My grandma’s classic potato salad is a potluck favorite that’s made with eggs, celery, green onion and a dreamy, creamy dressing that’s perfectly sweet and tangy. This is truly the BEST potato salad recipe, and you don’t need any special ingredients or equipment to make it.
It may be pretty bold to claim, but saying this is the BEST potato salad recipe is a statement I 100% stand behind.
But I’m not the only one. With more than 2,000 glowing reviews, this homemade potato salad is popular all year round — not just in summer but at Thanksgiving, Easter, and Christmas, too. It’s the traditional side dish I grew up on and the recipe my Grandma Mary Jane passed down to my mom, aunts, cousins, sister, and me.
Now it’s your turn to give it a try. I’m spilling my family’s secrets on how to make the best potato salad ever …
Heidi’s Tips for Recipe Success
- Ditch the mayonnaise and make the potato salad dressing with Miracle Whip. It gives the dressing a hint of sweetness and lots of tang, which prevents the potato salad from tasting heavy or having a gloppy, gluey texture.
- I use Yukon gold potatoes because they’re creamier, sweeter, and hold their shape better than other varieties. And because they have thinner skin, they’re easy to peel after cooking.
- Always sprinkle the just-cooked, warm potatoes with white vinegar to add flavor and tang. (This tip comes straight from my grandma!)
Key Ingredients in This Recipe
The full recipe, with amounts, can be found in the recipe card below.
- Yukon gold potatoes — Easy to peel, with a buttery smooth texture that doesn’t fall apart after boiling. Choose potatoes that are roughly the same size for the most consistent cooking.
- White vinegar — Use cider vinegar or pickle juice if you prefer.
- Hard-boiled eggs — Eggs add to the creamy factor while adding a slightly different texture. My grandma’s original recipe calls for just three eggs, but since I’m a super fan of eggs in potato salad, I’ve added two more. (It probably stems from my adoration of egg salad, so feel free to adapt to your taste.)
- Celery — A few ribs of chopped celery adds a bit of crunch to every bite.
- Green onion — Chopped green onion adds a little heat to this salad but isn’t as bold as yellow onion. Red onion would be a fine substitute.
- Miracle Whip — This is the secret sauce to the creamy potato salad dressing. Similar in consistency to mayonnaise, Miracle Whip tastes sweeter and is less eggy.
- Yellow mustard — Mustard adds spice and tang to the dressing. Like on my hot dogs, plain old yellow mustard is the best and I don’t even dream about getting fancy schmancy with German browns, hearty-seeded, or Frenchy dijon mustards.
- Celery seed — This dried spice extends the celery flavor by adding an earthy flavor.
- Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper — The essential flavor boosters for any dish.
- Paprika — Paprika doesn’t add flavor here, but I use a sprinkle as the final touch to make the salad extra pretty when served.
How to Make THE BEST Potato Salad
- Boil the potatoes. My mom says to boil the potatoes whole with the skin on, so I do too. Add the potatoes to a pot of COLD water so their temperature rises at the same rate as the water and they cook evenly. Yukon Gold potatoes need to boil for 30 to 35 minutes; you’re looking for the skin to start cracking and for them to be fork-tender.
Heidi’s Tip: Don’t peel and cut the potatoes before boiling them! Doing so allows the potatoes to absorb more water and makes for a watery potato salad.
- Peel and dice the potatoes. Once the potatoes are cool to the touch, score the tops with an “X.” The skins should then peel right off using just your fingers.
- Sprinkle the warm potatoes with vinegar. This is one of the biggest flavoring secrets for this recipe. While still warm, the potatoes absorb the vinegar’s zing as they cool, adding another flavor of mellow tang from within.
- Make the potato salad dressing. Whisk together the Miracle Whip, mustard, celery seed, kosher salt, and black pepper in a separate bowl to make sure it’s evenly combined.
- Assemble the salad. Fold together the eggs, celery, green onion, potatoes, and dressing. (Be gentle, you don’t want the egg to disintegrate.)
Heidi’s Tip: Giving the flavors time to meld is important. If I’m planning on eating the salad the day I make it, I’ll prepare it at lunch so the flavors can build, or I’ll make it a day ahead of time.
Recipe FAQs
I’ve tried this recipe with diced pickles because everything tastes better with pickles … except for this version of potato salad. So I’m saving the pickles for my tuna salad sandwiches.
Simply put, Miracle Whip is sweeter, tangier, less eggy, and overall less rich than mayonnaise.
You can use mayonnaise, but give the ol’ Whip a try.
Several readers have left comments saying they ignored my grandma’s suggestion and used mayo instead, and that it was a big mistake and Miracle Whip is the way to go!
Did you use a different type of potato? Yukon golds cooked with the skin on absorb the dressing and hold it well, while other varieties of potatoes don’t properly soak up enough dressing.
Did you add the dressing before the potatoes cooled down? You also must wait for the potatoes to cool before tossing with the dressing. Potatoes sweat water as they cool, and that can contribute to watery potato salad.
Did you use low-fat or fat-free Miracle Whip? Ingredients used to make lower-fat versions of salad dressings can contribute to a less stable product that releases more water into the dish.
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
This old-fashioned potato salad will last up to 4 days in the fridge, but I suggest eating it within a day of making it while the celery and green onion still have some crunch.
In fact, this is one potluck salad that tastes better after it’s had time to chill in the fridge for 12 to 24 hours, so feel free to make a batch of potato salad in advance. (This is a handy tip to remember for holidays!)
What to Serve With Potato Salad
- Grilled Proteins — Grilled Salmon, BBQ Chicken, Garlic Burgers, Greek Chicken, Grilled Pork Chops
- Potluck Sides — Homemade Mac and Cheese, Classic Macaroni Salad, Creamy Coleslaw, BBQ Baked Beans, Three Bean Salad
- Holiday Favorites — Glazed Ham, Roast Turkey Breast, Ambrosia Salad, Waldorf Salad, Broccoli Casserole
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a 
rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, take a photo, and tag me on Instagram with #foodiecrusheats.
My Grandma’s Classic Potato Salad Recipe
Ingredients
Potato Salad:
- 3 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes , skin on (choose medium-sized potatoes)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (optional for adding flavor to potatoes)
- 3 tablespoons white vinegar
- 2 celery stalks (ribs) , diced
- 6 green onions , diced
- 5 hard-boiled eggs , peeled
Dressing:
- 1 ½ cups Miracle Whip , or mayonnaise if you prefer
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 ½ teaspoons celery seed
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- paprika , for garnish
Instructions
- Add the potatoes to a large pot of cold water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a lightly rolling boil over medium heat and add 1 teaspoon of kosher salt (optional). Cook for 30-35 minutes or until the potatoes are easily pierced with a fork or paring knife. Cooking time will vary depending on the size of the potatoes. Drain and set aside until cool enough to handle.
- Peel the skins from the potatoes and cut into ½" to ¾" square pieces. Transfer the warm potatoes to a large mixing bowl and sprinkle with the white vinegar. Toss the potatoes with the vinegar and set the potatoes aside to cool, about 15-20 minutes.
- Add the celery and the green onions to the potato mixture. Chop 4 of the hard boiled eggs and add to the potato mixture.
- In a medium bowl, mix the Miracle Whip, yellow mustard, celery seed, and ¾ teaspoon salt and pepper. Fold into the potato mixture and season with more salt and pepper to taste. Slice the last egg into thin slices and place them on top of the salad. Sprinkle with paprika if desired.
- Chill for at least 1 hour or overnight before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Potato Salad Recipe Variations to Try
- No Mayo Potato Salad
- Greek Potato Salad
- Creamy Red Potato Salad
- Roasted Potato Salad
- German Potato Salad
- Nicoise Potato Salad
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Michael Anderson
Go back to regular mayonnaise, add a little sour cream, and use carrots instead of green onions and celery for both crunch and the sweetness you are looking for. I agree with upping the egg quotient by a notch.
Most important–use JUST ENOUGH mayo/sour cream to form a slight stickiness between the pieces of potato. If anything drips off of the potato when a piece is taken out of the bowl, you’ve used way too much (and it will become like that disgusting store-bought glop).
lulu
Thank you for this recipe!! I typically don’t make potato salad but made this for a gathering & it was a hit! My hubby loved it as well. I doubled the recipe & used mayo & wouldn’t change a thing!
Andrea
I just put this together for our 4th of July BBQ tomorrow. The only thing I added was chopped sweet pickle and a little of the sweet pickle brine. Can’t wait to try it tomorrow! Thank you for the recipe.
Sylvia Curd
Thanks for the tips regarding the potatoes and how to boil them. This should make a big difference in my potato salads.
Shelly
Looks yummy. I also add cooked and crumbled bacon to my salad.
Cindy
While I love this recipe, with all the knowledge about high fructose corn syrup, I would suggest you use Hellmans and just up the sugar. There was a gluten free question. FYI Miracle Whip is not certified Gluten Free.
Shannon
This sounds great very close to my Mom’s. Only difference is that she uses Italian dressing instead of vinegar which gives the whole thing a nice kick. Will definitely be trying this version.
Kerry
This is a great recipe. I too, use Italian Salad dressing instead of vinegar on the warm potatoes. Thanks for sharing!
Laurel
I would think if using miracle whip, you could substitute pickle juice for the vinegar and celery seeds, since the pickle juice has celery seeds in it….?
Karen
Miracle Whip rules. I have to make Potato Salad for a grad party tomorrow and I’m using your recipe. Sounds wonderful!
Linda
This is the potato/egg salad I have been making for over 50 years with the only addition of a little bit of sour cream with the mayo. It is the best.
Melissa
I’m a lover of potato salad. My mother passed over 5 years ago. She always made the potato salad for picnics. When, she passed I started making them. Here’s what I do.
(My family is huge, so I make a lot)
10lbs of russet potatoes
1 dozen eggs
1 bunch of green onions (sometimes I’ll use a small purple onion)
Medium jar of dill pickles, reserve about 1/4 cup pickle juice
bunch of celery
Jumbo black olives
Mayo..
Mustard
O.k., so here we go. Boil potatoes and eggs. I put my eggs in the pot with my potatoes the last 15 minutes while boiling the potatoes
Let everything chill. I usually make this the night before. I drain everything, and refrigerate potatoes and eggs. Peeling the potatoes cold is easier for me.
Cut up potatoes to your liking.
When peeling the eggs, take the yolks and put them in a good sized bowl.
I then cut everything else up.
Hers the part that makes this salad bite!
Mash egg yolks up with a fork, add in your reserved pickle juice, then about 1-1 1/2c mayo, and 2-3 tablespoons of mustard. Salt and pepper to your liking. If this mixture is too runny, take some potatoes, about a 1/2 cup and mash them with the mayo mixture to thicken it. Poor mixture over potatoes and egg whites, add in cut up veggies. Fold everything in. Taste it, add salt, and for some added flavor, add some celery salt. I’ve just been making my mom’s potato salad for 5 years. Some family members, even my dad can’t taste the difference between the two. I’m often asked how to get that exact flavors. It’s the pickle juice! I hope somebody tries this recipe. I know I’m.going to try some variations that I’ve read here tonight.
Denise
I just had to laugh at the 10 lbs. of potatoes! I don’t know anyone who can use up the whole bag in one go.
Amy
I’ve used up 10lbs. of potatoes many of times!
Iona McMillan
I like the idea of using the egg yolks mashed up and mixed with pickle juice mayo and mustard. While I would never have to feed enough people to use up 10 lbs, of spuds. I also use capers in my potato salad. (my mom’s recipe, too). Will try your suggestion as soon as the weather warms up here on Vancouver Island.
sherrie
Miracle whip all the way!!!!!!!! especially in potato salad and tuna salad! mayo is boring and doesnt give that zing like miracle does! must b a midwest thing too cuz I live in Minnesota! :)
Chris
This is pretty much my recipe for potato salad and pretty much the only way I will eat potato salad. I don’t care for deli salads and other recipes just don’t deliver the flavor or texture that I like. In my opinion, the key is the potatoes and how they are cooked. My go to potato is red but I also like the Yukon golds. You have got to cook them unpeeled and on a low simmer until tender. Russets are great for baked and mashed but not for potato salad. Have always added the celery seed and vinegar too. Used to use finely diced yellow onion but have recently began using green onion. Its a milder onion and sometimes the yellow onion flavor is a bit much. It’s like your in my kitchen watching me :)
Mine is a slight variation of my mothers and my husband and daughter love it as much as I do. However, and I really hate saying this, nobody else cares for it. I’ve stopped bringing it too potlucks and such because it never gets eaten. I don’t understand it, maybe it’s too much egg or the mayo or something. That’s okay, I enjoy it at home with my family.
Holly
My husband is very picky about potato salad…. he really only prefers his Mother’s recipe. I have made several unsuccessful attempts so I decided to give this one a try since it seems very similar and let me tell you my husband loved this recipe! I am not a huge potato salad fan in general and I loved it too. I made it pretty much exact except only used 1 tsp. of celery seed. I was afraid 3 tbsp. of vinegar would be too powerful but it wasn’t at all. I used mayo and added some chopped sweet gherkin pickles. It was great and ever better the next day!
Sherry Brown
Can you help me figure out how much potato salad to make for my daughter’s graduation party? We are expecting 150 people at the least. Thanks
Theresa
Mine is similar. I use miracle whip but also sour cream, vinegar,celery salt, pickle juice, mustard, pepper, and relish. I also add to the potatoes, eggs, celery, green pepper, green onios, radishes and cucumber. Garnish with eggs, pepper rings and paprika. my great grandmother taught my mother how to make it and she was from Germany. I have a friend whose parents are from Germany. she absolutely loves my potato salad because it reminds her of her homeland at every picnic everyone begs me to make my potato salad. i have no recipe it was all taught hands on!
Hi Theresa, I’m a huge German potato salad fan too and am working up a great German style potato salad to share on the blog this summer. If you have any other tips on the perfect one, let me know!
Paula Dunmire
I always mix Hellman’s and a little Miracle Whip together! I’m not a fan of the real tarty flavor of the Miracle Whip. Hellman’s cuts down on that a little. I also use more eggs. Otherwise my recipe is similar to yours.
Kristin Jones
I had never made potato salad before until yesterday when my family and I were craving it and I found this recipe. It’s something I’ve always been afraid to make, thinking I would overcook or undercook the potatoes, etc…but I followed this recipe exactly (with mayo not miracle whip, which I will try out next time) and it came out amazing! I’m sure it will be even better today with lunch/dinner! My whole family loved it! Thanks for sharing!
zzzyp
I like to add some pancetta (to almost anything)
Dianne
Try making your own “Miracle Whip”. Allrecipes has a paleo recipe that looks great. I’ve been making mayo and there’s no comparison to store bought.
Victoria V
The greatest ever! Love the taste. The idea with vinegar is awesome!
Thank you for sharing!
diana dery
How do you stop the potatoes from going dark while they are cooling? This is always a problem
Christine
I love vinegar in potato salads, and I went looking for a new recipe…this is my new favorite and will be my go-to for a classic style salad from now on. I never have Miracle Whip on hand but sometime I’ll have to try it…this one was delish as is; couldn’t stop eating it. Definitely dress the potatoes when warm. Thanks for sharing!
Tina
This is the one thing I never learned to make from my Mother. She passed away in 2003, and I haven’t eaten it since. Love your recipe sounds yummy! Question can I just peel potatoes before boiling?
Hi! I had to text my mom who is out of the country for the answer and she says, no! Don’t peel the potatoes. And since this is her recipe, I go by what she says :)
Casey
Question i was looking to make potato salad this Saturday for a 30th birthday need to make about 10-15 lbs of it how much u think i should do of each?
Kourtney
This recipe was awesome. My family loved it!!
Kourtney, so glad your family enjoyed it as much as mine.