Our easy Potato Salad recipe is creamy, delicious, and the best side dish at any BBQ! I make it with Yukon Gold Potatoes, hard boiled eggs, pickles, celery, and a creamy homemade dressing.

Want more side dishes? I love this Corn Salad, Cucumber Salad, Baked Beans, and Street Corn Pasta Salad.

The best Potato Salad recipe with boiled eggs, celery, and chopped potatoes all covered in a creamy dressing.

Our Classic Potato Salad is the Real Star of the BBQ

There are so many reasons to love a good ol’ classic potato salad, and our recipe has the yummiest sauce, and flavor combo, making it deserving of its position as a summer BBQ staple. (It’s always so hard to choose between this traditional potato salad recipe, and our baked potato salad recipe. They are different, and both fantastic!) I love that I can potato salad ahead of time and keep it in the fridge until ready to serve.

How to make Potato Salad:

Boil Potatoes: Place whole, unpeeled potatoes in a large pot of water. When it comes to a boil, lower heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes, until potatoes are fork tender. Drain water from pot, leaving potatoes inside, then cover with a lid so they can steam for 5-10 more minutes. Peel potatoes, if desired, then cut into 1-inch chunks.

Make Potato Salad Dressing: Combine egg yolks, mayonnaise, buttermilk, mustard, a splash of pickle juice, and salt and pepper in a bowl.

Combine: Pour dressing over the potatoes. Add chopped egg whites, celery, onion, and pickles. Stir well then cover and refrigerate for a few hours until ready to serve.

Make Ahead and Storage Instructions:

To Make Ahead: potato salad can be made 1-2 days ahead of time. It tastes best if refrigerated for at least a few hours before serving. Store leftover potato salad in the fridge for up to 5 days.

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Recipe

Prep 10 minutes
Cook 25 minutes
Refrigerate 2 hours
Total 35 minutes
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Ingredients
 
 

For the salad

  • 3 pounds Yukon Gold Potatoes
  • 4 hard boiled eggs
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup buttermilk
  • 2 Tablespoons yellow mustard (or half dijon)
  • 2 dill pickles , finely chopped, + splash of pickle juice
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 ribs celery , chopped
  • 1/4 cup red onion , chopped

Instructions
 

  • Boil and Chop Potatoes: Place the whole, unpeeled potatoes in a large pot of water. Bring the water to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, until the potatoes are fork tender. Drain the water completely from the pot and then cover the pot with a lid to allow the potatoes to steam for 5-10 minutes. Peel potatoes, if desired, and cut them into ½ inch chunks.
  • Make Dressing: Separate egg yolks from the whites of the hard boiled eggs and place the yolks in a bowl. Mash the yolks with a fork and then stir in the mayonnaise, buttermilk, mustard, a splash of pickle juice, and salt and pepper, to taste.
  • Assemble: Pour the dressing over the warm potatoes. Chop the egg whites and add them to the potatoes along with the celery, onion, and pickles. Stir well, cover, and refrigerate for a few hours to allow the flavors to blend.

Notes

Make Ahead Instructions: potato salad can be made 1-2 days ahead of time. It tastes best if refrigerated for at least a few hours before serving. Store leftover potato salad in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 298kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 6gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 10gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 85mgSodium: 326mgPotassium: 656mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 193IUVitamin C: 28mgCalcium: 48mgIron: 1mg

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*I first shared this recipe in May 2013. Updated May 2019, May 2023 and July 2024.

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Lauren Allen

Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos.

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I cooked it today for a 4th of July celebration. My 70+year old Neigbor was invited and he loved it saying that his mother used to make the same one. I was not born in the US and I didn’t know the taste of the real original potatoe salad. For me it was the best feedback. I really loved this recipe. Creamy dressing no vinegar mustard and sugar taste. I only substitute buttermilk for kefir. Truly a keeper!

  2. 5 stars
    This a really good recipe. Couldn’t find buttermilk so used half and half and some apple cider vinegar. It is now my go to potato salad.

  3. 5 stars
    made this, never made potato salad before and randomly landed on yours. hands down got the best reviews. people loved it. said it was the best potato salad they have ever eaten. super easy and quick to make. the only I added was a little bacon bits on top but that was it. I will be making this from now on if I ever need a summer salad to take to a party or cookout!!!

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