Classic, creamy, and delicious, this vegan potato salad is a must for your summer picnics and parties! A flavorful dressing, dill pickles, and crunchy celery and onion make this recipe a favorite.
One of my favorite things about summer is a casual get-together with friends or family. A sunny day, something tasty on the grill, and lots of delicious and easy side dishes. Those are the ingredients for a perfect summer party.
And of course, every summer barbecue needs some side salads. Vegan macaroni salad, Texas caviar, or this classic vegan potato salad.
This is the kind of potato salad that my mom made for us when we were growing up. It’s creamy and flavorful, and so good on hot summer days.
There are so many different variations on potato salad, but this vegan potato salad has a little mustard, and also dill pickles for a bit more flavor.
This potato salad is really so easy to make, and there isn’t a big difference at all from the classic recipe.
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Potato Salad for Vegans
It’s easy to make potato salad suitable for a vegan diet – just choose a vegan mayonnaise. And make sure to leave out any chopped eggs or bacon of course.
That’s the only change that I had to make to adapt my mom’s recipe – just using vegan mayonnaise in place of regular mayonnaise. I prefer the Earth Balance brand, but go ahead and use your favorite brand, or if you aren’t dairy or egg free, just use your favorite regular mayo.
Ingredient Notes
- Potatoes – Red potatoes or Yukon Gold potatoes are my favorite varieties for potato salad. They hold their shape well after boiling, and they are delicious in a cold salad.
- Vegan Mayonnaise – I like Earth Balance Vegan Mayo, but there are many different choices available. Use the brand that works for your dietary needs.
- Mustard – I love the taste of a little bit of mustard in this dressing. If you can’t have mustard, you could leave it out. Just add a little more pickle relish for flavor.
- Onions – I used a sweet onion, because I prefer the milder flavor of this variety. If you want a stronger onion flavor, you can use a red onion or even green onions.
Step by Step Instructions
- Peel and dice the potatoes.
- Boil until fork tender, then let them cool down.
- Chop the onions and celery.
- Put the cooled potatoes in a large bowl, then add the chopped onions and celery, plus the dressing ingredients.
This classic potato salad recipe is loved by vegans and non-vegans alike.
Optional Add-Ins
You can make this recipe your own by adding some other ingredients. Try:
- Fresh herbs like dill, cilantro, or parsley
- Finely shredded carrot would also be a nice pop of color
- Finely chopped sweet pepper or pimentos to add more flavor and color
Tips for Success
- Don’t overcook the potatoes – boil them for too long and you will have mashed potatoes
- Check the potatoes as they boil – they should be tender when pierced with a fork, but not falling apart
- Let the potatoes cool fully before mixing the potato salad
- Taste the potato salad after mixing, and add more salt, pepper, or pickle relish if desired
More Potato Salad Recipes
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Recipe
The Best Classic Vegan Potato Salad.
Ingredients
- 8 potatoes peeled and diced into smallish cubes (for about 7 cups diced potatoes)
- ¾ cup sweet onion chopped
- ⅔ cup celery chopped
- ⅓ cup dill pickle relish or finely chopped dill pickles
- ⅞ cup vegan mayonnaise more if desired
- 3 teaspoons mustard
- 1 Tablespoon sugar
- ⅓ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- paprika optional
Instructions
- Place the diced potatoes in a large pot and cover with water. Boil the diced potatoes for about 20 minutes or until tender. Don’t overcook the potatoes – they should be tender but not mushy.
- Once the potatoes are fork tender, drain the water out of the pan.
- Let the potatoes cool before mixing on the other ingredients. If you are in a hurry, you can rinse with a few changes of cold water to speed up the cooling process.
- Put the cooled potatoes, onions, and celery in a large bowl. Add the mayo, mustard, pickles, sugar, salt, and pepper, and stir to combine. The amount of mayo will vary depending on the size of the potatoes. Add more or less if needed.
- Sprinkle with a dash of paprika before serving if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published in May 2014. It has been updated with new photos and new text.
Sue
Tried this classic vegan potato salad at a large picnic and it was a great success! Brought it for our vegan friends but it was enjoyed by all. A keeper!
Kelly Roenicke
So glad you enjoyed this! Thanks for letting me know!
Kenny
I loved this potato salad! My advice to others making it – don’t change a thing!
Lynne
Absolutely delicious! The best potato salad I ever made! Thank you!
Kelly Roenicke
Thank you for letting me know! I’m so happy to hear that!
Bee
You need kala namak salt for that “egg” taste without the egg. I made my potato salad with it to taste, and came out perfect.
Alisha
What in the world is 7/8 cup???? I’ve never seen or heard of this before in my life haha
Kelly Roenicke
Just 2 Tablespoons less than a full cup. You could also say a scant cup.