Southern Potato Salad Recipe

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4.85 from 32 votes
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This Southern Potato Salad recipe is a delicious side perfect for casual suppers and cookouts! Potato salad is an easy make ahead favorite!

This potato salad recipe is a simple, classic side dish that’s so easy to make. It is a favorite year round – from summer cookouts to potlucks to a southern Sunday meal. Potato Salad goes so well with everything from hamburgers and grilled chicken to other side dishes like fried okra and baked beans.

Potato salad in glass bowl // addapinch.com

When I was a girl I loved being the taste tester when Mama made her potato salad. What a lucky job it was because her Southern Potato Salad is the best! She was asked to make it for every cookout or family reunion because everyone loved it. And my family requested it for so many suppers and family gatherings too. So I got to test it a lot.

Southern Potato Salad Recipe

This potato salad recipe has been in my family for so many years. My great grandmother made it by this recipe and passed it down through the generations. Mama taught my sister and me how to make it and it’s always been our go-to recipe.

Best Potatoes for Southern Potato Salad

You need to use starchy potatoes that get a little bit soft when you cook them. I prefer Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes, but I most often use Russets. A waxy potato won’t do for this southern favorite, so get one that will get somewhat soft.

How to Make Potato Salad

To make this recipe you will need these ingredients.

Southern Potato Salad Ingredients

  • Potatoes (Russets preferably)
  • Eggs
  • Onion
  • Dill Pickles
  • Yellow Mustard
  • Mayonnaise (not the sweet dressing type)
  • Salt

Cook potatoes. Start by scrubbing and peeling 3 pounds of potatoes. Cube them, add to cold water and boil until tender enough to pierce with a fork, but not until they are mushy. Drain well once they are done.

Boil eggs. At the same time, hard boil 6 eggs and then peel them once they’re done. Chop the eggs in preparation for the salad.

Dice onion and pickles. While the potatoes are boiling, dice your onion and dill pickles.

Combine. Stir together the drained potatoes, chopped eggs, diced onion, diced pickles and salt with the mayonnaise and mustard until creamy. Add more mustard, mayo and even pickles to taste.

Taste test. Make sure your tasting spoons are lined up and at the ready. You will want to have them for your own taste tests!

Once you’ve completed your potato salad, you can either serve right away or refrigerate to serve later.

Potato salad ingredients of chopped cooked potatoes and diced hardboiled eggs ready to combine, in stainless pot. // addapinch.com

Make Ahead Favorite

My family’s Southern Potato Salad recipe is one that is delicious made the day of serving, but is a great make-ahead dish as well. Just keep it tightly covered and refrigerated until ready to serve. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Perfect for Cookouts, Picnics and Suppers

You’ll find this dish served at most family get-togethers in my family – from holidays like Easter alongside my Cola-Glazed Ham to reunions to cookouts to Sunday suppers! It’s a great potluck dish anytime, too. Potato salad is delicious with chicken, beef, and pork and is a dish that everyone in my family loves!

Adding yellow mustard to Potato salad ingredients of potatoes, diced eggs, chopped pickles, and mayonnaise in a large stainless pot. // addapinch.com

More Delicious Side Dishes and Salads

Here are a few more scrumptious sides for summer cookouts, potlucks and family suppers to try! Many are make ahead too!

Coleslaw

Cucumber Tomato Salad

Southern Macaroni Salad

Easy Tortellini Pasta Salad

Southern Baked Beans

Here’s my family’s Potato Salad recipe. It’s a special favorite!

Southern Potato Salad Recipe

4.85 from 32 votes
Southern Potato Salad – Potato salad is a classic recipe perfect for every possible summer celebration! Made with potatoes, pickles, onions, and eggs, this potato salad is an all-time favorite!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 12

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds Russet potatoes, peeled, cubed and boiled until tender
  • 6 boiled eggs, chopped
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 4 medium dill pickles, diced
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup yellow mustard
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions 

  • Combine all ingredients together and mix until well-combined and creamy. Add more mayonnaise and mustard depending on tastes.

Notes

Make-Ahead:
Store potato salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.ย 

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 242kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 101mg | Sodium: 330mg | Potassium: 531mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 150IU | Vitamin C: 13.8mg | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 4.2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Enjoy!
Robyn xo

Southern Potato Salad Recipe - Southern Potato Salad is a classic recipe perfect for Sunday suppers, summertime lunches, picnics, reunions, and every possible celebration! This potato salad recipe is a family favorite! // addapinch.com

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About Robyn

Robyn Stone is a cookbook author, wife, mom, and passionate home cook. Her tested and trusted recipes give readers the confidence to cook recipes the whole family will love. Robyn has been featured on Food Network, People, Southern Living, and more.

4.85 from 32 votes

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Recipe Review




145 Comments

  1. Misty says:

    5 stars
    This is my absolute favorite potato salad!! Itโ€™s the only one I will make after I found your recipe several years ago. ย Thanks!

    1. Robyn Stone says:

      Thanks, Misty! So glad you love this potato salad as much as we do!xo

  2. Leigh says:

    5 stars
    Robyn,
    This is by far the best potato salad I’ve ever eaten! I make it all during the year, but make it so often in the summer! We love it!
    Thanks for sharing this recipe! It is delicious!!!

    1. Robyn Stone says:

      Thanks, Leigh!

  3. sher don says:

    5 stars
    When I was a teenager my best friends mother made her potato salad this way with dill pickles instead of sweet relish. This was back in the 1960’s and brings back so many wonderful memories. Any relations to Sue and Wilbur Horn??

    1. Robyn Stone says:

      I don’t know your friend’s parents but this is the way my mother has always made her potato salad. No sweet relish for us!

  4. Linds says:

    Making this recipe today, only difference is I will be adding some sour cream to my mayo and some chopped celery.ย 

    1. Robyn Stone says:

      I hope you enjoy it, Linda! It’s one of our favorites! xo

  5. Tom says:

    I use this same recipe with the exception that I only use about a tablespoon of mustard. The rest is on point with what I use.ย 

    1. Robyn Stone says:

      Isn’t it delicious, Tom?! It’s how my family has made it for generations. Thanks!

  6. Brenda says:

    4 stars
    I also added 1/2 stalk of finely chopped celery. Backed off a bit on the amount of mustard, our family prefers the Vlasic Sweet Salad Pickles and I used Red potatoes… it was a true hit at our southern family reunion! Thank you!

    1. Robyn Stone says:

      So wonderful to hear, Brenda! Thanks! xo

  7. Debra Wylie says:

    How many would u estimate this recipe feeds? I know it will be a hit so I want to have plenty. Thank you.ย 

    1. Robyn Stone says:

      Hi Debra, it should make 12 servings. Hope you enjoy it! Thanks! xo

  8. Linda says:

    This is very similar to my motherโ€™s recipe, except she mashed the potatoes and served it warm the 1st time, then cold for leftovers. ย And she used about half of the mustard called for.
    And she mixed everything but the potatoes 1st, then added them last. ย I just made this with cooled potato chunks, and the minute the condiments were mixed, I knew this was my momโ€™s recipe in her head. ย I just had a flashback of her making potato salad for holiday and special occasions, and how I miss that sweet lady. ย Thanks for reminding me.

    1. Robyn Stone says:

      This is such a sweet memory you’ve shared, Linda. I know you must miss her so much!
      This recipe has been a special one in our family for a long, long time and has been a part of so many special meals. I hope it can bring back some precious memories for you as well.
      Thank you, Linda. xo

  9. Susan says:

    5 stars
    This was pretty good. Much more tastier than regular potato salad. I also used petite yukon gold potatoes.

    1. Robyn Stone says:

      It’s one of our family favorites and I’m glad you enjoyed it Susan! Thanks so much!

  10. Rick Holland says:

    5 stars
    Just like my mom used to make it same way to taste you the bomb I’m going to meet me some this weekend thank you Rick

    1. Robyn Stone says:

      So happy you enjoyed it Rick! Thanks!