Classic Egg Salad

Egg salad. You either love it or you hate it. But the classic egg salad recipe is one that many of us were raised eating for school lunches, snacks, or even for breakfast. They are eggs, after all. 

It is an easy recipe perfect for those who love egg salad. Some people can make egg salad with just hard-boiled eggs and mayonnaise while others put in everything but the kitchen sink! 

Everyone seems to have their own version of the best egg salad recipe from using Dijon mustard or yellow mustard, green onions or red onions, and Miracle Whip, sour cream, or Greek yogurt instead of mayo. Some people add a splash of lemon juice or a teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce. 

You can use sweet pickle relish or dill pickle relish for this basic recipe. Add some sugar for sweetness, bacon for extra flavor and protein, or toss in some shredded cheese. There are so many ways to make this simple recipe, but our classic egg salad is the perfect recipe for a busy home cook. What do you put in your egg salad sandwiches?

Other serving and recipe ideas

• For fewer carbs and calories, use a lettuce wrap instead of sandwich bread.
• You could also serve egg salad sandwiches on toasted bread for a different texture.
• Even if you use pickle relish, every egg salad sandwich goes great with juicy dill pickles.
• If you are a fan of spicy food, use a teaspoon of hot sauce or a pinch of red pepper flakes in your egg salad.
• Cut your bread into quarters with no crusts to make tea sandwiches for a special brunch.
• Interestingly, an egg salad sandwich goes great with a scoop of potato salad on the side.
• Add your favorite herbs and spices such as celery seed, fresh dill, chopped chives, thyme, smoked paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder.
• To make eggs in the instant pot, put the eggs on top of the wire reach and add one cup of water. Cook for five minutes and use a five-minute natural release.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best way to get perfect hard-boiled eggs?

There are many different answers to this question depending on who you ask. But in my opinion, first, bring the water to a full boil on medium-high heat, then place eggs in carefully and cover the pot. Turn off the burner and let eggs sit for 11 to 13 minutes, depending on how many you are making. Then, put them in an ice water bath for five minutes before peeling.

What is the easiest way to peel hard-boiled eggs?

If you follow the above steps for boiling the eggs, the peels should come right off easily. Of course, there are sometimes those difficult eggs that do not want to cooperate. Some people say you should put your chilled eggs into a plastic container with some cool water and then rock them back and forth. Others say you should add some vinegar or baking soda to your water.

How do you tell when your egg is hard-boiled?

Just like the other questions, there are many different answers for this, some of them pretty weird. The most common way is to spin your egg. If it spins evenly, it is hard-boiled. If it wobbles, it is not done cooking. Personally, I think you should just make sure you keep your eggs in a covered pot of boiled water for 11 to 13 minutes, you know your egg is done cooking.

How do you tell if your eggs are fresh?

Put your egg in a bowl of water. Or a pot of water. Fresh eggs will sink to the bottom and lay sideways. Older eggs float because the inner part of the egg shrinks, and a large air pocket is formed. The air pocket makes it lighter. Some say you can tell the difference by weight, but it is such a tiny difference, the water test is more accurate.

How do I store my egg salad?

Always refrigerate your egg salad right away after it cools to room temperature. Then, put leftovers in an airtight container or a bowl covered in plastic wrap, and they will stay fresh for about three or four days. Freezing is not recommended. Leftover hard-boiled eggs can be kept in the fridge for five days, but it is best to peel them first.

What are the nutrition facts for this recipe?

With our easy egg salad recipe, each serving has 287 calories, 380 mg of cholesterol, and 564 mg sodium. It also contains 1 gram sugar, 24 grams fat, 5 grams saturated fat, and 2 grams of carbs. On the good side, your egg salad has 13 grams protein, 126 mg potassium, 54 mg calcium, 675 units of vitamin A, and 1.3 mg iron.

Tips and Tricks

• Do not skip the ice water bath. It stops the cooking process which is important for easy egg peeling. Just fill a medium bowl with ice water and carefully lower the eggs into the water. Or, run them under cold water for several minutes.
• To prevent watery egg salad, make sure you do not overcook the eggs. Also, be sure to drain any ingredients you add that have liquid such as pickle relish.
• It is also a good idea to add mayonnaise and other ingredients a little at a time until you get the creamy texture you like.
• For shorter egg salad prep time, prepare your eggs a day in advance.
• Do not forget to add salt and pepper as well as your other fresh herbs and spices.
• Use low-fat mayo or light mayonnaise to cut some calories and fat if you are worried about nutrition, calories, and fat.
• Stir gently to prevent making mush of your eggs. Or, if you want a creamier salad, use a potato masher to mix it all up.
• Are you looking for more super delicious easy recipes? Check out our food blog for free recipes.