Summer is an excellent time for family gatherings, bar-b-ques, and potlucks. I am always looking for a delicious side dish that will be a crowd-pleaser. Classic potato salad is one of my go-to dishes. This recipe can be made ahead of time and actually tastes better the next day. This salad is both rich and creamy.
Over the years, I tried several different recipes and found one that boiled the potatoes whole. This is a game-changer for the consistency of the potatoes! Boiling them whole keeps the structure of the potato and they actually hold their shape. Yukon gold is my preferred potato for this salad, but red potatoes work well too.
I found this set of bowls on Amazon that are perfect for serving side dishes. If you are serving a larger group, they enable you to spread the sides out to the entire table. They are dishwasher safe which makes for easy clean-up.
Classic Potato Salad
Ingredients
- 3 slices bacon, cooked (reserve grease)
- 2 lbs Yukon gold potatoes
- 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
- 1 onion, chopped
Instructions
- Peel the potatoes and place in a dutch oven. Cover the potatoes with water.
- Heat until water boils. Reduce the temperature to low and cover with a lid. Cook for about 30-35 minutes.
- Cook slices of bacon in a skillet, reserve the grease, and dry on papertowel.
- Chop onions and celery and cook in the bacon grease at a lower temperature for about 10 minutes or until soft.
- When the potatoes are tender, drain the excess water, let stand until cool enough to handle.
- In a bowl, mix up the mayonnaise, cider vinegar, yellow mustard, salt, and pepper. Stir in the cooked celery and onions.
- Chop potatoes into one-inch pieces. Add to the dressing mixture and mix thoroughly.
- Place in the refridgerator for a minimum of four hours.
- Sprinkle the top with paprika before serving.
This classic potato salad is a must-serve side for your next gathering. If you are looking for another easy make-ahead side dish, check out my recipe for fruit salad here.
