Mom’s Potato Salad is a mustard-free version of classic American potato salad that I grew up with and still enjoy immensely.
Mom’s Potato Salad
By Sue Lau | Palatable Pastime
This week for Sunday Supper we are having fun sharing some of our mom’s favorite recipes.
One of my mom’s favorite recipes was this version of potato salad, which is the only way I knew potato salad for many years, until I found my own place in the world of potato salads recipes. And over time I have made many different kinds, and enjoyed them as well. For it was this recipe that started it all and set me to become the potato salad lover I am.
It has always been well asked for at family barbecues and my dad has declared it the “Best Potato Salad in the World” (but dads say those kind of things). But in this case it may well be very true!
And even though I had not made this recipe in years, I have helped my mother make it so many times. And when I taste it, maybe it’s a funny thing to say but it “tastes like Mom.” I could imagine she was right there beside me, peeling potatoes and chopping veggies just like the old days. And I loved it so much I would eat it warm because I couldn’t wait, and she’d always scold me, telling me it needed time to chill.
Trust me, this tastes great warm or cold! And I hope you enjoy and have a great Mother’s Day week! Be sure to check out all the rest of the blogger’s recipes after the recipe printout and don’t forget to pin your favorites!
Mom's Potato Salad

Ingredients:
- 2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1/2 cup French salad dressing (orange type)
- 1/2 cup Miracle Whip salad dressing
- 3 hard-cooked eggs, chopped
- 1/2 cup chopped celery
- 1/2 cup sliced radishes
- 1/2 cup chopped green onions or scallions
- 1/4 cup sweet pickle relish
- 1 teaspoon celery seed
- salt and black pepper (to taste)
Method:
- Cook potatoes in boiling salted water for 12 minutes or until fork tender; drain.
- Place potatoes in mixing bowl and add French dressing while it is hot.
- Stir in remaining ingredients and chill.
- Mom liked to garnish hers with extra sliced radishes as I did in the photo.
From the kitchen of palatablepastime.com
Mom’s Favorite Recipes
a Sunday Supper event
hosted by Christie Campbell of A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
and
Wendy Leep Hammond of Wholistic Woman
Starters (Appetizers, Beverages, Breakfast):
- Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal by Cooking With Carlee
- Frozen Pina Colada by The Redhead Baker
- Goats Cheese Rolls with Honey and Thyme by Manu’s Menu
- Mom’s Banana Bread by Family Around the Table
- Mom’s Famous Poppy Seed Bread With A Citrus Glaze by And She Cooks
- Mom’s Wine Spritzer by Momma’s Meals
Salads, Side Dishes, and Sauces:
- Asiago Bruschetta Roasted Asparagus by Flavor Mosaic
- Mom’s Cucumbers in Vinegar by Simple And Savory
- Mom’s Homemade Perogies by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Mom’s Potato Salad by Palatable Pastime
- Polish Haluski (Pan Fried Noodles & Sauerkraut) by The Crumby Cupcake
- Spinach Salad with Simple Vinaigrette by Cooking Chat
- Zippy Barbecue Sauce by Amee’s Savory Dish
Main Dishes:
- Chicken and Egg Salad Sandwich by The Freshman Cook
- Grilled Chicken with Poblano Cream Sauce by Casa de Crews
- Fried Smelt by A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Granny Smith’s Meatloaf by Get the Good Stuff!
- Jean’s Best Vegetable Soup by Food Lust People Love
- Lemon & Garlic Herbed Roasted Chicken by Cosmopolitan Cornbread
- Mama’s Favorite Southern Fried Chicken by The Chef Next Door
- Mom’s Cheese & Onion Enchiladas by The TipToe Fairy
- Mom’s Lentil Toastadas by Grumpy’s Honeybunch
- Mom’s Moussaka by My Life Cookbook
- Shirley’s Potato Soup by Our Good Life
- Mom’s Spare Ribs To Go by An Italian in my Kitchen
- Mom’s Sukiyaki: Japanese Beef and Vegetables Hot Pot by Asian In America
- Myra’s Super Supper by Tramplingrose
- Pizza Meatloaf by A Mind Full Mom
- Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls by Cookin’ Mimi
Desserts:
- Apple Bread Pudding with Butterscotch Sauce by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Apple Crisp by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Baklava by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Brown Sugar Pudding by Un Assaggio of Food, Wine & Marriage
- Butter Balls by Feeding and More
- Carrot Cream Cheese Coffee Cake by Pies and Plots
- Chocolate Cherry Truffle Cheesecake by What Smells So Good?
- Crustless Pecan Pie Rice Pudding by Desserts Required
- Double Layer Chocolate Cake with Red Wine Chocolate Buttercream by Fantastical Sharing of Recipes
- Easy Classic Date Squares by She Loves Biscotti
- Gluten Free Strawberry Rhubarb Cake by What The Fork Food Blog
- Hungarian Crepes: Palacsinta by My Gourmet Connection
- Lemon Pound Cake with Lemon Glaze and Roasted Strawberries by Turnips 2 Tangerines
- Mom’s Apple Pie by Wholistic Woman
- Mom’s Famous White Icing by Monica’s Table
- Moms Mayonnaise Cake by My World Simplified
- Pavlova with Raspberries and Cream by Caroline’s Cooking
- Rocky Road Brownie Sundae for Mom by The Weekend Gourmet
- Rose Shortbread Cookies by Baking Sense
- Sour Cream Cheesecake by Magnolia Days
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Potato salad is one of those things that I HAVE to have at a potluck. I don’t care what time of year it is! 😀
Potlucks, funeral wakes and everything else. 🙂
Now isn’t that funny, Sue, because my grandmother’s (and mom’s) potato salad looks remarkably like yours but they insisted that it not be chilled, that it tasted better warm or at room temperature. Like you, I could eat it either way! Potato salad = Good.
Did they put French dressing in it? I’m not sure if she came up with that or if it was a cookbook recipe.
What great memories and a great looking potato salad.
Thanks. 🙂
My mom likes potato salad in just the opposite way with course mustard and very little mayo. I know what you mean by “tastes like mom.” Your dad sounds like a sweet guy, thinking everything you make is the best.
I like mustard based salads too!
I really like the idea of the radishes in this potato salad. I’ll have to give this recipe a try.
Thank you!
Just in time for BBQ season!! It really does look like the best potato salad in the world.. Loving participating in #SundaySupper and getting all these great recipe ideas 🙂
Thanks! SUnday Supper is a great place to find recipes! 🙂
I, too, have made a lot of potato salads but this is the first recipe I have seen using French Dressing. Need to try it soon. Thanks for sharing.
I’m not sure if she found it in a cookbook or the newspaper or did it herself- she made it as long as I remember. But her salad dressing of choice was that retro orange French, so maybe she did that one on her own. It works!
Funny – my dad says the same type of things. Every thanksgiving we have the best turkey ever…I’ve never make potato salad without mustard but I bet I would love the french dressing in there!
Dads are just like that. If they’re smart! LOL! I like most kinds of potato salads. Another one I love is German potato salad (I’ve got a really good recipe for that) and also the loaded kind with sour cream, bacon and cheddar (that one also doesn’t have mustard). But mustard salads are great- either the kind where it is mild, or the other one where it is intense. How can we go wrong?
I find we always for back to the food we grew up with… funny how the brain and our taste buds work. This potato salad looks very satisfying and just plain good. Thanks for sharing 🙂
It is a very good potato salad recipe and I could make it every single time and not miss my other potato salads, but the more types the merrier!
Yummy! I love potato salad.
Thanks! It’s adifferent that my usual type, but it is excellent on its own turf!