Zesty Egg Salad Recipe: A Refreshing Twist on a Classic

Creamy, zesty egg salad with pickle relish dances across your plate, bringing a delightful twist to classic picnic fare.

Chopped hard-boiled eggs blend perfectly with crisp celery and tangy pickle relish for a mouthwatering meal.

Each bite delivers rich, creamy textures that complement fresh herbs and a hint of mustard.

The simple ingredients create a harmonious mix that elevates lunch from ordinary to extraordinary.

Protein-packed and full of flavor, this egg salad serves up comfort in every spoonful.

Pack it between soft bread slices or enjoy it on a bed of crisp lettuce for a satisfying meal that never disappoints.

Whip up this quick and delicious recipe to transform your next lunch into a culinary delight.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Total Time: 22 minutes

Calories: 220 kcal

Servings: 4

Everything in the Best Egg Salad Recipe

• Eggs: Farm-fresh eggs create the best texture and richness, choose large eggs for consistent results.
• Mayonnaise: Creamy binding agent that adds luxurious smoothness and helps ingredients stick together.

• Celery: Provides crisp texture and subtle earthy flavor, select firm stalks with vibrant green color.
• Red Onion: Delivers sharp bite and beautiful color contrast, choose firm onions without soft spots.

• Dijon Mustard: Adds tangy depth and sophisticated flavor profile, opt for smooth, high-quality mustard.
• Lemon Juice: Brightens overall taste and balances richness, fresh lemon works best.
• Salt: Crucial for bringing out ingredient flavors, use fine sea salt for even distribution.
• Black Pepper: Provides subtle heat and aromatic complexity, freshly ground offers best taste.
• Parsley or Dill: Introduces fresh herbal notes, choose bright green leaves without wilting.

• Paprika: Adds warm color and mild smoky undertone, sprinkle just before serving for visual appeal.

What You’ll Use to Prep the Best Egg Salad Recipe

• Large pot: For boiling eggs in water.
• Knife: To chop eggs, celery, onion, and herbs.
• Cutting board: Provides surface for chopping ingredients.
• Medium mixing bowl: Used for combining dressing and mixing salad ingredients.
• Measuring spoons: To measure mustard, salt, and pepper accurately.
• Slotted spoon: Helpful for transferring eggs from boiling water.
• Ice bath bowl: To quickly cool boiled eggs and stop cooking process.

How to Make the Best Egg Salad Recipe From Scratch

• Boil Eggs to Perfection

Carefully place eggs in a pot of water and bring to a rolling boil. Let them simmer for 10-12 minutes, creating perfectly cooked eggs with creamy golden centers.

• Create Creamy Dressing

Whisk together mayo, tangy mustard, a splash of lemon juice, and a pinch of salt and pepper in a mixing bowl until smooth and velvety.

• Mix and Mash

Gently fold chopped eggs into the creamy dressing. Add crisp celery and finely diced onion for extra crunch and flavor. Sprinkle in fresh herbs to brighten the mixture.

• Chill and Enhance

Let the egg salad rest in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes, allowing the flavors to dance and mingle. This brief timeout intensifies the deliciousness.

• Serve with Flair

Spread the egg salad on crusty bread, tuck it into a soft wrap, or create a light salad bed. Dust with a sprinkle of paprika for a gorgeous finishing touch.

Add-Ins to Upgrade the Best Egg Salad Recipe

• Egg-cellent Meal Prep: Make the egg salad ahead of time and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, perfect for quick lunches.
• Texture Perfection: Avoid over-mixing to keep eggs chunky and prevent a mushy consistency, which helps maintain a satisfying texture.
• Dairy-Free Twist: Replace mayonnaise with mashed avocado or Greek yogurt for a healthier, creamy alternative that adds extra nutrition and flavor.
• Low-Carb Option: Skip bread and serve egg salad in lettuce wraps, cucumber boats, or on top of mixed greens for a lighter, carb-conscious meal that's still incredibly delicious.
• Flavor Boosters: Experiment with add-ins like crispy bacon bits, chopped pickles, capers, or a dash of smoked paprika to elevate the classic recipe and create your signature version.

How to Serve the Best Egg Salad Recipe Nicely

• Sandwich Symphony: Layer the creamy egg salad between soft whole wheat bread slices, adding crisp lettuce and cucumber for extra crunch and freshness.
• Lettuce Cups Delight: Serve the egg salad in fresh, crisp lettuce leaves for a low-carb, light, and refreshing meal option that's perfect for summer lunches.
• Gourmet Toast Topper: Spread the egg salad over toasted sourdough or rye bread, garnishing with fresh chives or a sprinkle of smoked paprika for an elevated breakfast or brunch experience.
• Picnic Perfect Platter: Arrange the egg salad in a beautiful serving dish surrounded by crackers, sliced vegetables, and pickles for a crowd-pleasing appetizer or light meal that's great for outdoor gatherings.

Keep the Best Egg Salad Recipe Chilled & Tasty

• Fridge-Fresh Storage: Keep your egg salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. The cold temperature helps maintain freshness and prevents bacterial growth.
• Quick Portion Control: Divide the egg salad into smaller containers for easy grab-and-go lunches. Single-serving portions stay crisp and delicious throughout the week.
• Flavor Enhancement Trick: Let the egg salad rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before serving. This allows ingredients to blend, creating a more robust and harmonious taste profile.
• Smart Serving Strategy: Avoid mixing additional ingredients like celery until right before eating to maintain crunchiness and prevent soggy textures. Keep vegetables separate until serving time for maximum freshness and texture.

Tangy Egg Salad Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.6 from 38 reviews

• Total Time: 22 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Creamy egg salad delights taste buds with classic ingredients blended to perfection. Simple yet satisfying, this timeless dish offers comfort and flavor you’ll savor with each delectable bite.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 6 large eggs (hard-boiled, peeled, and chopped)
• ¼ cup (60 ml or 2 fl oz) mayonnaise
• 1 tsp (5 ml or 0.17 fl oz) Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp (5 ml or 0.17 fl oz) lemon juice
• ¼ cup (40 g or 1.4 oz) celery (finely chopped)
• 1 tbsp (15 g or 0.5 oz) red onion (finely chopped)
• 1 tbsp (3 g or 0.1 oz) fresh parsley or dill (chopped)
• ¼ tsp (1.5 g or 0.05 oz) salt
• ¼ tsp (0.5 g or 0.02 oz) black pepper
• Paprika (for garnish)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Egg Preparation: Submerge eggs in gently simmering water for 10-12 minutes, guaranteeing fully cooked, firm yolks throughout.
2. Cooling Technique: Plunge cooked eggs into an ice bath, immediately arresting the cooking process to preserve a pristine, smooth texture.
3. Egg Processing: Strip away shells meticulously and chop eggs into consistent, bite-sized segments.
4. Dressing Creation: Whisk mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper in a spacious bowl until achieving a luxuriously smooth consistency.
5. Mixture Integration: Tenderly fold chopped eggs into the creamy dressing, ensuring comprehensive and elegant coating of each egg fragment.
6. Flavor Enhancement: Introduce finely diced celery and red onion, infusing the salad with crisp texture and aromatic complexity.
7. Herbal Finish: Sprinkle fresh parsley or dill throughout, elevating the dish with a vibrant, herbaceous dimension.
8. Optional Garnish: Dust with paprika to add a warm, colorful accent and subtle depth of flavor.
9. Flavor Melding: Refrigerate for 20-30 minutes, allowing ingredients to harmonize and intensify their collective taste profile.
10. Serving Suggestions: Present as a versatile sandwich filling, wrap component, or elegant lettuce-topped appetizer.

Notes

• Master Egg Cooling Technique: Immediately transfer eggs to ice bath after boiling to stop cooking process, preventing rubbery texture and ensuring perfectly creamy consistency.
• Control Egg Chop Precision: Cut eggs into uniform, small pieces for balanced texture and even distribution of flavors throughout the salad.
• Flavor Infusion Strategy: Let egg salad rest in refrigerator for 20-30 minutes to allow ingredients to meld, intensifying taste and creating a more cohesive dish.
• Dietary Flexibility Option: Swap traditional mayonnaise with Greek yogurt or vegan alternatives for lighter, health-conscious versions that maintain creamy texture and rich flavor profile.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 12 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Snacks
• Method: Boiling
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 210
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 350 mg
• Fat: 18 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 5 g
• Fiber: 0.5 g
• Protein: 9 g
• Cholesterol: 370 mg