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    Popular » Recipes » Salads

    Grandma's Potato Salad Recipe

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure for more information. Published: Jun 8, 2022 by Dee

    Grandma's Potato Salad Recipe is an easy old fashioned potato salad with few ingredients. A delicious side dish for summer and a family favorite! This classic potato salad tastes just like Mom used to make! via @meamel

    Grandma's Potato Salad Recipe is an easy old fashioned potato salad with few ingredients. A delicious side dish for summer and a family favorite! This classic potato salad tastes just like Mom used to make!

    Jump to Recipe -
    grandma's potato salad with sliced hard boiled eggs in serving bowl
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Best Potatoes for Potato Salad
    • How to Make Grandma's Potato Salad
    • Cook Time
    • Variations
    • How to Store
    • Recipe
    • Reviews

    My family honestly thinks my grandma's potato salad recipe is the best potato salad recipe on the planet. But every family has a favorite potato salad, right?

    This homemade potato salad recipe has been in my family forever. It's a very simple potato salad with few ingredients. This is my husband's favorite summer side dish and it's absolutely delicious!

    Our old fashioned potato salad is the perfect side dish for summer cookouts and potlucks. The mild flavor pairs well with any main dish, especially burgers and ribs.

    Serve this summer side salad along with grilled corn on the cob for a delicious meal!

    red potatoes, celery, mayonnaise and eggs

    Ingredients

    You only need a few basic ingredients for homemade potato salad. If you don't have these pantry staples at home, you can find them in your grocery store.

    • Small red potatoes
    • Celery stalks -- chopped
    • Hard-boiled eggs -- peeled and chopped
    • Salt and Pepper -- to taste
    • Mayonnaise

    Best Potatoes for Potato Salad

    Mom and grandma always said red potatoes or waxy potatoes are the best potatoes for potato salad since they hold their shape well after cooking.

    White potatoes or Yukon Gold potatoes will work, as well. Russet potatoes aren't the best choice since their fluffier flesh is better for baking.

    However, I know people who love russets in salad, so it really is a personal preference.

    How to Make Grandma's Potato Salad

    First, scrub the potatoes well under cold running water. Then, slice them in half or quarters to that they are about the same size.

    Grandma always peeled potatoes before cooking, but I like to leave the skins on. Skins add flavor and nutrients, and it's a lot easier to peel potatoes after cooking!

    boil red potatoes cut in half in skins

    Cook Time

    Fill a large pot with cold water, place the potatoes in the pot, add salt, and bring to a boil. Then, reduce the heat to simmer, and cook potatoes until just fork tender.

    This takes about 10 minutes cooking time depending on how large the potatoes are. Be sure not to over cook potatoes.

    You should be able to easily poke a fork or the tip of a knife through the middle of the potato, but it shouldn't fall apart.

    peeled cubed red potatoes on cutting board

    When the potatoes are fully cooked, drain them right away into a colander in the sink. You don't have to run them under cold water.

    Place the potatoes on a cutting board or large baking sheet, and allow to cool down until you can handle them. You can chop up the eggs and celery while you are waiting.

    Then, peel the skins off and cut potatoes into small pieces or small cubes. You want to aim for bite size pieces here. If you can't get some of the potato skins off, no worries. It just adds to the flavor!

    mix mayonnaise with potato salad ingredients in mixing bowl

    Place the potatoes, chopped hard boiled eggs and diced celery into a large bowl. Then, add 1 cup of mayonnaise, and mix until blended.

    Stir in additional mayo until you get the texture you like. I usually add more mayo right before serving since the potatoes absorb the mayo.

    Stir in salt and pepper, to taste. For best flavor, refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight!

    This is one of those old fashioned recipes that was never written down. Mom and Grandmas always eyeballed the ingredients until it tasted good to them!

    old fashioned potato salad recipe with hard boiled eggs and parsley in white serving bowl

    To serve potato salad, we like to add sliced hard boiled eggs on top of the potato salad and a sprinkle of paprika. And that's it.

    This easy potato salad recipe has no onions, no mustard and no pickles. It's super simple and so good!

    Variations

    There are a couple ways to customize this creamy potato salad recipe to your tastes.

    I like to keep this classic recipe simple with just mayonnaise, but you can whatever you like. Yellow mustard, Miracle Whip, sour cream, and white vinegar will all work in this dressing mix.

    Add your favorite potato salad ingredients. Green onions, red onions, sweet onions, sweet pickles, dill pickles, relish pickles are great additions!

    Instead of regular salt, use celery salt for more flavor.

    If you want to make this recipe even easier, try my Instant Pot potato salad. The basic ingredients are the same, but you cook the eggs and potatoes in the pressure cooker at the same time!

    You can peel and cut your potatoes before cooking if you prefer.

    creamy old fashioned potato salad on fork

    How to Store

    Store leftover potato salad in an airtight container or covered with plastic wrap. It'll last in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Do not leave out for more than 2 hours for safety.

    Potato salad will not freeze well.

    Enjoy your leftovers straight out of the fridge with hamburgers, ribs, hot dogs, or alone as a snack!

    Recipe

    grandma's potato salad with red potatoes, eggs and parsley in a white serving bowl

    Grandma's Potato Salad Recipe

    Published by Dee
    Grandma's Potato Salad Recipe is an easy old fashioned potato salad with few ingredients. A delicious side dish for summer and a family favorite! This classic potato salad tastes just like Mom used to make!
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Share by Email
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 25 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Refrigeration time 2 hrs
    Total Time 2 hrs 40 mins
    Course Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 15 servings
    Calories 303 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 8 small red potatoes
    • 2 medium stalks of celery diced
    • 5 hard-boiled eggs peeled and chopped
    • 2 cups mayonnaise
    • Salt and Pepper to taste
    • paprika optional, for garnish

    Instructions
     

    • Wash the potatoes under running water, and cut or quarter them until roughly the same size
    • Place potatoes in large pot of cold salted water, and bring to a boil
    • Reduce heat to simmer, and cook for about 10 minutes or until potatoes are fork tender. Start testing around 5 minutes so that they don't over cook
    • Then, drain the potatoes, and after they cool down, peel the skins, and cut them into small bite sized cubes
    • Place potatoes into large mixing bowl, and add chopped celery and eggs
    • Add 1 cup mayonnaise and stir until well coated. Add more mayo until creamy or until texture is how you like it -- the total amount will depend on how much mayo you like.
    • Add some salt and pepper, to taste, and refrigerate until ready to serve. Add sliced hard boiled egg and paprika for garnish, if desired

    Notes

    You can add more or use less mayo depending upon your own tastes. You may need to add additional mayonnaise for extra creaminess before serving.
    Do not leave potato salad out for more than 2 hours for food safety. Store covered in refrigerator for up to 4 days.

    Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 303kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 4gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 14gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 62mgSodium: 227mgPotassium: 541mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 99IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 21mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe? Please comment and rate it! Show me your dish on Instagram!Mention @meatloafandmelodrama or tag #meatloafandmelodrama!

    There's nothing better for summer than a good potato salad--and traditional potato salads made with easy, simple ingredients are the best ones! I hope you enjoy this classic potato salad recipe as much as we do!

    For more family favorite recipes, new recipe ideas, and quick meals, subscribe to the newsletter and follow me on social media!

    grandma's-old-fashioned-potato-salad

    Originally published in 2014 and updated in 2022.

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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Sandra says

      June 21, 2022 at 1:26 pm

      This is one of the best potato salad I've tried!! Seriously AHH-mazing!5 stars

      Reply
    2. Sophie says

      June 16, 2022 at 3:17 am

      I love this! Always a hit on our table, yum!5 stars

      Reply
    3. Catalina says

      June 16, 2022 at 12:40 am

      This salad looks creamy and so good! I will make it for our weekend barbecue party!5 stars

      Reply
    4. Sinea Pies says

      July 15, 2015 at 8:00 pm

      This looks great, Dee!

      Reply
    5. Laurie says

      July 15, 2015 at 12:53 am

      Looks delicious Dee! Pinning! Potato salad is a favorite around here too! Thanks for sharing your recipe!

      Reply
    6. Anonymous says

      July 12, 2015 at 5:31 am

      Made this tonight.
      Just perfect.
      I like that it has no spices or mustard.
      Thanks so much!

      Reply
    7. [email protected] says

      April 14, 2015 at 11:39 pm

      I love potato salad! I'd eat it by the gallon if I could. Thanks for sharing with us!

      Reply

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    I’m the blogger, chief cook, recipe developer and photographer behind Meatloaf and Melodrama. I absolutely love to create easy, budget-friendly, homemade meals and treats for my family. I also love to think of new ways to repurpose leftovers so that my family will actually eat them!

    More about me →

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