Old-Fashioned Potato Salad Recipe
If you're craving a classic potato salad with a creamy, mayonnaise-based dressing and a hint of tangy pickle relish, this recipe is sure to impress. It's an easy-to-make dish that combines everyday ingredients into a satisfying side dish.
Most of the effort goes into prepping the ingredients. Once that's done, all you have to do is combine everything gently in a large bowl, cover, and chill to allow the flavors to meld together.
What Goes Into Potato Salad
The best potato salads are those that strike a perfect balance between textures and flavors. The creamy, tangy, sweet, salty, tender, and crunchy elements should all come together in harmony. Here's a breakdown of the ingredients you'll need:
- Potatoes: Medium-sized potatoes are ideal for this recipe, enough to serve eight people. The type of potato can affect the final texture of your salad I'll explain that in more detail below.
- Eggs: Hard-boiled eggs add that classic touch to an old-fashioned potato salad. You can leave them out if you prefer.
- Celery: This brings a satisfying crunch to balance out the creamy potatoes.
- Onion: Choose any onion variety you prefer yellow, white, or red. Make sure to chop it into small, even pieces to avoid large chunks.
- Pickle Relish: Use your favorite sweet pickle relish. Some might prefer chopped sweet gherkin pickles, while others might opt for a less sweet relish.
- Mayonnaise: The creamy binder that brings everything together. For the best results, mix the mayo, mustard, relish, and seasonings in a separate bowl before combining them with the potatoes.
- Mustard: Any type of mustard works, but yellow or Dijon are the most commonly used.
- Seasonings: Garlic salt, celery salt, and black pepper are the basics, but you can get creative with extras like paprika, garlic powder, or even fresh herbs like dill, chives, parsley, or tarragon.
Choosing the Right Potatoes
The type of potato you use can dramatically change the texture of your salad. Heres a guide:
- Waxy Potatoes: Red potatoes or fingerling potatoes are great for keeping their shape after boiling. Their thin skin means you might not even need to peel them.
- Starchy Potatoes: Idaho or Russet potatoes break down when boiled, creating a softer, creamier texture. Theyll need peeling due to their thicker skins.
- All-purpose Potatoes: Yukon Golds are a solid middle ground and work wonderfully for potato salad.
How to Boil Potatoes
Boiling time can vary depending on the size of the potatoes, but typically it takes about 10 to 15 minutes. Start testing with a sharp knife at around the 10-minute mark. If the knife slides through easily, your potatoes are done.
Tip: Potatoes have a very mild flavor, so add salt to the boiling water. For an extra flavor boost, after peeling and chopping the potatoes, spread them on a rimmed baking sheet. While theyre still warm, sprinkle with vinegar, salt, and pepper, and let them cool. This adds extra depth to the flavor.
How to Make Potato Salad
- Gather Ingredients: Have all your ingredients ready to go.
- Boil Potatoes: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the potatoes and cook until tender but firm, about 15 minutes. Drain, cool, peel, and chop them into bite-sized pieces.
- Cook Eggs: While the potatoes cook, place the eggs in a saucepan, cover with cold water, and bring to a boil. Remove from heat, cover, and let the eggs stand for 10 to 12 minutes. Cool, peel, and chop them into chunks.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the cooked potatoes, eggs, chopped celery, onion, relish, mayonnaise, mustard, garlic salt, celery salt, and black pepper. Stir gently until well combined.
- Chill: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad for best results. Let the flavors meld for at least an hour before serving.
How to Store and Serve Potato Salad
Potato salad should be covered and kept in the refrigerator. Make sure not to leave it at room temperature for longer than two hours (or less if it's a warm day). If you're serving it at a picnic or BBQ, placing the serving bowl in a bed of ice will help keep it cool.
Storage: Potato salad will last for 3 to 4 days in the fridge when stored properly.
Can You Freeze Potato Salad?
Yes, you can freeze potato salad. To do so, let it cool completely, then spoon it into an airtight freezer bag. Lay the bag flat and squeeze out any excess air. Potato salad can last up to three months in the freezer. To thaw, move it to the refrigerator overnight. You may need to add a bit more dressing before serving.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving (based on 8 servings):
- Calories: 206
- Total Fat: 8g (10% Daily Value)
- Saturated Fat: 2g (8% Daily Value)
- Cholesterol: 72mg (24% Daily Value)
- Sodium: 335mg (15% Daily Value)
- Total Carbohydrate: 31g (11% Daily Value)
- Dietary Fiber: 4g (13% Daily Value)
- Protein: 6g
- Vitamin C: 28mg (31% Daily Value)
- Calcium: 37mg (3% Daily Value)
- Iron: 2mg (9% Daily Value)
- Potassium: 647mg (14% Daily Value)

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FAQ about Old-Fashioned Potato Salad Recipe
Comments
Adam Cruz
10/21/2024 04:00:39 AM
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the reviews and seeing how each reviewer added their own personal twist to the potato salad recipe. I must admit, I wasn't a fan of potato salad until I started making my own, and now I can't get enough of it. Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to potato salad, and for me, using green onions instead of regular onions, dill pickles instead of sweet ones, and garlic powder instead of garlic salt made all the difference. After mixing the ingredients, I felt my potato salad needed a bit more mayo, so I added a little extra. I also threw in some chopped chives, onion powder, and a dash of Frank's Hot Sauce, which is a family favorite addition for us. Overall, it turned out to be a delicious and satisfying potato salad that everyone in my family enjoyed.
Alexander Perez
10/18/2024 03:09:36 AM
My husband had a strong desire for potato salad, so after browsing through various recipes, I decided to try this one. And I must say, it was absolutely delicious! The flavors really come together the next day, so I recommend making it ahead of time if you can. I added extra mayo to prevent it from being too dry. This recipe is definitely a classic picnic potato salad. I will definitely be making it again in the future.
Richard Lopez
02/06/2025 06:06:06 PM
Wonderful! This recipe is incredibly simple and delicious. A great tip is to use the same hot water after boiling the potatoes to cook the eggs (I used 3 eggs). Don't forget to add fresh parsley for that extra flavor kick, and I used Mt. Olive's Dill Relish for a tasty twist. I used a combination of 3 Yukon Gold and 3 Red potatoes, keeping the skin on for added texture and color.
Sarah Nelson
02/21/2024 08:46:54 PM
This recipe is reminiscent of the potato salad my mom taught me how to make back in the mid-sixties as a teenager. The unique twist includes using dill pickles instead of sweet pickle relish and green onions instead of regular onions. The real game-changer is the dressing - I prefer to add a bit more mayonnaise and incorporate pickle juice or vinegar to achieve the desired consistency. For the eggs, I only chop the whites to mix in with the dry ingredients, while the mashed yolks serve as the base for the dressing.
Charles Hill
04/20/2023 02:53:19 AM
Review rewritten: As a Southerner, I have a preference for a creamy potato salad. To achieve this, I recommend peeling and cutting the potatoes into small pieces before cooking them until they are very soft. Increase the amount of mayonnaise to at least 1/2 cup, and add 2-3 tablespoons of mustard for a hint of tanginess. Combine the mustard, mayo, onions, diced dill pickles (avoid using sweet ones), chopped eggs, salt, pepper, and celery seed thoroughly. Then, gently fold in the cooked potatoes until well-coated. This results in a delicious Southern-style potato salad that is sure to be a hit at any gathering. Trust me, there won't be any leftovers! With these adjustments, this recipe easily earns a 5-star rating.
Ruth Sanchez
11/24/2024 06:59:59 AM
I prepared six slices of bacon until they were crispy, then crumbled them and tossed them into the salad after they had cooled.
Joshua Turner
06/29/2023 01:20:41 PM
This dish was fantastic! I thoroughly enjoyed the flavors and crispiness. I improvised by making my own relish since I didn't have any on hand, and it worked out perfectly. I'm deducting one star as I needed to include extra mayonnaise. It would be helpful to have revised recipe instructions regarding enhancing the dish's taste. Adding vinegar, salt, and pepper to the potatoes as they cool was a game-changer in terms of flavor. Much appreciated for sharing the recipe.
Janet Allen
11/01/2023 09:05:17 PM
I like to enhance my potato salad by adding approximately half a cup of green pepper to it. I prepare 3 pounds of diced potatoes and six eggs in an Instant Pot for 7 minutes. While they are cooking, I combine mayonnaise, celery, onion, sweet pickle relish, green pepper, mustard, and seasonings in a separate bowl. I peel and chop the eggs using a Ninja food processor and incorporate them into the mixture. After mixing everything together with a spatula, I refrigerate it for at least an hour before serving.
Sandra Baker
09/01/2022 01:45:47 AM
My mom upgraded the mashed potatoes by adding bell peppers and crispy bacon. She drizzled some butter over the hot potatoes for extra flavor. I highly recommend trying Marzetti's slaw dressing. If you prefer homemade dressing, my go-to recipe is 1 cup of mayonnaise, 1-2 tablespoons of vinegar, and 1/4 cup of sugar (adjust to taste). This recipe brings back nostalgic memories of the dressing I learned to make as a child.
Angela Hall
03/06/2025 03:42:48 AM
This was my initial try at preparing potato salad. At 81, I am a newcomer to cooking, stepping into this role to care for my wife who is a stroke survivor. While she enjoyed this first attempt, we both agreed that it needed a little something extra. Following my daughter's advice, I added fresh dill, and on my own, I included the juice of a lemon. The dish now has a delightful zing to it.
William Moore
02/12/2023 02:25:23 PM
Rewritten review: Based on suggestions from other reviewers, I decided to include additional mayonnaise in this recipe. I also incorporated a red onion and grated a thin carrot for added flavor. While I didn't measure the potatoes precisely, I used a total of 7 potatoes of varying sizes. After peeling and cutting them, I boiled the potatoes in salted water until they were tender. I adjusted the amount of relish, eyeballing it along with the rest of the ingredients, and opted for just 2 hard-boiled eggs. A pinch of salt was added as well to enhance the overall taste. The potato salad is currently chilling in the fridge and will be served at our monthly Bunco game night tomorrow.
Christine Roberts
04/14/2025 10:33:50 AM
This is hands down the best potato salad recipe you will ever try! The flavors are incredibly complex and truly amazing. Say goodbye to bland potato salad forever!
Brian Martin
06/25/2023 11:30:10 PM
Added an extra egg, used only 1/4 cup of dill relish, included diced dill pickles, the recipe is simple and delicious.
Sandra Collins
06/13/2024 02:39:35 AM
No alterations made.
Emma Diaz
11/03/2023 11:42:40 AM
Simple and tasty!
Stephanie Carter
11/14/2024 06:19:30 AM
Everyone enjoyed it. I will try it next time without the relish, and using plain salt instead of garlic and celery.
Sarah Moore
12/17/2024 11:59:56 PM
I can't stand mustard and relish in my potato salad, so I always make my own. It's a bit time-consuming, but worth it. I prefer using white or red potatoes for a homemade touch. I rarely ever opt for store-bought potato salad.
Samuel Anderson
02/16/2025 09:37:31 PM
My mom taught me this recipe 65 years ago. It's simple but delicious. Here's how to make it: 1. Use a sweet onion for the best flavor. 2. Mash one of the hard-boiled yolks into the mayonnaise. 3. Mix in a little sweet pickle juice with the mayonnaise. 4. Sprinkle the top with paprika for a nice touch of flavor. Over the years, I've also added some variations to this recipe, including peas, bell pepper in any color, jalapeno pepper, and chopped cucumber. It's a versatile dish that you can customize to your liking. Enjoy!
Maria Miller
06/13/2023 07:02:28 PM
The first time we used the juice from picked babycorn, but the next time we tried it with zucchini relish. I personally found it to be most enjoyable with the zucchini relish.
Diane Edwards
12/18/2022 03:47:20 AM
I agreed with many reviewers that this recipe needed more mayo, so I decided to add approximately 1/3 cup of sour cream along with parsley, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, and the juice of a quarter of a lemon. The addition of sour cream and lemon really elevated the flavors! This potato salad has become my favorite now. I highly recommend trying to add chopped fennel as well!