This easy potato salad without eggs is a classic, creamy side dish made with red potatoes, celery, onion, mayonnaise, sour cream, mustard, and a splash of apple cider vinegar. It is simple, familiar, and perfect for cookouts, picnics, potlucks, and summer dinners.
If you search for potato salad online, you will quickly find that there is no single way to make it. Recipes vary by region, family tradition, and personal preference, especially when it comes to ingredients like eggs, pickles, and bacon. This version skips those extras and lets the potatoes take center stage.
What You Need for Potato Salad Without Eggs
- Potatoes: Red potatoes work especially well because they hold their shape and give the salad a creamy texture without turning mushy.
- Onion and celery: Celery adds crunch, while onion gives the salad a little bite. Sweet onion keeps the flavor milder, but red onion can also be used.
- Mayonnaise and sour cream: Together, they create a creamy dressing with a balanced flavor. All mayonnaise can be used if preferred.
- Mustard: A little mustard adds tang and helps round out the dressing. Yellow mustard works well, but Dijon can be used for a sharper flavor.
- Apple cider vinegar: Tossing the warm potatoes with vinegar before adding the dressing helps the potatoes absorb more flavor.
How to Make Easy Classic Potato Salad:
- Cook the potatoes. Peel the potatoes and cut them in half. Boil them gently in heavily salted water until fork-tender. Cutting them too small can release too much starch and make the texture gummy.
- Optional method: Some cooks prefer to boil the potatoes with the skins on, then peel them while still warm. Either method works, so use the one you prefer.
- Add the vinegar. While the potatoes are still warm, place them in a large bowl and toss with a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Let them sit for a few minutes so the potatoes can absorb the flavor.
- Mash slightly. Use a fork or potato masher to break up the potatoes just a little. They will continue to break apart as the salad is stirred.
- Add the vegetables. Stir in the celery and onion.
- Mix the dressing. Combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, mustard, salt, and pepper. Once the potatoes have cooled slightly, fold in the dressing until everything is evenly coated.
Easy Potato Salad without Eggs
- Total Time: 1 hr 30 min
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
Description
A classic easy potato salad using nothing but potatoes, celery, onion in a mayo and sour cream dressing.
Ingredients
- 4 to 5 pounds red potatoes, peeled and cut into large chunks
- 1 cup sweet onion, diced
- 1 cup celery, diced (2 to 3 stalks)
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
DRESSING:
- 1 ½ cups mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper
EQUIPMENT I USED:
Instructions
- Peel the potatoes and cut them into large chunks, depending on their size.
- Place them in a large pot of cold water covered by at least 2 inches.
- Generously salt the water and bring it to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium and simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork-tender
- Meanwhile, dice the onion and celery and set aside.
- Drain the potatoes and let them cool for about 5 minutes or until they stop steaming.
- Drizzle about 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar over the potatoes and stir gently to combine. Let them sit for 1 to 2 minutes so the vinegar can absorb.
- Mash lightly with a potato masher, keeping some larger chunks. Add the onion and celery, then season with salt and pepper.
- In a small bowl, mix the dressing and stir in enough to coat the potatoes evenly.
- Cover and chill until ready to serve.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Chill Time: 1 hr
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
Potato Salad Without Eggs FAQs
Can you make potato salad without eggs?
Yes. This recipe is made without eggs and uses mayonnaise, sour cream, mustard, and apple cider vinegar for a creamy dressing.
Can I leave the skins on red potatoes?
Yes. Red potato skins are thin, so you can peel them or leave some of the skin on for texture and color.
Can I use red onion instead of sweet onion?
Yes. Red onion works, but it has a sharper flavor. Use a little less if you want the salad to stay mild.
Can I make this potato salad ahead of time?
Yes. Potato salad is best after it chills and the flavors have time to blend.
Does this potato salad have pickles or relish?
No. This is a simple potato salad without eggs, pickles, or relish.
Recipes that go with Potato Salad
- The juiciest Burgers you'll ever eat! - A classic cookout pairing.
- Our #1 Grilled Chicken recipe - Simple grilled chicken pairs well with a cold, creamy potato salad.
- Healthy Grilled Salmon - Grilled salmon and potato salad make an easy weeknight dinner or summer meal.
Hi there. I have never made a potato salad w/o eggs, but was recently at a friend's home for lunch. She had a couple of lovely salads, one being, you guessed it potato salad, no eggs. It was so good I went on the hunt for a recipe yesterday and found yours.
Incredible blend of flavours!! Hubby is my taste tester. If it passes his palate test, it's a keeper... and it is!
The most difficult part for me was getting my head around NOT leaving it chunky, but mashing them helps the flavours blend more evenly. A winner!!
I used mayo alone, no yogurt on hand, and added some finely chopped sweet red pepper.
Delicious!
Thank you so much, Debra! I’m glad the recipe passed the hubby test! Mashing the potatoes really does help all those flavors blend together. The sweet red pepper sounds like a delicious addition, too. I appreciate you sharing your results!
I am 68 years young and this is the first time I have ever made potato salad. It was so easy, and I had everything on hand so I thought why not? I used red bliss potatoes and the only change I made was that I added a chopped up jalapeno with the onions and celery. This is delicious and I cannot wait to eat tonight for dinner after it has cooled and all the ingredients have melded. Thank you for such an easy and delicious recipe. I will be back...
I've been making this potato salad for a couple of years now. I searched forever for a really great potato salad recipe - one that was basic without a bunch of add-ins like eggs, fruit or extraneous vegetables. This is a winner! I cut it in half most of the time and this is a recipe that lends itself to ease of scale. The only change I make is I use baby red potatoes (when I can get them), cut them in half and leave the skins on.
I didn't understand all the hoopla over a potato salad. how different can it really be? it's just potatoes. Well, I admit i was wrong. This is fabulous. So simple and so fabulous.
LOL !!! Thanks Diana, that was funny.
Thank You! This is exactly the potato salad recipe I've been looking for. Simple and delicious, and No Eggs!
thanks Sandra!
I went on Google to find a simple eggless potato salad and I saw yours and tried it. I liked it even before I added the dressing. I used red onions because that's what I used daily. The salad tasted really good. Thank you.
your welcome Daunette - thanks for giving it a try!
I made this exactly as listed and it is so good!!! I was looking for a creamy potato salad without eggs and this is it! My family loved it! They were eating it warm as I made it. Its even better the next day!
I found your recipe on the page for the deli macaroni salad (I’m a LI girl). This is almost the exact recipe for the potato salad I make except I I add hard boiled eggs and don’t add mustard or ACV. For this amount of potatoes I’d add three eggs. I don’t mash the potatoes but I find that they break down some while mixing and the hard boiled egg yolk add to the creaminess. I’m going to try it with the mustard and ACV next time I make it.
This is my favorite recipe for potato salad. Love the tangy taste from the vinegar. Its a keeper.
I never made potato salad before so this was my first attempt and I think it turned out great. I did however make a few adjustments, I used red onion instead of sweet and I left the potato skins on which I thought added some color. I also left the potatoes whole, in the directions it said to mash some. Overall good recipe I liked the fact that it called for sour cream and mayo which made it very creamy.
The only change I made was I used yellow potatoes, since that's what I had on hand. The results were perfect. I have been looking for the best potato salad without egg...and this is most definitely it! Thank you!
HA ! I love your post. I live in NY and totally get it. Supermarkets are so hit and miss, deli salads are the best. I tried this recipe and it was amazing Deb. My family loved it. I gave your website to my Aunt and cousins who wanted the recipe.
I like this potato salad and so did my family. It was easy to make and made a lot. I will share this recipe.
I hate store bought salads, they have this weird taste to them. Is it the vinegar they use? I've been looking for a potato salad recipe and this one is it! It is perfect in every way. I added a little fresh parsley before serving and some paprika. Other than that I made this just as described. It was perfect.