This potato salad will knock your socks off! It is a must for BBQs and picnics plus its great for lunch-boxes. With several layers of flavours from tangy to sweet it also has a delightful creamy, crunchy and fluffy texture.
We think this is the best potato salad recipe and your friends and family will love you for it!
An essential side for summer dining, whether formal and informal, the humble potato salad is always a very popular option.
Made with sour cream and mayo this potato salad is everything it should be – it’s creamy, crunchy, fluffy and light!
The combination of tangy, salty and slightly sweet ingredients work beautifully together making it a perfect accompaniment for your grilled meats, seafood, or as part of a salad medley.
Plus it’s easy to make with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. See possible substitutions below in case you are missing anything.
Potatoes are a great pantry staple, read my tips on how to keep potatoes fresh.
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Make it in advance
Our homemade potato salad tastes even better if made a few hours in advance or better still, the day before so the flavours have a chance to really come together.
If you are making it the same day allow at least 2 hours for it to chill in the fridge so the flavours combine nicely.
Prepare potato salad in advance for picnics, lunch-boxes or a quick and easy snack.
Your questions answered
Waxy potatoes are the best potatoes for potato salad or all rounders e.g. New Potatoes, Fingerling, Red, Yukon Gold, Maris Piper, Charlotte. As they are low in starch and high in moisture they will retain their shape well after boiling. Potatoes that are too starchy (floury) will become mushy and fall apart easily.
Peeled potatoes will keep submerged in a bowl of cold water and covered for up to 24 hours in the fridge.
You do not need to peel potatoes for potato salad, in fact potato skins add texture, contain valuable nutrients and have great flavour. Remember to wash and scrub away the mud before boiling.
For perfectly boiled potatoes halve medium size potatoes and place in a saucepan covered with cold water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10-15 minutes till fork tender. Drain away the water so they don’t continue to cook then set them aside to cool.
Helpful tips
- Select the right kind of potato, waxy varieties work best. For more details see above under ‘your questions answered’.
- Place the potatoes into a pan of salted cold water. Adding them to boiling water will make them cook quickly on the outside while remaining raw inside.
- A splash of vinegar added to the cold water prevents the potatoes from overcooking and becoming too soft.
- After the potatoes have cooled, toss them gently with chopped celery, gherkins, onion and dressing.
- Cover and chill for at least two hours, the longer it rests, the tastier it will be.
- Before serving, garnish with sliced hard boiled eggs for extra creaminess and parsley.
Substitutions
Run out of gherkins? Use pickled jalapeños and their pickling water.
Don’t have sour cream? Increase the mayonnaise to ¾ cup and add 1 Tablespoon lemon juice.
No red onions? Use a white onion sliced finely. In a small bowl mix together 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon sugar and ½ cup cool water. Add the sliced onion ensuring it is completely submerged (if not, add a little more water) and set aside for 20 minutes. Drain the liquid away before using the onions.
Storing leftovers
Cover and keep in the fridge for up to 4 days.
This potato salad is not suitable for freezing.
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Are you making this recipe for sour cream potato salad? Let me know how it turned out in the comments! And please give it a star rating below!
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Recipe
Best Potato Salad
Ingredients
- potatoes - (use waxy potatoes) washed, peeled (optional) and halved 4 medium
- salt 1 teaspoon
- apple cider vinegar 2 tablespoons
- celery - chopped small 1 stalk
- gherkins - chopped 1 tablespoon
- red onion - chopped finely 1 small
- salt - adjust to taste 1 teaspoon
- white pepper ⅛ teaspoon
- hard boiled eggs - quartered 2
- fresh parsley a few springs
For the dressing
- mayonnaise - ½ cup 120 grams
- garlic - minced 1 clove
- sour cream - ½ cup 120 grams
- mustard 2 tablespoons
- sugar 1 teaspoon
- gherkin pickle water - (optional) 1 tablespoon
- apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon
Instructions
- In a large saucepan place the halved 4 medium potatoes in salted cold water till potatoes are submerged. Add 1 teaspoon salt and 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for approximately 10-15 minutes, or till fork tender.
- Drain the water away and allow the potatoes to cool.
- Once cooled, cut the potatoes into bite size pieces, then transfer to a large mixing bowl.
- Add the chopped 1 stalk celery, 1 small red onion, and 1 tablespoon gherkins.
- Separately, in a small bowl make the dressing by combining 1 clove garlic, 2 tablespoons mustard, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon gherkin pickle water, 120 grams mayonnaise, 120 grams sour cream, 1 teaspoon salt and ⅛ teaspoon white pepper.
- Carefully mix the potato salad to ensure an even coating in dressing, then garnish with 2 hard boiled eggs sliced and a few springs fresh parsley chopped .
- Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
Notes
- Run out of gherkins? You can use pickled jalapeños and their pickling water.
- Don’t have sour cream? Increase the mayonnaise to ¾ cup and add 1 tablespoon lemon juice.
- No red onions? Use a white onion sliced finely. In a small bowl mix together 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon sugar and ½ cup cool water. Add the sliced onion ensuring it is completely submerged (if not, add a little more water) and set aside for 20 minutes. Drain the liquid away before using the onions.
Only you will see your notes and you can edit them anytime.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is calculated automatically per serving and accuracy cannot be guaranteed.
Content and photographs @ endofthefork.com are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is encouraged and appreciated, however copying and pasting full recipes to social media or other platforms is strictly prohibited.
This post was updated on 21st March, 2024.
The Olive Blogger says
I had no clue that the vinegar was so crucial in helping with the cooking process, I will have to do this next time as I hate a mushy potato salad! Can’t wait to try this one out.
The FoodOlic says
Nothing like a good and creamy potato salad! Reminds me so much of my childhood! Lovely recipe!
Derek @ Dad With A Pan says
I’m going to have to try vinegar in potatoes, that sounds like a great trick, plus I always love a little twang to my potato salad!
bitesofflavor says
I love a good potato salad! Growing up in Texas, potato salad was a regular dish at family gatherings. I have never tried to make it with sour cream… I definitely want to give this recipe a try!! Looks delicious!
Lynn | The Road to Honey says
This is definitely putting me in a picnic state of mind. If only we could get rid of this snow.
The FoodOlic says
That reminds me of my granma recipe! Love the added eggs and mustard! A great dish and easy dish!
Gloria Duggan says
I agree, potato salad is always better the next day. I always make it the day before I need it. Perfect for the warmer weather coming….not soon enough. Great for grilling season.
MyYellowApron says
One time at work, a friend made potato salad for potluck and she added heaps of jalapenos in it and it was delicious.
jacquee | i sugar coat it! says
Sounds good! I love a good potato salad side especially for barbecue season!
Jacqueline Piper says
Oh I’m always up for trying a new potato salad recipe, this one sounds great!
Gillian's Kitchen says
I’m not sure I’ve ever made a potato salad. Thanks for tips on adding cider vinegar, I would never have known to do that. 🙂
strawberryblondiekitchen says
I love that you added vinegar to this potato salad. I love a good vinegar base dressing for potato salads. I also love the addition of eggs, which I put in mine too! Looks tasty!
Lisa Bryan | Downshiftology says
Now that the weather’s warming up (at least in Cali) I’m all about the picnic/outdoorsy food, like this potato salad. Yum!
Luci's Morsels says
I can’t wait for potato salad season and this looks delicious!
cricketsconfections says
I’m not a big mayo fan, I love that you added some sour cream to lighten it up!
Elaine @ Dishes Delish says
Yummy. It’s so fun to see everyone’s rendition of potato salad. This looks so good!