Published June 11, 2021.This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
This easy-to-make Southern-Style potato salad recipe is loaded up with celery, onions, mustard, and mayonnaise for the perfect BBQ side dish.
Is there anything better at a backyard get-together than all of the tasty side dishes? If you’re all about the sides like we are, you definitely have to check out my Cornbread or Macaroni and Cheese recipe.
Potato Salad
Potato salad is a delicious side dish consisting of cooked potatoes, vegetables, and a dressing. No matter where you are in the world, every country has its own version of potato salad and even then, there are several variations of that specific rendition. Potato salad in America is most associated with the South which is mayonnaise and mustard-based.
Southern-Style potato salad has some discrepancies as well. To add sugar or not, to use relish or not, what potato should be used. My professional recommendation is to make and eat it the way you and your family enjoy it the most. With that being said, if you want the real deal, then this is it.
How to Make Potato Salad from Scratch
Follow these step-by-step instructions for how to make a potato salad from scratch:
Peel and slice the russet potatoes.
Boil the potatoes in a large pot of boiling salted water.
Next, remove the potatoes from the hot water and immediately chill them in an ice-water bath. Strain and set aside.
Mash about 1/3 to ½ of the potatoes using a hand masher in a large bowl.
Add the remaining potatoes to the bowl along with all of the other ingredients and fold them together using a rubber spatula until completely combined.
Garnish by sprinkling on some paprika and thinly sliced fresh chives.
Make-Ahead and Storage
Make-Ahead: You can make this up to 1 day ahead of time. In addition, it would be best not to dress the potato salad until ready to serve.
How to Store: Cover and keep cool in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. This recipe will not freeze well.
chef notes + tips
- The potatoes should be peeled and cut before boiling them.
- Feel free to add or subtract the amount of mustard or mayonnaise to your liking.
- Yukon gold, red bliss, or russet potatoes will work great for this recipe.
- You can absolutely make this without celery.
- If you do not have a red onion, a yellow, sweet, or white onion will do.
- Use my hard-boiled egg recipe for perfect results.
- My bread and butter pickle recipe makes for an excellent relish.
- The boiling water should be as salty as the ocean.
More Potato Recipes
- German Potato Salad
- Twice Baked
- Oven Roasted
- Au Gratin
- Mashed
Be sure to follow me onFacebook,YouTube,Instagram,andPinterest,and if you’ve had a chance to make this then definitely drop me a comment and a rating below!
Video
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Delicious Homemade Potato Salad Recipe (Southern Style)
5 from 72 votes
This easy-to-make Southern-Style potato salad recipe is loaded up with celery, onions, mustard, and mayonnaise for the perfect BBQ side dish.
Servings: 12
Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 6 minutes minutes
Total Time: 26 minutes minutes
Ingredients
- 3 pounds peeled and thinly sliced russet potatoes
- ½ peeled small diced red onion
- 2 medium diced celery stalks
- ½ cup finely minced bread and butter pickles
- 6 small diced hard-boiled eggs
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Add the potatoes to a large pot of boiling salted water and cook for 6 minutes or just until tender.
Immediately remove them from the boiling water and transfer to a large bowl of ice water to chill them quickly.
Once cool, strain them and set aside.
Take about 1/3 to ½ of the potatoes and add them to a large bowl and using a hand masher, roughly mash them.
Add the remaining potatoes along with the rest of the ingredients and using a rubber spatula fold everything together until it is very well combined.
Garnish with optional extra paprika and thinly sliced green onions and serve.
Notes
Chef Notes:
Make-Ahead: You can make this up to 1 day ahead of time. In addition, it would be best not to dress the potato salad until ready to serve.
How to Store: Cover and keep cool in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. This recipe will not freeze well.
The potatoes should be peeled and cut before boiling them.
Feel free to add or subtract the amount of mustard or mayonnaise to your liking.
Yukon gold, red bliss, or russet potatoes will work great for this recipe.
You can absolutely make this without celery.
If you do not have a red onion, a yellow, sweet, or white onion will do.
Use my hard-boiled egg recipe for perfect results.
My bread and butter pickle recipe makes for an excellent relish
The boiling water should be as salty as the ocean.
Nutrition
Calories: 236kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 6gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 99mgSodium: 184mgPotassium: 527mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 235IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 35mgIron: 1mg
Course: Appetizer, side, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Author: Chef Billy Parisi
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134 comments
- Ellen Whilden
I made this over the weekend and it was delicious! Got lots of compliments. Thank you Chef Billy!
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- Stephanie VT
Just perfect! Thank you chef
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- Shirley
Do not let my Mom know I have substituted the family recipe for this one! Delicious and lighter.
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- THERESA DALY
I decided to “risk” using russet potatoes (even though yukon gold are my favorite). Another absolutely delicious dish! ✨
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- Jody Hart
True southern potato salad!!!! Thank you so much!!!!
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- louise archetti
Perfect everyone loved it
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- Chris Powell
Very, very good!
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- Julie Wermers
I loved it. Thank you !
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- Dee Dietl
The only problem is I make it sooo much cause everyone loves it soooooo much. My son in law is my biggest fan. He could eat it everyday. Actually I love it too. Love making it. Sooooooooo good. Thank you chef Billy. I follow you and just love the recipies. Yummmmmmmmmm
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amazing!
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- Nancy Fopeano
Another winner! Consistently great recipes using solid techniques. Thanks for sharing ❤❤❤
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thanks for giving it a shot!!
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- Catherine Wadden
Tried both of these recipes! Delicious 😋
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appreciate you trying it
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- Frank Sargent
Made it for a barbecue and the host wanted to keep some. A sure sign of a great recipe!
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amazing!
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- David Dubois
You know this is so easy , little things you tell us stop our major problems. One more things , hats off to never being condescending, it happens a lot elsewhere. .. sooooooo “ LETS COOK”
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appreciate you trying it
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- David Bowman
Just the way I make it. Good stuff!
- Reply
so good!!
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- Cathy Clary
So good!
- Reply
yes indeed!
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- Lisa M Albers
Absolutely the best potato salad ever! Should have made a double batch. It didn’t last long.
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appreciate you trying it
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- Panie Visser
Luv it
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- Jean Humble
Awesome!!!!!
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perfect!!
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- Debi
Made this today for a BBQ tonight. You are my “go-to” for delicious recipes❣️❣️❣️
Didn’t change a thing 👍🏻- Reply
appreciate you trying it
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- Terry Chasteen
Just like my mom used to make!
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appreciate you trying it
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- Kenneth Fitzgerald
I microwave the potatoes instead of boiling. Much faster and I use a ricer for half the potatoes. Getting great reviews for MY new recipe. LOL. Thank you.
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- Teresa McCarthy
I never knew to mash a few of the potatoes to keep your potato salad from being watery. This is a great recipe!
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- Pamela Giles
I made this potato salad. It was so good. I made it for a family gathering. They loved it. I got a lot of compliments. I’ll definitely make it again.
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love it!
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- Mary
The BEST I have tasted!!!! Your bread and butter pickle recipe gave this recipe that added Umph!!!!
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excellent!
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- TomC
Very good, Thanks Chef Billy Parisi!
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My pleasure
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- Don
Great recipe, the celery and onions give it an extra taste that I’ don’t usually use but it’s still good. Chopping up the pickles instead of relish gives it a fresh taste.
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Thank you
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- Jan
Delish. Thank you.
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My pleasure
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- Miguel
Fantastic! I mix the egg yolk with the dressing ingredients. Everything else was the same.
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awesome
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- Jean
Just like my mama’s!!
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perfect
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- Jeanine
Excellent recipe! Delicious! thank you!
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My pleasure
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- Zina
I love your recipes. Thank you for taking time to explain everything so thoroughly 🙏
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many thanks!
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- Mary Zmuda
Best potato salad ever Chef! Thank you!
- Reply
excellent!
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- Nuala
Delicious
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excellent!
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- Lisa
So delicious and easy to make. Another wonderful recipe Chef Parisi!
- Reply
so good!!
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- Henderson Karen
Great potato salad! Our family go to.
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many thanks!
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- George Martin
Made this with grilled chicken and it was delish!
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- Amanda
This was perfect just like everything else you make!
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Many Thanks!
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- Lois
Best southern potato salad ever!
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Many Thanks!
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- MRS
Got any macaroni salad recipies? Thanks.
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Nope. Pasta salad though.
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- Joan
I plan to make this recipe for the forthcoming….
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- Dave Belt
I love this recipe! The only thing I do differently is use baked potatoes, instead of boiled. (Russet, slow-baked in foil in the oven the night before, then refrigerated and peeled right before making the salad.) I find the taste of baked potatoes to be perfect for potato salad!
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- Jim Thompson
There’s an old Italian saying about how the boiling water for pasta or potato should taste like the ocean. Do you know what it is in Italian?
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No, sorry.
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- Carol
Very traditional and delicious. Only change I make is to cool the drained, hot potatoes on a cookie sheet to ‘dry’ them out …to ensure that the potato salad is ultimately not ‘liquidy ’. I also sometimes use shallot instead of onion and was taught by my Southern Mother that the egg to potato ratio is 1:1.
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so good!!
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- Edith Bray
Excellent. Could not stop eating it!! I’ve always just made my Mom’s potato salad recipe which we all love. Thought I would try something different and was not disappointed. Truly a great potato salad!! Thanks for the recipe (potato salad Southern Style)!
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Fantastic!
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- Camie Ward
I love potato salad and thought mine was pretty good. I tried your recipe, wow, I’m hooked. Thanks for the recipe!
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Amazing
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- Peggy McLain
The potato salad is delicious. Thank you.
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thank you so kindly!!
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- Camille Hux.
I have followed Chef Billy for a couple of years now. He is incredible talented and a true gentleman. I have loved every recipe I tried so far. Try any of them and I promise you won’t be disappointed.
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Thank you so kindly!!
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- Earlene Kent
Served to lunch guests today and this potato salad was a hit! Everyone had seconds which was surprising because I also served your BLT’s and those sandwiches are a full meal on their own! Will be making this again!
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- Jackie
Made this and it was wonderful !!
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thanks for giving it a shot!!
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- Bonnie
Sooo good.
Definitely a must try.- Reply
Yes!
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- Lea Michele Matthews
There’s absolutely nothing I would change about this recipe. Even though I have to change my mayo. I might just start making my own.
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Awesome.
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- JanEllen Gitz
Best potato salad if ever had! Yum!
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Love it
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- Julie Dawson
It was excellent, my family loved it!
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awesome
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- Heather H
Fabulous recipe! I like to add crispy bacon and use 1/2 mayo and 1/2 Miracle Whip.
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yum!
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- Cathie Zimmerer
Taste is perfect, never made in that didn’t have dill but it was a hit. Might add some pickle juice next time, yum
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Great!
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- Carroll
Thank you for the detailed instructions. I am not a good cook, need ALL the help, and this came out great! Thank you! 👍👍👍👍👍
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my pleasure
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- Andria Hall
Delicious! Family favorite.
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love it
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- Rosemary Schaumloffel
Sounds really good …… I will try it.
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- Reeta Frieze
Full of flavor Southern Potato Salad is just like my money used to make. No bland potato salad here. I love and recommend this recipe if you like a full flavor dish. Right on target.
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excellent!
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- Rita Kraus
I made this a few weeks ago, and it was so good!! I am making it again tomorrow!!
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awesome!
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- Bernie
This is so good!
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many thanks!
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- Faynell Poe
My Mother or Grandmother would always use the leftover mashed potatoes from the Sunday dinner so eating potato salad with “chunks” of potatoes always felt foreign to me. This recipe brings the best of both styles.
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awesome
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- Joni
Loved it and love your recipes!
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excellent
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- Lisa
I made the mistake of only making a half batch the 1st time. It was gone way too fast! Tomorrow I need to make a full batch so we can have leftovers.
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love it!
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- Wanda
This is the best recipe!! So much better than what I’ve been making!!
Very tasty.- Reply
excellent!
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- Greta
We loved it, first time making a different version of potato salad , big hit as well as baked beans and Cole slaw !
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thank you so kindly!!
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- Dixie Stupp
Omg I fixed this . I thought no way can I do potato salad . It was amazing . Well it did not look as nice as yours . But everyone loved it and took the recipe . Thank you so much
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my pleasure!
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- Lucy
I loved this recipe and received a lot of compliments.
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appreciate you trying it
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- Cindy Lo
Great
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many thanks!
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- Michelle
5 stars! yum….
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thank you so kindly!!
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- Thomas Jeremiason
Delicious… I am hooked… Thank you Billy!
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My pleasure.
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- Hazel
Second time making this (because we loved it so much the first). The recipe goes against all my years of potato salad making. Peel and chop and boil potatoes? I’ve always made it the way my mom, and grandma made. Boil the potatoes whole with skin on. This is so much easier, and you don’t have any mushy potatoes (outside mushy, inside still hard). I’m a huge fan of B&B pickles, but I was out, so I ended up with about 4 B&B and some sweet pickle relish. It didn’t hurt it a bit. My honey LOVES potato salad, and I had no sooner finished making it this afternoon, he comes behind me with a bowl – “I just want to taste it!” So our sunny afternoon dinner will be pretested, lol. Perfect potato salad!
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Awesome!!
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- TORI
OUTSTANDING! I’m so glad i found this site!!! I love that the recipes are so easy to follow and use ingredients you already have! Now that i found this site I can cancel my HelloFresh account! Thanks a mill Chef!
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- Christine
This potato salad is so delicious! I love the idea of mashing some of them. Seasoning was perfect for my families taste. Thank you!
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- Wendi L
I’ve been making a different potato salad with dill pickles for years, but decided to try something new when my daughter said that she preferred a different salad over mine (insert broken heart here). BILLY, your potato salad is so yummy! I love the combination of savory red onions and a hint of sweet from the bread and butter pickle relish (I’ve never been a fan of until now), and mashing up part of the potatoes give it a great texture. Wow, you converted me! Thank you for sharing!
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- rosemary | a hint of rosemary
That looks so delicious, Chef! I love the addition of grainy mustard. Need to try this!
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