This traditional potato salad recipe is made using the perfect combination of potatoes and eggs, with a simple and creamy salad dressing that takes it to the next level.
Potato salad is the ultimate summer comfort food, and this recipe is the perfect way to enjoy your salad. Itβs the easiest potato salad recipe out there that is guaranteed to give you delicious flavor every single time.
This recipe is a definite crowd-pleaser, and kids and adults seem to love it alike. Itβs the perfect side dish for a BBQ cookout, or to have on your dinner table.
Iβm sure this recipe is going to become your next family favorite! Iβve included all the information you could possibly need, from what type of potatoes to use to step by step pictures to make it perfectly every single time!
Want to learn how to make this classic, traditional potato salad? Then keep on reading!
Table of Contents
- What is a Traditional Potato Salad Recipe?
- What Makes this the Best Traditional Potato Salad Recipe?
- What Kind of Potatoes are Best for Potato Salad?
- Should I Peel the Potatoes?
- What Type of Mayonnaise Should I Use?
- Do Pickles Go Well in This Recipe?
- What You Need to Make Homemade Potato Salad
- How to Make Traditional Potato Salad Recipe (Step-by-Step)
- Recipe Variation Ideas
- How Long Can I Store This Potato Salad in The Fridge?
- Can I Freeze Potato Salad?
- Similar Recipes
- Recipe Card
- The Best Classic and Traditional Potato Salad Recipe
- Comments
What is a Traditional Potato Salad Recipe?
A traditional potato salad is that creamy, deliciousness in a salad that weβve come to love and adore! Itβs a homemade potato salad made with potatoes that have been boiled and mixed with a creamy mayo-based potato salad dressing.
There are a ton of different ingredients you can add to a potato salad to take it to the next level. But a traditional potato salad always has some potatoes, mayo, eggs, and pickles.
Today weβll be making the most delicious, homemade potato salad recipe thatβs not only creamy but packed with flavor in every bite. Itβs old-fashioned, traditional but with a tasty, fresh twist.
Potato salads are the ultimate summer comfort food, and this recipe will have you feeling warm and happy in no time. Itβs a definite crowd-pleaser that is perfect for dinners, a side dish for a BBQ party, or just to have whenever you want!
Regardless of when you choose to have this incredibly delicious potato salad, youβre going to fall in love with it every single time!
What Makes this the Best Traditional Potato Salad Recipe?
This is seriously the best potato salad recipe out there because of so many reasons! Itβs incredibly easy to whip up and tastes even better the next day.
Not only is it the perfect combination for a traditional potato salad, but it also has some delicious fresh ingredients that take it to the next level and set it apart from every other potato salad recipe out there!
You can have this potato salad as a side dish but also as a light snack or meal thanks to its filling ingredients, such as bologna! Leftovers can also be eaten as a delicious potato salad sandwich!
Just pop a few heaping tablespoons in between two slices of Homemade French Bread and youβll have the most delicious sandwich ever!
This salad is the ultimate crowd pleaser! No seriously, kids and adults seem to love it alike. It tastes delicious with just about everything and you can even make it a day ahead! In fact, itβll taste even better the day after making it!
With just a handful of ingredients, youβre going to have a salad thatβs seriously unforgettable and the best traditional potato salad youβll ever have!
What Kind of Potatoes are Best for Potato Salad?
Usually, we go for starchy potatoes such as russet potatoes, but when youβre making a potato salad you should steer clear of them!
This is because while theyβre great for baking and frying, they really donβt do so well when theyβre boiled. In fact, youβll find that theyβll crumble apart and wonβt even be as creamy.
So, the best potatoes to use for a potato salad are waxy ones, such as red potatoes, Yukon Gold potatoes, and fingerlings. Not only will they hold their shape better when you boil them, but theyβre also known for their creaminess which will make your salad taste even better!
Should I Peel the Potatoes?
It all comes down to personal preference on whether or not you want to peel your potatoes for a potato salad.
But if you donβt want to, you definitely donβt have to! Waxy potatoes have a more delicate skin than starchy ones like russet potatoes are tough, astringent, and take away from the flavor of a potato salad.
But for a deliciously creamy texture and flavor, Iβd suggest you peel yours. Either way, itβs a personal preference so feel free to experiment a bit till you figure out which way you and your family like it the best!
What Type of Mayonnaise Should I Use?
Mayo makes up the base flavor for our potato salad dressing, and so itβs a pretty important ingredient! This, again, comes down to personal preference. I love using homemade mayo because itβs lower in calories and sodium, but still tastes absolutely incredible!
But Iβm sure you have one that you love the most or is a family favorite. Many people like Hellmanβs, while others in the South prefer Dukeβs. Regardless of which one you pick, itβll taste delicious every single time!
Do Pickles Go Well in This Recipe?
Trust me, pickles go incredibly well in this recipe! Doesnβt matter whether you love pickles or hate them, theyβre going to be one of your favorite ingredients in this recipe!
Weβll be using dill pickles which have a subtle but fresh bite and really enhance the flavor of this creamy potato salad.
Most people who hate pickles donβt even notice them since itβs not an overpowering ingredient, but one thatβs meant to bring out the flavors in everything else.
If you do love pickles or are more of a sweet pickle relish person, you can definitely swap out dill pickles for the one you love the most. This is whatβs so great about this recipe, itβs the perfect base recipe to add to and make it your own! Iβm sure itβs going to go into your familyβs list of favorite recipes!
What You Need to Make Homemade Potato Salad
All you need are some pantry staple ingredients to whip up the most delicious, creamy potato salad recipe ever! Hereβs everything youβll need to make this at home:
Potatoes: Youβll need 4 to 5 large waxy potatoes for this recipe. You can go for red potatoes, Yukon Golds, or even fingerlings. I wonβt recommend using russet potatoes because theyβll crumble and fall apart when you boil them. If you have medium potatoes instead, use about 6 to 7 of them.
Carrots: Trust me when I say that carrots take this salad to the next level with their delicate sweetness and light bite! Youβll need 5 large carrots for this recipe.
Eggs: A potato salad just isnβt complete without some eggs! Weβll be using 8 to 10 large eggs for this recipe.
Peas: Sweet peas enhance the flavor, and they just taste so good in every single bite. Youβll need approximately 15 ounces of them for this salad.
Pickles: Weβll be using dill pickles for this recipe since they have a beautiful subtle flavor but add the perfect fresh bite to the salad!
English cucumbers: Not everyone adds cucumber to their potato salad, but I love adding it for a fresher taste. So I highly suggest you go for it!
Bologna: Some people use Bologna as the only meat in a potato salad, but I like to add some Moskovska kielbasa too. It just gives the salad a better, sharper taste. Adding bologna makes this potato salad heartier and makes it taste even better, trust me!
Onion: Weβll be using half of a small onion in this recipe for that sharp flavor and crunch!
Mayonnaise: Mayo is an incredibly important ingredient in this recipe as it makes up the base of the potato salad dressing. You can go for whichever brand you love the most! I also love using homemade mayo because it just always tastes so much better!
Salt: Weβll be adding salt according to taste, as it depends on how sweet your mayo is. You can go for kosher salt, but just a regular one. I use approximately one teaspoon salt for this salad, but definitely do it according to taste!
Black pepper: Pepper just gives this salad that extra flavor and makes it taste even better! Some people like using paprika in theirs, but Iβve found that ground pepper alone tastes just perfect!
Fresh dill (for garnishing): When your salad is all ready, just sprinkle some chopped fresh herbs to garnish it! I prefer using fresh dill.
How to Make Traditional Potato Salad Recipe (Step-by-Step)
Making this homemade potato salad recipe is so easy, but it tastes incredible each time! Hereβs what you need to do to make this classic potato salad at home step by step:
Start by rinsing your potatoes and carrots. Chop the carrots into smaller pieces.
Next, add them to cold water in a large pot and bring them to a boil. Then reduce the heat to medium. Boil the carrots and potatoes until theyβre tender. I remove carrots earlier, to prevent overcooking, and let potatoes cook for a little longer, as they take longer to cook thoroughly. To check the potatoes, I make sure theyβre fork tender.
Now boil the eggs. Once itβs all done, let everything cool completely before chopping them. I prefer to place it all in the fridge for a couple of hours since itβs easier to chop the potatoes, carrots, and eggs when they are cold and not mushy.
While the cooked potatoes, carrots, and eggs are cooling, dice the bologna, pickles, cucumbers, and onions.
Next, drain and rinse the sweet peas well and set them aside.
Now peel your boiled potato and carrot skins. Dice both of them.
Letβs prep the eggs now! Peel the eggshells and dice your eggs. You may use aΒ vegetable chopperΒ to speed up your dicing time.
Once all your ingredients are prepped, place the diced ingredients into a large bowl. Mix and stir all the ingredients together. If you used home-canned pickles, squeeze the pickle juice out of them, because they tend to have way too much juice and will make your salad watery.
Now add mayonnaise, salt, and pepper to taste, then mix in the mayonnaise carefully and gently, side to side, from the bottom to the top.
Make sure you donβt mash the salad or it will lose its shape. You want to see each diced ingredient in the salad.
I recommend popping the salad into the fridge for 2-4 hours before serving. This lets all the ingredients and flavors soak in.
Your delicious potato salad is ready to be served!
Check out my famous pasta salad as well.
Recipe Variation Ideas
This easy potato salad recipe is the perfect base recipe to customize and make it your own. Here are a few variations you can try:
- If you like your potato salad a little tangy, try adding a little apple cider vinegar to the potatoes right after theyβre boiled. While theyβre cooling, the vinegar will soak into the potatoes and add a little tang to your salad!
- For a little extra crunch, you can add some chopped celery to this salad!
- If you want to add some other herbs to this potato salad, chives go really well along with the fresh dill that Iβve recommended in this recipe already.
- If you love mustard, try adding a little yellow mustard or even Dijon mustard to your potato salad.
How Long Can I Store This Potato Salad in The Fridge?
If you love potato salad as much as we do, itβll probably disappear by the end of the meal! But in case you still have some leftovers, store them in a covered container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
You can technically store it in the fridge for up to a week, but the eggs will release sulfuric smells over time. And the onions will turn a little too pungent which will take away from the flavor of the salad.
Can I Freeze Potato Salad?
I wouldnβt recommend you freeze this potato salad since the thawing process will alter the texture of the ingredients and the dressing will also not be as creamy.
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See all salad recipes.
Recipe Card
The Best Classic and Traditional Potato Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 - 5 large β potatoes
- 5 large β carrots
- 8 - 10 large β eggs
- 16 oz. β bologna
- Β½ small β onion
- 15 oz. β sweet peas
- 24 oz. - pickles
- 1 - English cucumber
- 2 cups β mayonnaise
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh dill (for garnishing)
Instructions
How to Make Traditional Potato Salad Recipe
- Start by rinsing your potatoes and carrots. Chop the carrots into smaller pieces.
- Next, add them to cold water in a large pot and bring them to a boil. Then reduce the heat to medium. Boil the carrots and potatoes until theyβre tender. I remove carrots earlier, to prevent overcooking, and let potatoes cook for a little longer, as they take longer to cook thoroughly. To check the potatoes, I make sure theyβre fork tender.
- Now boil the eggs. Once itβs all done, let everything cool completely before chopping them. I prefer to place it all in the fridge for a couple of hours since itβs easier to chop the potatoes, carrots, and eggs when they are cold and not mushy.
- While the cooked potatoes, carrots, and eggs are cooling, dice the bologna, pickles, cucumbers, and onions.
- Next, drain and rinse the sweet peas well and set them aside.
- Now peel your boiled potato and carrot skins. Dice both of them.
- Letβs prep the eggs now! Peel the eggshells and dice your eggs. You may use a vegetable chopper to speed up your dicing time.
- Once all your ingredients are prepped, place the diced ingredients into a large mixing bowl. Mix and stir all the ingredients together. If you used home-canned pickles, squeeze the pickle juice out of them, because they tend to have way too much juice and will make your salad watery.
- Now add mayonnaise, salt, and pepper to taste, then mix in the mayonnaise carefully and gently, side to side, from the bottom to the top.
- Make sure you donβt mash the salad, or it will lose its shape. You want to see each diced ingredient in the salad.
- I recommend popping the salad into the fridge for 2-4 hours before serving. This lets all the ingredients and flavors soak in.
- Your delicious potato salad is ready to be served!
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This traditional potato salad recipe was originally posted on December 16, 2014 (original picture below). IΒ tweaked it a bit since thenΒ like using a good quality ingredient. This post may contain affiliate links. Read myΒ disclosure.
Carolsue says
The peas and bologna are a different addition! I'll bet my kids would actually eat this potato salad recipe!
ksenchan says
I adore Olivier salad. In my house, we make it without the sausage and eggs (and with vegan mayo - there are quite a few vegans/ vegetarians at our table!), and though my grandparents complain, I think the spirit of the tradition is preserved in this salad. And it's my favourite, too!
valya'stasteofhome.com says
I don't know of anyone who doesn't like this salad. Thanks Ksenia π
Tanya says
Valiya, wanted to let you know that I really wanted to make this salad, but didn't have any russian sausages were I live. The regular baloney costs a fortune, so I used organic hot dogs boiled in water and it was perfect. I didn't add any salt or pepper, I forgot :), and it didn't needed - it was perfect. Also, since I was baking, I was low on eggs, so I cut amount of eggs needed. Honestly, I was nervous, but it was perfect. My Ukranian friends raved how good this Oliv'e tasted and asked for a recipe. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
valya'stasteofhome.com says
I'm glad it turned out good for you. I got both of my sausages in Winco store this time. Sometimes I get it at Russian store (we have 6 of them with in 30 min radius drive from my house). Hope you had nice Christmas. π
Katya @ Little Broken says
You inspired me to make this last night π I hardly, ever, ever make this salad as I'm not big on mayo based salads but it just brings back so many great memories, especially around the holidays
valya'stasteofhome.com says
Your right Katya. I always make this salad for holidays, it brings all the childhood memories. Thanks Katya π
Kathy @ Olives & Garlic says
An absolute staple at my mom's house. I love Olivie. Pinned!
valya'stasteofhome.com says
This salad brings a lot of childhood memories. Thank you for pinning Kathy! π
Deborah Smith says
Thank you so much for posting this Valya, looks wonderful and can't wait to try it this weekend π I just love your site, so many great recipes π
valya'stasteofhome.com says
Thank you so much Deborah! I really appreciate your warm words, it encourages me to post more family proof delicious recipes. π
Yannochka says
I love, love, love this salad! I can't wait to make it for my holiday table!!:D
valya'stasteofhome.com says
Thanks so much! π
Lyubomira says
Looks delicious Valya! I like this salad π For some reason Bulgarians call it "Russian Salad" π Pinned π
valya'stasteofhome.com says
Thanks Mira! We call this salad "myasniy salat" most of the time at home. That's funny how this salad has lost of names π Thank you for pinning, it is always appreciated! π