Country Potato Salad
Whether it’s a big family party or a potluck, this country potato salad recipe makes a great side dish for a crowd!
My husband’s family shared this cold salad recipe that they love enjoying at summer cookouts!
One of our favorite summer time meals is Marinated & Grilled Meat, Pea and Celery Salad, this Potato Salad and Homemade Ice Cream!
Country Potato Salad Recipe
With farming and raising food part of the rich history on both sides of our family we’ve got so many old-fashioned recipes that are just as good old comfort food!
This Country Potato Salad has been served on the farmhouse tables of several people on my husband’s side of the family. He’s the one that makes this recipe in our house.
I asked my husband for tips on making this family favorite dish. He said, “Potato salad isn’t about measuring out ingredients, it’s about feel or what your taste preference is.” And I had to pause because he just doesn’t use the word feel or feelings very often.
I collected myself and asked him to explain more about the feel of a great potato salad. He dug deep and replied, “If it needs more salt, add more salt, if it needs more moisture add more mayo, for a little more crunch add a little more celery.”
At this point some of you are thinking, wow he should have his own cooking show. Two things you should know about Farmer Joe, he’s not a man of many words, so the shows would be short. Secondly, I asked him why the pieces of celery were so big. I was curious if that’s also part of the family tradition? He replied, “Nope, it’s just the best I could do. I’m not very good at chopping.”
Traditionally a nice firm boiled egg was made by placing eggs in a pot of boiling water for 12 minutes. Now we find that making Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs is a helpful time-saver for our family.
How Long to Boil Potatoes for Potato Salad
Wash potatoes, then peel and cube into bite sized pieces or slightly smaller before dropping them in a pot of boiling water.
The amount of time to boil potatoes varies greatly based on how full the pot is, how big the cubes are and your desired tenderness of the finished potatoes. Check potatoes with a fork every five minutes until they are close to desired tenderness.
We prefer potatoes that just barely fall off the fork. Potatoes that easily fall off of a fork will work fine in the salad, they will just create a much softer potato salad that may be more like a mashed potato salad.
Ingredients Needed
- 5 pounds of potatoes
- 8 hard boiled eggs
- 3 stalks celery
- 15 ounces mayonaise
- 2 teaspoons salt
Recipe Tips
- Plan to taste several samples as you go along to get the flavor combinations just right.
- For more crunch add more sliced celery.
- If salt isn’t detectable add a pinch or two at a time and stir well until the desired flavor is achieved.
- If the mixture seems dry add more mayonnaise.
- For full flavor use regular mayo, using a lighter version will definitely change the flavors in the recipe.
- The egg yolks can give this recipe a yellowish tinge, but there is no mustard used in this potato salad.
How to Make Old Fashioned Potato Salad
- Add bite size cubes of potatoes into a pot of boiling water and boil until the potatoes are just barely fork tender. Drain potatoes
- Add remaining ingredients and stir well.
- Store in the refrigerator.
More Big Batch Potato Recipes
- Cheesy Potatoes for a Crowd
- Twice Baked Potato Casserole
- Crock Pot Loaded Red Potatoes
- Scalloped Potatoes for a Crowd
More Summer Picnic Recipe Ideas
Country Potato Salad
Ingredients
- 5 pounds potatoes cubed
- 8 eggs hard boiled & chopped
- 3 stalks celery chopped
- 15 ounces mayo
- 2 teaspoons salt
Instructions
- Peel potatoes and cut into small cubes. Boil potatoes until they are soft and fork tender. The potatoes should just barely fall off the fork. Drain and allow potatoes to cool.5 pounds potatoes
- Chop celery and eggs. Mix all ingredients together and refrigerate. Store the potato salad safely in the refrigerator when not in use.8 eggs, 3 stalks celery, 15 ounces mayo, 2 teaspoons salt
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There has to be yellow mustard in it. Although it’s not listed in the ingredients. What gives it the yell I was color?
My husband said the egg yolks made it yellow :).
I doubt it is yellow from the egg yolks. I have made potato salad with eggs (no mustard) and it never turned yellow like this potato salad. I’ve also made potato salad similar to what this looks like many times and that is when I added French’s yellow mustard and it looked exactly like this. However, I also added finely chopped green pepper, salt, pepper, garlic powder and celery salt and sprinkled some paprika on top of the finished potato salad. This is exactly what it looked like with yellow mustard. Because I’ve made potato salad many times I think this recipe needs more spice in it. Sprinkle the spices on the bowl of potatoes, eggs, and green peppers. Then you should mix the mayo and mustard together (to taste) in a small bowl and then mix it into the potato salad. Mix well and then sprinkle a little papriks on top. Delicious!
I think the whole point of the original post was that there are no “shoulds” in making potato salad. To each his own. LOL!
There’s nothing better than potato salad to make it feel like summer. Clearly this one is picnic ready!
Have to have mustard in mine along with Hellmann’s, vinegar,, and some sweet relish…..we also like Vidalia onion diced into the tater salad along with the eggs and celery. The mustard is what gives it that tang and nice yellow color.
Sounds like a great variation of a potato salad! The egg yolks give this one the yellow color, but mustard could be a great addition!
This looks delicious! I love how the egg yolk is incorporated, my Grandma’s Potato Salad was the same way. Tell Farmer Joe thanks for sharing the tips!!
Mmmmm!! Sounds like a perfect addition to any summer picnic! 🙂
i’ve never made potato salad but i love it – this one seems easy!
You have a husband who cooks? Wowee.
I like Farmer Joe’s style and am taking his version of potato salad to a Christmas eve get-together. Yep, cold potato salad in freaky frigid cold no less. “Winter Storm Eliot” is bringing us Christmas cheer. So Merry Christmas and thank you for this recipe!