Filed Under: Savory | Side Dish | Summer

Best Potato Salad Recipe

Name: Potato Salad
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 155 min
Ingredients: 3 pounds baby or new potatoes; 6 stalks of celery, (finely diced, plus celery heart leaves for garnish); 2 shallots, (minced); 1/2 cup fresh Italian parsley, (chopped); 1/2 cup fresh dill, (chopped, plus dill sprigs for garnish); 6 green onions (scallions), (thinly sliced); Black pepper, (to preference); Sea salt, (to preference); 1 cup full-fat Greek yogurt; 1/2 cup sour cream; 2 tablespoons whole grain mustard; 4 cloves garlic, (grated); 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil; 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar; 1 lemon, (zested and juiced); 2 teaspoons salt; 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper

By Tessa Arias

June 1st, 2023

6 Comments

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This BEST Potato Salad recipe is so easy to make! Made with Greek yogurt, fresh dill and parsley for a perfectly fresh and summery side dish. Mayonnaise-free and way better than any store-bought version!

Yield: 6 to 8 servings

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook: 10 minutes

Tessa's Recipe Rundown...

Taste: Bright, fresh, and summery with a bit of a zippy tang.
Texture: Not cloyingly creamy or thick, this strikes the perfect texture balance.
Ease: SO easy to make.
Pros: Perfect side dish for serving a crowd.
Cons: None!!
Would I make this again? It’s on my list for every BBQ or potluck!

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I’ll be honest… I’ve never been a huge fan of potato salad.

That is, not until I tried this easy potato salad recipe. This is truly the BEST potato salad I’ve ever had.

ingredients for best potato salad before we begin

Most store-bought potato salads are a strange color and are super artificial tasting to me.

bowl of my best potato salad, ready to enjoy

I was so thrilled when our food stylist, Chef Brendan, agreed to help us develop a potato salad recipe.

I wanted something fresh and delicious, nothing like the sad deli tubs of potato salad at the grocery store. So with dill, lemon, Greek yogurt (and no mayo!), this recipe definitely fits the bill.

serving suggestion with other great sides like cornbread, for cookout or BBQ

This lighter potato salad is incredibly fresh and makes the perfect side dish for serving a crowd at any potluck or summer BBQ!

How to Make Potato Salad

Why This is the BEST Potato Salad Recipe

Aside from my go-to Macaroni and Cheese, potato salad is one of my new favorite side dishes because of its versatility.
Most potato salad recipes are heavy on the mayonnaise, making it taste a little heavier.
My recipe is mayo-free!
In skipping the mayonnaise, we’re opting instead for the much lighter, but equally tasty, Greek yogurt and sour cream.
The celery, green onions, shallots, and fresh herbs (dill and Italian parsley) brighten and make this recipe so earthy and delicious, with the perfect balance of crunch and zip.
We then round this deliciousness out by mixing in whole grain mustard, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, fresh lemon zest and juice, and salt and pepper.
This recipe is absolutely FULL of flavor – a bright, summery, flavorful twist to the ultimate classic summer BBQ side dish.

all ingredients in a bowl, ready to mix and serve

What are the Best Potatoes for Potato Salad?

In this recipe, we use baby potatoes, or new potatoes.
Different potatoes will give you different textures.
We want our potatoes to hold their shape, without falling apart or becoming slightly mashed when mixing in the dressing.
These baby or new potatoes are perfect for the lighter dressing we will be using.
I also love opting for multi-colored varieties, to make this look extra vibrant and beautiful.
Russet potatoes or Yukon gold potatoes would also work in a pinch.

How Long Do I Boil the Potatoes For?

This will depend on the size and variety of the potatoes you’re using, so go more on ‘feel’ than timing.
They will probably need about 8-10 minutes boiling on the stovetop to cook, but test them regularly and stop cooking once they are just “fork tender” (meaning that you can easily pierce the potato pieces with a fork with little resistance).
Make sure you do not overcook the potatoes, or you will get a mushy potato salad!
Once potatoes are cooked, drain the potatoes and run them under cold water to stop them from cooking any further.

Can I Add Eggs to This Potato Salad?

Sure! Feel free to add as many chopped, cooled hard-boiled eggs as you wish.

Can This Potato Salad Be Made Ahead of Time?

Mostly. You can make all the components ahead of time, but I advise against mixing everything together until you’re about to serve.

If it’s all mixed together, stored overnight, and not served until the next day, the potatoes absorb a lot of the salt and flavor, so you will need to add more seasoning the next day.
The salt will also leach out additional moisture from the potatoes, yogurt, and sour cream overnight, which will pool on the bottom, causing the dressing to lose its creaminess.
I also advise waiting until you’re about to serve to add the fresh herbs.
As the herbs sit in the dressing, they will lose some of their color and fresh look, so they will appear dull and lifeless.
If you want to make everything ahead of time, hold back some of the fresh herbs to add for presentation, so at least some of the herbs will look nice and fresh on top.

Can you Freeze Potato Salad?

No, this potato salad cannot be frozen. The thawing process will change the texture of the dressing, and it will not be as creamy.

How Long Does Potato Salad Last?

Potato salad should not sit out at room temperature for longer than 2 hours.
If covered and refrigerated, the salad will last 3 to 4 days.
The potato salad will get soupy and the fresh herbs will lose some of their color, but it will still taste fine!

bowl of pretty multi-colored mayo-free potato salad

More Recipes You’ll Love:

How to make

Potato Salad

Yield: 6 to 8 servings

Prep Time: 25

Cook Time: 10

Inactive Time 2

Total Time: 2 35

fresh potato salad in a serving dish made with Greek yogurt, sour cream, lemon juice, and dill

Ingredients

For the potatoes:

3 pounds baby or new potatoes
6 stalks of celery, finely diced, plus celery heart leaves for garnish
2 shallots, minced
1/2 cup fresh Italian parsley, chopped
1/2 cup fresh dill, chopped, plus dill sprigs for garnish
6 green onions (scallions), thinly sliced
Black pepper, to preference
Sea salt, to preference

For the dressing:

1 cup full-fat Greek yogurt
1/2 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons whole grain mustard
4 cloves garlic, grated
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 lemon, zested and juiced
2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper

Directions

Bring a large pot of water to a boil, and heavily season with salt. Carefully place whole potatoes in the water and boil until fork tender, about 8-10 minutes. (Do not overcook, or you will get a mushy potato salad).
Once potatoes are cooked, strain the potatoes and run them under cold water. Lay them on a sheet tray with paper towels to dry, then transfer to a bowl and chill in the fridge for 2 hours, or overnight.
Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl, make the dressing. Whisk together the yogurt, sour cream, whole grain mustard, grated garlic, extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, & pepper until mixed together thoroughly. Wrap bowl in plastic, or transfer dressing to a sealed container and chill for 2 hours, or overnight.
Cut chilled potatoes into quarter wedges, and transfer to a large mixing bowl. Gently toss the potatoes with the celery, shallots, parsley, dill, and green onions.
Pour about 2/3 of the yogurt dressing over the potato mixture and gently mix until the potato salad is evening mixed and coated. Taste and add more dressing if desired. (Or serve additional dressing on the side to drizzle over the top of individual plate portions.)
Transfer potato salad to a serving bowl or platter. Sprinkle with cracked black pepper, sea salt, and garnish with celery heart leaves & fresh dill sprigs.

Recipe Notes

This dish is best when made the day before, stored in separate containers, and chilled overnight, then mixed together just before serving. If it’s all mixed together and then stored overnight and served the next day, the potatoes absorb a lot of the salt and flavor, so you will need to add more seasoning the next day. The salt will also leach out additional moisture from the potatoes, yogurt, and sour cream overnight, so it will pool on the bottom and loses its creaminess.

Course : Side Dish

Cuisine : American

Keyword : how to make potato salad, potato salad

Recipe by Tessa Arias

Author: Tessa Arias

I share trusted baking recipes your friends will LOVE alongside insights into the science of sweets. I'm a professionally trained chef, cookbook author, and cookie queen. I love to write about all things sweet, carb-y, and homemade. I live in Phoenix, Arizona (hence the blog name!)

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All Comments (6) Questions I Made This (2)

#
Jennifer — July 10, 2022 at 6:27 pm

Sorry but this potato salad just isn’t very good. Too lemony for my taste.

Reply
- #
  Kiersten @ Handle the Heat — July 14, 2022 at 9:07 am
  
  Hi Jennifer! I’m sorry to hear this potato salad did not turn out as you had hoped! I hope you will try this recipe again, and maybe just reduce or omit the lemon for a more herb-forward potato salad? Let us know if we can help troubleshoot or give any suggestions – we are always happy to help!
  
  Reply
#
Laura — July 7, 2022 at 1:54 pm

This recipe was just ok for me. I love using fresh herbs and the Greek yogurt was a fun twist, but I think I very much prefer mayo and making the potato salad the night before. I like “marinating” my ingredients that way, the flavors blend together better IMO. However, I will definitely make this again when I’m looking for a healthier potato salad option!

Reply
- #
  Kiersten @ Handle the Heat — July 11, 2022 at 1:59 pm
  
  Hi Laura! I’m sorry you weren’t as happy with this potato salad as you had hoped! It’s definitely a lighter option, as you say, so I’m glad you will keep it in mind for that purpose in the future! 🙂
  
  Reply
#
Susan — July 2, 2022 at 12:07 pm

Looks delicious but wondering if you used multi-colored new potatoes in recipe? The picture appears to include an item that is purple?? Thanks.

Reply
- #
  Kiersten @ Handle the Heat — July 6, 2022 at 2:05 pm
  
  Hi Susan! Yes, as Tessa mentions in the pink Tip Box above the recipe, the multi-colored potatoes are optional! The recipe was written for using baby or new potatoes, because they hold their shape so well when cooked, but feel free to mix things up and experiment with other types of potatoes if desired! Let us know what you think when you make it! 🙂
  
  Reply

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