Classic Egg Salad Recipe (2024)

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

Classic egg salad should be creamy, tangy, and perfect for sandwiches. This delicious homemade recipe is easy to make and the best you'll ever have!

Classic Egg Salad Recipe (1)

Classic Egg Salad

Creamy, tangy, and perfect for sandwiches classic egg salad is an American favorite. It's super easy to make, and makes a wonderful, simple lunch.

Apparently, egg salad is one of those foods that you kind of just eyeball the amount and throw all of the ingredients in together.

As a newlywed and new cook, I had no idea where to start, so I asked my mother-in-law (since that's who made the egg salad my hubby remembers and loves). I'm pretty sure she thought I was nuts.

Nonetheless, Ifinally figured out how to make a delightful and classicegg salad, and I wanted to share my recipe with measurements for any other egg salad newbies out there.

How Do You Keep Egg Salad From Getting Watery?

Sometimes after chilling for a day or so, you might find that your egg salad is a little more runny or watery than you'd like it. Here are a few ways to prevent watery egg salad:

  1. Make sure the eggs are not overcooked. Follow the instructions below to properly cook hard boiled eggs to perfection.
  2. Chill eggs before adding them to the salad. I chill mine after peeling for at least 3 hours to ensure that they're cool enough not to create extra moisture when the salad is put together.
  3. Chop celery and onion in advance, and sprinkle with a little salt. Cover and refrigerate while eggs are also chilling. This will allow them to also come to a similar temperature to prevent condensation, and the salt will help to pull excess moisture from them. Pat onions and celery dry before adding them to the salad mixture.
Classic Egg Salad Recipe (2)

If you've already made the salad, and now it's runny, you can try these easy fixes.

  1. Add a couple more eggs. The extra eggs and fresher yolks will help to thicken the mixture.
  2. Add a tablespoon of breadcrumbs to absorb some of the extra moisture.

What Else Can I Add to My Egg Salad?

Egg salad is such a great simple base to add in any extra flavors your heart desires. Try some of these ideas:

  • Horseradish will give a little extra kick. Start off with just a small amount, about a teaspoon, and add more to taste.
  • Bacon makes everything better, including egg salad.
  • Red pepper flakes will give it some spice. Also consider a few dashes of Tabasco or your favorite hot sauce.
  • Avocado for some fresh creaminess and healthy fats.
  • Fresh herbs for some zesty crisp flavor. Try adding a little freshly chopped dill, chives, or parsley.

How to Prepare Eggs for Egg Salad

Place your eggs in the bottom of a large pot (make sure you use a pot with a lid!), and fill with water. Bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat.

As soon as it comes to a hard boil, turn off the heat and cover with a lid. then turn off the heat and cover with a lid. Allow to sit, covered, off the heat for 11 minutes.

While the eggs are sitting and cooking, prepare a large bowl with ice water.

Classic Egg Salad Recipe (3)

As soon as your timer goes off, transfer your eggs to the ice water. This is called shocking the eggs, which helps stop the cooking process.

After a minute or 2, the eggs will be cool enough to handle. Peel the eggs, and place in a bowl to chill before assembling your egg salad.

How to Make Classic Egg Salad

After preparing your eggs, it's time to put it all together. Chop the eggs and place them in a bowl with the remaining ingredients. Stir gently to combine everything. Cover and chill for at least an hour before serving for the most delicious result.

Classic Egg Salad Recipe (4)

More Easy Salad Recipes You'll Love

  • Deviled Egg Potato Salad - creamy southern potato salad with all of the flavors you love about deviled eggs.
  • Southern Deviled Eggs - perfect classic deviled eggs with a creamy tangy filling.
  • Easy Homemade Fruit Salad - fresh and healthy and beautiful.
  • Southern Creamy Coleslaw - perfect combination of creamy, sweet, fresh, and tangy
  • Watergate Salad - quick and easy dessert made with whipped cream, pistachio pudding, pineapple, and marshmallows.

Classic Egg Salad Recipe (5)

Classic Egg Salad Recipe

This Classic Egg Salad Recipe is a classic that's great for sandwiches for lunch and dinner all year long.

4.91 from 22 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main, Salad

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Classic Egg Salad, Easy Egg Salad, Egg Salad

Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Chilling Time: 4 hours hours

Total Time: 4 hours hours 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 203kcal

Author: Michelle

Ingredients

  • 12 hard boiled eggs
  • ¼ cup finely chopped red onion
  • ¼ finely chopped celery
  • ½ cup mayo
  • 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
  • 1 tablespoon dill pickle relish
  • Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Place your eggs in the bottom of a large pot (make sure you use a pot with a lid!), and fill with water. Bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat.

    As soon as it comes to a hard boil, turn off the heat and cover with a lid. then turn off the heat and cover with a lid. Allow to sit, covered, off the heat for11 minutes.

  • While the eggs are sitting and cooking, prepare a large bowl with ice water.

  • Place cooked eggs immediately in ice water to cool. Once cooled, crack and peel the eggs. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours until cold.

  • When the eggs are cold, finely chop them with a knife or egg slicer and place in a large mixing bowl.

  • Add onion, celery, mayo, mustard, relish, and salt and pepper. Stir gently to combine.

  • Cover and chill for at least an hour or until ready to serve.

Notes

Nutrition facts include salad only, not bread for sandwiches or other serving suggestions.

  • This recipe is keto, dairy free, and gluten free.
  • Make sure eggs are cooled all the way before adding to the recipe. This will keep your egg salad from getting watery, and keep your onions and celery crisp.
  • Egg salad can be eaten right away, but is best after chilling for at least an hour.
  • Serving suggestions: Serve on toasted bread, as a wrap, with crackers, on a lettuce wrap, or with fresh veggie slices such as carrots, cucumbers, and tomatoes.
  • Storage: Keep covered and refrigerated for up to 3-5 days.
  • I do not recommend freezing this recipe.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 203kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.6g | Protein: 9.3g | Fat: 17.9g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2.4g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 283.3mg | Sodium: 266mg | Potassium: 125.1mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 121IU | Vitamin C: 0.06mg | Calcium: 77mg | Iron: 0.87mg

Did you make this recipe?I love seeing your creations. Snap a quick photo and mention @TheGraciousWife or tag #thegraciouswife on Instagram! Leave a STAR rating below!

UPDATE INFO: This recipe was originally published in July 2015. It has been updated with new pictures, video, and detailed instructions and republished in March 2020.

Never Miss a Thing!

Join our newsletter to get new recipes, tips, tricks, and tutorials every week!

Classic Egg Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is egg salad made of? ›

Eggs: Of course, this egg salad recipe starts with eggs! Condiments: You'll need mayonnaise and mustard. Green onion: Green onions lend a pop of flavor and color. Seasonings: This egg salad is simply seasoned with salt, pepper, and paprika.

How long should you keep egg salad in the refrigerator? ›

According to the USDA, egg salad that's been stored properly in the fridge will be good for three to five days. To maximize that timeframe, use an airtight container and place the egg salad in the coldest part of the fridge promptly. Make sure your fridge is set to 40 F or lower.

Do you cut up eggs for egg salad? ›

We like pieces between 1/4 and 1/2 inch big; the yolks will break smaller when you stir everything together. Egg Slicer: An egg slicer is a great way to chop hard-cooked eggs into small pieces. Slice them one way, then turn them the other way and slice again.

How do you make egg salad less smelly? ›

How do they stop the smell? a splash of white vinegar works well.

Why is my egg salad bland? ›

If you've properly seasoned your egg salad and it still seems bland, add an acid. A few teaspoons of lemon juice or white wine vinegar will sharpen and enhance the flavours. Now you have all the tips and tricks to make the best egg salad possible, it's time to get cracking!

Why does my egg salad get soggy? ›

If you know overcooked eggs aren't the culprit for your runny salad, then you might have accidentally used too much mayo or mustard. If this is the case, you can thicken your egg salad by popping it in the fridge for a couple of hours and letting it sit.

Can I eat 7 day old egg salad? ›

How Long You Can Keep Egg Salad. According to FoodSafety.gov, if it has been properly stored, it is safe to eat the salad within three to four days. 1 This rule also applies to similar mayonnaise-based salads like chicken, tuna, ham, and macaroni salads. The key words are "properly stored." What does that mean?

How many days is homemade egg salad good for? ›

Egg salad is always better fresh, but you can certainly store it for up to 4 days in the fridge for quick lunches or for potlucks and picnics.

How long do you hard boil an egg for? ›

How much time is needed to make hard boiled eggs? Hard boiled eggs should be cooked for about 10-12 minutes. This timing avoids a powdery, dry yolk that comes from overcooking while keeping it solid enough for applications like devilled eggs or egg salad.

What is the best tool for making egg salad? ›

I've found the best tool for mashing up eggs for egg salad is a grid-style potato masher.

What is the best way to mash eggs for egg salad? ›

Recipe developer and cookbook author Sheri Castle suggests that "for a salad with hearty texture that won't turn gummy or pasty, use your hands to crumble the eggs instead of chopping the whites and mashing the yolks with a fork." You will, of course, want to wait until the boiled eggs are cool enough to handle, but ...

What to eat with egg salad? ›

What to Serve with Egg Salad Sandwiches (23 Easy Sides)
  • Meat. • 1 Bacon-wrapped tater tot cups. ...
  • Produce. • 1 Perfect baked potato. ...
  • Canned Goods. • 1 Tomato soup, Homemade.
  • Snacks. • 1 Onion rings.
  • Dairy. • 1 Mozzarella sticks, Homemade. ...
  • Frozen. • 1 Fruit and yogurt parfaits. ...
  • Prepared. • 1 Simple crudites platter.
  • Deli.

Why does my egg salad taste bad? ›

If your egg salad looks good but has a sour or bitter taste, it's best to throw it away. In some cases, you might notice small bubbles or fizzing when stirring the salad. These are telltale signs of microbial growth. Refrain from tasting the salad, and discard it immediately.

Why does my egg salad smell like sulfur? ›

A fresh egg doesn't have a smell, but an egg that is going bad smells like sulfur. If you smell something, chances are, the egg is no longer good.

What is the gas smell in egg salad? ›

Farts that smell like rotten eggs could be a result of eating lots of fibrous foods like beans. Sulfur-rich foods like eggs, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and more can cause the same effect. If you also have bloating and stomach pain, your sulfurous farts might be a sign of a food intolerance.

Is eating eggs and salad healthy? ›

You've already made the healthy choice by having a salad. Why not add an egg to make it even healthier? Studies show that eating eggs, which naturally contain fats, alongside vegetables helps the body to better absorb the fat-soluble nutrients in veggies like vitamin E and lutein.

Is egg salad good to eat sick? ›

People may find it easier to eat cold foods when feeling sick, as they often smell less than hot foods. The odor of hot food may increase feelings of nausea for some people. Good options for cold foods include: a sandwich with protein, such as peanut butter or egg salad.

What is the benefit of eating egg salad? ›

Among its many benefits, the egg's nutrients build strong muscles, keep our brains, eyes, skin and immune systems healthy, and help prevent birth defects. Making this salad can be as simple as adding some lemon juice and salt and pepper to the avocado and eggs, or enhancing the flavor with onions, herbs and olives.

What is egg mayonnaise made of? ›

Combine eggs, vinegar, mustard powder, and salt in the bowl of a food processor; pulse until blended. Pour oil in very slowly, with the processor running, until mayonnaise is smooth.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Prof. Nancy Dach

Last Updated:

Views: 6161

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (57 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Prof. Nancy Dach

Birthday: 1993-08-23

Address: 569 Waelchi Ports, South Blainebury, LA 11589

Phone: +9958996486049

Job: Sales Manager

Hobby: Web surfing, Scuba diving, Mountaineering, Writing, Sailing, Dance, Blacksmithing

Introduction: My name is Prof. Nancy Dach, I am a lively, joyous, courageous, lovely, tender, charming, open person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.