By Becky Hardin
Updated Dec 9, 2024
When I’m craving a classic potato salad, I reach for this russet potato salad recipe. Made with hard-boiled eggs, mayonnaise, and an array of spices, it is wonderfully creamy and rich. I make it for virtually every cookout, and all my friends and family love it! It’s the perfect side dish!
In my opinion, no cookout is complete without this classic russet potato salad– it’s always a crowd-pleaser! I mix creamy soft potatoes in a mayonnaise dressing to create the ultimate side dish! The potatoes are seasoned before and after cooking and the dressing has mustard, herbs, and spices. This egg potato salad pairs wonderfully with so many mains, grilled meats, fish, chicken, and all my BBQ favorites!
What’s in This Russet Potato Salad Recipe?
- Potatoes: I like to use russet potatoes for my salad. They are starchy potatoes that get really nice and fluffy when cooked. If you don’t have russet, Yukon Gold or Idaho will both work well. It’s best to avoid waxy potatoes.
- Salt: Kosher salt seasons the potatoes as they cook and helps to enhance the flavor of the salad.
- Vinegar: Apple cider vinegar adds a bit of tang and acidity to balance the flavor of the salad.
- Sugar: Granulated sugar adds a touch of sweetness to the salad.
- Hard-Boiled Eggs: These are a classic addition to potato salad, but you can leave them out if you’re not a fan. I like the texture and extra protein they add!
- Celery: Adds a lovely crunch to the salad.
- Onion: Adds an earthy-sweet flavor to the salad and some extra crunch.
- Mayonnaise : Makes this salad rich and creamy. You can also use a blend of half Miracle Whip and half mayonnaise if you’re a fan of that flavor.
- Relish : Sweet pickle relish enhances the sweet and tangy flavors of the salad and adds extra crunch.
- Mustard: Dijon mustard has a wonderfully sharp and tangy flavor that makes this salad just a touch spicy.
- Spices : Black pepper, seasoned salt (I used and recommend Lawry’s ), and smoked paprika enhance the savory flavor of the salad.
- Parsley: Fresh parsley adds a pop of freshness and color to the salad. I also like to top mine with sliced green onions.
Tips for Success
- If your potatoes are smaller with thin skins then you don’t have to peel them, and they add a nice color to the finished dish. Just give them a good wash. Feel free to peel them if you prefer!
- It is very important to season the potatoes with salt, vinegar, and sugar while cooking and add additional vinegar and salt to the potatoes while still hot.
- Add the potatoes to cold water and bring everything to a boil together so that they cook evenly through.
- Take care not to over or undercook the potatoes. They should be fork-tender when you remove them from the water.
- Let the potatoes cool before mixing them with the mayonnaise. If you add the mayonnaise to hot potatoes, it can become quite oily.
How to Store
This russet potato salad will keep well in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 24 hours. It’s my favorite classic dish for potlucks and picnics! Because there is mayonnaise in the salad, take care not to leave it at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Serving Suggestions
This russet potato salad with eggs is such a great side dish for potlucks or cookouts. I love to serve it alongside Schnitzel , ham and cheese sliders , smoked pulled pork , or grilled chicken wings !
5-Star Review
“Great salad I loved it” -Margaret
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 4 pounds russet potatoes
- ▢ 7 teaspoons kosher salt divided (2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon)
- ▢ 6 tablespoons apple cider vinegar divided
- ▢ ¼ cup granulated sugar divided
- ▢ 6 hard-boiled eggs peeled
- ▢ 2 ribs celery finely chopped (about ½ cup)
- ▢ ¼ cup finely chopped onion soaked in cold water and drained
- ▢ 1¼ cups mayonnaise
- ▢ 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish optional
- ▢ 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- ▢ 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ▢ 1½ teaspoons seasoned salt
- ▢ ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ▢ ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- ▢ 3 green onions thinly sliced, optional
Video
Instructions
- Peel (or not) and cut the potatoes into bite-size cubes. Place the potatoes, 2 tablespoons of kosher salt, 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, and 2 tablespoons of sugar in a large saucepan and cover with cold water by 2 inches. Stir well. 4 pounds russet potatoes, 7 teaspoons kosher salt, 6 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, ¼ cup granulated sugar
- Bring the water to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook until the potatoes are tender, about 15-20 minutes.
- Drain and transfer the potatoes to a large mixing bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and the remaining 1 teaspoon kosher salt, stir vigorously to rough up the potato edges slightly, and cool to room temperature. While the potatoes cool, prepare the other ingredients.
- Use a fork to mash 3 of the hard-boiled eggs and rough-chop the other 3 (set the 3 chopped eggs aside to add later). 6 hard-boiled eggs
- In a different large mixing bowl, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar, 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, mashed eggs, chopped celery, onions, mayonnaise, relish (if using), mustard, black pepper, seasoned salt, paprika and parsley. 2 ribs celery, ¼ cup finely chopped onion, 1¼ cups mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish, 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 1½ teaspoons seasoned salt, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- Gently fold in the cooled potatoes and remaining rough-chopped eggs.
- If more salt and pepper are needed, add it now and stir gently. Keep in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to serve (1-24 hours).
- When ready to serve, top with the sliced green onions for garnish. 3 green onions
Becky’s Tips
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Potluck Salad Recipes to Try!
BLT Pasta Salad Recipe
Three Bean Salad Recipe
Macaroni Salad Recipe
Italian Pasta Salad Recipe
Russet Potato Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 pounds russet potatoes
- 7 teaspoons kosher salt divided (2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon)
- 6 tablespoons apple cider vinegar divided
- ¼ cup granulated sugar divided
- 6 hard-boiled eggs peeled
- 2 ribs celery finely chopped (about ½ cup)
- ¼ cup finely chopped onion soaked in cold water and drained
- 1¼ cups mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish optional
- 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1½ teaspoons seasoned salt
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- 3 green onions thinly sliced, optional
Instructions
- Peel (or not) and cut the potatoes into bite-size cubes. Place the potatoes, 2 tablespoons of kosher salt, 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, and 2 tablespoons of sugar in a large saucepan and cover with cold water by 2 inches. Stir well. 4 pounds russet potatoes, 7 teaspoons kosher salt, 6 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, ¼ cup granulated sugar
- Bring the water to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook until the potatoes are tender, about 15-20 minutes.
- Drain and transfer the potatoes to a large mixing bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and the remaining 1 teaspoon kosher salt, stir vigorously to rough up the potato edges slightly, and cool to room temperature. While the potatoes cool, prepare the other ingredients.
- Use a fork to mash 3 of the hard-boiled eggs and rough-chop the other 3 (set the 3 chopped eggs aside to add later). 6 hard-boiled eggs
- In a different large mixing bowl, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar, 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, mashed eggs, chopped celery, onions, mayonnaise, relish (if using), mustard, black pepper, seasoned salt, paprika and parsley. 2 ribs celery, ¼ cup finely chopped onion, 1¼ cups mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish, 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 1½ teaspoons seasoned salt, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- Gently fold in the cooled potatoes and remaining rough-chopped eggs.
- If more salt and pepper are needed, add it now and stir gently. Keep in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to serve (1-24 hours).
- When ready to serve, top with the sliced green onions for garnish. 3 green onions
Video
Notes
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
