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Public service announcement… We have nailed the perfect egg salad recipe and we are so darn excited to share it with you! 

It could just be me, but nothing quite beats creamy egg salad sandwiched between two fluffy pieces of artisan bread. That is of course, when the flavours are a fine balance of salty and sweet, which surprisingly can be quite difficult to achieve. 

Well, I think I have mastered the perfect egg salad recipe, boasting a delicate balance of flavours and perfectly boiled eggs! So, look no further because I’m going to teach you how to make egg salad with no fuss and plenty of flavour. 

Most perfect egg salad with a creamy mayo dressing served in a  white serving bowl. A small wooden bowl of fresh herbs to garnish sits in the background.

EGG SALAD

Ahhhh, egg salad. One of those salads you can truly make your own. A perfect addition to a BBQ, egg salad truly goes well with almost anything. Add in tinned tuna, crispy bacon or rotisserie chicken for a heartier salad, or leave it as is for a great accompaniment to our Garlic Herb Roast Chicken, Browned Butter Grilled Steak, or our Sticky Oven BBQ Ribs

HOW LONG TO BOIL EGGS FOR EGG SALAD

Place eggs in pot and cover them with at least 1 inch of cool water (2 1/2 cm). Make sure your pot is large enough that they fit comfortably in one layer.
Bring to a rapid boil over medium-high heat and let boil for 1 minute.
Cover with a lid and immediately remove pot from the heat.

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Eggs in a pot of boiling water covered with a lid and taken off the heat.

Do not lift the lid. Set your timer for your preferred boiled eggs:

Runny yolk: 5-6 minutes
Soft Boiled (soft yolk): 6-8 minutes
Medium Boiled (hard yolk around the outside, semi-soft in the middle): 8-10 minutes
Hard Boiled (solid cooked yolk): 10-12 minutes

For this egg salad, I recommend a time of 10-12 minutes. Check one egg to make sure it’s done to your liking. If not, let the other eggs continue ‘cooking’ in the hot water.

Meanwhile, fill a large bowl with cold water.

HOW TO MAKE EGG SALAD

Once your eggs have reached your desired doneness, remove the eggs from the hot water with a slotted spoon or tongs. Carefully immerse eggs into the cold water and let cool for at least 5 minutes.

Tap each egg gently against a hard surface, carefully roll the egg in the palms of your hands or on your kitchen bench to crack the shell in a few places, then peel. You can dip the egg into the cold water while peeling so the shell slides off easily.

Rinse in fresh, cold running water to remove any remaining shell pieces and pat dry with paper towel.

HOW TO CUT EGGS FOR EGG SALAD

You want a reasonably chunky egg salad to ensure you’re not getting a mouthful of sloppy egg mixture with every bite. Halve them lengthwise, then cut each half into two or three pieces.

Chopped eggs ready for egg salad.

EGG SALAD DRESSING

The mayo dressing alone is incredible with a fragrant variety of herbs mixed throughout. I like to include fresh dill, chives and parsley; a kick of Dijon, a hint of horseradish cream and crispy celery to add an extra kick to the flavour and a slight crunch to the consistency. 

I suggest using whole egg mayo or Japanese mayo to allow the other flavours to shine through, as most other types of mayonnaise contain a lot of sugar, which can make the egg salad dressing too sweet and overpowering. 

A white serving bowl with full of ingredients shown for egg salad recipe. Include chopped eggs in the centre surrounded by (clockwise from top right) cream of horseradish, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, finely chopped celery, fresh chopped chives, fresh chopped dill, fresh chopped parsley. All seasoned with salt and pepper. | cafedelites.com

You can add as much or as little of the dressing according to your preference. Although, I do suggest not drowning your eggs as it may make the egg salad sloppy and difficult to eat. 

A close up image of egg salad, with creamy mayo and chives mixed through it in a bowl.

WHAT TO EAT WITH EGG SALAD

The ultimate Sunday BBQ or picnic side dish, you can serve our egg salad on toasted bagels, English muffins, or sandwich it with thick sliced bread. Or keep it low carb and stuff it into Romaine lettuce leaves.

There are so many different foods you can serve this with. Think burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, sliders or grilled toasties like our Smoked Salmon and Avocado Grilled Cheese. 

Perfect Egg Salad sandwiched in a bagel on a white plate sprinkled with fresh dill, chives and parsley.

FAQ’S

HOW LONG DOES EGG SALAD LAST IN THE FRIDGE?

Egg salad can last between 3-5 days as long as it is stored with care. Place your leftover egg salad in an airtight container and ensure it is kept in the coolest section of the fridge.

MORE EGG RECIPES

Classic Deviled Eggs
Cheesy Scrambled Eggs in Avocado
Eggs In Tomato Sauce with Sausage (Shakshuka)
Breakfast Egg Muffins

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5 from 5 votes

The Perfect Egg Salad

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Public service announcement… We have nailed the perfect egg salad recipe and we are so darn excited to share it with you! 
Save this recipe!
Get this sent to your inbox, plus get new recipes from us every week!

Ingredients 
 

  • 12 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon cracked pepper
  • 1/4 cup celery finely chopped, or dill pickles
  • 1/3 cup whole egg mayonnaise or Japanese mayo
  • 2 tablespoons dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon horseradish
  • 3 tablespoons fresh dill finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh chives finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley finely chopped
  • 1 pinch paprika

Instructions 

  • Carefully add eggs to a large pot. Fill pot to cover eggs with cold water at least 1-inch above eggs.
  • Bring to a rapid boil over medium heat. Let boil for 1 minute, then cover with lid and remove from heat. Let the eggs stand in the hot water for 10-12 minutes. DO NOT LIFT OR REMOVE LID.
  • Transfer eggs to a bowl filled with cold water and let cool for about 5 minutes.
  • Peel eggs and chop into quarters.
  • Transfer chopped eggs to a medium-sized serving bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Gently fold in mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, horseradish, celery, chopped herbs and a pinch of paprika. Taste test and adjust seasonings, if needed.

Notes

Tip: If you’re preparing your salad the day before, hold off until the day of to add your dressing to prevent the salad from becoming watery. 

Nutrition

Calories: 233kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 377mg | Sodium: 678mg | Potassium: 175mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 694IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 66mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Tried this? Leave a comment below!
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Hey Good Food Lovers! It’s nice to see you! My name is Karina. Welcome to Cafe Delites, my beloved space for the last 10 years where my passion for food has flourished and connected millions!

5 from 5 votes

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7 Comments

  1. linda sidney says:

    5 stars
    I also add several green onions chopped finely. This is a great recipe! Thank you.

  2. Jennifer Reidy says:

    5 stars
    LOVE this recipe! Thank you for posting! And egg salad is literally my favorite 😉

  3. Sarita says:

    Greetings! I went out and bought Dill and Horseradish, both of which I had never used before. It all works together perfectly! I love it and it is a great meatless meal option. Thank you.

  4. Dottie says:

    5 stars
    This is the most delicious egg salad for me. I can taste all the ingredients, and all of these ingredients give this egg salad such an outstanding taste. This is the only egg salad I will make. Thank You So Much.

  5. Coral says:

    5 stars
    Ok. This is amazing egg salad. I’m guessing the whole egg mayo is key ingredient. I wouldn’t change a thing.

  6. Kay says:

    If the mayo is that important, do you have a recipe for mayo that would work well?

    1. OrganicChick says:

      I used vegan mayo “just mayo”, the flavor was delicious.