Learn how to make homemade potato salad with egg, pickles, celery and onions tossed in a tasty dressing – An easy summer side dish all will enjoy.
A summer party or barbecue isn’t complete without a delicious side of homemade potato salad. When it’s as simple and quick to prepare as this it’s a no brainer for entertaining or family lunch.
This flavorful potato salad is made using simple ingredients – potatoes, hard boiled eggs, red onion, celery, green onions and pickles coated in a dressing of sour cream, mayonnaise, and a touch of mustard. It’s a delicious summer side dish you’ll use again and again.
Why This Recipe Works
- Using firm textured potatoes that hold their shape after cooking keeps the potato salad from turning mushy.
- Pickles add an unexpected sweet and sour element that makes this dish.
- Drizzling the potatoes with a mixture of vinegar and mustard while they are still warm helps them to easily absorb the mixture adding a ton a flavor.
- Green, celery and red onions, add texture and a pungent spike that’s truly delicious.
- Hard boiled eggs, add a rich, creamy, unforgettable flavor.
So many potato salads are mushy and bland. With this recipe, you’ll make perfect American-style potato every time that’s packed full of flavor.
What Potatoes For Potato Salad
The best potatoes for potato salad are firm textured potatoes like Yukon Gold, Russets or red potatoes as they stay firm longer after they’ve been cooked. If you’re using thin-skinned potatoes, you can leave them with skins to save the time of peeling.
When buying potatoes make sure they are firm and free of bruises and blemishes. Avoid buying potatoes that appear damp or slimy.
Ingredient Notes
- Potatoes – I used Yukon gold potatoes, but you can use Russets, red potatoes or baby potatoes with their skins for an easy option
- Hard Boiled Eggs – Use peeled, cold hard boiled eggs. Any size will do.
- Pickles – You can use what ever pickles you like best. I’ve used dill, garlic, sweet and spicy. There’s no wrong option.
- Onions – Red onions are best when served raw as they are sweeter, but white onions work too. That said, if raw onions aren’t your thing, you can always leave them out.
- Mayonnaise – Full fat or light mayo will work fine for this recipe. Use whatever you like best. Just be sure to add it after the potatoes have cooled.
- Sour Cream – Full fat or light sour cream are both good options.
- Vinegar – I use white vinegar, but red, or apple cider vinegar work too.
- Herbs – I use fresh parsley and green onions, but have also used dill or even a touch of fresh mint.
How To Make Homemade Potato Salad
- Cook the potatoes.
- Drain the potatoes thoroughly and allow to dry.
- Drizzle the warm potatoes with vinegar and mustard and allow to cool.
- Make the dressing in a small bowl.
- Add the dressing and remaining ingredients to the cold potatoes and toss to combine.
- Chill and serve cold.
Step By Step Instructions
Place potatoes in large pot with salted cold water. Just covering the potatoes by no more than an inch.
Bring to boil over high heat, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 10 to 15 minutes. Test for doneness with a fork.
Drain potatoes thoroughly, then add them back to the hot pot to dry completely.
Drizzle the vinegar over the warm potatoes and toss gently until evenly coated.
Transfer the dressed potatoes to a large bowl. Cover the bowl and refrigerate until cooled, about 30 minutes.
Mix the mustard with the sour cream, mayonnaise, celery salt and pepper.
Remove the potatoes from the refrigerator add the mayonnaise mixture and remaining ingredients.
Gently mix with the cooled potatoes, taste and add more salt as needed. Cover, and refrigerate until well chilled, about 30 minutes before serving.
Tips For Perfect Potato Salad
- For an easy option, use halved baby potatoes with their skins on.
- Start cooking your potatoes in cold water, then bring them to a boil. This helps potatoes cook evenly.
- Salt the cooking water well. The potatoes will absorb the water as they cook. If your water doesn’t have any flavor, neither will your potatoes.
- Make sure not to overcook the potatoes or your salad can turn out mushy. When cooking, be sure to keep the water at a gentle simmer and not a rapid boil.
- Use a fork (not a knife) to check for doneness. A fork should easily pierce the potato with a hint of resistance. A knife blade is sharp and will slip into the potato even if it is not fully cooked.
- Let potatoes, drain well and allow the water to evaporate before drizzling with the vinegar mixture. This will help avoid soggy potatoes. You want them to be warm, but dry for this step. Let them dry completely in a single layer on a baking sheet. The water will escape, giving the dressing a better chance to coat to the warm potatoes.
- Be sure not to skip dressing the potatoes with the vinegar and mustard while they are still warm, this will allow the potatoes to absorb all that flavor right through the potato.
- Don’t add the mayonnaise or sour cream until the potatoes are cooled.
- To avoid watery potatoes during cooling, place a kitchen towel under the lid of the bowl to absorb the condensation as they cool instead of falling into the potatoes.
- Don’t have vinegar? Use the pickle juice from your pickles in its place.
- Let the potato salad chill – It may be tempting to mix your potato and dig right in, but it is best to give the flavors at least an hour to develop and come together.
Storing and Food Safety for Warmer Weather
- The potato salad can be kept in the fridge for up to three days in an airtight container.
- To prevent rapidly growing bacteria from forming, food shouldn’t be unrefrigerated for more than 2 hours or limit the time to one hour if the outdoor temperature is higher than 90° F.
Other Salads You’ll Love
FAQs
It’s better to use cut potatoes as large, whole potatoes won’t cook evenly. Cut your potatoes into equal sized small pieces for quicker, even cooking.
Watery potato salad can be a result of not draining the potatoes fully before using them in your salad or from condensation forming while stored. Try storing with a paper towel under the lid to absorb
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Let’s Make Homemade Potato Salad
Ingredients
- 2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes peeled and cut into ¾-inch cubes cubes
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar
- 2 teaspoons yellow mustard
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ½ teaspoon celery salt
- fresh ground pepper to taste
- ¼ cup pickles chopped
- 2 green onions/spring onions sliced
- ½ red onion small, chopped fine
- 2 ribs celery chopped
- 2 hard-boiled eggs peeled and diced
- fresh parsley or dill, chopped
Instructions
- Place potatoes in large pot with salted cold water covering the potatoes by 1 inch. Bring to boil over high heat, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Drain potatoes thoroughly, then add them back into the hot pot to dry completely. Drizzle the vinegar over the warm potatoes and toss gently until evenly coated.
- Transfer the dressed potatoes to a large bowl. Cover the bowl and refrigerate until cold, about 30 minutes.
- Mix the mustard with the sour cream, mayonnaise, celery salt and pepper.
- Remove the potatoes from the refrigerator add the mayonnaise mixture and remaining ingredients. Gently mix with the cooled potatoes, taste and add more salt as needed. Cover, and refrigerate until well chilled, about 30 minutes.
Tips + Notes
- Start cooking your potatoes in cold water, then bring them to a boil. This helps potatoes cook evenly.
- Salt the cooking water well. The potatoes will absorb the water as they cook. If your water doesn’t have any flavor, neither will your potatoes.
- Make sure not to overcook the potatoes or your salad can turn out mushy. When cooking, be sure to keep the water at a gentle simmer and not a rapid boil.
- Use a fork (not a knife) to check for doneness. A fork should easily pierce the potato with a hint of resistance. A knife blade is sharp and will slip into the potato even if it is not fully cooked.
- Let potatoes, drain well and allow the water to evaporate before drizzling with the vinegar mixture. This will help avoid soggy potatoes. You want them to be warm, but dry for this step. Let them dry completely in a single layer on a baking sheet. The water will escape, giving the dressing a better chance to coat to the warm potatoes.
- Be sure not to skip dressing the potatoes with the vinegar and mustard while they are still warm, this will allow the potatoes to absorb all that flavor right through the potato.
- Don’t add the mayonnaise or sour cream until the potatoes are chilled.
- To avoid watery potatoes during cooling, place a kitchen towel under the lid of the bowl to absorb the condensation as they cool instead of falling into the potatoes.
Linda S says
Sounds amazing! I don’t have white vinegar ,can I use apple cider or rice vinegar in its place?
Erren's Kitchen says
Hi Linda, yes you can use either of those 🙂
Sophie Zimmerman says
Great recipe just as it is. I’ve made it a few times now, and everyone loves it.
Erren Hart says
So happy to hear it! Thanks for stopping by and sharing!
Katie Bremer says
I cannot believe I love a potato salad this much, but I LOVE this potato salad! I’m just obsessed!
Erren Hart says
How great! I’m happy to hear it! 🙂
Allison Mendez says
This was wonderful!! I loved the parsley in it. I couldn’t wait to try it though so I just threw it in the freezer hoping it’d get cold enough and it still tasted wonderful!
Erren Hart says
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by and sharing! 🙂
Andrea Gallagher says
This is pretty much the potato salad I grew up with – and that’s a very GOOD thing. The vinegar step made the dish! Familiar and delicious!
Erren Hart says
That’s so great! Thanks for taking the time to let me know! 🙂
Mary J says
Absolutely delicious! I sprinkled a little paprika on the top before serving!
Erren Hart says
Yay! Love to hear that!
Lori says
This is the best potato salad I ever made! The vinegar on the warm potatoes was genius and the pickles are a great addition!!
Erren Hart says
I am so happy to hear it! Thanks so much for the lovely feedback!
Jay says
I could not stop eating this! Adding pickles is just the best!
Erren's Kitchen says
I’m glad you liked it Jay 🙂