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Simple Egg Salad Recipe

If you want to make the best egg salad recipe ever without the hassle, just follow this easy method for making perfect, super peelable hard-boiled eggs. And, it all has to do with the age of your eggs!

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overhead shot of egg salad in a bowl seasoned with black pepper and paprika.

Everyone Needs a Simple Egg Salad Recipe

Egg salad is a timeless classic, great for quick lunches, picnics, or as a delightful sandwich filler. 

And once you know the easiest method for making hard-boiled eggs with creamy yolks that peel like a dream, you’ll want to make this dish all the time!

The trick? Use older eggs! They peel with more ease as fresh eggs tend to stick to their shell more.

Even though it’s super simple, this is hands-down the best egg salad recipe. The right balance of simple ingredients means every bite hits the spot!

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Why This is the Best Recipe for Egg Salad

  • The eggs are easy to peel
  • Creamy
  • Full of flavor
  • Uses ingredients you probably already have in your pantry!
ingredients needed to make classic egg salad recipe

Easy Egg Salad Ingredients

  • Eggs
  • Mayonnaise or Greek yogurt
  • Dijon mustard
  • Red onion
  • Dill relish
  • Salt and pepper
  • Paprika — optional for garnish

How to Make Egg Salad

A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.

STEP ONE: Place the eggs in a pot of cold water. Bring the water to a hard boil, then cover the pot with a lid and remove it from the heat. Allow it to sit for 10 minutes. 

adding eggs to cool water in a large pot.

STEP TWO: Drain the hot water from the pot and fill it again with cold water and 2 cups of ice cubes. Allow the eggs to sit in the cold bath for 10 minutes. 

STEP THREE: Remove the eggs from the cold water and peel them. 

STEP FOUR: Chop the eggs to the desired size. 

chopped up hard boiled eggs in a white bowl

STEP FIVE: In a bowl, combine the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, red onion, relish, and salt and pepper. 

adding mayo, relish, dijon mustard and red onions to chopped eggs.
mixing egg salad mixture in a white bowl

STEP SIX: Carefully fold the eggs into the mayonnaise mixture. 

STEP SEVEN: Top with paprika if desired and serve on bread, crackers, or a salad. 

a bowl of traditional egg salad with a silver serving spoon

Best Egg Salad Tips and Tricks

  • Place the eggs in cold water before bringing everything to a boil to help prevent the shells from cracking. 
  • Use older eggs in this recipe for egg salad if possible, as they’re easier to peel after boiling than fresh eggs. 
  • The 10-minute ice bath after boiling stops the cooking process and makes peeling a breeze for easy egg salad. 
  • Gently fold the eggs into the mayo, Dijon, onion, relish, and salt and pepper mixture to keep the texture light and creamy. 
  • Sprinkle paprika on top before serving for a pop of color and flavor. 

How Long to Boil Eggs for Egg Salad

From start to finish, the perfect hard-boiled eggs take about 25 minutes. 

Begin by filling a pot with cold water, adding the eggs, bringing the pot to a hard boil, then covering and removing from heat.

Let the pot with the eggs sit, covered, for 10 minutes, followed by a 10-minute ice bath. This method ensures firm yet creamy yolks ideal for making the best egg salad!

a spoonful of the best egg salad

What to Eat with Egg Salad

Storing this Classic Egg Salad Recipe

You want to store any extra egg salad in an airtight container in the fridge. It’s the best egg salad recipe for meal prep or for those moments when you need a quick bite!

making an easy egg salad sandwich on a white plate

How long does Egg Salad last?

Properly stored in the refrigerator, your egg salad can stay fresh and delicious for up to 5 days. It’s a great make-ahead dish if you’re heading to a potluck or backyard BBQ!

Can You Freeze Egg Salad?

I would not recommend freezing this simple egg salad recipe. The mayonnaise and eggs can separate when thawed, which just isn’t very appetizing.

egg salad sandwich on white bread with lettuce

More Egg Recipes:

overhead shot of egg salad in a bowl seasoned with black pepper and paprika.

Best Egg Salad Recipe

Samantha Erb
Make the best egg salad using my easy, foolproof method of hard-boiling eggs, and you'll have a delicious lunch in no time!
No ratings yet
Prep Time 35 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Lunch Ideas
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 205 kcal

Ingredients

  • 6 eggs
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise or Greek yogurt
  • 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoons red onion chopped
  • 2 teaspoons dill relish
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • paprika to garnish (optional)

Instructions
 

Make Hard Boiled Eggs

  • Place the eggs into a pot of cold water and bring the water to a hard boil.
  • Cover the pot with a lid and remove it from the heat. Allow it to sit for 10 minutes.
  • Drain the hot water from the pot and fill it again with cold water and 2 cups of ice cubes.
  • Allow the eggs to sit in the cold bath for 10 minutes.
  • Remove the eggs from the cold water and peel them. 

Make Egg Salad

  • Chop the eggs to the desired size. 
  • In a bowl, combine the mayonnaise, dijon mustard, red onion, relish, salt and pepper. 
  • Carefully fold the eggs into the mayonnaise mixture. 
  • Serve on bread, crackers, or a salad.
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 205kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 10gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 285mgSodium: 356mgSugar: 1g

This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!


samantha

About Samantha

I’ve always had a love of cooking and creating new recipes, so it only made sense to create a food blog so I could share those recipes with you. This site is designed to provide easy and flavorful recipes with as little ingredients as possible. That means you still get great flavor combinations without all that extra time and effort. Read more...

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