Thank goodness!! With this potato salad, I deem my losing streak in the kitchen officially over. No more cookie crumbs everywhere! No more coconut flakes in between the counters! No more maple syrup dripping on the floor and sticking to the soles of my slippered feet.
No more!
Moving on. I love potato salad! Especially the potato salad my mom makes. You see, when I was growing up, deviled eggs and potato salad were her “things”. I bet you can already tell which decade I grew up in, right? I had a slap bracelet, too, in case you were wondering. We lived in the South and for every event, party and barbecue, mom made her special deviled eggs and potato salad. Well, deviled eggs kind of died out around ’95 after I ate one too many at a pool party, but the potato salad? That stuck.
I could eat an entire bowlful of the stuff and call it dinner. Heck, I might even have done that last night! I was so excited when I got my first bag of potatoes of the season in my CSA bag last week. I knew exactly what I was going to make with them! And you wanna know the very best thing about this potato salad? How simple it is! I know I probably say that all the time, but this really is the simplest potato salad ever.
No fancy ingredients, no running to the store while the eggs are boiling, no ingredients that cost an arm and a leg….just simple, old fashioned goodness.
Now if my mom were writing this, she would tell you ABSOLUTELY 100% ONLY USE MIRACLE WHIP.
Ahhh, miracle whip. I grew up on the stuff. However, I kinda like the ingredient list of regular mayonnaise a little more. Or whatever it was that I actually used to make this—-Smart Balance Mayonnaise? It’s all the same…right? I actually really like the olive oil based mayonnaise out at the store right now!
Oh, and one more thing! Mom always used paprika in her potato salad. And it was sorta the best thing ever. I don’t know where that came from (isn’t dill traditionally used?) but I love that extra pop of spice and color that it lends.
This is a thick potato salad, not one of those drippy wet ones that taste more like mayonnaise than potatoes. This is the kind of potato salad found in small plastic deli cups at Southern barbecue joints, and the kind of potato salad that you always have to go back to for one more bite. Just one more! I love that.
Can someone come over here and help me eat this?
Old Fashioned Potato Salad
serves 6
Ingredients:
1.5 pounds new potatoes
2 stalks celery, chopped
6 eggs, hard boiled
1/2-3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp paprika
Directions:
Bring a large pot of water (with a pinch of salt) to a boil on the stove. Peel your potatoes and slice them uniformly (making sure all slices are about the same thickness as to ensure even cooking). Add potatoes to water and cook for about 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender. A fork should easily go through them when poked. Be careful not to overcook them to mush though! You want them to still keep their shape so you can then chop them for the salad.
When potatoes are finished cooking, drain and set aside to cool. Chop your hard boiled eggs and place in a large bowl with the celery. Once cool, roughly chop cooked potatoes and add them to the bowl as well. Add mayonnaise, salt, pepper and paprika and toss well to combine.
Serve chilled with an extra sprinkle of paprika on top.
Time:
1 hour
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{ 105 comments… read them below or add one }
I was once forced to eat potato salad as a kid and as a result am scarred from it.
Should I consider seeking therapy for the salad scarring?
YES!!!!! I agree. Haha. But this looks nice and festive. I’d make it for others.
I love the addition of paprika – it reminds me of deviled eggs. Also loving that napkin/table cloth you used!
Yum! I love potato salad. And paprika? Kinda genius
Oh and slap bracelets rock!
amy*
This is almost the exact recipe my mom uses too! I love this stuff – and yes, there absolutely must be a perfect, bring red layer of paprika on top. Delicious!
*bright . Apparently my caffeine intake needs to be upped.
i love potato salad too…this actually sounds exactly like what my mom’s has in it, including the paprika! so delicious, i could totally rock it solo for dinner too
I love to add a little juice from the pickle jar as well as some
chopped apples to my potato salad…mmmmmm!!!!
I love the fact that this isn’t gloopy from all the mayo – that’s one ingredient I just can’t handle if I can taste it strongly!
Mmm! I love how simple that looks!!
I have never heard of potato salad with eggs before. I’m so glad you kitchen disasters are on hiatus at the moment, that is so incredibly frustrating. I feel like that happened to me a couple weeks ago.
ps. I was the slap bracelet queen!
I love, love, LOVE Miracle Whip. But a few months ago, I (mistakenly) took one look and ingredient list and freaking out and tossed it in the trash. Mayo is good and all. And I love that it is “real” food. But nothing will ever compare to my love for the chemical-laden Miracle Whip.
*sigh*
I love the modern potato salads and everything…. but sometimes you just need the good old fashioned stuff.
Looks great!
I hate the taste of Mayo – is there anything that would “hold” everything together as well I wonder?
Jenna, I’d love to hear more about your book coming out soon or how the writing process is going!? When do you write in between the baking, reading(!) and yoga?!
And are more of you older recipes going to be in the book or newer stuff?
Sour cream
It works great with red potatoes especially!
Haha my mom was a hardcore believer in Miracle Whip as well–and somehow that resulted in me loving mayonnaise instead. Wonder if this is a trend?
This potato salad looks delicious! My Polish self cannot wait to try it and bring it to a family gathering.
Love potato salad….although haven’t had in years. Will try it.
BTW the musical theme of tonight’s Bastille celebrations in Paris is Broadway Show Tunes…including ‘Superfragilisticexpialidocious’ from Mary Poppins. And an excellent new francophile book is David McCullough’s ‘Greatest Journey: Americans in Paris’ but not the typical Jazz Era expats associated with that term…earlier Victorian Age & hugely influential on US culture to this day. Even though doesn’t seem so with most of WDC on the bus to Crazytown.
That’s WDC politicos not people. My bad…need coffee.
I love the Miracle Whip vs Mayo debate. Growing up my mother used Miracle Whip, but my grandmother used Hellmann’s. My sister always complained that our grandmother’s potato salad was superior. Eventually, Mom caved and started using low fat Hellmann’s. My sister still complained…35 years later and there is now full fat Hellmann’s in the potato salad and all are happy. For the record, the same debate occurs when it’s turkey sandwich season too.
btw – I loved Drowning Ruth and Deep End of the Ocean too. I’ve been in a book club for 12 years and those are books we’ve done. seeing them brought back memories. Two other favs from that era- Fall on Your Knees by Anne Marie MacDonald and Rapture of Canaan by Sheri Reynolds.
Great recipe. Simple, easy, delicious. Yum!
I never remember to make potato salad! this recipe though, looks bomb! I need to try it
Miracle Whip is icky! The only time I can recall enjoying it is on a Miracle Whip and American cheese sandwich on Wonder Bread, which was consumed regularly during my college days after a few too many cocktails. I wonder what that would taste like sober!
Deep End of the Ocean was a fantastic book, by the way. Now I obviously have to put Drowning Ruth on my must-read list!
I’ve never made potato salad because I always thought it was so difficult, but this looks super simple
I might just take it to a family reunion this weekend!!
My mom makes it the same way!!!! I think it tastes even better the day after you make it….mhmmm mouth is watering!
Looks delicious! Even at 8:55 in the morning…the potato salad my mum used to make (and my favorite kind of potato salad) is so similar looking to this. Thick – not watery – with paprika! Yum! Now I want some picnic food complete w/ potato salad!
Sounds delicious! I — and my kids — love potato salad! And it also happens to be my mom’s “specialty” as well. haha Your recipe sounds very much like my mom’s, in fact:))) Can I recommend: try adding a splash of vinegar to the mix. I never taste it outright, but I know it’s in there; I figure it cuts the mayo a touch and adds a nice acidic bite.
But I am no chef! Only a wanna-be, Food TV watchin’ home cook:)
Jenna! My boyfriend will be so so so happy with this recipe! It seems to combine the best of both worlds for me… deviled eggs and potato salad. I love eggs and potato salad and cannot imagine it without them! I actually sent him this link and he replied ” i want to bite that i want to eat that with potato chips and a slice of pickle
perhaps a ham sandwich” haha looks like I need to plan a picnic or bring this to the beach with us this weekend!
We never really ate a lot of mayonnaise or Miracle Whip while growing up… not sure why. I never really had a taste for it until now! I love the homemade stuff and I have been buying this super delicious vegan brand…and for the life of me I cannot think what the name is.. it’s not Follow Your Heart, its not Nayonaise or Veganaise or Spectrum… it’s refrigerated…. what is it!!!!??? It is so so so delicious and rich and has fooled anyone I’ve served it to… This is going to kill me until I figure out the name of it…
I think this looks delicious, although I have never had a potato salad that I actually liked. Something about cold potatoes (except in potato chip form!) turns me off.
Snap bracelets, deviled eggs, and potato salad sound just about right, ha. So does ONLY USE MIRACLE WHIP
I’m with ya on the regular mayo thing. I can’t stand miracle whip or other “fake” mayos!
I love potatoes prepared any way you can think of. They’re amazing. I’m allergic to egg so I can’t try this recipe (with the eggs & mayo) but it looks delicious. When I make my next potato salad (I have a mayo-less recipe), I may try adding a touch of paprika!
YUM. There are really no words for how delicious that looks. I LOVE the celery and hard boiled eggs addition. I need to try this like yesterday.
I always put paprika in mine too! You’re right, it’s totally better than dill. And unlike you, I’m still h-core into the deviled eggs. They get paprika-d right up as well!
Why yes! Don’t mind if I do!
In all seriousness though, wow. This looks so good!
I LOVE potato salad! This looks perfect!!
I grew up with miracle whip and like regular mayo too… Regular mayo tastes fresher to me and I like the simple ingredients too.
I’ve never had potato salad! I guess it’s just not a NorCal thing…Or because I can’t stand mayo? This looks yummy though! I wish I could get over my mayo fears..maybe this is the recipe that will do it!
I’m drooling over here. I LOVE potato salad!! My mom makes a mean German potato salad. It has potatoes (duhh!), BACON, sauteed onions, vinegar, salt, and sugar. No mayo or mustard. Food-gasmic, I tell ya!! I’ll be making this soon, too!
Will try this sometime
Looks so yummy! And a good idea for the potatoes that seem to sit around and not get eaten
What even is miracle whip?! haha good old fashion mayo is all I know of. Ahh every summer barbeque and cookout there was always always potato salad. I love foods that are connected to memories like this.
Oh man, THIS is one of my absolutes favorites. Like I probably owe a grabful of backfat to potato salad.
My mom makes potato salad with paprika and mustard. Such good flavor. I might have to make some this week.
I love potato salad!! My grandfather used to make it with green olives, red onions, and celery (but left them out for me since I am not a huge fan). I went to their house every day for lunch one summer and there was always an assortment of fresh salads on the table for us to enjoy with flatbreads. And we had frozen yogurt for dessert that we topped with blueberries that we went out and picked from their yard! That was the best summer.
I had my first deviled egg this past weekend at my sisters pre-wedding cookout!! Yum!
OMG. Yesterday I was thinking about what I wanted to blog about this week and I was seriously considering calling up my Mom and getting her potato salad recipe?! The only reason I didn’t is bc I have no one to share it with this week… My Mom always put celery in hers like your Mom. Took me years to get used to that. lol
Looks perfect!! I always love a little dill pickle in my potato salad
Yum! My aunt makes a similar potato salad that I adore. She also add green onions, perfect for a little crunch!
Yumm! that looks so great! I’m thinking about giving egg salad a try soon!
Wow! This is almost exactly how I make my *infamous* potato salad! Only difference is I add a little yellow mustard to the mix….tastes fabulous! And now I really want potato salad
You need help eating this?! I am on my way!
Man – I LOVE potato salad! I can’t eat it too much because it destroys my stomach (although this recipe looks healthier using the smart balance!).
I have a funny story about potato salad. I had a friend in high school whose parents always used to go away and it was dubbed the “Party House”. His mom was so great and would always leave a massive bowl of potato salad because she knew there would inevitably be a party there. (HA!) we used to all stand around the bowl of potato salad and dig in, while drinking our coors light cans. Classy.
Hahahaha Awesome story Kate! What a fun memory! My house in high school was the party house… and I have fond memories quiche and mixing my mother’s Bourbon with Ecto Cooler! (Yikes!)
all this talk of deviled eggs and potato salad made me a little homesick for sunday birthday dinners (aka lunch
) at my grandma’s house. and reminded me of my annual 4th of july family reunion. my grandma and her sister always make potato salad like this- simple and with plenty of paprika!
This looks exactly like the potato salad I grew up on! We also grew up on deviled eggs and both must have paprika and Miracle Whip. Everything with Miracle Whip! I’ve switched to olive oil mayo in my adult years as well, but I can’t stand mayo with boiled eggs! lol
My mom’s secret ingredient for potato salad is celery salt…so good!
Celery salt is awesome on hot dogs too! Haha apparently it is the secret special spice to kick up BBQ food?
I’m sure for those who don’t despise mayo, this will be quite tasty. I loathe mayo. I can smell it through the bag when a fast food place accidentally puts it on my sandwich. Vile stuff!
Yum – nothing says summer to me like good potato salad. Thanks for the recipe, I definitely, want to make it for a summer picnic coming up!
My mom’s potato salad looks like this too. I hate runny potato OR macaroni salads, gross! And I also despise Miracle Whip.. I’m a mayo girl all the way, and only Hellman’s. I have yet to try the oil based ones.
Sometimes ya just need a good ol’ reliable salad! This is it.
This looks fabulous. My mom would use Miracle Whip, too! I grew up on it, but now it kind of freaks me out. Of course, none of her recipes taste the same and I’m pretttttty sure Miracle Whip is the reason. Miracle Whip tuna salad > any tuna salad I’ve ever made myself.
Now I want my mom’s tuna salad.
I love potato salad & I haven’t made any yet this summer. It always reminds me of summer parties & picnics. You have inspired me to make some!
I’d agree with your Mom on the Miracle Whip – I’ve never liked real mayo.
Though now when I make potato salad I use sour cream. And I always remember seeing Paprika sprinkled on top of potato salad, it’s what my mom did too.
I love me some good southern potato salad. I’ve never understood te fascination with Miracle Whip. I mean, it’s good but I like other mayos better. Now Dukes? Forget it. Just line me up for triple bypass because Dukes is so darn good.
i love classic potato salad. i’m such a starch person and this is one of my favorite summer salads!
Yeah, this is pretty much how my mom made potato salad too! Except we always added some onion and yup, she used paprika too. It was so ubiquitous for my childhood too that I wrote a short story in college with potato salad sort of as centerpiece, a metaphor. Not saying it was a good story, though!
My parents are both southerners who migrated to Ohio 45 years ago. This recipe is almost identical to my moms recipe with the exception of a few chopped sweet pickles added to it. We have this with our Easter ham every year. My mom is currently battling metastatic breast cancer and was craving this salad last week so my dad made it for her. Now I think I need some
Yum! However I still loved deviled eggs too
I love that this can be enjoyed on its own for a simple dinner or brought to a picnic because it’s so portable. Never had Miracle Whip and don’t think I ever will ! Just a little mayo, the olive oil kind like you mentioned, is fine by me!
Oooh, it’s like deviled egg meets potato salad! I love making deviled eggs with hummus and mustard powder…hm that sounds really good right now, I may have to create some this weekend! My mom is still 100% miracle whip or bust…I never liked the stuff!
This sounds like the potato salad I grew up on too! Except sometimes it had a little bit of mustard. and sometime green olives. I think that might have just been a weird Utah thing…
Potato salad definitely need paprika. Yum. Although I make mine with mustard and plain Greek yogurt. The taste is amazing!
Slap Bracelets were actually BANNED from my second grade classroom because my teacher thought we could hurt each other with them. We almost had an 8-year-old mutiny.
Is it awful to admit that two of my fave condiments in the world are 1. vegenasie and 2. miracle whip. They are kinda on opposite ends of the spectrum, but yeah, your mom and I think alike with the miracle whip
Good to know about the Smart Balance…I have often wanted to try it but havent b/c branching out into new mayo territory can be a gloppy, scary experience! ha!
I love a good potato salad. Thanks for posting this. Yum!
Although I’m not a huge mayo fan, I love a good potato salad. I love a potato salad with hard boiled eggs too…and lots of celery. Yum! The paprika makes it look so pretty
Almost like grandma used to make, although my grandma didn’t use celery and did use chopped onion. Sounds tasty and oh so summery!
This is always a hit at summer events!
Potato salad is amazing! yum!
I’ve never really liked potato salad at all….I’m thinking I should give it one more try…
I’m glad that this recipe marked the end of your losing streak in the kitchen– however with the recipes you’ve provided for me over the years, I still don’t see where your losing streak began!
Funny, my mom would say “only use Best Foods mayo”!
I’m a huge potato salad fan! I typically like mustard potato salad, but this sounds amazing, too
ooh this looks delicious nothing better than old fashioned potato salad !
My Mom’s potato salad is pretty much exactly the same (she also used Miracle Whip when I was a kid…but now uses mayo), including the paprika. Instead of celery she uses green onions and I have a sneaking suspicion she also adds a pinch of mustard powder.
Deeelish!
my best friend growing up’s dad made the best potato salad and he served it hot. it was similar to your recipe with the egg, but his has PICKLES and durkees sauce(you know the premixed mustard and mayo mix). oh wow- yum.
I love potato salad….and I love miracle whip too. I have yet to look at the ingredient list, but now I’m afraid to do so!
I agree 100% wholeheartedly with your mom – Miracle Whip is SOOO necessary! I, too, grew up on the stuff!
Hellman’s mayonnaise is the ONLY way to go haha. Mayo for the win! Your potato salad looks very similar to the way my mother makes it. Potato salad is the only dish she can make successfully, so she brings it all the special events haha. I will have to try out your recipe.
Both deviled eggs and potato salad find their way to my Norwegian family’s Christmas Eve dinner each year. Of course topped with the obligatory paprika and parsley garnishes. Wouldn’t be complete without a little greenery… Now why these are considered important for our Norwegian dinner I couldn’t say, but they’re certainly delicious!
Jenna I made this tonight (with Miracle Whip!) and it was A-Mazing!!! My mom has always made her potato salad with paprika but I always thought it was because we were Hungarian and paprika is like the national spice of Hungary!
How the heck did you know that I was looking for a potato salad recipe? Not exactly the old fashioned one but this recipe looks GOOD! Maybe I’ll put it in my sandwich with some greens and a cole slaw on the side.
I use Smart Balance mayo to make egg salad/potato salad, too! Love it. I’ve strangely never tried Miracle Whip before. It creeps me out… Anyways, this looks so tasty! Love how simple the recipe is, but the end product is a beauty!
Looks great! Going home to make my mom’s potato salad now! I grew up eating this potato salad and look forward to it every summer.
My mom’s is the similar except she uses green onions instead of celery, adds celery seed, less egg (only 2), adds 1tbsp vinegar and 1tsp sugar.
There’s always been the Miracle Whip vs Mayo debate on my household too. My brother prefers MW, I usually use mayo but have been known to switch it up. My mom always used mayo, Hellman’s to be exact.
This looks amazing! My Mom adds pickles in her version. YUMMY!
This looks delicious! I see this thicker type of potato salad frequently in Wisconsin, at picnics and grocery stores. Especially with Hungarian paprika!
That looks exactly like the delicious potato salad my mom always makes too! I guess I thought paprika was just what people used on potato salads because that’s what we’ve always done? It is delicious though!
Try making potato salad with Yukon Gold potato’s sometime…………..
I think paprika is a Southern thing! My mom puts it on her potato salad and deviled eggs, too.
This is quite similar to my dad’s potato salad, only he adds crispy bacon to his. That little bit of salt is over the top.
Jenna, Bet you didn’t think you’d be opening up such a can of worms with the MW vs mayo debate! I have always hated MW but love Best Foods, that’s Hellman’s to you Easterners. My paternal Grandma, Cora Belle Kidd, (great Souhern name, huh?)
was from Georgia and made the most amazing fried chicken, cornbread stuffing and potato salad..her recipe was almost the same as yours but included choped dill pickles and a seret ingredient…pickle juice! It adds just a bit of tang to the salad.
Keep up the good work.
I, also, am curious about your upcoming book…any details?
Add a little bacon to this and you’ve got the PERFECT potato salad. Yum.
My mom made the best potato salad too. I wish she’d make it more offend! Just thinking about adding bacon makes my month water.
I like to use half Miracle whip and half Hellmann’s mayo—then add 2 to 3 teasps of
sugar and equal amounts of cider vinegar, then if you like it more on the sour side -
add more vinegar 1/4 or 1/2 teasp at a time — if you like it more on the sweeter side add more sugar in the same fashion. add a tiny bit of salt and pepper. I like all the
“common” ingredients, hard boiled eggs, chopped onion, celery and a little bit
of dried chives — and of course the paprika on top
The German potato salad is basically the same ingredients, with the dressing being
made from 2-3 Tblspns vinegar and the same sugar & a teeny bit of water and then
doing the same — adding vinegar for more sour and sugar for sweeter. Fried bacon
cut in small pieces can be added if you like, I just like mine as is.
P.S. Had to leave one more thought. Macaroni salad made the same way but you
can add chopped green peppers to mac salad, I don’t think they go too well with
potato salad though and sour cream added to either one is good.
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