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This red potato salad is creamy and full of flavor. It is the perfect potato salad for your Summer picnics, get togethers, and BBQs, and will certainly be a hit for all who try it!
I was never a huge fan of potato salad. Every potato salad that I tried, and that claimed to be “the best”, seemed to have an overpowering flavor of vinegar.
I tended to just steer away from potato salad, until I met my husband.
After we went on a few dates, I met his mom and dad and we all decided to go on a picnic one weekend. His mother brought her unique potato salad. Great. Well, hers was different, as it was hardboiled egg and potato salad! Not only that, but it also didn’t have much vinegar in it. I fell in love with her and her delicious potato salad that day! After my husband and I got married, she taught me (in person) how to make it. Now I am thrilled to share with you how to make perfect red potato salad every time!
Perfect Red Potato Salad
There are four things that make this red potato salad recipe what it is (perfect!). When you make this recipe, please don’t change these things, or it just won’t be the same.
Do you put hardboiled eggs in potato salad?
I wouldn’t say it’s a 50/50 ratio between the potatoes and the eggs, but it’s close! You can add as many hardboiled eggs as you want of course.
Honestly, this potato salad recipe would also be really tasty without eggs, if you are allergic or just don’t care for them, but if you can add eggs, definitely do! It is not only the flavor, but the texture of the hardboiled eggs with the texture of the potatoes that just work so well together.
Enjoy potatoes and not just potato salad? Here are some potato gadgets to help make them easier to cook.
What kind of potatoes should I use for potato salad?
Red potatoes should be used when making potato salad! Not only are they a little “sweet” and have an excellent flavor, but red potatoes are a good source of Vitamin C and essential iron!
Red potatoes are firmer than russets when boiled, which keeps your potato salad from turning mushy. Yellow or Gold potatoes are also a flavorful, firm potato that would be another option if red potatoes aren’t available.
If you want truly perfect potato salad every time, then I’d have to recommend that you don’t use Russet or any type of brown potato for this particular recipe for potato salad just wouldn’t be the same.
Cook the onions WITH the potatoes
When you look at the ingredient list, you might assume the onions will go in with the other ingredients. Nope! Boil the onions with the potatoes.
Level up your Pot’s Game.
Do you boil potatoes with the skin on?
Leave the skin on the potatoes when boiling them as it keeps too much water from being absorbed by the potatoes. We definitely don’t want watery, mushy potatoes for potato salad. Another plus is the potatoes will let you know they are done when the skin/peel starts to crack open.
Quick recap: use red potatoes, cook potatoes and onions together and leave the skins on.
If you follow the directions on the card carefully, you should come out with the perfect picnic potato salad. Take it on your summer outings. Or just enjoy at home for a side dish!
A recipe to be passed down through the generations
My mother-in-law passed away many years ago, but my daughter also loves this recipe. I have shown her how to make her Grandma’s Perfect Red Potato Salad recipe as well, and I am thrilled this recipe will be passed down for generations to come.
To this day, I can proudly treat my husband to a big batch of his mom’s amazing red potato salad (with plenty of hardboiled eggs – just like she used to make it). It is perfect every time, and I know she would be proud.
*Garnish with this amazing SMOKED PAPRIKA!
WHAT INGREDIENTS DO I NEED TO MAKE RED POTATO SALAD?
Red potatoes, Red wine vinegar, eggs, onion, celery seed, yellow mustard, mayonnaise, sweet relish, garlic salt, sugar, onion salt, and sour cream.
If you are looking for a potato side dish to serve with hamburgers or hot dogs, this would be perfect. Or combine our Perfect Red Potato Salad with our Pine Nut and Cranberry Picnic Chicken Salad Sandwiches for the perfect Sunday potluck lunch or 4th of July picnic!
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13 Responses
What do you do with the onion? Have never use red potatoes for potato salad. This sounds very good and most of the stuff I use in my potato salad
This was my question, too; what happens to.the onion? Does it get added to the potato salad, or does it just flavor the potatoes and then get tossed?
What do you do with onion?
What
Girl…can you please answer what to do with the onion!
Wow, Jen left us with a cliff hanger here. LOL Just toss the onion. It flavors the potato.
Hi what kind of sweet relish is best please
I seriously want to know what happens to the onions. I’m using only that. Onion and potatoe boil to hopefully flavor the potatoes. LOL
I didn’t add the onion to the potatoes when cooking never have I heard of that so I left it out. ♀️ boil onion did sound good to me in potatoe salad???
Hey Jennifer-
Awesome recipe! I just finished making it and found the recipe to be very easy to follow. I had a smidge of leftover green pepper in the refrig so rather than let it spoil, I diced it up and tossed it in. It added an add’l bite of surprise and freshness as well as some color.
It made a lot so I’ll be sharing it.
Thanks so much for the recipe. It’s a keeper!
Janae-
Omaha
I have made this a few times now and I use the onion (dont toss it adds so much flavor )THIS Potato Salad IS Amazing . My favorite potato salad recipe by far
Do you really need to peel the potatoes?
I don’t
It would have been nice if you’d answer all of the people, including me that are curious about the onion. If you can’t interact with your followers, then I’m not interested in following you. ♀️