Easy Potato Salad Recipe

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If you want the best potato salad this easy potato salad recipe is where it's at. The only recipe I will eat anymore, you will love it!

A photo of a white rectangular dish full of potato salad.

For a really long time I thought I didn't like potato salad. Now, I mourn for all those lost days! It turns out I just needed the best easy potato salad recipe in my life and I would be immediately converted!

This recipe is chock full of delicious ingredients, without being runny or mushy... both big no-no's for me.

Potato Salad With Green Olives

This recipe reminds me of my Grandma Bickmore, because it is a recipe that she really loves and looks forward to at family gatherings. I know that as long as I live, when I eat this recipe I will think of her, and I love that.

A close up bird's eye view of potato salad with fresh parsley on top.

Let's start by covering a couple of commonly asked questions.

What You Need to Make This Easy Potato Salad

The ingredients in potato salad can be pretty easily adjusted, so if you really don't like something feel free to leave it out. Also, if you really love something feel free to add more of it. For example, I love green olives, so if I am making this recipe specifically for myself I will sneak in a few more than it calls for.

That being said here is what goes into our recipe:

Yukon Gold Potatoes
Hard Boiled Eggs
Celery
Sweet or Dill Pickles (I prefer dill)
Green Olives
Mayo
Mustard
Garlic Salt

How to Make This Quick and Easy Potato Salad

Peel and cook your potatoes until tender. To cook potatoes, fill a large pot with water, add your potatoes and bring water to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low and cover. Let potatoes cook in gently boiling water until done. Typically around 15 minutes for small, halved potatoes.
Mix all ingredients together and let sit in the fridge until ready to serve. I typically make the night before and let sit overnight!
Season to taste with salt and pepper and enjoy!

*Note: You may use anywhere between ½ cup to 1 full cup of mayo for this recipe. I tend to start with a half and then see if it needs more, but I don't prefer my salad with too much mayo so I like to start small and add more as needed.

Can this recipe be made in advance?

Yes, absolutely! In fact, I usually do. Since we typically make this dish for parties or special occasions it is really nice to make it the night before and having it already waiting in the fridge. Plus, it is definitely one of those things that gets better with time as the flavors blend a little bit.

A small dish of potato salad with eggs and green olives.

Tips For Making The Best Potato Salad

Choose the Right Potatoes: Opt for waxy potatoes like Yukon Gold or red potatoes which hold their shape better after boiling and offer a creamy texture. Avoid overly starchy potatoes like Russets, which can fall apart and turn mushy in your salad.
Season the Potatoes While Warm: Dress the potatoes with your garlic salt and pepper while they're still warm. Warm potatoes absorb flavors more effectively, ensuring your potato salad is evenly seasoned and more flavorful.

Best Potato Salad Variations

If this traditional American potato salad recipe is not what you are looking for, you may like one of these yummy variations.

German Potato Salad: Served warm, this version includes boiled potatoes sliced and dressed in a warm vinaigrette made from bacon fat, vinegar, mustard, and sugar, garnished with crispy bacon, chopped parsley, and finely sliced onions. It's tangy with a slight sweetness and savory depth.
French Potato Salad: This variation is lighter, using a Dijon mustard and white wine vinegar vinaigrette, often with shallots and fresh herbs like tarragon and parsley. It’s made with boiled, sliced potatoes and sometimes includes capers or finely chopped gherkins for an extra zing.

A spoonful of potato salad hovering over a dish of potato salad.

What to Serve With The Best Potato Salad

Really anything! As long as you serve with a protein and a vegetable you are pretty much covered. Whether you are having ham, turkey, steak, chicken, hamburgers or really anything else this recipe is a great complimentary dish.

When do you serve potato salad?

We typically serve this easy potato salad recipe on big holidays like Easter, Mother's Day, Christmas, and of course all summer long at BBQ's! Creamy potato salad is the perfect BBQ side dish. It's also a great recipe to bring to a pot luck.

bird's eye view of potato salad with parsley on top

More Salad Recipes to Try

If you make this we would love if you would leave a positive review for us in the comments! Nothing is as rewarding as hearing that someone made something from our site and loved it, and the time you spend coming back to comment means so much to us.

A photo of potato salad in a small white dish next to a blue towel.

Best Recipe for Potato Salad

If you want the best potato salad this easy potato salad recipe is where it's at! Literally the only potato salad I will eat anymore, you'll love it.

5 from 6 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 25

Total Time: 35

Servings:

Calories: 281kcal

Author: Pretty Providence

Video

Ingredients

16 Smallish Yukon Gold Potatoes
12 Hard Boiled Eggs Sliced
½ Cup Sweet or Dill Pickles Chopped
12 Green Olives Sliced
½ - 1 Cup Mayo Add more a little at a time if necessary to cover.
¼ Cup Mustard
1 Teaspoon Garlic Salt
Salt and Pepper To Taste

Instructions

Peel and cook your potatoes until tender. To cook potatoes, fill a large pot with water, add your potatoes and bring water to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low and cover. Let potatoes cook in gently boiling water until done. Typically around 15 minutes for small, halved potatoes.
Mix all ingredients together and let sit in the fridge until ready to serve. I typically make the night before and let sit overnight.
Season to taste with salt and pepper and enjoy.

Notes

You may use anywhere between ½ cup to 1 full cup of mayo for this recipe. I tend to start with a half and then see if it needs more, but I don't prefer my salad with too much mayo so I like to start small and add more as needed.

CAN THE BEST POTATO SALAD RECIPE BE MADE IN ADVANCE?

Yes, absolutely! In fact, I usually do. Since we typically make this dish for parties or special occasions it is really nice to make it the night before and having it already waiting in the fridge! Plus, it is definitely one of those things that get's better with time as the flavors blend a little bit.

TIPS FOR MAKING THE BEST RECIPE FOR POTATO SALAD

Choose the Right Potatoes: Opt for waxy potatoes like Yukon Gold or red potatoes which hold their shape better after boiling and offer a creamy texture. Avoid overly starchy potatoes like Russets, which can fall apart and turn mushy in your salad.
Season the Potatoes While Warm: Dress the potatoes with your garlic salt and pepper while they're still warm. Warm potatoes absorb flavors more effectively, ensuring your potato salad is evenly seasoned and more flavorful.