, diced celery, fresh herbs and relish. Yes, you heard me, relish! If your potato salad does not have chopped sweet pickles or relish in it, you are missing that one secret ingredient that is going to give it an extra crunch and pop of acidity that makes all the difference!
Potato salad is a very versatile recipe, so I have included some of my favorite tips below with suggested substitutions or additions in case you see an ingredient that you don’t have or absolutely don’t like. Just read through the tips and the recipe itself before you get started and you will create the potato salad of your dreams!
A couple of tips for this recipe:
- If you can’t find Yukon Gold potatoes, you can use any yellow, red or fingerling potatoes. Gold are my favorite. Russets can be used in a pinch, but they aren’t going to give you the best texture or flavor.
- I don’t mind the texture of the potato skin in my potato salad, but not everyone does. If you do leave the skins on, make sure you scrub them well.
- My favorite way to make hard boiled eggs is in the instant pot using the 5-5-5 method. Click here to read the post on how to do it, you won’t believe how easy and hands off it is! If you don’t have an instant pot, you can absolutely hard boil your eggs however you like – for the stovetop method, place the eggs in a single layer on the bottom of your saucepan. Cover with enough cold water that the eggs are covered at least by an inch or so. Place the pan over high heat and let the eggs come to a boil. Once they are boiling, turn off the heat and cover the pot with the lid. Leave the eggs for 10-12 minutes, (I usually go the whole 12 for this salad.) Strain, and move them to a bowl of iced water for 5 minutes, then peel the eggs.
- If you prefer miracle whip, you can substitute it for the mayo, but the flavor will be different – they are not the same thing.
- Sweet onion can be swapped for red onion. I just love the pop of color the red onion gives the salad.
- If you don’t have dill, try parsley or thyme. Fresh herbs give it a fantastic punch of flavor, but you can use dried if you have to.
- Potato salad gets better the longer you let it sit, so you can make it a day ahead!
Ingredients:
- 3 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, scrubbed clean or peeled.
- 2 tsp salt
- 4 hard boiled eggs, peeled and diced
- 1/2 cup red onion, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
Dressing:
- 1-1/2 cups mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sweet pickle relish
- 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp celery seeds
- 1 tsp dried or 2 tsp fresh chopped dill
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp coarsely ground black pepper
Instructions:
- Cut the potatoes into about 3/4 inch chunks and place them in a large pot of cold water, (make sure they are covered by at least an inch.) Sprinkle with 2 tsp salt.
- Bring the pot of potatoes to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium and let simmer for 8-10 minutes, or until fork tender. Drain and then let cool in the colander for about 20-30 minutes, giving it a light toss or shake every now and then to let any steam escape.
- For the dressing: In a large mixing bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, relish, apple cider vinegar, sugar, both mustards, celery seeds, chopped dill, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- Add the diced hard boiled eggs, red onion and celery, then stir gently until it’s all evenly combined. Add the potatoes and toss until completely coated.
- Cover the potato salad with plastic wrap or a lid, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving.
The Best Potato Salad
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Ingredients
- 3 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes scrubbed clean or peeled.
- 2 tsp salt
- 4 hard boiled eggs peeled and diced
- 1/2 cup red onion diced
- 2 celery stalks diced
Dressing:
- 1-1/2 cups mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sweet pickle relish
- 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp celery seeds
- 1 tsp dried or 2 tsp fresh chopped dill
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp coarsely ground black pepper
Instructions
- Cut the potatoes into about 3/4 inch chunks and place them in a large pot of cold water, (make sure they are covered by at least an inch.) Sprinkle with 2 tsp salt.
- Bring the pot of potatoes to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium and let simmer for 8-10 minutes, or until fork tender. Drain and then let cool in the colander for about 20-30 minutes, giving it a light toss or shake every now and then to let any steam escape.
- For the dressing: In a large mixing bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, relish, apple cider vinegar, sugar, both mustards, celery seeds, chopped dill, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- Add the diced hard boiled eggs, red onion and celery, then stir gently until it's all evenly combined. Add the potatoes and toss until completely coated.
- Cover the potato salad with plastic wrap or a lid, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving.
Notes
- If you can't find Yukon Gold potatoes, you can use any yellow, red or fingerling potatoes. Gold are my favorite. Russets can be used in a pinch, but they aren't going to give you the best texture or flavor.
- I don't mind the texture of the potato skin in my potato salad, but not everyone does. If you do leave the skins on, make sure you scrub them well.
- My favorite way to make hard boiled eggs is in the instant pot using the 5-5-5 method. Click here to read the post on how to do it, you won't believe how easy and hands off it is! If you don't have an instant pot, you can absolutely hard boil your eggs however you like - for the stovetop method, place the eggs in a single layer on the bottom of your saucepan. Cover with enough cold water that the eggs are covered at least by an inch or so. Place the pan over high heat and let the eggs come to a boil. Once they are boiling, turn off the heat and cover the pot with the lid. Leave the eggs for 10-12 minutes, (I usually go the whole 12 for this salad.) Strain, and move them to a bowl of iced water for 5 minutes, then peel the eggs.
- If you prefer miracle whip, you can substitute it for the mayo, but the flavor will be different - they are not the same thing.
- Sweet onion can be swapped for red onion. I just love the pop of color the red onion gives the salad.
- If you don't have dill, try parsley or thyme. Fresh herbs give it a fantastic punch of flavor, but you can use dried if you have to.
- Potato salad gets better the longer you let it sit, so you can make it a day ahead!
Soooooo tasty!
I’m so glad you like it! Thank you for commenting and rating! 🙂