Easy & Creamy Southern Potato Salad Recipe Everyone Will Love

My grandma’s treasured easy southern potato salad recipe always brings memories of summer picnics and backyard gatherings.

Crisp potatoes mixed with creamy dressing create a nostalgic comfort food that everyone adores.

Southern kitchens know how to turn simple ingredients into magical dishes.

Cool and tangy, this classic side dish pairs perfectly with grilled meats and barbecue favorites.

Generations have passed down this beloved recipe through handwritten recipe cards and whispered kitchen secrets.

Each bite connects you to rich culinary traditions that celebrate fresh, uncomplicated flavors.

Why Southern Potato Salad Is A Classic

Whip Up Family Comfort: Perfect for reunions and potlucks, this southern potato salad brings nostalgic flavors everyone craves.

Quick Weekend Prep: Takes just 30 minutes of active cooking time, making it an ideal last-minute side dish for busy families.

Foolproof Cooking: Requires minimal culinary skills – even beginner cooks can successfully create this classic recipe without stress.

Crowd-Pleasing Versatility: Serves multiple purposes from backyard barbecues to holiday gatherings, adapting easily to different meal settings.

Southern Potato Salad Easy Components

• Potatoes: Russet potatoes are starchy and perfect for creating a creamy, classic Southern potato salad texture. Choose firm, smooth potatoes without blemishes or green spots.
• Hard-Boiled Eggs: Protein-rich eggs add richness and traditional Southern flavor to the potato salad. Fresh eggs work best for easy peeling.

• Mayonnaise: Creamy base that holds the potato salad together and provides a smooth, tangy background. Choose full-fat, traditional mayonnaise for best results.
• Yellow Mustard: Adds a sharp, tangy flavor that balances the creamy mayonnaise. Classic yellow mustard is traditional in Southern-style potato salad.

• Celery: Provides a fresh, crisp texture and light peppery flavor. Look for firm, bright green celery stalks.
• Dill Pickles or Relish: Adds a zesty, tangy crunch with a hint of sourness. Choose dill pickles for a classic Southern potato salad flavor.
• Red Onion: Offers a mild, slightly sharp flavor and beautiful color contrast. Select firm, bright purple onions.
• Seasoning
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances the ingredients.
• Black Pepper: Adds a subtle heat and depth to the potato salad.

Making Easy Southern Potato Salad

Step 1: Boil and Cool Potatoes

Select fresh potatoes and place them in a large pot of salted water.

Cook for 10-15 minutes until a fork can easily pierce through them.

Drain the potatoes in a colander and let them cool completely at room temperature.

Step 2: Create Creamy Dressing

• Mayonnaise
• Mustard
• Salt
• Black pepper

Blend these ingredients until smooth and well combined.

Step 3: Combine Salad Components

• Cooled potatoes
• Crisp celery
• Tangy pickles
• Sweet onions
• Hard-boiled eggs

Gently fold all ingredients together, ensuring even coating without mashing the potatoes.

Step 4: Chill and Marinate

Transfer the potato salad to a sealed container and refrigerate for at least one hour.

This resting time allows flavors to meld and develop a more delicious taste.

Step 5: Finish and Serve

Before serving, sprinkle a light dusting of paprika across the top for a classic Southern touch and extra visual appeal.

Serve chilled and enjoy the traditional comfort food.

Southern Potato Salad With Bold Flavor and Texture Secrets

• Choose starchy potatoes like Russet or Yukon Gold and cook them just until fork-tender to maintain a perfect texture.
• Add a splash of pickle juice or apple cider vinegar to the mayo mixture for an extra tangy kick that elevates the entire salad.
• Let the potato salad rest in the refrigerator for at least 2-3 hours to allow flavors to meld and develop a more complex taste profile.
• Swap regular mayo with Greek yogurt or vegan mayo to make the dish lighter or suitable for different dietary restrictions.
• Dice celery and pickles finely to distribute texture evenly and ensure every bite has a satisfying crunch.

Keep Southern Potato Salad Chilled Just Right

• Store potato salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Keep sealed tightly to prevent absorption of other food odors.
• Always let potato salad cool to room temperature before storing to prevent bacterial growth and maintain best texture.
• Mayonnaise-based salads break down when frozen, creating a watery, separated mess that ruins the creamy consistency.
• This salad is best served cold. If slightly chilled, let sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before serving to enhance flavors.

Delicious Matches for Easy Southern Potato Salad

• Complement with Crisp Lager: Pair the creamy potato salad with a cold, light beer like Budweiser or Miller Lite. The beer's crisp and refreshing notes cut through the richness of the mayonnaise and balance the salad's flavor profile.
• Match with Grilled Proteins: Serve alongside barbecue staples like pulled pork, grilled chicken, or smoked brisket. The tangy and creamy potato salad provides a cool contrast to the smoky, charred meats.
• Enhance with Zesty White Wine: Select a chilled Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio. These wines offer bright, acidic undertones that complement the pickle and mustard flavors in the potato salad.
• Create a Picnic Platter: Combine with classic summer sides like coleslaw, cornbread, and baked beans. This combination delivers a quintessential Southern-style meal that celebrates comfort and community.

Southern Potato Salad Served Classic or Creamy

• Herb-Infused Potato Salad: Replace plain mayo with herb-infused mayonnaise or add fresh chopped herbs like dill, chives, and parsley for extra flavor.
• Vegan Potato Salad: Swap mayo with vegan mayonnaise, use plant-based egg substitute or omit eggs, and add nutritional yeast for a creamy texture.
• Low-Carb Cauliflower Alternative: Substitute potatoes with steamed cauliflower florets to reduce carbohydrate content while maintaining similar texture and taste.
• Spicy Southwest Potato Salad: Add diced jalapeños, cumin, and cilantro to create a zesty, southwestern-inspired version of the classic recipe.

FAQs

• How can I make my potato salad extra creamy?

Add a bit more mayonnaise and mix in some sour cream or Greek yogurt for an extra smooth and rich texture.

• Can I use different types of potatoes?

Waxy potatoes like red potatoes or Yukon golds work best because they hold their shape and don’t fall apart when mixed.

• What if I don't like pickles?

You can substitute pickle relish with chopped fresh cucumber or simply omit it if you’re not a fan of pickles in your potato salad.

• How do I prevent my potatoes from becoming mushy?

Be careful not to overcook the potatoes. Check them frequently and remove from heat as soon as they’re tender but still firm, then cool completely before mixing.

Easy Southern Potato Salad Recipe

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4.7 from 20 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Creamy Southern Potato Salad brings classic comfort directly from grandma’s kitchen to your summer picnic table. Hearty potatoes mingle with tangy mayo, crisp celery, and zesty mustard, creating a crowd-pleasing side dish you’ll crave at every gathering.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 3 lbs (1.36 kg) russet potatoes, peeled and diced
• 4 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
• 1 cup (240 ml) mayonnaise

Vegetables and Seasonings:

• 1/2 cup (80 g) chopped celery
• 1/4 cup (40 g) chopped red onion
• 1/2 cup (120 ml) chopped dill pickles or relish

Spices and Condiments:

• 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

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Instructions

1. Submerge whole potatoes in generously salted water, allowing them to simmer gently until fork-tender, approximately 12-15 minutes.
2. Carefully drain potatoes and spread on a cooling rack, permitting them to reach room temperature while releasing excess moisture.
3. Craft a creamy dressing by whisking together tangy mayonnaise, zesty mustard, and a balanced blend of salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
4. Cube the cooled potatoes into uniform bite-sized pieces, ensuring consistent texture throughout the salad.
5. Finely dice crisp celery, sweet pickles, and sharp red onion to introduce vibrant crunch and layered flavor profiles.
6. Chop hard-boiled eggs into delicate segments, preparing them to blend seamlessly into the potato mixture.
7. Gently fold all prepared ingredients into the creamy dressing, ensuring each component is evenly coated without mashing the potatoes.
8. Transfer the potato salad to a sealed container and refrigerate for a minimum of one hour, allowing flavors to meld and intensify.
9. Before serving, dust the surface with a light sprinkle of paprika for a classic Southern presentation and subtle warmth.

Notes

• Swap mayo for Greek yogurt or vegan mayo to create a lighter, healthier version of this classic dish.
• Slice potatoes while warm to help them absorb seasonings more effectively, enhancing overall flavor profile.
• Chop vegetables uniformly to ensure consistent texture and even distribution throughout the potato salad.
• Add fresh herbs like dill or chives for an extra burst of freshness and complexity to the traditional recipe.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Boiling
• Cuisine: Southern (American)

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 400
• Sugar: 2g
• Sodium: 600mg
• Fat: 28g
• Saturated Fat: 4g
• Unsaturated Fat: 24g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 36g
• Fiber: 3g
• Protein: 7g
• Cholesterol: 70mg