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

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:

Make sure the eggs are not overcooked. Follow the instructions below to properly cook hard boiled eggs to perfection.
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.
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.

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

Add a couple more eggs. The extra eggs and fresher yolks will help to thicken the mixture.
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.

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.

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

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

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

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!

FAQs

What is egg salad made of? ›

Place chopped eggs in a bowl; stir in mayonnaise, green onion, and mustard. Season with paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir and serve on your favorite bread, crackers, or salad greens.

What can I use to thicken up egg salad? ›

To thicken egg salad, some cooks add mayonnaise or other thickeners, such as Greek yogurt or sour cream. Adding a few tablespoons of mayonnaise or other thickeners should do the trick. In addition to mayonnaise and other thickeners, some cooks like to add chopped vegetables and fresh herbs to their egg salad.

Tell Me More ›

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.

Find Out More ›

Do you chop or 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 ...

Why is my egg salad bland? ›

Stir through and adjust by adding more mayonnaise if you like your egg salad creamier. Why does my egg salad taste bland? The simple reason may be that it's not seasoned enough. Add a little more salt and pepper to taste.

Keep Reading ›

Why does egg salad go bad? ›

The texture may be watery or slimy, which may be a sign of bacterial growth. If left longer, it can develop dark spots and mold. You might also see little bubbles or fizzing when stirring the salad; these are also surefire indicators of microbial growth.

Read On ›

Why does my egg salad get soggy? ›

Every ingredient that goes into egg salad has water in it. Salt and sugar in the dressing draw the water out of the ingredients as they sit, and they make your egg salad watery regardless of whether it's in the fridge or in a sandwich.

Find Out More ›

How do you fix too much mustard in egg salad? ›

If you add too much mustard in your egg salad, you can add more of the rest of the ingredient to balance out the flavors. You'll have more egg salad then planned, but good thing the leftovers taste amazing for this recipe!

Discover More ›

Can I freeze homemade egg salad? ›

If you must freeze egg salad, make sure to use an airtight container and remove as much of the air as possible to minimize freezer burn. It's best to consume egg salad within one to two months for the best results.

Can you use old eggs for egg salad? ›

So, save your freshest eggs for frying (one more reason: the yolks of more alkaline eggs are more prone to breaking as soon as they hit the pan) and put your older eggs towards egg salad, deviled eggs, and the like.

Learn More ›

How can you tell if egg salad has gone bad? ›

A spoiled egg salad will emit a sour or sulfurous odor and may also become slimy or watery, which can be an inditication of bacterial growth. Eventually, it can develop mold, dark spots, and other visible signs of spoilage. Stay on the safe side and discard the salad, even if there's just one moldy spot.

Learn More ›

Does egg salad last 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.

View Details ›

How long to boil eggs? ›

A soft boiled egg is boiled for a shorter amount of time, typically 4-6 minutes, so that the yolk remains runny while the white is only partially set. A hard boiled egg is boiled for a longer amount of time, typically 10-12 minutes, so that both the yolk and white are fully cooked and solid.

Is egg mayonnaise the same as egg salad? ›

If you're talking about the filling for egg salad sandwiches, then the answer is “both”. Eggs and mayonnaise are the main ingredients. If you're talking about a salad with eggs in it, then there may or may not be mayonnaise in it as part of the dressing.

Know More ›

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.

See Details ›

What do you eat with egg salad? ›

Potato Salad: A classic side dish that pairs well with egg salad. You can choose from various potato salad recipes, such as creamy mayonnaise-based or a tangy vinegar-based version. Coleslaw: Creamy coleslaw with a mix of cabbage and carrots adds a crunchy and refreshing element to your meal.

Read The Full Story ›

Is egg salad OK to eat? ›

It probably isn't healthy if you are making it with lots of mayonnaise, but if you eat it with other salad ingredients instead of as a sandwich, you'll probably be alright. But I wouldn't eat it for more than one meal a day, and make certain the other meals have ingredients that balance out the high intake of eggs.

Show Me More ›