Southern Potato Salad (2024)

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Southern Potato Salad is a classic recipe that’s perfect for potlucks, picnics, and BBQs. It’s creamy, tangy, and whips up in less than 30 minutes. You can even make it up to a day ahead of time.

Potato Salads are perfect for a family cookout or as a potluck dish. I promise you everyone will be asking for this Southern Potato Salad recipe!

About the Recipe

This old fashioned Potato Salad recipe has chunks of potato, hard boiled eggs, and pickle relish with a creamy mayo-based dressing.

It’s the perfect side dish to serve with everything from backyard BBQ favorites like Juicy Grilled Hamburgers, Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper Ribs, and Grilled Chicken Breast to picnic fare like a Club Sandwich or Fried Chicken Thighs.

Ingredients for Potato Salad

• Potatoes – read on for the best potatoes to use for my Southern potato salad recipe. I am a fan of russets or red potatoes.
• Hard Boiled Eggs – choose whichever cooking method suits your fancy – Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs, Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs, or learn the basics of How to Boil Eggs the traditional way.
• Celery + Green Onions – to add crunch and flavor. Add more veggies if you want, like shredded carrots or olives.
• Dressing – the potato salad dressing has creamy mayo, tangy mustard, vinegar, pickle relish, garlic powder, and sugar. Follow the measurements, but then give it a taste and decide if you want to adjust anything. Feel free to customize it to something you really love. You can replace the mayo with Miracle Whip, or use chopped dill pickles instead of relish.

How to Make Southern Potato Salad

• Boil the potatoes: Peel and dice your potatoes into bite sized pieces. Watch until they are just fork tender – don’t overcook or they will become mushy. Boil, drain, and set aside to dry.
• Make the dressing: While the potatoes are drying and cooling, mix the creamy dressing in a large mixing bowl. Taste and add more mustard or mayo, or maybe more pickle relish. Add the potatoes and stir to coat with the dressing, then fold in the celery, onions, eggs, and potatoes to the large bowl with the dressing and gently stir everything together.
• Cover and chill until you’re ready to serve. Sprinkle paprika on top for color.

Best Potatoes for Potato Salad

I use good old russet potatoes when I make Southern Potato Salad. I’ve also used red other potato salad recipes like my Bacon Ranch Red Potato Salad and Lemon Herb Red Potato Salad and new or yukon gold potatoes for my Grandma’s Authentic Swabia Style German Potato Salad.

I love reds and whites because you can eat the skins. You do have to peel russets but they hold their shape the best which is why I love them in homemade potato salad. Each of these will hold their shape when you boil them.

FAQs

More Potato Recipes to Love

• Roasted Lemon Potatoes
• Crispy Roasted Red Potatoes
• The BEST Loaded Baked Potato Soup
• Loaded Smashed Potatoes
• Grilled Potatoes Recipe