Old-Fashioned Potato Salad with Cooked Dressing (No Mustard!)

A classic potato salad recipe featuring a cooked dressing made quickly in the microwave. No mustard or raw onions—just creamy texture and traditional flavor!

8 servings

Potato salad garnished with paprika and parsley

Prep Time 25

Cook Time 20

Total Time 45

Ingredients

Cooked Dressing Ingredients

½ cup (114 g) milk
1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) table salt
¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
1 tablespoon (1 tablespoon) cornstarch
¼ cup (57 g) vinegar
1 (50 g) egg
2 tablespoons (28 g) butter - softened
¼ cup (40 g) onion - chopped

Salad Ingredients

¾ teaspoon (¾ teaspoon) celery seed
¼ cup (55 g) mayonnaise
¼ cup (4 tbsp) sweet pickle relish
7 (7) medium potatoes, diced and cooked
3 (150 g) hard-cooked eggs, diced

Instructions

Prep Potatoes and Eggs

Dice and boil: Cook 7 medium potatoes (peeling is optional) until soft but not falling apart. Prepare hard-cooked eggs. Set aside to cool while you prepare the dressing.

Cooked Dressing

Blend ingredients: Combine 1/2 cup milk, 1 teaspoon table salt, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, 1/4 cup vinegar, and 1 egg in a blender, food processor, or with a whisk until smooth.
Microwave Dressing: Place 1/4 cup onion and 2 tablespoons butter in a microwave-safe bowl and add blended mix. Microwave 3-4 minutes on HIGH, whisking after each minute until thick.
Complete Dressing: Stir in 3/4 teaspoon celery seed, 1/4 cup mayonnaise, and 1/4 cup sweet pickle relish.

Assemble Salad

Combine: Gently mix the dressing with 7 medium potatoes, diced and cooked, and 3 hard-cooked eggs, diced.
Garnish & Chill: Sprinkle with paprika. Chill 2-3 hours.

Notes

Make ahead: This potato salad tastes even better after chilling overnight.
Warm potatoes absorb the dressing best: Let the potatoes cool just enough to handle, then toss them with the dressing while they're still warm so they absorb more flavor.
Want more crunch? Stir in chopped celery, red bell pepper, or diced apple just before serving.
Looking for a little more zip? Add Dijon or prepared mustard, chopped dill pickles or pickled jalapeños, or garnish with smoked paprika instead of sweet paprika. Fresh dill or parsley also make delicious additions.

Nutritional Information