Learn how to Make Homestyle Potato Salad. At our house, this means comfort food. Whenever I need to bring a dish to pass, people have no problem requesting this dish.
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This is potato salad the old-fashioned way, with eggs, celery and relish.
Picnic Food
It is the perfect picnic food. However, I have been told that this is delicious served with chili too. Either way, enjoy this creamy potato recipe.
Easy Potato Salad Is Most Requested Recipe
I keep telling people that I do know how to make other food and it is pretty good too. They don’t seem to care. That is okay with my family. When I make some to take, I always make enough for at home too.
In fact, I can’t imagine a summertime gathering without this delicious side dish. This is our favorite potato salad hands down. I have never had any other potato salad like this. We do purchase the potato salad from the deli counter occasionally, but it is just not the same.
Creamy Dressing for Potato Salad
I think that there are a few things that make this potato salad unique. Often, potato salad recipes call for vinegar-this recipe does not use i. However, it does have sweet pickle relish in the recipe. Additionally, I use Miracle Whip Salad Dressing. It seems these key ingredients help give this salad a unique taste.
Learn the Secret ~ How to Keep the Potatoes Cubed When Mixing the Salad
When cooking the potatoes, I struggled for years to get nice looking cubed potatoes. I used to always quarter the potatoes before boiling them. As it helps them cook faster.
However, when I would try and cut the potatoes, I would often end up with smushed potatoes. They were cooled but not cold when I would cut them.
Dice the Potatoes Before Cooking
Then, one time, I cubed the potatoes before cooking. I have never gone back. The potatoes cooked very fast.
All I had to do is drain the potatoes in the colander and let sit to cool. They look great in the potato salad. No more mushy mess.
How Many Eggs?
Why am I talking eggs? Well, my daughter loves lots and lots of eggs in the potato salad. So, that is why you might notice the recipe lists 5-10 large eggs. Most people would be fine with 5 eggs.
Not my daughter. I think if she had her way, she would have me use a whole dozen.
Knowing how people like your cooking makes you want to specialize your recipes just for them. Therefore, I use 10 eggs.
How to Cook Easy Peel Hard-Boiled Eggs
For years, I struggled with peeling hard-boiled eggs. So much that I rarely wanted to make them. Until one day,..
I was in a hurry and I cooled them quickly with cool water peeling them when they were just cool enough for me to handle. The shells almost fall off!
I accidentally found a new trick.
Then a few years later, I decided to cook the eggs in a covered kettle versus a small pot that barely held the eggs.
I covered the kettle and only used about an inch of water. The result was perfectly cooked hard-boiled eggs that peel easy. I am sure that there is a scientific reason for why this works, but I don’t have a clue why this works.
All I know is, this is how I make my hard-boiled eggs and it works every time. I no longer dread making hard-boiled eggs and peeling them.
Kitchen Essentials
When draining the potatoes, I love to drain them using this colander. Many years ago, I had a few different colanders and they did not drain well. I was continually tipping the container from side-to-side trying to get the liquid to drain out.
That is no longer the case. Since I got this colander, I no longer have any issues. I just love this colander.
Homemade Potato Salad Recipe Variations
Everyone has their favorite ingredients that make up a pasta salad. Here are a few suggestions that you might want to try.
- While we love the flavor of Miracle Whip, you can swap it out for mayonnaise.
- If you prefer your potato salad to be a bit creamier without the tang, substitute half of the Miracle Whip for sour cream or a Greek yogurt.
- We love sweet pickle relish in our potato salad; however, some people prefer not to have this in. If that is the case, leave them out.
- Swap out the yellow mustard for a brown mustard.
- Use red onion to add a bit more heat. Radishes are a good choice too. Green onion will give a fresh mild taste.
- Fry and crumble some bacon. My son-in-law loves his with bacon.
Summer Side Dish Recipe
This potato salad pairs well with hamburgers, brats, and hot dogs.
As favorite family recipes do, it’s a food memory none of us can, or want to, forget. It shows up at nearly every BBQ too. We enjoy this side dish recipe year round.
Delicious with a perfectly cooked steak or along side a simple sandwich.
How to Make Homestyle Potato Salad
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Ingredients
- 5 Lbs. Potatoes Cooked and Cubed
- 5-10 Large eggs Cooked and Cubed
- 3 Stalks celery Diced
- 1 Small onion Diced
Dressing
- 3 Cups Miracle Whip dressing
- 2 Cups sugar
- 1 Cup milk
- 1 Cup Sweet Pickle Relish
- 2 TBL. Yellow Mustard
- 1 TBL. Lemon Juice
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
Instructions
- Potatoes: Peel and dice potatoes. Dice size should be the size you would like to eat, approximately ¼ “ to ½ “ dice. Since you will be just cooling and mixing after you cook the potatoes. This also helps the potatoes cook quickly and uniformly.
- Bring to a boil and continue cooking for approximately 10 minutes. Just until fork tender. Don’t overcook or they will be mushy. Drain in colander until cool.
- Eggs: Make the hard-boiled eggs. Place in covered kettle with 1 inch of water. Bring to a boil and continue boiling for 5 minutes. Turn off heat and let sit covered 10 minutes. Then cool slowly with cool running water. As soon as the eggs can be handled, begin peeling the eggs. Make sure to rinse off each one to remove any leftover shell. Dice eggs and egg and add to the bowl. Add to the diced potatoes. Sometimes if I am trying to be fancy, I set aside 1 or 2 hard-boiled eggs. They can be sliced and put atop the potato salad. Then I will sprinkle a bit of paprika on top.
- Celery and Onion Dice the celery and onion and add to the diced potatoes and eggs.
Dressing
- Use a bowl large enough to mix ingredients for the dressing. Add the Miracle Whip, sugar, milk, sweet pickle relish, yellow mustard, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Use a wire whisk to mix ingredients until well incorporated and creamy. Sometimes, I find that I need to add a bit more milk to get it to a creamier mixture. Don’t worry if you make it too creamy. You can always add a bit more Miracle Whip or just let the potatoes soak up the dressing overnight before you serve it.
- Pour the dressing over the potatoes, eggs, onion, and celery. Gently mix to coat. Refrigerate. Can be eaten right away or later.
Your Own Private Notes
Video
Notes
Recipe Variations
Everyone has their favorite ingredients that make up a pasta salad. Here are a few suggestions that you might want to try.- While we love the flavor of Miracle Whip, you can swap it out for mayonnaise.
- If you prefer your potato salad to be a bit creamier without the tang, substitute half of the Miracle Whip for sour cream or a Greek yogurt.
- We love sweet pickle relish in our potato salad; however, some people prefer not to have this in. If that is the case, leave them out.
- Swap out the yellow mustard for a brown mustard.
- Use red onion to add a bit more heat. Radishes are a good choice too. Green onion will give a fresh mild taste.
- Fry and crumble some bacon. My son-in-law loves his with bacon.
Nutrition
A few of my favorite things
The Power of Positivity
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I hope that you liked this recipe. If you are looking for more ideas on what to make, here are a few other recipes that you may enjoy.
You can find Victoria crocheting, quilting, and creating recipes. She has cooked in restaurants for over 20 years, including many larger parties. She learned to crochet when she was just 11 years old and has been crocheting ever since; over 50 years now. Over 40 years ago, she loved her first class in sewing and continues to hone her skills in quilting. Many have enjoyed the handmade gifts over the years. In her professional career, she has worked in management in a wide variety of businesses including higher education as a dean of a division. All the while attending college part-time to achieve her doctorate in higher education with an emphasis in e-learning.