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Give Me 10 Minutes, and I'll Give You Potato Salad

Canned potatoes are the secret to this fast and easy dish

By Publisher Stacey Marmolejo, Eden Prairie, Minn. August 8, 2018

Potato salad is one of those "must-have" dishes at summer picnics and family get-togethers. As much as I love potato salad though, I hate the time it takes to make it! There are so many steps just for preparing the potatoes alone: peeling, boiling, waiting for them to cool, and then -- finally! -- dicing them. 

But I don't like store-bought potato salad either! So when I saw canned diced potatoes on my grocery store's shelf, I decided to put aside my presumptive feelings of potatoes in a can, and give them a try.

It turns out potatoes in a can is the perfect answer to a quick and easy potato salad. Simply substitute the canned diced potatoes for freshly cooked ones -- no one will know the difference ... and you'll have saved yourself an hour in the kitchen! 

Here's how to make a delicious homemade potato salad in 10 minutes or less. (This is also a great recipe for kids to help with because it's so fast and easy!)

What you'll need:

  • 1 15 oz. can diced potatoes, drained
  • 2 hard-boiled eggs* 
  • 1/4 cup onions, chopped
  • 3 heaping Tbsp mayonnaise or Miracle Whip 
  • salt and pepper 
  • paprika (optional)

* If you need to boil eggs, this recipe will take longer. But hard-boiled eggs last in the fridge for about a week so you can prepare ahead of time. You can also find hard boiled eggs in the grocery store!


Directions: 

1. Drain and rinse the canned potatoes, pat them dry with a paper towel. Put them in a large bowl. 

2. Peel and chop the hard boiled eggs and add them to the bowl of potatoes. 

3. Add the chopped onions and mayonnaise to the potatoes and eggs and mix until the potatoes, eggs, and onions are well-coated. Salt and pepper to taste.  

4. Sprinkle with paprika for a more "finished" look. 

Variations: 

  • Add peppers (green, red, orange yellow), celery and/or pickles in addition to, or instead of, onions. 
  • Use a combination of mayonnaise and mustard in place of mayonnaise alone. 
  • Use 3 parts greek yogurt and 1 part mayonnaise for a healthier potato salad. 
  • Add a protein (cubed chicken, flaked tuna, crumbled bacon). 

By stocking canned diced potatoes and keeping hard boiled eggs and pre-chopped onions in my fridge during the summer, my kids and I can whip together this easy and delicious potato salad in just a few minutes, making it the perfect go-to dish for a gathering!