Easy Potato Salad Recipe for a Crowd
Wondering how much potato salad for 50 people – or more – to serve at an upcoming gathering? This recipe includes easy potato salad recipes for 10, 25, 50 and 75 people.
Potato salad is a side dish everyone should know how to make. Why? Homemade potato salad is simple and incredibly frugal. Like so many things, homemade potato salad is more delicious than store bought.
We were hosting a weekend workshop at church recently and I was in charge of food. Saturday lunch was going to be simple with sandwiches and fixings, chips and veggies, pasta salad and potato salad, and homemade cookies. I looked (briefly) at buying potato salad but changed my mind when I saw the price.
Our local grocery store had pre-made potato salad on sale for $2.49/lb. I could buy 5 pounds of potatoes for that same price! The answer was a no brainer. Homemade potato salad it was!
Thankfully, I had a family recipe that showed me exactly how much potato salad to make for 50 people.
This is my Great-Grandma Hoffmeyer’s recipe so it is a time tested recipe that has been made for several generations and countless summer picnics. My family is as German as they come but this is NOT a German potato salad recipe. Instead, this is a classic potato salad recipe that everyone loves. Even picky eaters like this traditional potato salad.
Please note that the proportions are assuming you will be serving other foods (besides potato salad) as side dishes. I’ve made this potato salad for many large gatherings and have found the proportions to be accurate and more than generous.
If you are wondering exactly how much potato salad for 50 people is needed, here is a good recipe for you.
This is an easy recipe for potato salad with only 5 basic ingredients.
I’m sharing my family recipe – and all the crowd proportions – below. Once you try it, I think you’ll agree it is the very best potato salad recipe – especially with all the different size options!
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Potato salad for 10 people (a family sized recipe)…
6 medium potatoes
5 hard-boiled eggs
1 ½ cup celery, diced
½ cup onion, diced
1 1/3 cup mayonnaise
Salt and pepper to taste
Potato salad for 25 people…
5 pounds of potatoes
1 dozen hard-boiled eggs
3 cups celery, diced
3/4 cup onion, diced
2 1/2 cups mayonnaise
Salt and pepper to taste
Potato salad for 50 people…
10 pounds of potatoes
2 dozen hard-boiled eggs
1 bunch celery, diced
1 cup onion, diced
1 quart (4 cups) mayonnaise
Salt and pepper to taste
Potato salad for 75 people…
15 pounds of potatoes
3 dozen hard-boiled eggs
1 ½ bunches celery, diced
2 large onions, diced
1 ½ quart mayonnaise
Salt and black pepper to taste
How to Make Homemade Potato Salad:
Peel, wash and cube potatoes into large chunks (about the size of a nickel). Be sure to use a sharp paring knife. This Made in America paring knife is my absolute favorite!
Put potatoes in a large saucepan of cold salted water and bring to a boil. Boil potatoes over medium-high heat until potatoes are tender (about 15 minutes). Test by poking with a fork.
While potatoes are boiling, dice onions and celery into small pieces. Peel and chop the hard-boiled eggs.
Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl while the potatoes are still hot. Stir in mayonnaise. Add more or less mayonnaise to taste. Season with salt and pepper.
Cool potato salad in the fridge until ready to serve.
Additional Tips for Making Potato Salad:
The secret to this simple potato salad is that you must mix all the ingredients while the potatoes are still hot. It results in a delicious and creamy potato salad, with chunks and a tiny bit of a mashed potato feel.
Salt and pepper your potato salad generously. You can always add more later, but potato salad does seem to soak up those basic seasonings.
If you like a bit of mustard flavor in your potato salad (as they do down South), simply squirt in a teaspoon of yellow mustard or Dijon mustard and stir well.
Potato salad is a great side dish to make ahead of time, so it is ready to go for your next cookout. I try to always make my potato salad the day before I serve it to allow the flavors to mix together.
More Potato Salad Questions?
What type of potatoes can you use for this potato salad recipe? You could use red potatoes or yukon gold potatoes but I stick to russet potatoes. I like russets for their firm texture. I would not recommend using new potatoes because they cook differently than russets.
What onions should I use in potato salad? I use white, yellow or sweet onions for this recipe. You could also sprinkle some green onions on top for extra crunch and appearance.
Can I hard boil eggs ahead of time? Yes! I do this almost every single time. I hard boil my eggs in the instant pot and then peel them. I store the peeled eggs whole in a sealed container in the fridge until I’m ready to make the potato salad the next day. It is so much easier to quickly chop up the eggs if they are already cooked, peeled and cooled.
Do I have to use real mayonnaise to make potato salad? I have always used mayonnaise when making this potato salad recipe. If you prefer the flavor of Miracle Whip, you can make that substitution but I would recommend sticking to mayo. I have used many different name brand and generic brands of mayonnaise and they all work fine. I have heard good things about Duke’s mayonnaise but haven’t tried that one…yet!
Whether you are making homemade potato salad for 50 people or for 10, you are sure to please with this easy potato salad recipe.
Want more easy and delicious recipes?
Try making this 5 ingredient apple snickers salad for your next gathering. This is an easy side dish that everyone loves!
Want to make apple pie for a crowd – or all year long? Make these apple pie kits for the freezer and you’ll have apple pie anytime you feel like it!
Learn how to make homemade yogurt in your crock pot. You will be amazed at how easy and how delicious it is!
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Homemade Potato Salad for a Crowd
This 5 ingredient potato salad is both easy and delicious. It includes party proportions so you can easily make this potato salad for your family or make potato salad for 50 or more!
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 10 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
To serve 10 people (a family sized recipe):
- 6 medium potatoes
- 5 hard boiled eggs
- 1 1/2 cup celery, diced
- 1/2 cup onion, diced
- 1 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- Salt and pepper to taste
To serve 25 people:
- 5 pounds potatoes
- 1 dozen hard boiled eggs
- 3 cups celery, diced
- 3/4 cup onion, diced
- 2 1/2 cups mayonnaise
- Salt and pepper to taste
To serve 50 people:
- 10 pounds potatoes
- 2 dozen hard boiled eggs
- 1 bunch celery, diced
- 1 cup onion, diced
- 1 quart (4 cups) mayonnaise
- Salt and pepper to taste
To serve 75 people:
- 15 pounds potatoes
- 3 dozen hard boiled eggs
- 1 1/2 bunches celery, diced
- 2 large onions, diced
- 1 1/2 quart mayonnaise
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Peel, wash and cube potatoes into large chunks (about the size of a nickel).
- Put potatoes in a large saucepan of cold salted water and bring to a boil.
- Boil potatoes over medium-high heat until potatoes are tender (about 15 minutes). Test by poking with a fork.
- While potatoes are boiling, dice onions and celery into small pieces.
- Peel and chop the hard-boiled eggs.
- Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl while the potatoes are still hot.
- Stir in mayonnaise. Add more or less mayonnaise to taste. Season with salt and pepper.
- Cool potato salad in the fridge until ready to serve.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 scoop, around 1/2 cup
- Calories: 94
- Sugar: 1.5g
- Sodium: 16mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 0.9g
- Carbohydrates: 10.4g
- Fiber: 1.2g
- Protein: 2.3g
- Cholesterol: 42mg
When I make my dressing I use Miracle Whip and add vinegar and white sugar and salt and pepper
I was asked to make potato salad for a graduation party and was unsure of the amounts. I was thrilled to find your web page. This is the recipe my family has used for years, however, we use Miracle Whip instead of Mayo. Thanks for posting this. It is very helpful!
Thanks for the ratios! Had to make enough for a big family meal, and the general proportions were very helpful!
Thank you for breaking this down into numbers. I needed to know the amount for 40 and I found your conversion chart on the web. Thanks again
OMG! Thank you for posting this! We are having 9-10 ppl for BBQ tomorrow and my husbands insists that I make potato salad (not really my favorite). These suggestions are a terrific help! I had 7 russets put aside so I will probably use that amount bc some our our grandsons and “big” eaters. I am going to use your exact ing. (but 7 potatoes), celery (I will halve that amt only bc our daughter is not a fan), and add red bell pepper and a little crumbled cooked bacon. Adding a little sour cream and ranch dressing to the dressing. Sprinkle with a little dill and we are set! All ready for our pulled pork sandwiches and baked beans. Simple and done! Thanks again SO MUCH!
You are so welcome! Yes, the celery and onion can be tweaked. Love the idea of adding bacon too! Yum! Have a great BBQ!
You are so helpful in showing the amounts of ingredients for the potato salad. I boiled 5 lbs of potatoes and didn’t know how to figure out the celery and onion measurement. Thank you! You saved the day.
You are so welcome, Carol! I’m glad I could help! Enjoy your potato salad!
Just the recipe I was searching for! Leaving a review before I even make it because I know I will love it! Great for those of us who don’t care for vinegar, mustard, or other unnecessary potato salad add ins. I love the proportions for larger servings too.
So glad I found this recipe. I’m making potato salad for a church fundraiser this weekend and decided to make it instead of buying it. I have chickens so the eggs were free and all I had to buy was the potatoes. The picture looks exactly like mine….no celery though. I was raised on celery salt so that covers two items at one time. Printed this off so I don’t have to search like crazy next time.
Thank you!
So thankful to find your recipe. I am making potato salad for a very large group (150) and figure it will take me all day. I did a dry run test first making the smaller serving and my husband loved it. I did add celery seed and some pickle relish but other than that, stayed true to your recipe.
You are very welcome, Linda! Have fun chopping potatoes and mixing up the potato salad. I hope it’s a hit!
I came looking for larger proportions because I always forget how much to make for a party. Thank you!
This was my great grandmother’s recipe, too! I’ve never seen it anywhere else! My daughter still requests great-grandma’s coleslaw and potato salad for her parties because everyone loves them.
You’re welcome, Laurie! I’m glad I could help remind you! 🙂 It is a simple recipe but so good. I agree with your daughter. It’s one of my favorites too!
This recipe is very much like my mother’s (and now my) potato salad, minus the celery. I particularly dislike celery, so add a little more finely chopped onion. I also sprinkle some dried parsley and grated boiled egg over the top, which makes it look more appealing!
Ha. I hear you on the celery, Beth! I’m not really a fan either but I make do in my potato salad. I think this goes to show that some old recipes are truly classics! I love the idea of sprinkling more diced eggs and parsley on top. I’m going to have to try that next time!
So glad to discover this. We at work are doing a fundraiser. I so needed to know how much to prepare. It’s the basic (ingredients) recipe I would use for my family.
Yummy! Thank you for sharing! We have a large family of 9 so this will work out perfectly!
Good! I’m glad. It really is a simple and delicious potato salad! I hope you and your family enjoy it!
This looks a lot like my mom’s potato salad recipe! Hers is a bit chunkier, I think but she dices everything very finely. I’m not really a fan of most potato salads because I don’t like mustard and mayo.
It’s a really simple recipe. I’m not a fan of mayo either. I use it only for potato salad (and just enough to mix it together) and tuna. That’s it. I do like mustard – but not in my potato salads.