Best Classic Potato Salad

My classic potato salad recipe is pretty similar to this simple macaroni salad recipe. It’s basically a warm weather version of a casserole, so don’t let the word “salad” fool you.

Potato salad is a creamy and a very comforting dish. I love it alongside any kind of picnic or outdoor BBQ main dish.

For me, classic potato salad has to be that perfect blend of soft potatoes and hard boiled eggs alongside a good amount of crunch from bell peppers and onion.

More picnic recipes: 7 Layer Salad, Deviled Eggs, Broccoli Salad, Classic Pea Salad with Bacon, Ambrosia Salad, Tuna Salad, Macaroni Salad, Pigs in a Blanket, Creamy Pasta Salad, Watergate Salad.

Classic Potato Salad Ingredients:

• Russet Potatoes
• Hard-Boiled Eggs
• Red Onion
• Red Bell Pepper
• Chives
• Mayo
• Dijon Mustard
• Rice Vinegar
• Sweet Pickle Relish
• Salt and Pepper

Do you Cube the Potatoes Before Boiling Them?

Yes, I peel and cube the the potatoes before boiling them. Make sure they are soft enough to eat, but not so soft they become mashed potatoes all on their own.

I peel the potatoes because this is how I remember potato salad from my childhood, so it’s how I prefer it. But you could absolutely leave the peels on and just scrub the potatoes well and cube before boiling.

Do You Put Eggs in Classic Potato Salad?

Yes, you can hard boil your own eggs on the stove, in the oven, or you can buy them. Once the potatoes are cooked, the eggs are hard boiled, and the vegetables chopped, you’re ready to combine everything and give it all a good stir. That’s it!

Can you Make Potato Salad Ahead of Time?

You can make potato salad the night before you plan to serve it, but if you do, stir in the chopped chives until you’re ready to serve. The flavor will become more powerful the longer the dish is combined.

Leftover potato salad can be covered and refrigerated for at least a few days. Thanks for letting me share this easy classic potato salad with you! xo. Emma

Looking for More BBQ Side Dishes?

• 50+ Easy BBQ Side Dishes
• Simple Macaroni Salad
• Deviled Eggs 3 Ways
• Rotel Cheese Dip
• 3 Easy Pasta Salad Dressings

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5 from 6 votes

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This creamy and classic potato salad is the perfect side dish to bring to a summer BBQ or picnic.

Prep 10 minutes mins

Cook 10 minutes mins

Ingredients

1x2x3x

• ▢ 2 pounds russet potatoes (3-4 large potatoes)
• ▢ ¼ cup red onion (chopped)
• ▢ 1 red bell pepper
• ▢ 2 tablespoons chives (chopped)
• ▢ 3-4 hard boiled eggs
• ▢ 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• ▢ ¾ cup mayo
• ▢ 1 tablespoon mustard (dijon)
• ▢ 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
• ▢ salt and pepper

Instructions

• Peel and cube the potaotes. Boil in water until soft enough to easily cut with the side of a fork, 8-10 minutes. Drain and allow to cool.
• Hard boil the eggs unless using store-bought (already hard boiled) eggs. Allow to cool.
• Finely chop the red onion, red bell pepper, hard boiled eggs, and chives.
• In a large bowl, combine the potatoes, red onion, bell pepper, hard boiled eggs, and chives. Add the vinegar, mayo, mustard, and sweet relish. Stir until everything is well combined. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Notes

You can use any vinegar if you don’t have rice vinegar handy (white vinegar, or apple cider vinegar would be best). You can use dill pickle relish instead of sweet if you prefer, but I like the sweetness it adds. You can also use green onion instead of chives, or even swap for cilantro. 

If you are making the salad ahead (the night before), wait to stir in the chives or green onion until just before as the flavor will intensify some as the salad is stored. 

© Author Emma Chapman

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keywords potato salad

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Classic Potato Salad

Amount per Serving

Calories

2191

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

143

g

220

%

Saturated Fat

 

25

g

156

%

Trans Fat

 

0.3

g

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

78

g

Monounsaturated Fat

 

35

g

Cholesterol

 

630

mg

210

%

Sodium

 

1713

mg

74

%

Potassium

 

4363

mg

125

%

Carbohydrates

 

189

g

63

%

Fiber

 

16

g

67

%

Sugar

 

24

g

27

%

Protein

 

42

g

84

%

Vitamin A

 

5262

IU

105

%

Vitamin C

 

211

mg

256

%

Calcium

 

241

mg

24

%

Iron

 

11

mg

61

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.