This is the BEST Potato Salad recipe EVER. It comes straight from Mom’s recipe box. Tender chunks of potatoes and hard boiled eggs covered in creamy dressing is tried and true and a hit at any gathering!
The BEST Potato Salad Recipe
In our family, we can’t imagine a family barbecue, picnic, or game day buffet without this rich and creamy homestyle Potato Salad as a side dish. Now, I know that everyone says their mom makes the best potato salad, but in this case it’s totally true! Once you try this recipe, you’ll never go back to that nasty store bought stuff again.
The very best potato salad recipe begins and ends with what type of potatoes you use. We love waxy potatoes like Yukon Gold or red potatoes, because they hold their shape as they cook and keep their firm texture in the salad while chopping and tossing with the dressing. However, if you don’t have any of those kinds on hand, you can use Russets. We’ve used them in this recipe many times and they work very well. They’re just a bit softer and flakier than red potatoes or Yukon Gold, but taste just as delicious.
Suggestions for this Recipe
- If you’re using Russet potatoes, cut them evenly into bite size pieces and cook them in simmering water. Try not to vigorously boil the potatoes; they can break apart as a result. Simmer until potatoes are just tender, about ten minutes. Waxy potatoes like Yukon Gold or red potatoes can be simmered slightly longer.
- For this recipe Best Food’s/Hellmann’s mayonnaise is the absolute best for the sauce. It has the perfect creamy, tangy flavor that blends deliciously with the potatoes, eggs and spices.Try it and see for yourself!
- The beauty of this recipe is you can add any ingredients you like to create your own homemade potato salad. Toss in cucumbers, radishes, celery, chives, pimentos, dill relish, pickle juice, Italian dressing mix, yellow or sweet onion, bacon or green peas to make it your own. The possibilities are endless!
How to Chop Fresh Dill Weed for Potato Salad
We have a few picky eaters in the family (who will remain nameless) who don’t care for anything “crunchy” in their potato salad. Personally, I love adding celery and green onion for extra texture and flavor. There’s also some debate in the family over pickles vs. dill weed. Again, the crunchy factor comes into play. However, dill weed adds such a delightful dimension to the potato salad flavor. Here’s how to chop fresh dill weed:
- First, remove the fern-like leaves and stems from the thick center stem.
- Then, use a large sharp knife to mince the dill leaves to the desired consistency.
- If you don’t have fresh dill, you can use dried, but it’s always best to use dried seasonings within six months of purchase.
- To get the best flavor from the dried dill, crush it between your hands before adding it to the salad.
More Succulent Side Dishes
Looking for more sides to round out your next picnic or party buffet? In our opinion, the more sides the better. So try a few of our favorite recipes:
- Mom’s Traditional Macaroni Salad
- Creamy Potatoes and Peas
- Coconut Pecan Sweet Potato Halves
- Australian Sausage Rolls
- Mexican Street Corn Cups
- Easy Cream Cheese Fruit Dip
- Homemade Macaroni and Cheese with Ham and Peas
How to Make the BEST Potato Salad
Ingredients
- 5 potatoes mediumRusset or red
- 8 eggs hard boiled (save 2 eggs to use for garnish on salad)
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise or Miracle Whip
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp mustard
- 1/2 cup sweet pickle relish or 5 to 6 diced baby dill pickles, if you don't like it sweet
- 1 tsp Dill weed finely chopped
- paprika optional
- celery chopped (optional)
- green onion or red onion, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Boil potatoes with peel on for about 40 minutes until potatoes are tender, but still firm. If you are using red potatoes, boil 25-30 minutes.
- Peel and dice potatoes and 6 eggs.
- Add salt and pepper and toss.
- Mix remaining ingredients separately and fold into potato mixture.
- Slice remaining 2 eggs and layer on top of salad. Sprinkle top of salad with dill weed or paprika.
- Refrigerate overnight (or at least 6-8 hours).
Liz Kaufman says
My Mom always sliced some radishes thinly and then added chopped cucumber. Absolutely delicious!
Cindy says
This recipe is the exact one my grandmother and Mother used. I have been making this for fifty years. Everybody wants my potatoe salad. That’s the ultimate compliment. 🥰
Michelle Miller says
If I wanted to use celery salt and onion powder instead how much should i use?
Favorite Family Recipes says
My rule of thumb is one teaspoon of seasoning for one cup of fresh veggies. So I would start with one teaspoon, taste it, and then add more as needed.
Norma Hunt says
good start one, we mash potatoes add green onions dry mustard or a good spicy mustard, ranch drewssing or aa plain greek yogurt if you dont have sour cream at hand, and some of the dill pickle juice too if you like always mix together while potatoes aare warm to soak the flavor up
Karen says
First time ever making potato salad, it was a hit. Everyone loved it. Making it again right now.
LIZ says
Best ever!!