Old-Fashioned Potato Salad Recipe | Simple Nourished Living (2024)

Published · Last updated · By Martha McKinnon · 1 Comment

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Old-fashioned potato salad is a summertime classic. I can't imagine a picnic or backyard barbecue without a big bowl of potato salad - the classic creamy old-fashioned kind.

Old-Fashioned Potato Salad Recipe | Simple Nourished Living (1)

Old-Fashioned Potato Salad

Of course there are many different potato salad recipes available and they all have their merits. But this is the one I grew up eating.

It's an old-fashioned potato salad recipe, creamy with mayonnaise, and the ideal accompaniment to grilled burgers, brats, and hot dogs.

It is delicious with barbecued chicken or ribs, fried chicken, leftover ham or a lunchtime sandwich too.

I've made a lot of potato recipes through the years from simple to exotic, but as I get older, I seem to be coming back to easy, simple classic recipes and old-fashioned recipes.

This relatively easy potato salad varies only slightly from the Hellman's potato salad recipe that appeared on the jar's label for years.

How Many Calories and WW Points in this Old-Fashioned Potato Salad?

According to my calculations, each serving of this potato salad has about 283 calories and

11 *SmartPoints (Green plan)
7 *SmartPoints (Blue plan)
7 *SmartPoints (Purple plan)
8 *PointsPlus (Old plan)

To see your WW PersonalPoints for this recipe and track it in the WW app or site, Click here!

You can save yourself 4 SmartPoints by substituting light mayonnaise for the regular, where each serving will be reduced to *7 WW Freestyle SmartPoints.

Recipe Notes

  • Use red skinned potatoes if you can. They are sturdier and less starchy than russet potatoes so they hold up better and don't fall to pieces when you are mixing.
  • For best results boil the potatoes whole in their skins. Once they are cooked, you can peel them if you like, but I prefer the color they add to the final salad.
  • Toss the potatoes with lemon juice and olive oil while they are still warm. Their flavors absorb into the potatoes giving them brighter flavor. If you don't have lemon juice 2 tablespoons of vinegar is a good substitute.

Variations and Additions

  • Sprinkle the top of your salad with paprika.
  • Substitute ½ cup finely chopped red onion for the scallions.
  • Add 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard with the mayonnaise.
  • Add 3 tablespoons sweet pickle relish with the mayonnaise.
  • Stir in ¼ cup fresh parsley, dill, or basil.
  • Stir in ¼ cup finely chopped bell pepper.

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Old-Fashioned Potato Salad Recipe

Old-fashioned potato salad made creamy with real mayonnaise.

Prep Time20 minutes mins

Cook Time30 minutes mins

Total Time50 minutes mins

Servings (adjustable): 8

Calories: 283

Author: Martha McKinnon | Simple Nourished Living

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds red potatoes, about 8 medium
  • ¼ cup lemon juice
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1-½ teaspoons salt, plus more to taste
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 3 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and chopped
  • 2 stalks celery, finely chopped
  • 2 large scallions, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 3 tablespoons cider vingegar

Instructions

  • Place the potatoes in a medium (4- to 6-Quart) saucepan and add enough water to cover them an inch. Bring to a boil over high heat, cover and then simmer over low to medium low heat until tender, about 25 to 35 minutes. You will know they are done when you can insert the tip of a sharp knife easily, without resistance.

  • Immediately drain the potatoes and allow them to cool slightly. When they are cool enough to handle, cut them into bite-size pieces with a serrated knife. (This will help keep the skins intact.)

  • Place the chopped potatoes in a large bowl. Drizzle the lemon juice and olive oil over them and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss gently and then place the bowl in the refrigerator while you prepare the remaining ingredients.

  • Add the eggs, celery, scallions. Blend the mayonnaise with the vinegar and then drizzle over the potato salad.

  • Gently stir everything together until all pieces are coated with the mayonnaise. If it seems dry, add more mayonnaise. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

  • Serve at room temperature or chilled.

Recipe Notes

Variations and Additions:

  • Sprinkle the top of your salad with paprika.
  • Substitute ½ cup finely chopped red onion for the scallions.
  • Add 2 tablespoons dijon mustard with the mayonnaise.
  • Add 3 tablespoons sweet pickle relish with the mayonnaise.
  • Stir in ¼ cup fresh parsley, dill, or basil.
  • Stir in ¼ cup finely chopped bell pepper.

Click here to see your WW PersonalPoints for this recipe and track it in the WW app or site.

11 *SmartPoints (Green plan)

7 *SmartPoints (Blue plan)

7 *SmartPoints (Purple plan)

8 *PointsPlus (Old plan)

Nutrition Facts

Old-Fashioned Potato Salad Recipe

Amount Per Serving (1 /8th recipe)

Calories 283Calories from Fat 166

% Daily Value*

Fat 18.4g28%

Carbohydrates 26.4g9%

Fiber 2.2g9%

Protein 4g8%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Course: Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: classic potato salad, creamy potato salad, traditional potato salad

Did you make this recipe?Mention @simplenourishedliving on Instagram and tag #simplenourishedliving - we love to see your creations!

Sources: Learning to Cook with Marion Cunningham (affiliate link), Betty Crocker Cookbook: Everything You Need to Know to Cook Today (affiliate link),The New Best Recipe (affiliate link) from the Editors of Cooks Illustrated

*Points® calculated by WW. *PointsPlus® and SmartPoints® calculated by Simple Nourished Living; Not endorsed by Weight Watchers International, Inc. All recipe ingredients except optional items included in determining nutritional estimates. SmartPoints® values calculated WITHOUT each plan's ZeroPoint Foods (Green plan, Blue plan, Purple plan) using the WW Recipe Builder.

If you're looking for a lighter version of potato salad, you might like:

  • Weight Watchers Red Potato Salad
  • Slow Cooker German Potato Salad
  • Southwestern Sweet Potato Salad
  • Lightened Up Creamy Red White and Blue Potato Salad
  • Greek Potato Salad

Old-Fashioned Potato Salad Recipe | Simple Nourished Living (6)Martha is the founder and main content writer for Simple-Nourished-Living.

A longtime lifetime WW at goal, she is committed to balancing her love of food and desire to stay slim while savoring life and helping others do the same.

She is the author of the Smart Start 28-Day Weight Loss Challenge.

A huge fan of the slow cooker and confessed cookbook addict, when she's not experimenting in the kitchen, you're likely to find Martha on her yoga mat.

More about Martha McKinnon

This post contains affiliate links to products I like. When you buy something through one of my Amazon links or other (affiliate links), I receive a small commission that helps support this site. Thank you for your purchase!

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Old-Fashioned Potato Salad Recipe | Simple Nourished Living (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients for a good potato salad? ›

Combine the potatoes, eggs, celery, onion, relish, mayonnaise, mustard, garlic salt, celery salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Mix together well and refrigerate until chilled. Enjoy!

How to make potato salad Martha Stewart? ›

Directions
  1. Put potatoes in a large pot of salted water; bring to a boil. Cook until just tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain; let cool.
  2. Stir together mayonnaise, lemon juice, mustard, and dill; season with salt and pepper. Peel potatoes; cut into 1-inch chunks. Fold into mayonnaise mixture.
Feb 25, 2021

How does Bobby Flay make potato salad? ›

Bobby Flay's Mustard and Scallion Potato Salad

In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, mustards, vinegar, salt and pepper, olive oil, honey, lime juice, jalapeño, and scallions. Add the warm, sliced potatoes to the bowl and fold until well combined.

How long does potato salad with eggs last in the fridge? ›

How long does potato salad with egg last in the fridge? Just like regular potato salad you have up to five days to consume it, if stored properly. Is it safe to eat week-old potato salad? The USDA doesn't recommend consuming potato salad that's more than five days old.

How to keep potatoes from falling apart when making potato salad? ›

The key is to allow the potatoes to dry and become cold before you make the salad. If you cut hot, boiled potatoes, they tend to crumble. If you wait until they had time to dry (may I suggest laying them out on a plate or casserole dish during this time) and cold, they cut nicer.

Does potato salad contain vinegar? ›

All you need are four basic ingredients for this simple potato salad recipe: scallions, mayonnaise, white-wine vinegar, and Yukon gold potatoes.

Why don't you peel potatoes for potato salad? ›

Prepping and cooking potatoes. To peel or not to peel? If you'd like to add a little extra color and texture to your salad, leave the skins on. Just be sure to scrub them thoroughly with a vegetable brush before you cook them.

What is in Walmart potato salad? ›

POTATOES, MAYONNAISE (SOYBEAN OIL, WATER, EGG YOLKS, VINEGAR, SALT), MUSTARD (WATER, VINEGAR, MUSTARD SEED, SALT, SUGAR, SOYBEAN OIL, TURMERIC, PAPRIKA, GARLIC POWDER, SPICES, ANNATTO EXTRACT (COLOR], XANTHAN GUM, CITRIC ACID, NATURAL FLAVOR), DILL PICKLE CUBES (CUCUMBER VINEGAR, SALT, CALCIUM CHLORIDE, NATURAL ...

Why shouldn t you leave the potato salad out after a picnic? ›

Potato salad is a common staple for barbecues, picnics, and cookouts during the summer, where it may be in direct sunlight at temperatures much higher than what you'd usually consider "room temperature." In these circ*mstances, it can only be left out for one hour before potentially harmful bacteria may start to grow.

Why does homemade potato salad get watery? ›

Potatoes can retain moisture. To prevent this, drain the potatoes very well in a colander or pot. Allow all the steam to escape the potatoes before mixing them with the dressing and other ingredients.

Can you eat 2 week old potato salad? ›

Be extra careful with mayo-based foods, such as chicken salad or potato salad. They're only safe to eat for 3 to 4 days after they're prepared.

Can you eat potato salad left out overnight? ›

The typically accepted range for room temperature is 68-74 degrees Fahrenheit. According to the FDA, perishables, such as mayonnaise-based potato salad, fall under the "two-hour rule" and should be refrigerated after two hours.

Is it OK to make potato salad 2 days ahead? ›

You can make the Potato salad 1 or 2 days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. I often make my potato salad the night before serving for best results. Store the bacon separately or cook it up right before you serve to keep it crispy.

Is it better to boil potatoes whole or cut up for potato salad? ›

Drop a whole russet into the pot and by the time the outside has cooked through, the inside will still be raw. Larger potatoes should be cubed to ensure they cook evenly (peeled first if desired). Smaller potatoes tend to have thin skins and can be boiled whole, no peeling required.

Should potatoes be cool before adding mayonnaise? ›

Potato salad can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 2 days. Some people say potato salad tastes better the next day. Even if you're not in that camp, you need to allow about 1 hour for the potatoes to cool before adding the mayonnaise.

Why does my potato salad taste bland? ›

If it's a potato salad, be sure to let the potatoes cool (the starch cells close up) before adding any dressing or salad mixture. Warm potatoes will soak up the liquids. Taste an hour after mixing and see if the spices need tweaking. Mashed potatoes do the same thing if you add in the garlic or cheddar cheese too soon.

Which type of potato is best for potato salad? ›

To keep your salad from falling apart into mush, it's important to use the best potatoes for potato salad. Skip the russet potatoes and use a waxy variety instead, like Yukon gold, red potatoes or fingerlings.

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