This Classic Potato Salad recipe is made with Yukon Gold potatoes, hard boiled eggs, and a creamy dressing. It is a family favorite, and a must-have at any BBQ!

Want more side dishes? I love this Corn Salad, Cucumber Salad, Baked Beans, and Coconut Rice!

A bowl filled with homemade Potato Salad, ready to serve.

Why I love this recipe:

  • Classic – No funny stuff here, this easy potato salad recipe is the traditional one everyone loves, with the best sauce to coat the potatoes.
  • Fresh – Making this salad with fresh ingredients is absolutely worth it. You won’t buy one at the grocery store again!
  • Make-Ahead – Throw it together when you have time, and pull it out of the fridge and serve when you are ready!

Potato Salad Ingredients:

  • Yukon Gold Potatoes: these are my favorite kind for potato salad, but russet would also work.
  • Hard Boiled Eggs: we use the egg yolk to make the best creamy sauce to coat the potatoes.
  • Mayonnaise: good quality, like Hellman’s or Kewpie.
  • Buttermilk: a must for the amazing potato salad dressing. You can make your own buttermilk, if in a pinch.
  • Yellow Mustard (or Dijon)
  • Dill Pickles
  • Celery
  • Red Onion
  • Salt and Pepper

How to make Potato Salad:

Boil Potatoes: Place 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 water from the pot, then cover with a lid to allow the potatoes to steam for 5-10 minutes. Peel potatoes, if desired, and cut them into 1 inch chunks.

A glass bowl with cooked potatoes cut into chunks for a classic potato salad recipe.

Make Potato Salad Dressing: Mix together egg yolks, mayonnaise, buttermilk, mustard, a splash of pickle juice, and salt and pepper, to taste.

Egg yolks, mayonnaise, buttermilk, mustard, pickle juice, and salt and pepper in a bowl for an easy potato salad dressing.

Combine: Pour dressing over the potatoes. Add chopped egg whites, celery, onion, and pickles. Stir well.

Two images showing potatoes coated in a homemade sauce, then red onions, chopped egg whites, celery, and pickles added.

Serve: Cover, and refrigerate for a few hours.

A close up image of a traditional Potato Salad recipe, ready to enjoy.

Make Ahead and Storage Instructions:

To Make Ahead: This is the best potato salad recipe because you can make it up to 2-3 days ahead of time and it will taste great! Make it at least a few hours before and refrigerate.

To Store: Keep potato salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

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Recipe

A white serving bowl filled with homemade classic Potato Salad, ready to serve.
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 , minced + 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: I love potato salad because you can make it up to 2-3 days ahead of time and it will taste great! Make it at least a few hours before and refrigerate.
Storage Instructions: Keep potato salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 199kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 6gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 79mgSodium: 369mgPotassium: 659mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 194IUVitamin C: 28mgCalcium: 48mgIron: 1mg

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

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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
    This potato salad is a keeper! You can add anything you like and it will turn out 👌.

    Just a note: I always double the dressing in any recipe because it’s never enough for me, and I did that with this recipe.

    I didn’t have any pickles or relish and my sister wanted veggies in it for some reason, so at her request I added a bag of frozen veggies – the peas/carrots/corn/green beans kind. I picked out the green beans at her request and seasoned the peas/carrot/corn in a separate bowl with acv vinegar, salt, pepper and onion powder. I added this to the dressing then mixed it into the potatoes. Tasted pretty good and the next morning it tasted FANTASTIC.

    Oh also I didn’t have buttermilk but heavy whipping cream and acv seemed to make a GREAT substitute.

    Thanks for this recipe! 5 stars!!!

  2. 5 stars
    I have made this about 15 times now. I follow the recipe exactly. It comes out perfect every time. It is always a hit. Everyone asks me to make it! Best potato salad recipe ever! It is traditional and so flavorful! Thank you for making me look like a great cook!

  3. 2 stars
    This was so bland. I had to really jazz it up and it was still only passable. This is not “the one.” I’ll keep looking…

  4. 5 stars
    Reminded me of my grandmother’s. Tried others that say classic, but they definitely didn’t taste like yours. Tyty

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