The Ultimate Picnic Potato Salad: Savory, Creamy, and Rich with Hard-Boiled Eggs & Dill Pickle Zest
Summer is synonymous with sunshine, outdoor adventures, and, of course, delicious food shared with loved ones. There’s a special magic in gathering on the patio, by the pool, or at a park, where good company and fantastic flavors create lasting memories. And what could be more iconic for a summer picnic or backyard barbecue than a perfectly crafted potato salad? It’s a culinary cornerstone of the season, a dish that evokes warmth, comfort, and the carefree spirit of long, sunny days. This particular recipe elevates the classic, offering a savory profile that’s wonderfully rich with an abundance of hard-boiled eggs and a surprisingly zesty dressing featuring dill pickles. Prepare to discover your new favorite, a potato salad so delightful it will become an indispensable part of your summer traditions.
Our Summer Oasis: Embracing Outdoor Living
In our household, summertime means living life outdoors, especially in our beloved backyard haven. A few years ago, we transformed our space by adding a beautiful pool, turning our home into a personal “stay-cation” resort. The moment the temperatures rise, you’ll find us lounging by the sparkling water, floating lazily on rafts, or simply enjoying the warm breeze. While Nebraska summers are known for their extreme heat and humidity, we genuinely welcome them with open arms. After enduring the biting cold of winter, those hot, humid days are a joyous invitation to embrace the season fully.
Even our furry family members can’t resist the allure of the sun. Our boxer, an integral part of our family, absolutely refuses to stay indoors when the sun is shining. He’s usually stretched out, soaking up every ray he can get. Boxers aren’t naturally strong swimmers, which makes his enjoyment of his own dedicated pool raft all the more charming. It allows him to partake in the poolside fun without a worry, making our summer days even more memorable.
Essential Summer Protection: Sun & Bugs
Pin this recipe now so you can easily find it for your next summer gathering!
Spending countless hours under the sun is a highlight of summer, but it also means being vigilant about skin protection. Whether we’re enjoying our backyard oasis or out on the lake in our boat, a generous supply of sunscreen is always within reach. Reapplication is frequent and essential to ensure continuous broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection. Our go-to choice is Banana Boat® SunComfort Sunscreen, and for good reason. Its water-resistant formula provides up to 80 minutes of protection, which is perfect for days spent swimming and sweating. Beyond protection, it also moisturizes the skin, preventing the dryness that often accompanies sun exposure. Available in SPF 30 and 50+, it’s a vital component of our summer safety kit, helping us stay comfortable and protected while we soak up the rays.
As the day gracefully transitions into evening, we peel off our wet swim attire, fire up the grill, and continue our culinary journey outdoors. The aroma of dinner cooking fills the air, mingling with the sweet scent of summer blooms. When twilight descends and the air cools slightly, we gather around our fire pit, sharing stories and making s’mores. It’s a perfect ending to a perfect day, but with dusk comes the inevitable arrival of unwelcome guests: bugs.
Anyone who knows me can attest to the fact that I am invariably the first one to be targeted by mosquitoes, and sometimes, the only one! For me, a reliable insect repellent isn’t just a convenience; it’s a necessity for enjoying our outdoor evenings. That’s why you’ll always find a can of OFF! Deep Woods® right by my side. It offers long-lasting protection against mosquitoes, including those that may carry the Zika or Dengue virus, ensuring that nothing puts a damper on our beautiful nights under the stars. Proper application is key to its effectiveness, and a few simple steps can make all the difference in keeping those pesky bugs at bay.
Tips for Applying OFF!® Insect Repellent Correctly:
- Always shake well before using! This ensures the ingredients are properly mixed for optimal protection.
- Hold the container 6 to 8 inches from your skin or clothing and spray with a slow, sweeping motion. It’s important to apply just enough repellent to cover exposed skin and/or clothing – over-application or frequent reapplication is unnecessary and can be wasteful. Remember not to spray over cuts, wounds, irritated, or sunburned skin. Avoid using it in enclosed areas to ensure proper ventilation. For children, never allow them to handle the product directly; instead, spray it onto your own hands first and then apply it to their skin, avoiding their hands. Once you come indoors, always wash treated skin thoroughly with soap and water.
- When applying to your face, spray a small amount onto the palm of your hand first, then apply sparingly, carefully avoiding your eyes and mouth. Do not spray directly onto your face. Apply sparingly around your ears.
- Do not use repellent under clothing. Instead, spray it directly onto shirts, pants, socks, and hats. For added protection against ticks and chiggers, pay special attention to cuffs, socks, and any other openings in your outer clothing. This product will not damage cotton, wool, or nylon. However, avoid applying it on or near acetate, rayon, spandex, other synthetics (besides nylon), furniture, plastics, watch crystals, leather, and painted or varnished surfaces, including automobiles, as it could cause damage.
Truly, there’s nothing quite like an itchy bug bite to spoil a perfectly lovely evening spent enjoying the great outdoors!
The Quintessential Picnic Dish: Our Perfect Potato Salad
In our home, any patio gathering or social event inevitably revolves around food, and for good reason! Good food is the heart of hospitality and the foundation of shared joy.
When we talk about picnic food, one dish instantly springs to mind: Potato Salad!
Crafting the Perfect Savory Potato Salad
I must admit, I have always been a bit of a potato salad connoisseur, perhaps even a snob. My ideal potato salad leans far more towards a savory, rich profile, almost like a hearty egg salad with potatoes playing a starring role, rather than a sweet or overly tangy version. Finding that perfect balance has been a journey filled with several attempts and a few less-than-perfect batches. But through experimentation and persistence, I have finally perfected my signature recipe. Today, I am thrilled to share this treasured creation with you, hoping it brings as much joy to your family gatherings and outdoor meals as it does to ours. It’s designed to be a crowd-pleaser, robust enough to stand up to other picnic fare, yet refined enough to impress.
Our recipe begins with three pounds of golden potatoes, chosen for their creamy texture and ability to hold their shape after cooking. Once cooked, peeled, and cut into bite-sized pieces, these form the backbone of the salad. The star, however, is the generous inclusion of seven chopped hard-boiled eggs, which contribute a wonderful richness and unique texture that truly sets this salad apart. Chopped celery adds a delightful crunch, while sliced green onions bring a subtle, fresh bite. The magic truly happens with the dressing: a creamy blend of sour cream and mayonnaise provides the luxurious base, while a quarter cup of dill pickle relish introduces a tangy, briny pop that perfectly complements the savory notes. A tablespoon of stone-ground mustard adds a layer of complex, earthy flavor, tying all the components together. A final seasoning of salt and pepper to taste ensures every bite is perfectly balanced. This combination creates a potato salad that is not just a side dish, but a highlight of any meal.
The Secret to Easy-Peel Hard-Boiled Eggs
For years, peeling hard-boiled eggs was a constant struggle, often resulting in messy, pitted whites. But those days are long gone! I discovered a game-changing method that guarantees perfectly smooth, easy-to-peel hard-boiled eggs every single time. This no-fail, easy peel hard-boiled egg method has saved me countless minutes of frustration and ensures that my potato salad always looks as good as it tastes. It’s a simple trick that every home cook should know.
Now that you know our secrets to success and summer enjoyment, let’s get to the star of the show!
Let’s make some Picnic Potato Salad! 
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Print Recipe
Picnic Potato Salad
Ingredients
- 3 pounds gold potatoes cooked, peeled and cut into bite sized pieces
- 7 hard boiled eggs chopped
- 1/2 cup celery about 3 stalks chopped
- 1/3 cup green onion about 2 sliced
- For the Dressing:
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup dill pickle relish
- 1 Tablespoon stone ground mustard
- Salt & Pepper to taste
Instructions
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Boil potatoes, peel and cut into bite sized pieces. Place in a large bowl. Add to it: eggs, celery and onion. Gently toss to incorporate.
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Combine dressing ingredients, pour over potato mixture, gently stir to coat. Salt and pepper to taste.
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Can be served immediately, or chill to serve cold.
Notes
Nutrition
Our perfect potato salad is not just a recipe; it’s an invitation to savor the joys of summer with confidence and deliciousness. From protecting your skin under the bright sun to warding off evening pests around the fire pit, and finally, indulging in a truly exceptional potato salad, we hope your summer days are filled with effortless fun and unforgettable flavors.
Total sun care and bug protection for your summer can be found at your local Walmart, making it easy to stock up on all your essentials for safe and enjoyable outdoor living.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Banana Boat® and OFF!®. The opinions and text are all mine.