Creamy Classic Potato Salad

This is the potato salad.

The classic potato salad recipe that shows up next to baked chicken, at birthday dinners, and at summer tables where everyone goes back for “just one more spoonful.”

It’s not trendy or fancy—it’s just simple, creamy, and exactly what you expect potato salad to be.

And honestly? That’s why we love it.

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What You’ll Need

• 6 medium potatoes (about 2 pounds)
• ⅓ cup chopped onion
• ¾ cup sweet gherkin pickles, chopped
• 1¼ cups mayonnaise (or salad dressing)
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Dijon-style mustard (or regular mustard)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• Paprika for garnish

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How to Make It

Cook the Potatoes

In a covered saucepan, cook peeled and diced potatoes in boiling water for 20–25 minutes, until just tender. I usually use my electric pressure cooker. The potatoes come out perfectly done and it doesn’t heat up the house as much as a pot on the stove.
Drain the potatoes well.

Make the Dressing

In a large bowl, combine the onion, sweet gherkins, mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, salt, and pepper.

Add potatoes and toss gently to combine. At this point, I usually take a spoonful to Grampy for taste testing. Sometimes we add a bit more mustard to give the potato salad a little more zing.

Cover and chill for 6–24 hours before serving. The flavors combine in the fridge. Top with a sprinkle of paprika and serve. I love using the large scoop from this set to make serving super easy.

♡ Granny’s Tip: Don’t skip the chilling time! Potato salad is one of those dishes that needs a little rest—the flavors come together beautifully after a few hours in the fridge.

📝 Notes & Tweaks

• You can swap part of the mayo for sour cream or yogurt for a tangier flavor.
• If you like it extra creamy, add a spoonful of mayo right before serving.
• If you prefer a less tangy potato salad, omit the vinegar or use less mustard.
• You can add chopped celery, chopped bell pepper, or chopped boiled eggs. We prefer it without at our house!
• This makes a generous batch—perfect for gatherings, and sending some home with your kids. 😊

If you’re looking for other old-fashioned salads, you can find my Marshmallow Salad recipe here, or see all my recipes in The Recipe Index. ❤️

Until next time, happy cooking!