Aunt Penny's Classic Potato Salad Recipe - Simply Scratch (2024)

Aunt Penny’s Classic Potato Salad Recipe is essentially a simple mustard potato salad that has hard boiled eggs, onion and celery. It’s simple, delicious and I’ve been loving this recipe since I was 15 years old. Perfect served with burgers, hotdogs or ribs. Your barbecue isn’t complete without it.

Aunt Penny's Classic Potato Salad Recipe - Simply Scratch (1)

Pat’s Aunt Penny has been making this classic potato salad recipe since forever and it’s the absolute best potato salad recipe I’ve ever tasted. Never can I buy store-bought again because it doesn’t come anywhere close to her recipe. No matter if it is Easter or Fourth of July, we can always count on a big bowl of Aunt Penny’s potato salad to be on the table.

When Aunt Penny first gave me this recipe, she told me she starts with 5 to 6 pounds of potatoes and the rest of the ingredients are done by sight and taste, so it was a bit of a challenge figuring out the precise measurements. However my husband has been eating her potato salad 15 years longer than me, so in the end, he has the ultimate say.And it passed.

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If you’re looking for an easy potato salad recipe that can be customized to your preference, let this be the one!

In her recipe she does add green pepper (which I personally love) but my husband isn’t the biggest green pepper fan so I leave it out when I’m making it for us, like today. You can nix the yellow onion and substitute green onions in its place and Yukon gold for russet potatoes. This recipe can also be easily be halved for a small family dinner. However Aunt Penny’s classic potato salad recipe is meant to feed a large crowd.

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To Make Aunt Penny’s Potato Salad You Will Need:

  • russet potatoes
  • mayonnaise
  • mustard
  • kosher salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • yellow onion
  • celery
  • hardboiled eggs

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Start by peeling, rinsing and chopping 5 pounds of russet potatoes into large bitesize pieces.

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Fill the pot with cold water 1 to 2 inches above the potatoes. Cover and bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-high and cook until fork tender. On my stovetop it takes about 15 to 20 minutes to bring the pot to a boil and another 20 to 25 minutes after that to cook the potatoes. But I frequently check the potatoes after the 15 minute mark just to be sure.

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While the potatoes are boiling away, quickly whip the dressing together. In a medium bowl, add 1-1/2 to 2 cups of mayonnaise and 2 tablespoons yellow mustard. Then season with 1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt and 3/4 teaspoon of black pepper.

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Stir, cover and refrigerate until you’re ready to toss it with the potatoes.

I also hard boil the eggs.

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Once the potatoes are cooked, strain them into a colander. Then allow them to cool, about 25 minutes or so, otherwise the potatoes will absorb all that dressing up.

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Once the potatoes have cooled down to room temperature, add in 1 cup chopped yellow onion, 3 stalks sliced celery (or about 1/2 cup), 6 chopped hard boiled eggs.

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Then pour in the dressing.

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Next toss it to coat the potatoes with the dressing. And the onions, celery, eggs and green pepper (if using) should be evenly throughout.

Taste test and add more salt and pepper if needed. If you need to add a little more mayo, you can do that now as well.

Cover, chill until your bbq is hopping and you’re ready to serve.

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This is the best potato salad. Classic tender potatoes, crunchy veggies but what I love most are the hard boiled eggs. The best part.

Thank you, Aunt Penny for being so generous and allowing me to share your recipe. It’s one I plan to make for years to come.
xoxo

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Enjoy! And if you give this recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!

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Yield: 15 servings

Aunt Penny's Potato Salad

Aunt Penny's Potato Salad is essentially a classic mustard potato salad with onion, hard boiled eggs and celery. It's simple, delicious and I've been loving this recipe since I was 15 years old. It's perfect served with burgers, hotdogs or ribs. Your barbecue isn't complete without it.

Prep Time: 30 minutes mins

Cook Time: 45 minutes mins

Additional Time: 30 minutes mins

Total Time: 1 hour hr 45 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • cups mayonnaise, homemade or store bought, or more to taste
  • 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
  • teaspoons kosher salt, more or less to taste
  • 3/4 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper, more or less to taste
  • 5 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cut into large bitesize chunks
  • 6 hard boiled eggs, peeled and coarsely chopped
  • 3 ribs celery, sliced (about heaping 1/2 cup)
  • 1 cup chopped yellow onion
  • 1/2 cup chopped green pepper, optional

Instructions

  • In a small bowl combine the mayo, mustard, salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to use.

  • Meanwhile, in a large pot add the potatoes and fill the pot with water, covering the potatoes by an inch or two.

  • Cover, bring to a boil and cook until the potatoes are fork tender. Strain and cool to room temperature.

  • Place the (cooled) cooked potatoes into a large bowl. Add in the celery, onions, green peppers (if using) and chopped hard boiled eggs.

  • Pour in the dressing and toss to combine.

  • Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed before covering and refrigerating until you're ready to serve.

Serving: 1g, Calories: 311kcal, Carbohydrates: 29g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 19g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 84mg, Sodium: 437mg, Potassium: 709mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 177IU, Vitamin C: 14mg, Calcium: 39mg, Iron: 2mg

Author: Laurie McNamara

Course: Salads, Side Dishes

Cuisine: American

Aunt Penny's Classic Potato Salad Recipe - Simply Scratch (15)

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Aunt Penny's Classic Potato Salad Recipe - Simply Scratch (2024)

FAQs

How to make potato salad Martha Stewart? ›

Directions
  1. Put potatoes in a large pot of salted water; bring to a boil. Cook until just tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain; let cool.
  2. Stir together mayonnaise, lemon juice, mustard, and dill; season with salt and pepper. Peel potatoes; cut into 1-inch chunks. Fold into mayonnaise mixture.
Feb 25, 2021

What kind of potatoes are best for potato salad? ›

Waxy potatoes are generally considered the best for classic potato salad because they retain their shape, you don't have to peel them, and they have a smooth texture.

Why don't you peel potatoes for potato salad? ›

There's no reason at all, so my advice is to leave the skins on. The skin on a potato adds a nice texture and flavor to the potato salad and it's also the healthiest part.

Is it better to make potato salad the night before? ›

Yes, and PLEASE do, chilling your salad will only make it more flavorful! You can make the Potato salad 1 or 2 days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. I often make my potato salad the night before serving for best results.

What is in Walmart potato salad? ›

POTATOES, MAYONNAISE (SOYBEAN OIL, WATER, EGG YOLKS, VINEGAR, SALT), MUSTARD (WATER, VINEGAR, MUSTARD SEED, SALT, SUGAR, SOYBEAN OIL, TURMERIC, PAPRIKA, GARLIC POWDER, SPICES, ANNATTO EXTRACT (COLOR], XANTHAN GUM, CITRIC ACID, NATURAL FLAVOR), DILL PICKLE CUBES (CUCUMBER VINEGAR, SALT, CALCIUM CHLORIDE, NATURAL ...

Why does homemade potato salad get watery? ›

Potatoes can retain moisture. To prevent this, drain the potatoes very well in a colander or pot. Allow all the steam to escape the potatoes before mixing them with the dressing and other ingredients.

Why is it called Chef's salad? ›

When the customers started requesting the off-menu salad made with cuts of meat, cheese and hard boiled eggs, the hotel decided to add it to the menu. Giving chef Seydoux the honor of naming the salad he is purported to have said "Well, it's really a chef's salad."

How long does homemade potato salad last? ›

Blame it on the bad bacteria that grow rapidly when food remains in the danger zone between 40°F and 140°F for more than two hours. 2 This means that potato salad made without mayo isn't exempt from these time and temp guidelines. Bottom Line: When stored safely, fresh potato salad should keep for up to five days.

Why is my potato salad hard? ›

Not Getting The Cook Time Right

If you overcook them, the result is a mushy, grainy mess. And if you undercook them, you end up with crunchy (not in a good way) potatoes. It's a delicate balance to achieve soft, tender potatoes for that just-right potato salad texture.

What herbs are in potato salad Ina Garten? ›

Place the cut potatoes in a large bowl and pour enough dressing over them to moisten. (As the salad sits, you may need to add more dressing.) Add the onion, tarragon and parsley, and salt and pepper to taste. Toss well, cover, and refrigerate for a few hours to allow the flavors to blend.

How do you keep potatoes from turning black when making potato salad? ›

Add lemon juice or vinegar

Lowering the pH of the potato helps fight off oxidation. Just like you might use a squirt of lime juice to keep guacamole from browning, a bit of lemon juice or white vinegar in the bowl with the potatoes will ward off gray hues.

Do you have to wait for potatoes to cool before making potato salad? ›

Yes, if your potato salad is a cold salad, as most are, allow the cooked potatoes to cool to room temperature before adding the dressing and other ingredients.

What does potato salad contain? ›

Potato salad is generally served cold or at room temperature. Ingredients often include mayonnaise or a comparable substitute (such as yogurt or sour cream), herbs, and raw vegetables (such as onion and celery).

Does potato salad contain mayo? ›

Cut potatoes into cubes. Mix mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper in large glass or plastic bowl. Add potatoes, celery and onion; toss. Stir in eggs.

What's the difference between salad potatoes and normal potatoes? ›

Salad Potatoes can often be described as “l*ttle Potatoes” or “Small Potatoes” and people mistakenly take them for potatoes too small to be like normal potatoes. However these potatoes are grown specifically for this smaller specification and skin finish.

What is the difference between white and yellow potato salad? ›

White potatoes are considered all-purpose as they are slightly creamy, slightly dense, and are subtly sweet in flavor. These potatoes hold their shape well after cooking and are a popular choice for salads and for grilling. Yellow potatoes are slightly waxy in texture, velvety, and moist.

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