Potato Salad recipe made the old fashioned way with a few simple ingredients. Eggs, vegetables, mayonnaise, and seasonings make this a classic recipe.
For another classic, our readers LOVE this German Potato Salad recipe. We have instructions for stove top AND Instant Pot! Or try my grandma’s Egg Salad recipe for another easy lunch staple!
Why this is the Best Potato Salad
I am certain that every family has their own potato salad recipe. This easy and delicious recipe comes from my dad’s side of the family, my Grandma Bauer.
Grandma Bauer made the best potato salad (and ham salad, too).
It’s perfect because it requires minimal ingredients and is easy to put together for a crowd.
The perfect complement to your Pulled Pork or Hamburgers!
- This is a classic potato salad that tastes great without unnecessary ingredients like pickle juice, yellow mustard, apple cider vinegar, or celery seed.
- All you need is potatoes, green peppers, onions, eggs, Hellman’s mayonnaise, and salt and pepper.
- The key to making my grandma’s potato salad is to dice everything into very small pieces, and I mean small. So grab your best chef’s knife and let’s make it together! You can even mash it if you like a creamier potato salad.
FAVORITE POTLUCK RECIPE: Macaroni Salad | Roasted Corn Salad
How to Make Potato Salad
Prep the potatoes. If you want your potatoes peeled, start there. I like to leave the skin on mine, but Grandma always liked hers peeled.
Cut your potatoes into smaller chunks and place them in a large pot with enough water to cover the tops of the potatoes.
PRO TIP: You can also make potatoes in the Instant Pot with this Instant Pot Potatoes recipe.
Cook over high heat and bring to a boil. Once it’s boiling, reduce heat to medium low and cover with a lid. Cook for 15 minutes or until potatoes are soft. Allow potatoes to cool.
Once the potatoes are done cooking, drain them and then dice them into small bite-sized pieces.
Dice your Peppers and Onions. While your potatoes are boiling, you can also make your hard boiled eggs and dice your peppers and onions. Remember, you want to dice them in very small pieces, about 1/4”, thumbnail size as my mom always told me!
Combine. In a large mixing bowl, mix together the diced potatoes, onions, and peppers. Stir in the diced eggs and mayonnaise. And yes, grandma always used the whole 30 ounce jar and so do I. Feel free to add as little or as much as you enjoy! Stir everything together and season with kosher salt and pepper to taste.
REFRIGERATE. Refrigerate potato salad for at least one hour before serving, allowing the flavors to mingle and chill. Then enjoy!
How to boil Potatoes for Potato Salad
Put the potatoes in a large pot and cover the tops of the potatoes with water. Add ½ tsp. of salt. Turn the heat on high and bring the water to a boil.
Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium low. Cover with a lid and cook the potatoes for about 15 minutes, or until tender. Drain the potatoes and let them cool.
PRO TIP: Yukon Gold or Russet potatoes may need a little longer to cook.
Perfect hard boiled eggs
I can now make the perfect hard boiled eggs using my Instant Pot! The Instant Pot makes it so the eggshells come off very easily and the yolk is a perfect yellow.
I have tried every way out there to make perfect hard boiled eggs and this way is the best! It also makes the most delicious deviled eggs!
Potluck Recipes
Potato Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 pounds red potatoes
- 2 green peppers
- 1 medium onion
- 6 hard boiled eggs
- 30 ounce jar Hellman’s mayonnaise
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Start by cooking your potatoes. I prefer to leave the skin ON, but my Grandma always liked hers peeled. Cut your potatoes into smaller chunks and place them in a large pot with enough water to cover the tops of the potatoes.
- Cook over high heat and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium low and cover with a lid. Cook potatoes for 15 minutes or until potatoes are soft.
- Once the potatoes are done cooking, drain them and then dice them into small bite-sized pieces.
- While your potatoes are boiling, you can also make your eggs. Dice your peppers and onions. Remember, you want to dice them in very small pieces, about 1/4”, thumbnail size as my mom always told me!
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together the diced potatoes, onions, and peppers. Stir in the diced eggs and mayonnaise.
- Stir everything together and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Refrigerate potato salad for at least one hour before serving, allowing the flavors to mingle and chill. Then enjoy!
Notes
- No need to peel potatoes, unless you want to!
- Feel free to use less mayo than my grandmother, start with half the jar, mix and add more as desired.
- Swap out the green peppers for celery, if you prefer traditional potato salad.
Video
Nutrition
Classic Potato Salad Recipe with a few basic ingredients. It’s all about the combination of flavors, not all the extras!
I make a similar recipe with celery instead of onion. I love it.
Wow ! This was perfect ! I don’t think I’ve ever made a potato salad before. I only had a 20oz squeeze bottle of Hellman’s available so that’s what I used. Will make again : )
Dude. Best. Potato. Salad. Ever!
Thank you 🙂 Wish my grandma was around to hear how much people love it!
Really good basic recipe. I added a Tbl Or 2 of fresh dill and a good dose of yellow mustard for a little contrast with the Hellman’s.
I make a similar recipe except I use a jar of olives, Hellman’s mayo, eggs, yellow onion, garlic salt and pepper with the potatoes.
I would say waaaaay too much mayo
i agree.
I use some relish and celery seed.Sprinkle paprika on top
Everything about this potato salad screams best BBQ ever!
Such a classic recipe, especially for summer!
We made this potato salad over Memorial Day and it was perfect! Everyone loved it, thank you!!
Holy moly this is one delicious potato salad! My mom always used white potatoes, but I think the red potatoes are SO much better!!
This is going to be a staple all summer long! Love it!
Just to be clear…that is an entire quart of mayonnaise? Because that seems like a LOT of mayonnaise for a mere 3 pounds of potatoes!
I make it how grandma made it 🙂 You can totally try adding less, taste test and see if it needs more!
Loved this, I used my homemade avocado mayonnaise as binder.
There is a local bakery that sells a potato salad very similar to this. It sells for almots $10 a pound, and they can’t make it quick enough. Excellent recipe!
Come visit my blog!! Your recipe is amazing
http://fromdashawlove3.blogspot.com/2014/03/olive-russian-potato-salad.html
I think it’s that ‘pinch’ of sugar in the Hellman’s that does the trick!
potato salad something we have at every get together love your recipe thanks for sharing come see what I shared at http://shopannies.blogspot.com
Hi Aimee,
Great looking Potato Salad. Potato Salad is a summer staple at our house. I will have to try your recipe. Thanks for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and come back soon!
Wow,your dish reminds me of my favorite food some years ago..I used to eat this during yuppie days and early days of marriage.Your version is making me drool..thanks for bringing back my appetite for this!
Thanks Holly. Totally opposite in our family. My hubby hates anything creamy- however I managed to eat his share, and then some!
Mmmmm Aimee this sounds deee-lish! My hubby ♥’s potatoe salad. I’ve never made it for him before.. lol I’m a bad wifey.. I am going to print this recipe and try it at our next BBQ! : )