Grandma’s Old-Fashioned Potato Salad (Everyone Asks For)

Grandma’s Potato Salad Recipe

This old-fashioned potato salad is creamy, slightly sweet, and full of classic flavor. The kind you expect at summer potlucks and family reunions. It uses simple ingredients, no frills, and that nostalgic mustard‑mayo dressing everyone remembers

My grandma made the best potato salad and this is her recipe as best as I remember. I used to watch my grandma make potato salad for our family reuions. She would peel a 5 pound bag of potatoes and cut up the eggs and measure with her eyes, never a spoon or cup.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• A Classic flavor – it’s creamy, tangy, and nostalgic
• Simple ingredients – use pantry staples, nothing fancy
• Feeds a crowd – easy to scale for reunions
• Make-ahead friendly – tastes even better the next day

Does This Potato Salad Need to Be Refrigerated?

Yes. It contains eggs and mayonnaise. When in serving in a lot location or if will be out for an extended amount of time, use a larger bowl with ice water underneath it to keep it cool.

Best Potatoes To Use

We have always used russet potatoes. They are on sale often, easy to grow and delicious. They do fall apart a bit, but that doesn’t change the taste. If you want a firmer potato, you can use yukon gold potatoes or red potatoes for a firmer potato salad.

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Classic Old Fashioned Potato Salad That Never Fails

Creamy chunks of perfectly boiled potatoes, cuddled up with crisp bites of celery and sweet onions, all slathered in Grandma's secret mayo-mustard blend. It's like a taste of nostalgia with every forkful – this old-fashioned potato salad is a backyard barbecue's best friend

Course: Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings: 8 servings

Author: Regina Sober

Equipment

• Large Pot
• Cutting board
• Knife
• Large Bowl
• Mixing Bowls
• Measuring Spoons
• Measuring Cups
• Spatula
• Instant Pot

Ingredients

• 6 cooked and peeled russet potatoes, diced
• 4 hard boiled eggs, crumbled into pieces
• 1 small sweet onion, finely diced
• 1 stalk celery, finely chopped
• 2 Tablespoons tablespoons yellow mustard
• 1 1/2 cups cups mayonnaise
• 2 Tablespoons sugar

Instructions

• If you hadn't already, the potatoes should be boiled in water (with the skin on) and once a fork goes in easily, cool and then peel.
• Boil the eggs and peel and allow to cool.
• Once cooled, peel and dice the potato into 1/2" cubes.
• Place into a 20+ cup bowl (you'll need the space to stir)You can use a chopper to chop the eggs, celery and onion.
• Mix into the potatoes.
• Mix the mustard, sugar and mayonnaise together.
• Pour into the potato mixture and stir thoroughly.
• The potatoes should be coated thoroughly.
• Keep in the fridge until you are ready to eat.

Video

What Goes into Homemade Potato Salad?

• diced cooked boiled potatoes
• chopped hard boiled eggs
• diced onion (we use sweet)
• finely chopped celery
• yellow mustard & mayonnaise
• sugar

Can You Use Miracle Whip to Make this Potato Salad?

You can, but it will change the taste of it.  And it’s not how my grandma made it.  She used mayonnaise.  If your tastes are more for Miracle Whip, then try it and see if you like it.

Can Baked Potatoes Be Used Instead of Boiled Potatoes?

Definitely.  You may find that you need to add additional liquid to the potato salad (more mayonnaise and mustard, if the potatoes were dry.

Do You Add Sweet Relish or Pickles?

Not in this recipe, but if you want to, knock yourself out!

Storage and Serving

The potato salad should be kept chilled at your gathers. Using a larger bowl with ice and your potato salad bowl on top works well. You should not leave the potato salad out for more than 2 hours. Potato salad lasts in the fridge 3-4 days.