Best Classic Egg Salad Recipe (Easy Sandwiches)

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This Classic Egg Salad Recipe includes a blend of spices that really puts it over the top! Learn how to make egg salad for a quick lunch or dinner option. The simple ingredients needed make this an easy egg salad recipe! 

titled collage for best egg salad recipe


 

This is my favorite way to get that classic egg salad taste. It’s not only a simple dish to make, but it’s an easy way to create a good egg salad sandwich fast.

There are many varieties of egg salad, but I have to admit that no matter all the different ways, I love the flavor and taste of this egg salad mixture. 

The chopped eggs might be the star of this simple egg salad, but let’s not forget the flavors added by the other simple ingredients.

I’ll actually make this classic recipe ahead of time and have it stored in the fridge in an airtight container. 

That way, I can make lettuce wraps or eat the leftover egg salad once the craving hits.

This easy recipe is the best way to use up large eggs before they go bad, and a great way to create a great recipe to eat throughout the week! 

ingredients for egg salad

Classic Egg Salad Recipe

Deliciously savory with a hint of tang — this is hands down the best classic egg salad recipe I’ve ever come up with!

Enjoy it on your favorite sandwich bread or add a scoop to some fresh greens or sliced tomatoes.

Looking for more easy lunch options? You’ll love this grilled cheese sandwich stuffed with extra fillings or a copycat Firehouse Hook and Ladder Sub.

Or, make a big bowl of my tuna pasta salad to munch on throughout the week!

chopped hard boiled eggs with pastry cutter

Egg Salad Recipe Simple Tips and Tricks

  • Salt the water.

    Just ½ teaspoon of salt will help prevent cracking and make it easier to remove the shells later. 
     
  • Tip for easy chopping:

    Instead of dragging out the cutting board, use a pastry cutter! Simply press and twist into the bowl full of eggs until you get small, even pieces. 

    It’s what makes this egg salad recipe so simple!
     
  • Don’t have pickle juice?

    An equal amount of white or apple cider vinegar makes a great substitute. 
     
  • Swap the ground pepper.

    I like how white pepper blends seamlessly into the mixture, plus it has a milder flavor. However, freshly ground black pepper will work just as well.
bowl of egg salad topped with sliced hard boiled eggs

How to Make Hard-Boiled Eggs

Below are instructions for the stovetop method, but you can also use an air fryer to hard boil eggs for this classic egg salad recipe instead.

  1. Place eggs in a large saucepan and add water until it reaches 1 to 2 inches over the tops.
  2. Bring to a rolling boil, then turn off the heat and cover with a lid.
  3. Set a timer for 12 minutes. Once done, drain and rinse under cold water until fully cooled.
  4. Remove the shells and continue with the old fashioned egg salad sandwich recipe.
Overhead shot of a chicken salad sandwich on a plate with chips

How To Make Egg Salad

Once your eggs are cooked, the hardest part is over! Simply chop up the hard-boiled eggs — I like to use a pastry cutter — then mix in the remaining ingredients.

You can dish it up immediately or let it chill in the refrigerator for a few hours so the flavors can meld together.

Wondering how to make an egg salad sandwich?

Spoon some of the egg salad onto a slice of bread, then top it with another slice. Easy peasy!

For added texture, I highly recommend toasting your bread slices first. 

White, whole wheat, sourdough, French loaf, you name it…this old fashioned egg salad sandwich recipe tastes great with it all!

Egg Salad Recipe Simple FAQ

What makes the best classic egg salad recipe?

While the ingredients are quite simple, I find that the additional spices create an incredibly flavorful mixture that can’t be beat!

Can I use Miracle Whip instead of mayonnaise? 

That really depends on your flavor preferences, but I recommend using regular mayonnaise.

Miracle Whip and other similar dressings contain a blend of sugar and spices which will affect the overall flavor of this old fashioned egg salad sandwich recipe.

What else can I add to egg salad? 

Pickle relish (sweet pickles or dill!) or finely chopped celery and bell peppers are popular additions. Even a handful of green onions would taste great.

You could also replace the regular paprika with a smoked variety, and a dash or two of your favorite hot sauce will add a spicy kick!

I’ve also added avocado and made an avocado egg salad before as well. Top with a bit of fresh parsley, add a side of potato chips, and you’ve got the best classic egg salad sandwich meal out there! 

Do I need an egg slicer to make this egg salad? 

You don’t! To make the best egg salad recipe, you just need to have a masher that you can break apart the eggs. I mash up the cooked egg yolks and egg whites together as this is my favorite method to have the eggs combined throughout.

How long will leftovers last in the refrigerator? 

When stored in a sealed container, homemade egg salad should keep for up to 4 days.
Be sure to give the mixture a good stir before each use and stir in a little extra mayo or pickle juice if it looks dry.

egg salad sandwich with lettuce

Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours. 

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close up of egg salad and lettuce on hamburger bun

classic egg salad on brioche bun

Best Classic Egg Salad Recipe (Easy Sandwiches)

Donna Elick
This Classic Egg Salad Recipe includes a blend of spices that puts it over the top! Learn how to make egg salad for a quick lunch or dinner.
5 stars from 3 reviews
Tried this recipe?Please comment and review!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Method Stovetop
Servings 4

Ingredients
 

  • 9 hard boiled eggs
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon pickle juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon celery salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions
 

  • Add the hard boiled eggs to a boil and use a pastry cutter to chop them up into small pieces.
  • Fold in the rest of the ingredients until fully combined and creamy.
  • Refrigerate for up to 4 days or serve immediately on choice of bread.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 368cal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 431mg | Sodium: 654mg | Sugar: 1g | Fiber: 1g | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 1mg

All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
titled collage for old fashioned egg salad recipe

Originally published June 2021, updated and republished May 2024

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5 Comments

  1. Hey Donna, another Donna checking in here. My husband absolutely loves egg salad sandwiches and this sounds wonderful too! I’ve made it for him all our married years, he loves them. The Dijon mustard sounds like a great addition, I’m going to see how he likes that! I fill mine with chopped homemade sweet pickles and chopped sweet onions also, he absolutely adores it! My Aunt Elsie used to chop up pimento stuffed green olives and add to hers, she called it egg& olive salad & he likes that also. Just thought I’d pass along some West Tennessee variations of egg salad! I love your recipes! Hugs.

      1. 5 stars
        I like to sub chopped green olives for pickles. Always in my fridge. Great on deviled eggs also.

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