First, a little backstory behind this recipe…My husband and I were married in 1997. The following year we moved to England. My husband was in the Navy and that was to be our new duty station. I was only 22 years old at the time and I was ecstatic about living in another country but I was also a little scared about moving so far away from all of our friends and family. We were to be there for 3 years and that meant I was also going to have to find a job there and learn to drive on the wrong side left side of the road.
We found a little bungalow in the London suburbs in a town called Northwood. It had a very tiny kitchen but it had enough room for a small table. I really wanted to be able to make some good meals in this new home of ours. Unfortunately, I didn’t know how to make a whole lot. I made a pretty good lasagna and that was about it. We didn’t have a home computer then so there wasn’t a website or blog I could go to for help. Instead, I had my Mom.
Directions:
Peel and dice potatoes into cubes. Place potatoes into a large pot of water. Boil for about 20 minutes (or until fork tender). Take care not to overcook your potatoes – you don’t want them overly mushy. Mix mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, chicken stock and salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add potatoes, celery, onion and stir gently. Stir in eggs. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours to blend flavors and chill.
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Famous Potato Salad
Ingredients
- 2 pounds yukon gold potatoes about 6 medium
- 1 ½ cups mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 3-4 tablespoons chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 2 stalks of celery finely chopped
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 4 hard boiled eggs chopped
Instructions
- Peel and dice potatoes into cubes.
- Place potatoes into a large pot of water.
- Boil for about 20 minutes (or until fork tender).
- Take care not to overcook your potatoes – you don’t want them overly mushy.
- Mix mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, chicken stock and salt and pepper in a large bowl.
- Add potatoes, celery, onion and stir gently.
- Stir in eggs.
- Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours to blend flavors and chill.
Recipe Notes
Potatoes love to soak up all the mayonnaise, so if you noticed your salad is just a little dry when you are ready to serve, just add a little more mayonnaise and chicken stock and it will restore the creaminess of your potato salad.
How do you make the perfect hard boiled egg? Put eggs in a medium pot. Cover with cool water. Place on burner over high heat. Bring to a boil then take pot off of heat and cover with lid. Set timer for 15 minutes. Dump water out of pot and rinse with cool water. You will have perfectly hard boiled eggs and no green rings!
Brandie, this sounds and looks great! I would have never thought of adding chicken broth. Mom's always DO know what to get!
What a sweet memory! Moms are such a blessing. How long did it take you to get used to driving on the "wrong" side? 🙂
Sydney – it took me a good 2 months to get completely comfortable. I cannot even tell you how many times I would go to work early in the morning (half awake) and accidentally start off on the right side of the road and then quickly have to get back over to the left side. It is so second nature! Thank the Lord I never got in an accident!
Hehe, well that is shorter than I would have guessed for myself to get used to it! What job did you find there? I imagine it might have been difficult finding one without England residency? I don't know…
I worked in banking. I had a really great job with some pretty fantastic people. They helped me learn so much. And I'm fortunate that we are all still friends after all these years! I highly recommend traveling overseas (if you haven't done so already). It is so much fun to be young and travel. Opens you up to some wonderful experiences!
That potato salad would go well with a barbecue sandwich. If I close my eyes, its summertime.
Wow, that's great! We recently moved back from living in Peru for a long time [so I also recommend the same thing – love it!] and it was extremely difficult for a non-resident without various other approvals to get any sort of job! What a blessing you had special friends help take care of you in your hugely new experience!
Sydney – I definitely think Peru would be far more of a culture shock! What an experience that must have been for you! I just think it is amazing that you took the initiative to do something like that. I would love to hear more about your travels!
What a sweet memory..love your writing! And potato salad looks so tasty…one of my favorites! Yummy photo too!
You have such a sweet mom(not that it's any surprise!). This looks like the classic potato salad that I love…now I'm getting antsy for summer so I can make some to go with some grilled burgers. YUM!
Awwww, that brought a tear to my eye when reading about your Mom and her gift to you. And what an amazing experience to live overseas, newly married. Your potato salad sure looks good!
Brandie,
That first cookbook of yours is just so precious. It's extra special with your Mum's gorgeous comment in it, too! I bet you know them all from memory by now 😉 That was so young to cope with such a huge change. You're amazing!
This potato salad sounds like the kind that my Mom used to make except for the chicken broth. Very sweet of your Mom to give you the cookbook. Whenever there was a get together I would always have her bring her potato salad, because I didn't like to peel potatoes. I was young then.
Awww, what a neat story. And, I know from reading your blog regularly that you've turned into an excellent cook!! We'll be trying this potato salad soon.
I love your memories of the cookbook and moving to England! I would have been totally freaked out moving that far away!
Great story! I, too, have many dishes I treasure from my first Betty Crocker — only mine was not a big book like yours. It was a "Dinner for Two." (Just as well-used, though!)
Brandie-I loved reading your story, it was so heartwarming to hear about your life. Aren't moms the greatest?
This is my very favorite potato salad, that I also make. Can't go wrong with Betty Crocker.
Your potato salad looks so yummy, and fluffy. Such a classic recipe!
Thanks for sharing your sweet story and recipe!
Moms are the best and we truly begin to appreciate them when we ourselfs become one! What a wonderful post and potato salad looks yummy and sounds delicious! Thank you for sharing 🙂
What a great post Brandie, Moms and Grandmas are always the best. They'll always make us see the light an the the shoulder to cry on.
The potato salad looks delicious. Looking forward to the cheesecake recipe too 🙂
Hope you'll have a wonderful Monday
What a unique recipe using chicken broth. I love seeing new ways to create classics.
…and now I am totally craving THIS potato salad! Looks fabulous 🙂 I am definately bookmarking this!!
What wonderful memories you have of learning to cook! And this potato salad is totally amazing. I made it exactly to your recipe and wouldn’t change a thing!
This potato salad looks great. How sweet of your momm to send you the cookbook 🙂 My mom gave me a binder of family recipes that she made especially for my one year at christmas and it is so special 🙂 Also, thanks for the tip on not twisting the biscuit cutter. Have a nice day!
Katie
Wonderful, wonderful recipe! I love it!
I so enjoyed hearing about your newlywed days (in a new country on top of that!) and the sweet gift that your mom shared with you. Moms do know best! Thank you for sharing your words and this recipe! And thank you for your sweet thoughts on my blog. I appreciate you!
This was perfect – thank you!
Such a great memory attached to that book! It looks very well-loved over the years. The potato salad looks delish, perfect for upcoming spring!
I love potato salad! This recipe is delicious!!
Mothers are truly the sweetest 🙂
One of my first cookbook was a betty crocker one too amd i still use it…hehe.
Your salad looks delicious with all that potato goodness…drool!
What would we do without our mothers? Sweet story! You're killing me with all this delicious summer food, though, first the baked beans, now this delicious potato salad. I may have to break down and have a picnic in front of the fire place!
Moms are often so inspired. That is a great looking potato salad. I can see why it is still your favorite.
Thanks for coming by. I loved this story and the potato salad looks wonderful. All your pictures look great, too. Some wonderful recipes here!
Great story. First cookbooks always have such great memories baked into them!
Cute story! Most of my cookbooks pages look like that too : )
I love potato salad and this just makes me crave summer!!! Can't wait to make it and bty that cook book looks very similar to my mama's!!
What a great story! Betty never lets you down!
How very cool is this story! I still have the first cookbook my mom gave me, though mine's Better Homes and Gardens. The one with the 3-ring binder.
I LOVE this potato salad. It is so very creamy and delicious.
Aw, so sweet. My first cookbook was Better Homes and Gardens, back in university. That thing was so beat up and dog-eared by the time I was done with it! Great potato salad!
what a precious gift! and a great recipe!
I'm a little behind on my reads lately, but I just had to comment on this before I hit the cheesecake post. This story sure brings back memories of my first years in marriage. My mom bought me a similar cookbook that I still like to cook out of. Only now, I'm more free to add and take away ingredients and feel completely confidant. Thanks for sharing this story Brandie:)
Just wanted to tell you that I made this and loved it!
This potato salad looks delicious and makes me think of summer barbecues. 🙂
I just love hearing about your early years and your family…really good stuff. The Potato dish looks so delicious, we just love dishes like this.
This looks wonderful! I have been having a blast looking through all of your tasty recipes! My mom got me a cookbook the first Christmas I was married and boy has it been a lifesaver sometimes! 🙂
I'm off to the kitchen to make some potato salad now. 🙂
yum!
kisses
heather
Heh, I know what I'm bringing to easter dinner
I love this potato salad! My advice to others making it – don’t change a thing! It’s perfection!
YUM, I love me some good Potato Salad!
Your potato salad looks heavenly! I bet the chicken stock adds a ton of flavor!
I've been looking for a potato salad recipe and this one is super yummy! I actually think it is the best one I have ever made!
I'm a mayo person,husband a Miracle Whip guy,so I use a combination of both A better flavour,I think.
I like this site^-^
I love trying new recipes and need a good potato salad recipe for the summer – this one looks like a winner. Hubby isn't fond of mustard – how do you think it'll taste without the mustard??
Tina – thanks for the comment! The mustard is not a strong flavor in it at all. It really is more in the background. Also, you could try dijon instead of yellow which has a milder mustard flavor.
Potato salad is one of our all time family favorites! I've made some with only vinegar and some with only mustard, but never the two combined. Sounds like a yummy idea!
Newly following from the Wednesday hop. I'd love to have you stop by and say hello!
Mrs B
Looks wonderful! Oh those memories of our young married days can bring some good laughs huh? I have those too. Thanks for sharing yours…and your treasured cookbook. Great post Gal! Enjoy a wonderful weekend…I've already linked some favorites to Weekend Potluck. Thanks for all you do to make my life brighter! XO
My Mom gave me my Grandma's Betty Crocker cookbook when I left home back in 1980. It was dated 1956. I treasure that book and seldom bring it out these days. It hangs on my dining room wall in A special rack that also holds a rolling pin. I will hand it down whwn my sons marry.
Love the potato salad recipe. It is pure southern style, although I do love Miracle Whip in it too.
I also boil my eggs the way you do. They turn out perfect every single time. Creamy and no green!
Love your blog. Keep up the good work!
Teresa – I love hearing that! Such special memories!
OH my another great hit..girl you got it goin on, everything we've tried from you has been great!! I have been looking & looking for my moms old potato salad recipe that was given to her mother & so on & so forth, but unfortunately with a passing of family members things go "missing" 🙁 Sooo for the most part from what I could remember from helping her so much when I was younger I knew some but couldn't remember exact measurements & so on. One thing I have never heard of was using chicken broth/stock in potato salad but O-M-G this is that "secret" ingredient that you wonder what it is that makes it taste soo great. Of course as we all do I put my own twist on this–i'm not a big celery person so instead of celery I used relish & for this "sauce" it was a little too much but thankfully I had made a WHOLE bunch of potatoes so it worked out well adding a little bit more potatoes, onions, relish, & eggs. Though it's not my moms it's a nice "my" modern twist of hers….thank you Brandie sooooo much
I made this patatoe salad yesterday for my bday party and let me just tell you my guest loved it to the point were my bowl was left licked clean lol very creamy I added crushed bacon gave it a more zing to it ty so much for this recipe
Just found your website…absolutely LOVE it
This recipe is awesome!I could've eaten all myself! 😉
This one is definitely going in my "keep" file.
Thanks!
Yay!! I am so happy you had success this one! Thank you so much for letting me know how it turned out for you! I am so happy you loved it as much as we do. I hope you find lots more recipes on here that you love!
I have that same Betty Crocker cookbook. It is the best cookbook I own–everything you need know about how to cook, from boiling an egg to making homemade gravy. Great gift for a bridal shower or a bachelor. I really enjoy your blog. Your recipes are fantastic. Thank you for sharing them.
I will keep it forever even though it is falling apart! 🙂 ANd I love to give it as a gift to younger folks who are just moving out on their own.
This potato salad recipe is the same as my mom's/grandma's, and it's perfect. Not too mustard-y, not too bland, just … perfect! Now about that cheesecake recipe … ? 😉
Exactly! I know some folks see the eggs and mustard and wonder if it is good but I tell them that I promise it all blends well. Not too strong mustard or eggs. Thank you for taking the time to comment! 🙂
thanks for the egg boiling tip
Brandie,
I just made the potato salad, it was really good and so easy, my family loved it. I need to make it again to get more for myself this time. As for the eggs… I bought them already hard boiled and peeled… I know its kinda lazy but its faster.
Made the potato salad Sunday. Love, love, love it! My husband is a picky eater and his mom always brings potato salad to our summer get-togethers. He said his mom's feelings are going to be hurt because he won't eat any other potato salad but this one!
I love this potato salad! It is my most favorite EVER! Thank you for sharing the recipe.
I love your story!
Potato Salad is one of my all-time favorites!
Brandie, I pinned this the last time I saw it. It sounds so much like my Mom's. She didn't use the broth and she added sweet pickle cubes and some of the juice.
I know that cookbook and the message she hand wrote to you is something you will always cherish!!
I enjoy your stories and your recipes!!
I love your story! What kind of onion do you recommend? I made this using less onions than recommended in the recipe, and by the next day it tasted completely like onions 🙁
Anonymous – oh no! You could use a sweet onion next time (like Vidalia) or you could use shallots which are a milder onion flavor. Hope that helps! 🙂
Hi! I have made so many of your recipes and some of them are my favorites! I actually just made one this AM. Anyway, I HAD to comment because I actually HAVE that cookbook! My grandmother gave it to me when I was 19. I wanted to tell you that if you have not made the Pancake recipe, you have to try it. It is the best recipe I have come across.
Made this and loved it.
This sounds so yummy! I am wanting to make this this weekend, but I have a quick question. About how many people would you say this will serve?
Hi Brandie, I was just on pintrest looking at potato salads. My all time favorite is mayo, mustard, eggs, celery and onion. Never thot about chx broth. You know what i do use is dill pickle juice. Perfect replacement for vinegar, No? Try it next time. What do people do with all that juice anyway? lol Teri.
Exactly right, Teri: sub dill pickle juice for the white vinegar and you really improve the recipe….and, I cut back on the mayo a bit for 2 lbs of potatos. Also, I prefer to use red potatos…
I made this salad today because I was looking for a basic recipe since I didn't want to run to the store and knew I would have everything for something basic. This turned out great! And btw, that cookbook was my first cookbook too! I used that all the time when I first started cooking because it had so much info! If you're a first time cook that's definitely the book to get.
Yummy looking potato salad. When I spent a semester abroad while in college, our England base was in Northwood at London Bible College. Loved that little village!
This was SO good! I came home with an empty bowl!
It reached my expectations and my fiancé was like “Wow we did it!!” Can’t wait to try it once again..Thank you for this fab recipe 😘
Wonderful! Love hearing that – thank you!
I realize I’m a little late to the party. I have the exact same cookbook. We love so many recipes from this book. Especially the meatballs, meatloaf, pancakes, waffles – I can go on and on!!!
Hello, I’m a black woman and I’ve never, ever heard of chicken broth in potato salad. It’s a must that I make this asap. Thank you for this one of a kind recipe.
Great story ! But I can’t help wondering ,
What was the cheesecake recipe !! Lol.
Im wondering if the potatoes should be cooled before mixing in the rest of the ingredients.
Agatha, they don’t need to be. You can let them cool slightly in the colander but they don’t have to be totally cooled. Hope that helps!