There’s nothing like a classic American potato salad. Something about the creamy potatoes, eggs and mayo just make it perfect for a backyard barbecue. Or with fried chicken. This is the best potato salad I know how to make. And I know a few…
This is my kind of comfort food. Probably because I love BBQ. And I love fried chicken. And I love potatoes. So not a big surprise.
But I don’t like just any potato salad. I’m actually pretty picky. Don’t like it pre-fab from the grocery store. Not crazy about it at most casual restaurants.
Usually don’t want anything to do with what they serve at fast food joints. But I love this stuff for a reason. It’s just really, really good.
This is my best potato salad
Best. That’s a very big claim. Too big really. And it’s very subjective. I love a good French potato salad. Potatoes with grainy mustard and bacon can be fantastic.
So maybe it’s not the best there is but it’s up there. There’s just something about it that works. Works very well.
I can’t take much credit for it. This is America’s Test Kitchen all-American potato salad with a couple small glebekitchen touches. More eggs. Lots more. And leave out the celery seed. That’s it. But it makes a difference.
If you want to make really good potato salad, it’s going to be a bit more work than tossing potatoes with some mayo and chopped onion. Sorry. It’s not hard but there are a few extra steps.
Pickle juice is why this works
Pickle juice is the secret ingredient. Pickle juice and ball park mustard. It’s different. Crazy even. But it’s critical. Drizzle warm potatoes with pickle juice and mustard. Let it sit to allow the potatoes to absorb the flavours.
Sour cream is the other twist. Full fat sour cream. Don’t wimp out. Cook to impress. Nobody needs to know.
Just serve it up and take the compliments. Nobody is going to die because they had a few extra calories at a party. I’m pretty sure anyway. At least I hope not.
Best potato salad? I think so.
Old school? Maybe.
Tasty? Definitely.
Try it and let me know what you think.
best potato salad
Ingredients
- 2 lbs yukon gold potatoes
- 3 Tbsp pickle juice total
- 1 Tbsp yellow mustard
- 2 dill pickles finely minced
- 1/2 red onion finely minced
- 1 stalk celery finely minced
- 1/2 - 1 Tsp kosher salt
- 3 hard-boiled eggs chopped
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise - Hellmans and preferably not light
- 1/4 cup full fat 14% sour cream
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Peel and dice the potatoes into roughly 3/4 inch pieces.
- Boil until tender in well salted water. Drain.
- Mix 2 Tbsp pickle juice with the yellow mustard. While the potatoes are still warm, spread the potatoes on a cookie sheet and drizzle the pickle juice/mustard mixture overtop. Stir gently to coat all the potatoes.
- Refrigerate around 30 minutes.
- Combine all other ingredients except the eggs in a bowl large enough to contain the potato salad. Don't forget the third Tbsp of pickle juice.
- Fold in the potatoes and then the eggs gently and chill for around one hour. Serve and enjoy.
Hi Romain, this potato salad sounds great, going to have a go on my next BBQ. just a few queries , what do you meand by pickle juice? Im assuming its from the dill pickles. Yellow mustard? Is that English hot mustard ie Colmans or the American type. ?
Many thanks
Pickle juice is the juice in which the pickles are stored. Note that this recipe really works well with cheaper supermarket type pickles like Bicks brand. I’ve tried it with higher end genuine kosher dills and it isn’t as good.
The mustard is the mustard I see when I google the term “American mustard”. The really yellow hotdog and hamburger style mustard.
Biggest irritation as a lay person trying to cook great food for her/his family- bloggers who give a recipe 5 stars but haven’t actually cooked the recipe. It happens every day. I read a recipe and the reviews- 90% from other ‘bloggers’ willing to give 5 stars for a recipe they’ve never made in a hopeful return for ‘5 stars’ on their site. This is super frustrating for normal people. I don’t care what any blogger thinks about a website’s recipes- especially if the blogger hasn’t made it. I do care about what people who have actually made the recipe think. Soooo- this review is for them. This potato salad is great! The texture from the soft, yet toothsome potatoes, dill pickles, celery, red onion, mustard, pickle juice, sour cream (Daisy), mayo (Hellman’s ALWAYS) is on point. Follow it to a tee! You won’t regret it. It did take awhile to dice the onion/pickle/celery- I thought about just putting it my food processor, but I’m glad I diced it by hand- less juice and uniform pieces. Embrace the 3 TBSPs of pickle juice. Delicious.We have been grazing on it all day- everyone has asked for more, from age 10-65. I’ve not had a bad recipe from Romain. Glebe Kitchen has become my ‘go-to’ site for amazing meals.
What an awesome comment. Thank you. I really love and value reviews from people who are actually in the kitchen cooking! That’s why this blog is here. To get people in the kitchen!
Potato salad is one of my all-time favs. I’ve been making my grandma’s recipe for as long as I can remember and it doesn’t sound too different from this one! Your potato salad looks and sounds amazing, I’m going to give it a try. Just don’t tell my grandma lol
Your secret is safe with me. I hope it lives up to your grandma’s potato salad recipe.
This is definitely the best potato salad I have tried. Well done!
I am so glad you liked it Agness. Thank you for saying so!
Sour cream in potato salad is a great idea! I never thought of that. This does sound like the best potato salad just from the looks of the recipe. I’ll have to try it!
Sour cream in potato salad, along with the pickle juice is a combo that’s hard to beat!
Pickle juice (and pickles) in potato salad is the best! I remember the first time I had a really great potato salad and it had pickles in it! My life was changed! lol… okay, maybe not, but this is such a wonderful summer dish!
Maybe not life changing but it does make it a little bit better!
I can’t wait to make this for my next barbecue. The ingredients are all perfectly balanced here and YES! Pickle Juice!! I also love all the little bites of crunch and flavor you’ve included.
I hope it’s a hit!