Southern Potato Salad Recipe
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Southern Potato Salad Recipe
Get ready for a taste of the South with this classic Southern Potato Salad Recipe! Featuring tender yet firm potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, tangy pickles, creamy vegan mayo + fresh dill. It's a delightful blend of flavors + textures that will elevate any meal as the perfect side dish! Completely Dairy-free + Vegan + No Boil Option.
Potatoes are a staple at my table in all its beautiful forms—air-fried, baked, mashed, roasted, you name it! Haha. Although I already have an Easy Vegan Roasted Potato Salad recipe on the site, I wanted to share this classic Southern Potato Salad Recipe from my childhood table. I've made a slight tweak by using vegan mayo to keep it dairy-free, and trust me, you won't even notice the difference!
I'm all about elevating my side dish game, whether it's for a barbecue or a weeknight dinner. This Southern Potato Salad is bursting with flavor—it's tangy from the pickles (you can use sweet or dill), has that classic eggy taste, and boasts a creamy texture that's simply irresistible.
If you're ready to take your side dishes to the next level, pair it with some hot honey southern cornbread, crispy air fryer Brussels sprouts, baked sticky honey BBQ chicken wings, or the ultimate winner: baked white mac and cheese with bacon. Trust me, your taste buds will thank you!
Jump to:
- What's in Southern Potato Salad?
- How To Make Southern Potato Salad
- Ingredients
- Why You'll Love This Southern Potato Salad Recipe
- What Kind Of Potatoes Are Best For Potato Salad?
- How Long Can Potato Salad Sit Out?
- Can I Make Potato Salad Without Boling Potatoes?
- Tips For The Best Southern Potato Salad
- Can I Use Regular Mayo?
- Common Q + A's For Southern Potato Salad
- More Delicious Side Dish Recipes to Try
- MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
- Southern Potato Salad Recipe [Dairy-Free]
What's in Southern Potato Salad?
You don't need to hail from the South to whip up this potato salad, and it's a dish that varies from kitchen to kitchen, even in the South! This rendition sticks to the classics, featuring a creamy mayo dressing with a kick of apple cider vinegar, plus plenty of sweet pickles or relish to add a balanced flavor. While this version skips the bacon, feel free to sprinkle in some candied bacon for an extra indulgent twist!
How To Make Southern Potato Salad
You need to prep and boil your potatoes. You can do this ahead of time to make things more streamlined. Then, you add the mayo, quartered eggs, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, chopped pickles, cane sugar, and seasonings, gently stirring together to combine. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve!
Ingredients
POTATO SALAD:
- Russet potatoes. Peeled + cubed--- You can use any white potatoes.
- Vegan mayonnaise. I love using Follow Your Heart Veganaise . It is super creamy and smooth but feel free to add your fave if you prefer. You can also use regular mayo.
- Hard-boiled eggs. Cut into quarters.
- Apple cider vinegar. This adds a nice tangy flavor-- You can sub with white vinegar.
- Dijon mustard. You can sub with regular yellow mustard.
- Chopped sweet or dill pickles. You can also sub with sweet relish as well.
- Organic cane sugar. Adds a little bit of sweetness to balance out the flavor.
- Fresh dill. This adds that classic potato salad flavor.
- Seasonings. Sea salt, black pepper, smoked paprika + garlic powder
SHOP MY FAVORITE TOOLS FOR BAKING, ESPECIALLY FOR THIS SOUTHERN DISH!
Here, I’ve curated a list of baking + cooking essentials that I use to achieve my favorite dishes, especially with this Southern Potato Salad recipe. Everything from my fave bowls, wooden spoons, knifes, and more. SEE THEM HERE!
Why You'll Love This Southern Potato Salad Recipe
- Creamy texture that melts in your mouth.
- Full of comforting flavors, hints of sweetness + savoriness (The best reason!)
- Soft but firm potatoes for the ideal texture.
- Generous chunks of hard-boiled eggs.
- Versatile side dish for ANY occasion!
- Makes a crowd-pleasing addition to potlucks and BBQs.
What Kind Of Potatoes Are Best For Potato Salad?
When it comes to making potato salad, any white potatoes are great, and personally, I love using russet potatoes. However, there are a few other types that work well too:
Yukon Gold Potatoes --- These have a buttery texture and slightly sweet flavor, ideal for potato salad.
Red Potatoes --- They hold their shape well after boiling and have a thin, delicate skin that adds color and texture to the salad.
Fingerling Potatoes --- These small, elongated potatoes have a firm texture and nutty flavor, making them a unique addition to potato salad.
Baby Potatoes --- These miniature potatoes are tender and cook quickly, making them convenient for potato salad recipes.
How Long Can Potato Salad Sit Out?
When it comes to food safety, the USDA suggests not leaving dishes like potato salad out for more than two hours. In hotter weather, like above 90°F, that time drops to just one hour. If you're heading for a picnic or BBQ keep your potato salad chilled in a cooler until it's time to serve ---- It's a breeze to transport and perfect for outdoor gatherings!
Can I Make Potato Salad Without Boling Potatoes?
Yes! To cook them alternatively without boiling---place cubed potatoes on a baking sheet (lined with parchment paper) and lightly dress them with olive oil. Bake in a 400 degree Fahrenheit oven for 25-30 minutes, until tender and knife goes through each potato smoothly. Once done, remove from oven and continue recipe!
Tips For The Best Southern Potato Salad
- Keep an eye on your potatoes. Don’t overcook!! They should be fork-tender but not too mushy.
- Let them cool down. Allow the potatoes to cool down before mixing them with the dressing to prevent them from becoming too soft.
- Let it chill. Cool the salad in the refrigerator before serving to allow the flavors to blend together. Trust me this make the flavor POP!!
- Quality mayo makes a difference! Choose a quality vegan mayonnaise to amp up the flavor of your potato salad.
Can I Use Regular Mayo?
Yes, you can use regular mayo if you prefer! Traditional mayo will provide a creamy texture and rich flavor to the potato salad! I alwasy reccomend opting for a high quality one for the best flavor! Hellmann's is great with quality real ingredents.
Common Q + A's For Southern Potato Salad
You can make this potato salad up to 2 days in advance. Allowing it to chill in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight will actually enhance the flavors as they have time to meld together. Just be sure to store it in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
Place any leftovers in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Yes. Instead of cane sugar, you can use organic brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, or Agave, if desired.
Yes, adding bacon to this potato salad can take it to the next level of flavor. Cook the bacon until crispy or follow my candied bacon recipe --- then crumble it into the salad before serving. The smoky and salty notes of bacon will complement the creamy potatoes and tangy dressing beautifully
Certainly! Omitting the eggs from the recipe will make it suitable for a vegan diet. The salad will still be delicious and flavorful without the eggs, thanks to the combination of creamy vegan mayo + tender potatoes!
More Delicious Side Dish Recipes to Try
If you're looking for more yummy sides to add to your table and loved this Southern Potato Salad Recipe try these next:
- The Best Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings
- Creamy Southern Cheese Grits
- Hot Honey Southern Cornbread
- Baked Sticky Honey BBQ Chicken Wings
- Crispiest Jumbo Garlic Herb Fries
- Ultra-Creamy Southern Cheese Grits
- Copycat Velveeta Broccoli Mac and Cheese
MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
If you tried this Southern Potato Salad Recipe [Dairy-Free] recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. And don't forget to tag @orchidsnsweettea_ on Instagram and hashtag it #orchidsandsweettea! I love hearing from you!
Southern Potato Salad Recipe [Dairy-Free]
Ingredients
POTATO SALAD:
- 2 lbs. russet potatoes, peeled + cubed (That's about 6-7 medium potatoes; You can use any white potatoes)
- ¾ cup vegan mayonnaise
- 5 hard-boiled eggs, quartered
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar (You can sub with white vinegar)
- 2 Tbsps Dijon mustard (You can sub with regular yellow mustard)
- ⅓ cup chopped sweet or dill pickles (You can also sub with sweet relish as well)
- 1 tablespoon organic cane sugar
- 1 teaspoon dill
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
PREP + COOK THE POTATOES:
- Using a vegetable peeler, remove all skin from the potatoes and cut them into cubes (medium-sized).
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add cubed potatoes. Cook for about 20 minutes or so, until potatoes are soft + tender. NOTE: See Notes for No-Boil option.
TO MAKE THE POTATO SALAD:
- Once done, drain potatoes and add to a bowl. Add the mayo, quartered eggs, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, chopped pickles, cane sugar, and seasonings, gently stirring together to combine. Cover + refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Serve potato salad in a large serving bowl and enjoy with your favorite main dish or meat.
- Bon Appetit!
Tips & Tricks
- STORAGE: Place any leftovers in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- POTATOES: For these mashed potatoes, you can use baby red potatoes, yellow potatoes, Yukon or russet potatoes.
- NO-BOIL OPTION: To cook them alternatively without boiling---place cubed potatoes on a baking sheet (lined with parchment paper) and lightly dress them with olive oil. Bake in a 400 degree Fahrenheit oven for 25-30 minutes, until tender and knife goes through each potato smoothly. Once done, remove from oven and continue recipe.
- SWEETENER: Instead of cane sugar, you can use organic brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, or Agave, if desired.
Nutrition
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