Potato Salad Recipe: How to Make Classic Potato Salad

Potato salad is a side dish that combines cooked potatoes with mayonnaise, mustard, fresh herbs, and crunchy elements like pickles or crisp radishes, resulting in a harmonious balance between savory and sweet. There are a few foundational ingredients in a classic recipe, which has its roots in traditional German potato salad: Mayonnaise, mustard, diced red onions, and green onions like scallions, or chives. Add-ins and styles vary widely according to personal preference. For example, some recipes feature sour cream or Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise, chopped hard-boiled eggs, capers, or olives, spices like celery seed, or sweet pickle relish. Tangy, dairy-free potato salads come together with a basic vinaigrette, made with dill pickle juice or white vinegar, and are typically served warm.

The best potatoes for potato salad are ones that hold their shape while also maintaining a creamy texture. Waxy potatoes like Yukon Gold potatoes, or red potatoes like Red Bliss, are usually the best candidates for potato salad. A Russet potato may prove too crumbly or flaky, resulting in a texture that’s closer to mashed potatoes. Tender, marble-sized new potatoes are also a popular choice. Learn more about the types of potatoes.

Potato salad is a classic summertime side dish that you can serve with:

• Cookout classics: Potato salad is a natural complement to barbecued chicken, burgers, whole grilled fish, and veggies. Nothing completes a spread of smoked meat, cornbread, baked beans, and braised greens like a half-cup serving of cool, creamy potato salad.
  
• Deli sandwiches: A scoop of potato salad is a great side dish to serve alongside traditional deli sandwiches, like a tuna melt, an Italian sub or a BLT.
• Bratwurst: A plump bratwurst tucked inside a buttery toasted bun pairs especially well with tangy flavors of potato salad.