Easy, BEST old fashioned Potato Salad Recipe with potatoes, hard boiled eggs and crispy bacon blended with creamy mayonnaise. Readers call it “amazing!”
When spring hits we switch menus. No more thick soups or Salisbury Steak with mushroom gravy. Now we’re all about grilling along a family favorite side dish, Potato Salad.
Made with creamy mayonnaise, crispy bacon and hard boiled eggs, it isn’t Memorial weekend, 4th of July or Labor Day weekend without it. It also makes an appearance several times in between.
Readers call this Potato Salad “amazing”!
I’m kind of a potato salad snob and I’ve turned my family into PS snobs, too. Not a proud moment, but true. This is a classic, old fashioned version ~ nothing fancy ~ but if your grandma made potato said, chances are it tasted a lot like this one.
If you’re wondering if you can shave a few calories using light mayo and have it taste the same, sadly the answer is no. The bold tangy flavor of full fat mayo adds just the right touch to this classic dish.
what’s in potato salad?
- Yukon gold potatoes (can sub russets)
- hard boiled eggs
- diced onion
- chopped celery
- Hellman’s mayonnaise
- yellow mustard (hot dog/ball park type)
- salt and pepper
- ground (dry) mustard
- dill (fresh or dry, same amount)
- bacon cooked to crisp or REAL Hormel bacon bits
how to make the best potato salad:
Cut the potatoes into similar size chunks and cook with the skins on in boiling water seasoned with 1/2 teaspoon of salt. While the potatoes are boiling, hard-boil two eggs and dice the celery and onions.
When the potatoes are fork-tender, drain them into a colander and let them cool to room temp. Dice the potatoes into bite-size pieces leaving several of the potatoes with the skins on then add them to a large bowl along with the celery and onions.
When the eggs are hard-boiled and cooled, dice them as well and add them to the bowl.
Fold in the mayonnaise (the amount listed is correct), dill, pepper, mustard, ground mustard and a pinch of salt.
Stir in the bacon and vigorously blend the potato salad smashing smash some of the potatoes while leaving others intact.
Tip: If you have the time, I recommend frying your own bacon, but you can also use real bacon bits. Crisp them in the microwave for 8-10 seconds before adding them to the salad.
Taste and add salt to taste then garnish with dill and chill it for at least an hour or two before serving. You can even make this Potato Salad the day before.
What goes with potato Salad?
Potato Salad goes with pretty much anything – starting with hot dogs and hamburgers. Here are a few more of my favorites:
Pulled Pork – slow cooker pulled pork with full-on bold barbecue flavor. Tender, juicy pulled pork braised in your favorite BBQ sauce.
Pulled Chicken – shredded barbecue chicken for sandwiches, bbq chicken pizza or quesadillas. Just 5 minutes prep – perfect for busy nights and stress-free entertaining.
Honey Balsamic Pork Tenderloin – just 20 minutes from stove to table for juicy flavor-loaded sweet-tangy glazed pork made all in one pan.
other make ahead salads:
Pesto Tortellini Salad – easy 5 ingredient cold salad with cheese tortellini, tomatoes and fresh mozzarella tossed with bright, herby pesto.
Italian Tortellini Pasta Salad – quick and easy pasta salad with cheese tortellini and all the flavors of a good Italian sub: salami, pepperoni, cheese, peppers, olives and onions tossed in a simple homemade vinaigrette.
Creamy Coleslaw – just 4 ingredients and 5 minutes to this delicious crunchy slaw with creamy tangy-sweet dressing. Try it and it’ll become your go-to salad all year.
Panzanella Salad – golden, toasted bread cubes, tomatoes and other fresh seasonal vegetables tossed in a red wine vinaigrette.
Enjoy!
If you tried this Potato Salad recipe or any other on the blog, I’d love to hear from you with a comment or star rating.
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Potato Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- Approximately 2 pounds Yukon potatoes OR 5 medium russets
- 2 eggs hard boiled
- 1/2 cup onion finely chopped
- 1/3 cup celery finely chopped
- 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise Hellman's recommended
- 1 1/2 tablespoons yellow mustard ballpark/hot dog style mustard
- Small sprinkle of salt (no more than 1/4 teaspoon) or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon dill or to taste
- 3 slices bacon cooked to crisp and crumbled OR 3 tablespoons of REAL Hormel bacon bits (crisped in the micro or skillet before adding)
Instructions
- Cut the potatoes and cook with the skins on in boiling water seasoned with 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Hard-boil two eggs.
- Finely chop the onion and celery and add them to a large bowl.
- When the potatoes are tender, drain them into a colander and cool to room temp.
- Dice the potatoes into bite-size pieces adding them to the bowl, leaving several of the potatoes with the skins on.
- Cool and dice the hard-boiled eggs into the bowl. Fold in the Hellmann’s mayonnaise, dill, pepper, mustard, ground mustard and a small sprinkle of salt.
- If using bacon bits, place them in a small bowl, cover with a paper towel and microwave them for 8-10 seconds until they’re crisp then add the bacon bits to the bowl, combining.
- Vigorously blend the potato salad, giving it a good stir, allowing some of the potatoes to smash while others remain in their diced form. Taste and adjust salt if necessary. Optional: garnish with dill and additional bacon. Refrigerate at least 1-2 hours before serving.
YUM! I absolutely love potato salad and this looks like a delicious recipe!!! Looks like you had a lot of fun fishing for books on that boat! I’d be doing the same thing! How’s the weather over there?
Thanks SO much JD! The boating photo is from last season ~ boat goes in the water today so looking forward to many more “fishing” trips! 🙂 Today we’re looking at 50’s but next week into the 60’s and hopefully up from there. Take care and have a great weekend!
Great sounding potato salad. Never tried bacon in my potato salad….new ingredient for the future. Love your spoon! Anyway, pinned this recipe and will definitely give it a try. Thanks for sharing. Happy boating!! ;-D
Thanks Mary ~ can’t go wrong with a classic! The spoon was a gift from one of my daughters shortly I started the blog ~ I love it too 🙂 We’re looking at 50’s today ~ 60’s next week so the boating season should be well on its way. Take care.
All good— but note to self: leave out bacon and paprika in the future.
Hi Mary – thanks for making the Potato Salad! Recipes like this Potato Salad are a jumping point and can easily be customized as you like — it’s personal preference. Sometimes I garnish with dill; other times with paprika (never both) and always add bacon, but I get that it’s not for everyone 🙂 I hope you’ll make it again with the ingredients you like best. Enjoy the day!
Cannot save this on Pinterest. Can this be fixed?
Hi Kathy – thank you for bringing this to my attention. Ugh – technology! I’m looking into it right now and have emailed Pinterest directly for further help. I’m hoping to get an answer for it sometime today. In the meantime, do you follow me on Pinterest?
https://www.pinterest.com/agoudalife/pins/
Saving directly from Pinterest seems to be working. I will also email you this information and again, thank you for letting me know – Bernie
Similar to my mom’s recipe, but we add celery seed instead of dill. This makes it taste like you added salt, but you didn’t.
Hi Lynn ~ great idea with the celery seed. I want to try it next time I make this potato salad – thanks for the idea 🙂
The wipes are the best brand.
I have owned a Pinterest account since Pinterest has been around and this is my VERY FIRST review. I haven’t even let the Potato Salad cool yet, and it is AMAZING. Im a potato salad snob as well, and this beats every potato salad I have ever made. Well done!!
Ha! I’m honored to be your first review Tracey! But I’m even happier you love the potato salad as much as I do. Truth: I’ve eaten leftovers of it for breakfast – I mean, there are eggs in it, so . . . 🙂 Thank you so much. Your kind words make my day!!
Hi, this looks just like my Mom’s recipe. She always added the paprika on top also. The only difference is she added sliced olives. I’m excited to try adding bacon.
Hi Anne – I switch off for some reason. Paprika on top when I make it in the winter — fresh dill when I make it in the summertime (but never together) — and always, always bacon. Soooo good. I love olives! That sounds like a great addition too.
Wow, amazing! So many recipes for potato salad with relish, pickles and sugar – yuck! This one is the one that beats them all!
Hi Jo Ann – I’m so glad you like this recipe – it’s one of my all time favorites! — and I couldn’t agree with you more. Some ingredients just don’t belong in a classic potato salad! Thank you!!
I just finished making your potato salad and I can tell, we are going to love it! I always tried copying some version with relish or sugar also but was never really happy with them. This is awesome.
Hey Carol – I can’t tell you how much I love hearing applause for this recipe – it really is my all-time favorite. I made a batch this weekend and I was eating it even before it was chilled. It’s one my family looks forward to all summer. Thanks for stopping by. So glad you enjoyed the potato salad! 🙂
I have to try this. Going to a bbq soon and this is my “donation”.
Thanks Bernie – I can almost taste it!
Yes! I hope you do 🙂 Thanks Bette ! This is my all-time favorite salad. Just turn a blind eye to the mayo lol . . . and bacon.
This sounds almost like my mom’s Ps, but she added chopped dill pickle(with garlic) and a dash of anchovies paste to the mayonnaise. I make it for my friends and I’m lucky if there is any left over for me to take home!! (I also have eaten for breakfast, because as you said… eggs… and bacon!) Thanks for posting this recipe.. It’s the only one I’ve found that has bacon in it. 😊
Hi Jasmine – mmm I love your mom’s ideas. They sound like a really good twist. I know what you mean – GOOD potato salad ALWAYS disappears at any get together! Thank YOU for stopping by!
I was able to have a sample of this potato salad. It is fabulous. Highly recommend
Joan – thank you so much! It’s one of my favorite recipes that I’ve been making for decades. So glad you enjoyed it – Bernie
Made this for a MDW bbq yesterday and it was a hit!!! We bottomed out the bowl. You’re absolutely right on using real back and great balance between Mayo and mustard. Great flavor!
Hi Megan – thanks so much! So glad you enjoyed the recipe – it’s definitely a favorite in my family! — Bernie