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Potato salad is a classic dish that’s great for cookouts, potlucks, or a simple side dish. This recipe is easy to make and tastes amazing! It has tender potatoes, tangy pickles, crunchy celery, and a creamy dressing. You’ll want to make this recipe for all your gatherings!
Getting Started
Here are the things you need to make this potato salad:
- 3 lbs Yukon Gold, russet, or red skin potatoes
- 2 stalks of celery
- Fresh dill and parsley
- 1/2 cup red onion
- 1/2 cup pickles
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Apple cider vinegar
- Mayonnaise
- Sour cream
- Dijon mustard
- Salt and pepper
- Paprika (optional, for garnish)
Cooking the Potatoes
- Chop the potatoes. Cut the potatoes into 3/4 to 1-inch pieces.
- Boil the potatoes. Put the potatoes in a large pot and cover them with about 2 inches of water. Add 2 teaspoons of salt.
- Cook until tender. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until the potatoes are easily pierced with a fork.
You can use Yukon Gold, russet, or red skin potatoes. Yukon Gold potatoes are creamy and work well in this recipe.
Prepping the Other Ingredients
While the potatoes are cooking, you can prepare the other ingredients:
- Chop the celery. Cut 2 stalks of celery into small pieces.
- Chop the herbs. Chop fresh dill and parsley until you have about 1/4 cup.
- Dice the red onion. Finely dice about 1/2 cup of red onion.
- Chop the pickles. Chop about 1/2 cup of pickles into small pieces.
- Chop the eggs. Roughly chop the hard-boiled eggs.
Fresh herbs add a lot of flavor to the potato salad. Feel free to use your favorite herbs!
Making the Dressing
- Deflame the red onion. Put the diced red onion in a medium bowl and add 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. This will take away some of the strong flavor. Let it sit for 10 minutes.
- Combine the dressing ingredients. In the bowl with the onions, add 1/2 cup of mayonnaise, 1/2 cup of sour cream, 2 tablespoons of Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper. Stir until smooth.
Sour cream adds a cool and tangy flavor to the dressing. You can use your favorite mustard instead of Dijon.
Putting It All Together
- Drain the potatoes. Once the potatoes are fork-tender, drain them in a colander.
- Cool the potatoes. Spread the potatoes on a baking sheet so the steam can escape and they can dry out a bit. Let them cool for about 10 minutes.
- Combine the ingredients. Transfer the cooled potatoes to a large mixing bowl. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar over the potatoes and toss gently.
- Add the remaining ingredients. Add the celery, pickles, and eggs to the bowl.
- Pour in the dressing. Pour the dressing over the ingredients and gently stir to coat everything.
- Fold in the herbs. Gently fold in the chopped fresh herbs.
Cooling the potatoes helps them hold their shape when you mix everything together. Be gentle when stirring so you don’t break the potatoes and eggs.
Finishing Touches
- Garnish. Sprinkle some paprika on top for a nice look, if you want.
- Chill. You can serve the potato salad right away, or chill it in the fridge for later.
Some people like to add a splash of pickle juice for extra flavor. You can also reserve some herbs to sprinkle on top before serving.
Tips for the Best Potato Salad
- Customize it! Add your favorite flavors. If you like things spicy, add some chopped jalapenos.
- Make it ahead. This potato salad will last in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Don’t overcook the potatoes. You want them to be fork-tender, but not mushy.
- Be gentle when mixing. You don’t want to break the potatoes and eggs apart.
Ready to make the perfect potato salad? This recipe is sure to be a hit!