Southern Potato Salad Recipe (2024)

Make the best Southern potato salad with this incredible classic recipe! It combines fork-tender potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, tangy mayonnaise and mustard sauce, pickles, onions, and a dash of paprika.

The result is the perfect creamy potato salad that will have everyone coming in for more.

Southern potato salad is a favorite classic side dish for potlucks, cookouts, and family get-togethers.

However, not everyone makes it right. Some people make it too runny, too mushy, too bland, or use too much mustard....

In this post, I will walk you through how to get it perfect every time. Enjoy!

If you like this recipe, you will also love my Bacon Ranch Potato Salad. It is delicious too!

Ingredients

To make this creamy Southern-style potato salad recipe, you will need the following simple ingredients:

• Russet potatoes-Russet potatoes are preferred because they stay firm and are less waxy. They also do a good job of absorbing the dressing. However, Yukon Gold potatoes make a great substitute.
• Mayonnaise- I use Duke's mayonnaise, some of my friends prefer Hellmans mayonnaise. Whatever mayonnaise you choose, use a "real" mayonnaise with full fat content. This in not meant to be a low calorie salad and you will ruin it using low fat mayonnaise. Miracle Whip does not work for this recipe either.
• Yellow Mustard-My personal preference is yellow mustard. However, you can substitute with Dijon mustard.
• Hard-boiled eggs- Hard-boiled eggs are a key ingredient to any real, true, Southern potato salad!
• Yellow sweet onion- Red or white onion will also work well as a substitute. Thinly sliced green onions are good also, but they will have a stronger flavor. I think fresh onions are the best for this salad, but you can also substitute with onion powder.
• Sweet pickle relish- Traditionally, most of my family use sweet relish and I personally love sweet pickle relish in my potato salad. However, I have had it with dill relish and it was also very good. Sometimes I use a ¼ cup of both. You can also finely dice whole sweet pickles or dill pickles in place of the relish.
• Celery Salt- I love that extra punch of flavor the celery salt adds. However, if you are not a celery fan, you can omit it. Sometimes celery salt is had to find. You can make your own. However, if you can't get celery salt, substitute with celery seed.
• Paprika-A sprinkle of paprika adds a nice little pop of color for a garnish.

*The full instructions and recipe with ingredient measurements is located in the recipe card at the end of the post.

Steps

Follow these steps to make the best Southern potato salad!

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. When water reaches a boil, add salt and peeled and diced potatoes. Cook until potatoes are fork tender, but still hold their shape. (You do not want them mushy.)
2. Rinse potatoes in cold water, drain, then set them in a large bowl and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or completely cold.
3. Once potatoes are completely chilled, mix in eggs, sweet pickle relish, and onions.
4. In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise, mustard, and celery salt.
5. Add creamy dressing to the potato salad and mix. Do not overmix! Garnish with a dash of paprika and egg slices.
6. Refrigerate one or more hours before serving to allow the flavors to build.

Watch how to make

Why chill the potatoes before mixing?Because hot potatoes make the mayonnaise dressing melt and it becomes oily. Also, hot potatoes will sweat as they cool and make your salad watery.

Chilling the potatoes keeps them from sweating and the dressing from melting and into the potatoes. Cold potatoes create a perfectly dressed, creamy potato salad.

Notes

Potato salad is actually better made a day ahead!It allows the flavors to build and the potatoes to absorb the dressing. Therefore, this delicious potato salad makes a great make-ahead dish!

How long can you store leftover potato salad?

Potato salad stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator is good up to 5 days.

Like this recipe? Then I know you will like these also!

• Seven Layer Salad
• Southern Cornbread
• French Onion Chicken Noodle Casserole
• Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad
• Southern Coleslaw
• Corn Pudding Recipe
• How to Cook Collard Greens
• Southern Sweet Tea
• Sweet Potato Casserole
• Loaded Potato Skins

Please leave me a comment below if you make this Southern potato salad recipe and tell me what you think about it.I would love to hear back, and so would my readers.

Also post your picture of your creamy potato salad onInstagramorFacebook, and tag @aforkstale with #aforkstale hashtags!I will share with my followers! xoxo!

Recipe

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