I knew that I had the best recipe at home, the one that when I make it, I keep eating it and only it for days on end. I picked up the macaroni salad (it was basically fluorescent orange), I looked at the tiny little container for $6, and I started doing the math on how much we would need to feed everyone (and none of us enjoy, again, it was fluorescent orange).įorget it. I was walking around, trying to pick out some easy sides for a BBQ last Saturday, trying to make life easier by not making everything from scratch. Add up to half a cup more of miracle whip or mayo (whatever you prefer) to help re-moisten it.There are a few things that you just can not buy. If the potato salad seems very dry the next day, it's because the potatoes absorbed some of the liquid.Cover the potato salad and place it in the fridge for 24 hours, or overnight if you waited til last minute.Add in and mix the miracle whip, mayo, yellow mustard, and salt and then use a large spoon to mix until it's all incorporated.Add the pickles and the onions to the potatoes and eggs.Grandma always made us do this by hand, but you can do it with a food chopper if you're pressed for time. Chop the onion and the pickles into very small, minced pieces.Once the boiled eggs have cooled enough to peel, chop them into small pieces.Place the chopped potato in a very large bowl. Peel the potatoes, then chop them into bite size pieces (about 1 inch cubes).This step can also be done in advance if you want to save some waiting time for them to cool. Hard boil the 18 eggs, and then remove them from the water until they're cool.Drain the potatoes and set them aside to cool until you can handle them.Boil them until the peel begins to crack, that's how you'll know they're done. Clean the potatoes and boil them with the peel on.So, to be authentic, do it by hand, but to save yourself some time you could get away with using a food chopper. My Mama cheated and used a food chopper to chop her onions and pickles into very fine pieces last time, and I don’t feel like it changed the taste or texture, but if Grandma knew she’d have a fit. You will need about a jar and a half of these Sweet Tiny Midgets (yes, that’s the actual name) for this old fashioned potato salad recipe. I’m including a picture of brand you can find at Walmart often so you know what I’m talking about. Grandma was VERY particular about the pickles that go into this thing.
This is not a last minute recipe, and it’s worth every ounce of time you put into it. Give yourself plenty of time to make it and don’t skip steps.This happens sometimes because the potatoes can suck up too much of the moisture in the potato salad itself.
If the potato salad looks too dry after sitting in the fridge overnight, then add up to a 1/2 cup of mayo or miracle whip to freshen it back up.You need to let this recipe sit overnight at minimum to let the flavors mingle like they should.See more notes on this in the recipe below. Don’t cheat and use relish or it will be gross. You will need to chop the onion and the pickles very finely.See more tips on this step in the recipe below. Boil the potatoes with the peel on, and then peel and chop then when they’re done boiling.Tips for making this Old Fashioned Potato Salad Recipe WANT TO BUMP YOUR BARBECUE UP A NOTCH? MAKE MY DADDY’S BBQ SAUCE RECIPE! This makes a VAT of potato salad, so be warned, but don’t worry, you still won’t have any left at the end of the barbecue. It took us years of twisting her arm to get her to give us this recipe, and even then she spoke so quickly that we had to ask her questions for years after to make sure we were doing it the right way. I’m going to give you some basic tips below that you need to follow to make sure it turns out delicious. If you don’t follow the recipe to a tee, it’s going to turn out differently than hers does, and therefore won’t be as good. To help carry on her legacy in a very small way, I’ve decided to share her recipe with all of you. My Grandma who was famous for this recipe, passed away not too long ago. I’m not exaggerating, this potato salad recipe is incredible. Family members fight over this at every family get together, and there are NEVER any leftovers (and this recipe makes SO MUCH). It’s creamy and tangy, with a touch of sweet ,and will make you forget about every other side dish at the barbecue.
My grandma had been making this potato salad for decades before I was ever born. I kid you not, this is the potato salad recipe that I measure all potato salad recipes against, and I’ve yet to find one that comes even close to the incredible taste of this one. When it comes to an old fashioned potato salad recipe you want to write home about (write home? Is that a thing still?) this recipe is the one that’s going to make you famous at barbecues.