Southern Potato Salad is super creamy with a blend of mayonnaise and mustard, hard-boiled eggs, sweet onion, sweet pickle relish, and celery. It is a potluck must and the only recipe for potato salad you need.

The majority of time when I order potato salad at a restaurant, I am disappointed. So I wanted to create a homemade potato salad recipe that is truly delicious and tastes just like grandma made. And this one is phenomenal.

Southern Potato Salad

What Is Southern-Style Potato Salad?

There’s nothing like a bowl of good old-fashioned southern Potato Salad. A go to potato salad recipe is something everyone needs to have on hand. Everyone has their own way of making Southern-Style Potato Salad, but they are usually very creamy, heavy on the mayo, with a little mustard. They also typically contain hard-boiled egg, pickle relish (typically sweet), and paprika sprinkled on top.

Another great southern-style potato salad to try is this Southern Mustard Potato Salad.

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Reader Comment

Robin says- “This is the BEST potato salad I have ever tasted or made! It has become a family favorite! I think it tastes best with Hellman’s real mayonnaise and French’s yellow mustard! The apple cider vinegar gives it just the right amount of tang. I’ve tried other brands and none can compare. You can also add fresh dill from your garden. Yum! 🤗” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Southern Potato Salad

What Are The Best Potatoes To Use?

I most like to use Russet Potatoes. They get kind of crumbly and I love the creamy texture of a potato salad made with russets. Yukon Gold or red potatoes can be used instead but the texture will be different.

I start my Potato Salad with regular russet potatoes. I cut any large ones in half so that they cook faster and I don’t bother peeling them until they’re done cooking. Then it’s really easy to scrape the skin off with a knife.

Southern Potato Salad

Creamy Dressing

For the dressing, I start with lots of mayonnaise, preferably Duke’s mayonnaise. Hellmann’s mayonnaise also works well. Plus a good amount of yellow mustard. It really perks up the flavor. I also add a splash of apple cider vinegar which helps accentuate the flavors. Don’t skip this part.

Southern Potato Salad

Lots of hard-boiled eggs, some celery for crunch, sweet onions, sweet pickle relish, a little onion powder, and a few teaspoons of sugar. I like to finish it off by sprinkling some paprika on top.

Wrap it in some plastic wrap and let it chill at least a few hours. Then you’re ready to grill some burgers or bbq chicken to go with this yummy recipe.

How To Make Southern Potato Salad

(More detailed instructions in recipe card below. This is mainly a visual overview.)

  1. Cook the potatoes. Cut each potato in half and cook in simmering salted water for 20 minutes or until you can easily pierce with a fork. Let cool some and then peel the skins off.
    Preparing the potatoes.
  2. Cut potatoes. Place the potatoes in a bowl and run a knife through them until they are the desired size.
    Cutting up cooked potatoes.
  3. Mix the dressing. In a bowl, stir together mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, sugar, and onion powder. Pour over potatoes and mix well.
    Mixing dressing and adding to potatoes.
  4. Add the other ingredients. Add the pickle relish, onion, celery, and chopped eggs. Mix in. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
    Adding remaining ingredients.
  5. Refrigerate. Add hard-boiled egg slices on top and sprinkle with paprika. Then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
    Finishing the potato salad.

Recipe Tips

  • When cooking the potatoes, start with cold, salted water. They will cook more evenly.
  • Be sure to drain the potatoes really well before adding them to the other ingredients.
  • You can cut the potatoes into small pieces or leave them in bigger chunks. It is personal preference.

How Far In Advance Can It Be Made?

Potato salad is a recipe that is best made in advance. The flavor gets better with time. I recommend making it at least 4 hours and up to 48 hours in advance.

Storage

Will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 days.

Southern Potato Salad

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What To Serve Potato Salad With?

Southern Potato Salad

4.84 from 73 votes

By Christin Mahrlig

Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Servings: 8
Southern Potato Salad is super creamy with a blend of mayonnaise and mustard, hard-boiled eggs, sweet onion, sweet pickle relish, and celery. This recipe will remind you of the potato salad your grandmother made.
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Ingredients

  • 3 pounds medium russet potatoes
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup yellow mustard
  • 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 cup sweet pickle relish
  • 1 stalk celery, chopped
  • 1/2 sweet onion, chopped
  • 4 hard boiled eggs, 3 chopped and 1 sliced
  • paprika

Instructions 

  • Cut each potato in half. Place in a large pot and cover with 1 inch of water. Add 2 teaspoons salt and bring to a simmer. Simmer until fork tender all the way through, about 20 minutes. Drain well. Let cool and then peel and discard the skins.
  • Place potatoes in a large bowl. Run a knife through them until they are cut into bite-sized pieces.
  • In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, sugar, and onion powder. Pour over potatoes and mix in well. 
  • Add relish, celery, onion, and the chopped eggs. Mix in.
  • Add salt and pepper to taste.
  • Top with sliced egg and sprinkle with paprika. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours.

Video

Notes

Don’t forget to add the salt to the water when you boil the potatoes. I think this is the number one cause of bland potato salad.

Nutrition

Calories: 375kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 105mg | Sodium: 285mg | Potassium: 770mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 267IU | Vitamin C: 34mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 2mg

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

Did you make this?Leave a comment below and tag us @spicysouthernkitchen on social media!

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Recipe Rating




119 Comments

  1. Kathy Chilimidos-Packard says:

    I didnโ€™t care for it but my husband liked it. Iโ€™m a more traditional ca potato salad person but wanted to give it a try. It wasnโ€™t bad just not my palette choice.

  2. D says:

    This was good, I added some cayenne pepper for heat. Don’t like sweet potato salad, so I ommitted the sugar, also don’t like celery, so I added olives. It was yummy.

  3. Sharon says:

    Love this recipe, just like grandma used to make.

  4. Alan says:

    Easy and good

  5. Heather says:

    I love this potato salad. It’s my go to everytime. I add bacon to it as well. Yummmm!!!

  6. Robin G. says:

    This is the BEST potato salad I have ever tasted or made! It has become a family favorite! I think it tastes best with Hellmanโ€™s real mayonnaise and Frenchโ€™s yellow mustard! The apple cider vinegar gives it just the right amount of tang. Iโ€™ve tried other brands and none can compare. You can also add fresh dill from your garden. Yum! ๐Ÿค—

  7. Donald X says:

    Simple but delicious. Easy recipe. I added some diced jalapeno peppers to give it a little kick. I let it sit for 3-4 hours. My lady loved it. Now I am on the hook for future events. My guests threatened me because it was soooo good.

  8. Virginia H says:

    best potato salad I’ve tasted in a while. Reminds me of my mothers. Made exactly to your recipe. Will make again.