Easy southern potato salad combines potatoes, celery, green onions, pickle relish, and hard-boiled eggs in a creamy mayonnaise-based dressing with a touch of mustard. This delicious potato salad is the perfect side dish for all your barbecued and grilled entrees. It is so good with grilled chicken, burgers, ribs, and southern baked beans.
How to make Southern Potato Salad
First, peel the potatoes and cut them into cubes. Place the cubed potatoes in a large pot and cover them with cold water. Bring them to a boil and cook for 10-15 minutes or until fork tender. Drain them in a colander and let them cool a bit while you make the dressing.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the mayo, yellow mustard, and apple cider vinegar. Add the pickle relish, hard-boiled eggs, celery, green onions, and drained potatoes. Gently fold the veggies into the dressing. Season with salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste. Garnish with a sprinkle of paprika.
Helpful recipe tips
- You can make this potato salad with Yukon Gold potatoes or red potatoes, as they hold together better because they are waxy potatoes. You can use Russet Potatoes, but they will break down a little more. Some people prefer that.
- I like to peel the potatoes, but it is not a must with Yukon Golds and Red Potatoes because their skins are thinner, and they cook up more tenderly.
- Boil the potatoes just until fork tender. They should still have a very slight resistance to them. You don’t want them to be quite as soft as mashed potatoes.
- You can also boil whole potatoes and use your fingers to remove the skins gently.
- If you prefer the flavor of dill pickle relish, use it instead of the sweet pickle relish. For added flavor, add a splash of pickle juice.
- When sprinkling with paprika, add it to your hand, pinch small amounts with your fingers, and sprinkle the salad. If you use the spice shaker, it can quickly become too much.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
How to make perfect hard-boiled eggs
I learned the secret to making perfectly perfect hard-boiled eggs every time. I discovered this a couple of years ago and have never looked back. The key is to steam the eggs, not hard-boil them. Bring a large pot of water to boil with a steamer basket in it. Add the eggs to the steamer basket, cover, and steam large eggs for 15 minutes. Plunge the eggs into cool water to stop the cooking process and to make them cool enough to handle. They are perfectly cooked every time, and the peels practically fall off them.
Try these next
Classic Southern Potato Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 lbs Yukon Gold Russet, or Red Potatoes peeled and cut into bite size cubes
- 1 cup mayonnaise I prefer Dukes
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup sweet pickle relish
- 4 hardboiled eggs peeled and chopped
- 2 ribs celery chopped
- ⅓ cup chopped green onions
- kosher salt to taste
- fresh ground black pepper to taste
- Paprika for garnish
Instructions
- Place the cubed potatoes in a large pot and cover them with cold water. Bring them to a boil over medium-high heat and cook for 10-15 minutes or until fork tender. Drain them in a colander and let them cool a bit.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, yellow mustard, and apple cider vinegar. Add the pickle relish, hard-boiled eggs, celery, green onions, and drained potatoes. Gently fold the veggies and eggs into the dressing.
- Season with salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste. Garnish with a sprinkle of paprika.
Nutrition
Are you on the hunt for more delicious recipes? Follow Small Town Woman on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.
https://www.smalltownwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Beth-1.pdf
Mrs Reynolds
A very good recipe – expected something a little sweeter for “southern” style potato salad, Thank you for sharing – it’s a good salad!
Clara
Wow! This was really delicious. It had been a while since we had potato salad. We loved it and was perfect with your oven baked ribs. I am so looking forward to enjoying this through out the spring and summer. Thank you for sharing the recipe and the tips.
Beth Pierce
That is fabulous, Clara! I am so happy that you all love the potato salad recipe,
Sammie
This was absolutely mouth-watering! The potato salad was the perfect combination of fresh and rich flavors. It complemented my grilled burgers wonderfully. Thanks for the great potato salad recipe.
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome, Sammie!
Freya
I love salads, especially the ones that are easy to make. Now this potato salad was quite easy to make and it tasted great with our grilled bratwursts. I am thinking about serving it with baked ham for Easter.
Elizabeth Flores
Now this is something i would love to do for a weekend at home. nice bbq in the back yard with a delicious potato salad. thank you for the recipe
Rowen
I love this potato salad. It was delicious and easy to make. It reminds me of my mother’s potato salad recipe. Thanks, for sharing!
Beth Pierce
My pleasure, Rowen!
Kimberleigh
Your Southern potato salad recipe was absolutely delicious! I appreciate how you captured the essence of traditional Southern flavors while adding your own unique twist. The combination of creamy potatoes, tangy pickles, and savory seasonings made this dish a real crowd-pleaser at my gathering. Thank you so much for this divine recipe.
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome, Kimberleigh!
Denise
I halved the recipe after reading someone in the comments did this. I had such a a taste for potato salad and this recipe is delish!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Denise! I am so glad that you liked the southern potato salad!
Deanna
I have always been hesitant to make potato salad because my mother makes it better than any I’ve tried. I followed this recipe with using red potatoes & finally chopped Vidalia onion. It is excellent! The next time I make it, I am going to take some to my mother because I think it will make her proud – it is as close to her recipe as I can find. Hers will always be the best, but I give myself a very close second.
Beth Pierce
That is so sweet. I hope your Mother enjoys it.
Mimi Shore
My family has been making Southern Potato Salad for years. I’m 71 and my grandmother made it. We use sweet pickles and the juice from the pickles instead of vinegar. Also no mustard. It is delicious.
Doug
I halved the recipe. A time saver I used was to steam the cubed potatoes and eggs at the same time. They both require about 15 minutes. If you have a large enough steamer pot it works out great. The recipe itself was simple and tasty with room to tweak to tastes.
Beth Pierce
Thanks for the tips, Doug! So glad that you liked the potato salad!
Sammy
This was such a creamy and delicious salad and just in time for summer! Looking forward to enjoying this all season long!
Tara
Oooh, definitely perfect for the upcoming barbecue season! This potato salad looks wonderful. Such amazing flavors.
Dannii
This was the perfect potato salad. Total comfort food.
dina and bruce miller
This was sooooo gooooood! Perfect at our BBQ!!!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Dina and Bruce! So glad that you liked it!
Justine
My favorite potato salad recipe! I make it all summer long – it’s so good!
Jess
This recipe makes me overly excited for BBQ season!
TAYLER ROSS
I made this potato salad for Easter and everyone raved about it! Definitely my new go to potato salad recipe!
Holley
Seriously my favorite potato salad recipe!! I make this every chance I get!!
Savita
I tried this recipe and it turned out really good. Was creamy and really easy to follow too.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Savita! So glad that you liked it!
Dana Sandonato
Absolutely amazing! Funny too because this is exactly like the potato salad I grew up on, and I grew up as a Northerner!
Beth Pierce
A northerner with good taste!
Daniel
Looks like the recipe I have been making for years except we do not use sweet relish. We use dill pickle juice. Not knocking anyone else’s taste but we used sweet by mistake once and no one liked it.
Zab Zaria
Because of the step-by-step directions, it was so easy to cook and it was delicious. Thank you so much for sharing!
Yeah Lifestyle
This looks absolutely delicious! I am doing an outdoor garden party for Easter and this would go well with the BBQ dishes
Beth Pierce
Yes indeed! It sure will!
adriana
This looks like a great recipe! Yum I need to try this out for sure!
Karen
Yummmmm….I love a good potato salad, who doesn’t lol…Your recipe looks delicious and is very easy to follow. Thank you.
Lavanda Michelle
At my gatherings, potato salad is always well received and I’ve received many compliments. I’m looking forward to trying this recipe at my next gathering.
Indu
Potato salad blends well with different meals. Even makes up a healthy meal in itself.
Catalina
Great potato salad recipe. We loved it. Thank you!
Sandra
Such a perfect salad recipe! Thanks so much for sharing! I will definitely make it again!
Beti
So yummy! Southern potato salad is the way to go. I love hard-boiled eggs and sweet pickle relish in my potato salad.
katerina
Oh my, this potato salad was incredible! I think it was the best I have ever had.
Whitney Stewart
I can’t say I’ve eaten a whole lot of potato salad in my life. But this was so good! Thanks so much for sharing!
Erin
We love this potato salad. It is a must with my barbecued ribs.
Laurie Baker
This is the best potato salad recipe I’ve ever had, and it’s so easy to make. Thanks for a great recipe.
Wendy
First of all, I would like to know why this is considered a southern recipe? My mom and grandma have been making this a very long time, if I’m 79 you can pretty much figure how long! Anyway, this recipe is how I’ve been making this, although I like to use dill pickle relish. A favorite recipe here, nothing like a good potato salad recipe!!