Irresistibly Creamy Best Ever Potato Salad Recipe

Potato salad represents a classic summer staple that changes simple ingredients into a crowd-pleasing dish.

Cool, creamy textures blend perfectly with vibrant seasonings and fresh components.

Home cooks appreciate its versatility and ability to complement numerous main courses.

The recipe connects memories of backyard gatherings and family picnics with delightful culinary comfort.

Crisp vegetables and smooth potatoes create a harmonious balance that delights taste buds of all ages.

Precise techniques elevate this traditional side dish from ordinary to extraordinary.

Preparing this exceptional potato salad promises a delectable experience that will impress everyone at your next gathering.

Potato Salad That Steals the Spotlight

• Create Creamy Comfort: This potato salad delivers a velvety, smooth texture that hugs your taste buds with classic comfort food magic, blending creamy mayonnaise and tender potatoes into a soul-warming dish.
• Quick Summer Sidekick: Perfect for backyard barbecues and picnics, this recipe comes together effortlessly in under 30 minutes, making it an ideal last-minute crowd-pleasing side dish that requires minimal cooking skills.
• Flavor-Packed Punch: Packed with tangy pickle relish, zesty mustard, and crisp celery, each bite offers a delightful symphony of flavors that dance between creamy, sweet, and slightly sharp notes, elevating a traditional potato salad into something extraordinary.
• Make-Ahead Marvel: This salad actually tastes better when prepared in advance, allowing ingredients to meld together overnight and intensifying its delicious complexity, which means less stress and more enjoyment for home cooks.

Everything You Need for This Creamy Classic

• Potatoes: Starchy, waxy potatoes work best for a creamy texture without falling apart.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and helps season potatoes during cooking.

• Mayonnaise: Creamy base that provides rich, smooth texture to the salad.
• Sweet Pickle Relish: Adds tangy sweetness and signature pickle flavor.
• Vinegar: Brings brightness and balances the rich mayonnaise.
• Mustard: Provides a subtle tang and depth of flavor.
• Celery Seed: Adds a subtle, aromatic herb note to the dressing.
• Black Pepper: Offers a mild heat and enhances overall seasoning.

• Celery, Red Onion: Fresh vegetables that provide crunch and sharp flavor contrast.
• Hard-Boiled Eggs: Adds protein and creamy texture to the potato salad.

How to Make a Crowd-Favorite Potato Dish

Step 1: Prepare Potatoes

Select potatoes and chop into uniform pieces. Place chopped potatoes in a large pot and cover with cool water about 2 inches above the potatoes. Bring to a boil over high heat. Add of salt and stir. Boil for 6-9 minutes until potatoes are just tender when pierced with a fork. Drain completely and let cool for about 20 minutes.

Step 2: Create Creamy Dressing

• Mayonnaise
• Sweet pickle relish
• Vinegar
• Mustard
• Celery seed
• Salt
• Pepper

Blend ingredients until smooth and well combined.

Step 3: Mix Potato Salad

• Cooled potatoes
• Prepared dressing
• Chopped celery
• Diced red onion
• Chopped hard-boiled eggs

Gently toss ingredients to ensure even coating. Season with additional salt and pepper to match your taste preference.

Step 4: Chill and Serve

Refrigerate potato salad for at least 1 hour before serving. The flavors develop and become more robust when chilled. For best results, prepare a day ahead to allow ingredients to meld together completely.

Serving Tip: Keeps well in the refrigerator for 3-4 days when stored in an airtight container.

Tips for Potatoes with the Perfect Bite

• Choose Waxy Potatoes: Select Yukon Gold or red potatoes for a creamy, firm texture that holds together perfectly when mixed with dressing.
• Salt Water Wisely: Add salt to boiling water to help potatoes absorb flavor and season from the inside out during cooking.
• Cool Potatoes Completely: Let potatoes cool to room temperature before mixing with dressing to prevent breaking apart and absorbing too much liquid.
• Chop Uniformly: Cut potatoes and vegetables into consistent, bite-sized pieces to ensure even flavor distribution and attractive presentation.
• Enhance Overnight: Refrigerate potato salad for at least 2 hours or overnight to allow flavors to meld and develop a more complex, delicious taste.

Keep Your Salad Creamy After the Fridge

• Store leftovers in an airtight container within 2 hours of preparation. Refrigerate potato salad for up to 3-4 days, keeping it consistently cold at 40°F or below. When ready to enjoy, gently stir the salad to redistribute the dressing and restore moisture. For best taste and texture, consume within 2 days. Avoid freezing, as mayonnaise-based salads tend to separate and lose creamy consistency when thawed. Quickly discard if any unusual odor or appearance develops, as dairy and egg ingredients can spoil rapidly.

What to Pair with This Picnic Favorite

• Pair with Crisp Picnic Proteins: Serve alongside grilled bratwurst, hot dogs, or juicy hamburgers to complement the creamy potato salad's rich texture and tangy flavor profile.
• Match with Refreshing Summer Beverages: Enjoy with ice-cold beer like a light lager or pilsner, which cuts through the salad's richness, or a crisp white wine such as sauvignon blanc that offers a zesty counterpoint.
• Create a Backyard BBQ Plate: Combine with smoked pulled pork or grilled chicken to balance the potato salad's creamy dressing with smoky, savory meat options that enhance the overall meal experience.
• Complement with Crunchy Side Companions: Add fresh coleslaw or corn on the cob to provide textural contrast and additional summer barbecue vibes that elevate the potato salad's creamy consistency.

Flavor Variations to Reinvent Potato Salad

• Herbal Potato Delight: Replace sweet pickle relish with fresh chopped dill, chives, and parsley for a garden-fresh herb-infused version that brings bright, aromatic flavors to the classic potato salad.
• Spicy Southwest Blend: Add diced jalapeños, chipotle powder, and chopped cilantro to create a zesty southwestern-style potato salad with a kick of heat and bold southwestern character.
• Bacon Ranch Fusion: Incorporate crispy crumbled bacon and ranch seasoning mix into the dressing, transforming the traditional recipe into a creamy, smoky potato salad that delivers rich, indulgent flavor profiles.
• Mediterranean Inspired: Mix in crumbled feta cheese, kalamata olives, and chopped fresh oregano for a Mediterranean-inspired potato salad that brings tangy, Mediterranean coastal flavors to the classic recipe.

Best Ever Potato Salad Recipe

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4.6 from 10 reviews

• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Classic potato salad speaks volumes of summer gatherings and family traditions. Creamy German-style potatoes mingle with tangy mayo, crisp celery, and perfectly seasoned herbs for a crowd-pleasing side dish you’ll crave at every picnic.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 4 potatoes
• 4 hard-boiled eggs

Dressing Ingredients:

• 0.75 cup (180 ml) mayonnaise
• 0.25 cup (60 ml) sweet pickle relish
• 2 tablespoons (30 ml) apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) Dijon mustard

Seasoning Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon celery seed
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper

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Instructions

1. Fill a large pot with cool water, ensuring it covers the chopped potatoes by approximately 2 inches (5 centimeters).
2. Heat the pot over high heat until the water reaches a rolling boil, then sprinkle of salt into the water and stir thoroughly.
3. Continue boiling the potatoes for 6-9 minutes, testing their tenderness by piercing with a fork; they should be just soft but not falling apart.
4. Carefully drain the potatoes in a colander, shaking to remove excess water, and allow them to cool completely for about 20 minutes at room temperature.
5. While potatoes are cooling, create the creamy dressing by whisking together mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, white vinegar, Dijon mustard, celery seed, salt, and black pepper in a small mixing bowl until smooth and well combined.
6. Transfer the cooled potatoes to a large serving bowl and gently fold in the prepared dressing, ensuring each potato piece is evenly coated.
7. Add finely chopped celery, diced red onion, and sliced hard-boiled eggs to the potato mixture, tossing gently to distribute ingredients without breaking the potatoes.
8. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and freshly ground black pepper as needed.
9. Cover the potato salad and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to meld and develop, with optimal taste achieved when chilled overnight.

Notes

• Boil potatoes carefully to maintain their texture, avoiding overcooking which can make them mushy and fall apart during mixing.
• Cooling potatoes before adding dressing prevents the mayonnaise from breaking down and helps ingredients bind together smoothly.
• Use fresh, crisp celery and red onion for maximum crunch and vibrant flavor that complements the creamy potato base.
• Hard-boiled eggs add protein and rich, velvety texture, elevating this classic side dish from simple to spectacular.
• Chilling allows flavors to meld and develop, transforming the salad from good to exceptionally delicious.
• Make ahead tip: This potato salad tastes even better the next day, making it perfect for meal prep and gatherings.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Snacks, Dinner
• Method: Boiling
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 240 kcal
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 300 mg
• Fat: 22 g
• Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 18.5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 4 g
• Fiber: 0.5 g
• Protein: 1 g
• Cholesterol: 15 mg