Best Egg Salad Recipe | Downshiftology (2024)

Home Recipes Courses Salads Egg Salad

by Lisa Bryan

154 Comments

Updated Dec 29, 2023

This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.

Jump to RecipeJump to Video

Egg salad! It’s the classic egg salad recipe that can be eaten plain or turned into a delicious sandwich or wrap. All you need are hard-boiled eggs and a few other simple ingredients for this quick and easy recipe.

Best Egg Salad Recipe | Downshiftology (2)

Before I dive into this recipe I have to be honest with you. Until recently, I was not a fan of most egg salad recipes. I found them to be far too mushy with too much mayonnaise. But good news – my version is different! It has texture and it’s chunky so you can see all the ingredients. There’s no mushiness around these parts! And of course, my version tastes amazing (if I do say so myself).

This classic egg salad recipe is what you’ve likely come across at parties, picnics, and holidays (like Easter). Or what you’ve purchased at the deli counter or enjoyed for a healthy lunch layered in a sandwich. It’s a true delight for a light and fresh meal.

Once you’ve mastered this classic recipe, make sure to give my curried egg salad and avocado egg salad a try for tasty variations.

Best Egg Salad Recipe | Downshiftology (3)

Egg Salad Ingredients

I’m sticking to simple ingredients in this recipe with nothing funky to surprise you. But I do add more fresh herbs than other recipes, because fresh herbs make everything taste better. Here’s what’s in it:

  • Hard Boiled Eggs: The star ingredient of course. Just follow my tutorial for easy to peel hard boiled eggs.
  • Mayonnaise: I’m using my quick homemade mayonnaise, but any store-bought version works.
  • Dijon Mustard: I always opt for Dijon mustard over yellow mustard. It has a more robust, and zingy flavor. Yellow mustard falls a little flat with a muted flavor profile.
  • Red Onion: I love red onion for a pop of red color and crunchy bite. But you could use thinly sliced green onion as well.
  • Lemon Juice: Just a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice keeps the salad fresh.
  • Fresh Parsley and Chives: These herbs pair well with the eggs and mustard. And of course add a pop of green!

Find the printable recipe with measurements below.

Making Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs

Given that this recipe is all about hard-boiled eggs, you’ve got to make sure you use perfectly hard-boiled eggs. You don’t want the eggs too hard and rubbery, too soft and not mixable, or overly cooked and green around the yolk.

I’ve shared with you how to make perfect boiled eggs previously (step-by-step), so make sure to check out that post and video. I use 12-minute hard-boiled eggs in this recipe, but anything between 12 to 14-minutes is fine.

How to Make Egg Salad

Cool hard-boiled eggs. Make sure you hard boil your eggs ahead of time (or the night before) and allow time for them to cool. Once the eggs are boiled and cooled you’re good to mix the salad together.

Best Egg Salad Recipe | Downshiftology (4)

Mix everything together. Slice your eggs into chunks (but don’t slice them too small) and add them to a mixing bowl along with the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, red onion, lemon juice, parsley, and chives. Give it all a stir until it’s well combined. And that’s it! Super easy.

Best Egg Salad Recipe | Downshiftology (5)

Ways to Enjoy Egg Salad

  • Straight from the bowl. I’ll often eat this straight out of the bowl with a fork because it’s that good!
  • Top it on bread. You can enjoy egg salad as an open faced sandwich, on either gluten-free toast or my falafel flatbread, with a sprinkle of microgreens on top.
  • Wrap it up. Layer slices of cucumber, bell pepper, and other veggies inside tortillas, butter leaf lettuce leaves, or collard greens. Then wrap it up!
Best Egg Salad Recipe | Downshiftology (6)

Storage Tips

Egg salad will stay good in a sealed container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Just make sure that you don’t leave it out at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Otherwise, it may start to go bad.

Best Egg Salad Recipe | Downshiftology (7)

Easy Egg Salad Recipe Video

While this recipe is easy to whip up, it always helps to watch a quick tutorial video. Give it a watch below!

More Easy Egg Recipes

Eggs are truly one of the most versatile ingredients. Here’s a few fun and tasty egg recipes you’ll love!

  • Deviled Eggs
  • Poached Eggs
  • Ultimate Breakfast Casserole
  • Cobb Salad (or Turkey Cobb Salad)
  • Baked Eggs in Avocado

If you make this egg salad, let me know how it turned out! I’d love to hear what you think in the comments below.

Best Egg Salad Recipe | Downshiftology (8)

Best Egg Salad

5 from 82 votes

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 15 minutes mins

Total: 25 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

PrintPinReviewSave

Description

A classic egg salad recipe that's easy to make and tastes amazing. Perfect hard-boiled eggs and fresh ingredients make it the best egg salad recipe. Watch the video above to see how quickly it comes together!

Video

Ingredients

  • 6 eggs, room temperature
  • ¼ cup red onion, finely diced
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons parsley, finely diced
  • 2 tablespoons chives, finely diced
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  • Bring a pot of water to a boil. Then turn the heat to low so there’s no bubbles. Use a skimmer to slowly and gently place the eggs in the pot. Turn the heat back to high and boil the eggs for 12 minutes.

    Best Egg Salad Recipe | Downshiftology (9)

  • Transfer the eggs to an ice water bath to stop the cooking process and cool completely (at least 15 minutes).

    Best Egg Salad Recipe | Downshiftology (10)

  • Peel the hard-boiled eggs, and slice them up to your preferred level of chunkiness. Add the chopped eggs to a mixing bowl along with the red onion, chives, parsley, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Stir all of the ingredients together, until well combined.

    Best Egg Salad Recipe | Downshiftology (11)

  • Enjoy the egg salad straight from the bowl, or in a sandwich or wrap.

    Best Egg Salad Recipe | Downshiftology (12)

Lisa’s Tips

  • The eggs may crack if you introduce cold eggs straight to the boiling hot water. So I leave my eggs out prior to boiling, or run them under lukewarm water for a few seconds, as well as turn off the boil right before placing the eggs in the pot.
  • I also use a skimmer to introduce the eggs to boiling water so they don’t slam into the bottom of the pan and crack.

Nutrition

Calories: 197kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 251mg | Sodium: 226mg | Potassium: 116mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 580IU | Vitamin C: 4.6mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1.3mg

Course: Salad

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Egg Salad, Egg Salad Recipe, How to Make Egg Salad

©Downshiftology. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.

Did you make this recipe?Mention @downshiftology or tag #downshiftology!

Recipe originally posted April 2019, but updated to include new information.

You May Also Like

Classic Potato Salad

Caesar Salad

Simple Kale Salad

Lentil Salad

About the author

Lisa Bryan

Lisa is a bestselling cookbook author, recipe developer, and YouTuber (with over 2.5 million subscribers) living in sunny Southern California. She started Downshiftology in 2014, and is passionate about making healthy food with fresh, simple and seasonal ingredients.

Read More About Me

Best Egg Salad Recipe | Downshiftology (2024)

FAQs

Is it okay to let egg salad with mayo in the fridge overnight? ›

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.

Why does my egg salad taste bland? ›

If you've properly seasoned your egg salad and it still seems bland, add an acid. A few teaspoons of lemon juice or white wine vinegar will sharpen and enhance the flavours. Now you have all the tips and tricks to make the best egg salad possible, it's time to get cracking!

How many days is homemade egg salad good for? ›

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.

Why does my egg salad get watery the next day? ›

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.

What makes egg salad go bad? ›

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. If your egg salad looks fine but tastes sour or bitter, you should also throw it away.

What can I use to thicken up egg salad? ›

How To Thicken Egg Salad. If your egg salad turns out a little too runny, you can add more chopped hard boiled eggs to the mix. You can also put the egg salad back into the refrigerator as the cold can help firm up the mayonnaise and stir before serving.

How to mash up eggs for egg salad? ›

Place the eggs in a mixing bowl and use a cocktail muddler, potato masher, or even a large fork to break them up into uneven, irregular chunks. You can also use a potato masher, or press the hard boiled eggs through the wires on a cooling rack to chop them up.

What to eat on the side of egg salad? ›

Classic egg salad sandwiches pair best with classic side dishes. Consider a leafy green salad, potato chips, French fries, or coleslaw.

What can you add to egg salad? ›

While there are many delicious additions to an egg salad sandwich — celery, onion, lettuce, avocado, tomatoes, parsley, cilantro, dill, chopped bacon, chopped pickles, chopped green olives, capers — there is always one ingredient to add that is quick to when you are in a hurry. MUSTARD!

Why do I get an upset stomach after eating egg salad? ›

People with an egg intolerance experience a negative reaction after eating eggs. This can result in various symptoms, such as bloating, cramps, nausea, and diarrhea. Although an egg intolerance is not typically dangerous, it can be uncomfortable and bothersome.

Why did my egg salad turn gray? ›

When eggs are cooked for too long, or at a temperature that's too high, a chemical reaction occurs. The sulphur in the egg white reacts with iron in the egg yolk to form iron sulphide, which gives the eggs a greenish grey colour, according to BBC Science Focus.

Can you use old eggs for egg salad? ›

Perfect boiled eggs—hard- or soft-cooked. 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.

Can I freeze egg salad? ›

From a technical standpoint, you can freeze egg salad, but it's not recommended. Freezing can significantly alter the texture of the ingredients, especially the creamy components like mayonnaise, which tend to separate and become watery once thawed.

Are egg salad sandwiches healthy to eat every day? ›

Egg salad is a classic sandwich stuffer, but with gobs of mayo mixed in, it can be high in unhealthy fats, sodium and calories. An average deli egg salad sandwich can have more than 550 calories, 30 grams of fat and 600 milligrams of sodium.

How long can you keep egg and mayonnaise in the fridge? ›

Once prepared, egg mayo will keep covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. It's not suitable for freezing. You can also boil the eggs in advance – these will keep, unpeeled, in the fridge for up to 1 week.

Can egg mayo sandwich be kept overnight? ›

As we've shared that most times, egg mayo sandwich is our go-to for family outings and such, you can keep the egg mayonnaise sandwich overnight in the fridge, once it is cool for the next day or two maximum.

How long can you keep salad with mayo in the fridge? ›

Be extra careful with mayo-based foods, such as chicken salad or potato salad. They're only safe to eat for 3 to 4 days after they're prepared. Sour Cream – Sour cream stays fresh for 1 to 3 weeks after it's opened, but if it starts to form a pool of liquid or grow mold, it's time to throw it out.

Is it OK to leave mayo out overnight? ›

Like all items that require refrigeration (including leftovers), mayo has a two-hour rule. The USDA recommends not leaving mayo out at room temperature for more than two hours before moving it back into the fridge.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Mrs. Angelic Larkin

Last Updated:

Views: 5742

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (67 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Mrs. Angelic Larkin

Birthday: 1992-06-28

Address: Apt. 413 8275 Mueller Overpass, South Magnolia, IA 99527-6023

Phone: +6824704719725

Job: District Real-Estate Facilitator

Hobby: Letterboxing, Vacation, Poi, Homebrewing, Mountain biking, Slacklining, Cabaret

Introduction: My name is Mrs. Angelic Larkin, I am a cute, charming, funny, determined, inexpensive, joyous, cheerful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.