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THE Creamy German Potato Salad Recipe with Dill: Omas Kartoffelsalat

Learn how to make potato salad that tastes just like it does in northern Germany. This cold German potato salad, aka Kartoffelsalat, comes from my Mutti's handwritten cookbook. I've also simplified it in this easy version.

And yes, this one is German. In fact, the mayonnaise in this, tells me it's from the northern part of Germany. Southern Germany's salads rarely have mayo.

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds (908 grams) potatoes, washed and peeled
  
• 1 cup (230 grams) mayonnaise
• ½ cup (120 millimeters) juice from a jar of dill pickles
• 1 small onion, finely diced
  
• 2 - 3 dill pickles, diced
• 3 - 4 large eggs, hard-boiled and sliced
• salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Put the potatoes in a large pot, cover them with cold water, and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 20 to 40 minutes, depending on their size. The potatoes are done when they can be pierced easily with a knife, but do not overcook them. Drain, cool, peel, and set them aside.
2. In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise with enough pickle juice to get a nice creamy dressing.
3. Pour a little dressing in the bottom of a large serving bowl.
4. Slice or cube the potatoes and place a layer on top of the dressing. Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper. Next, layer some of the diced onions, diced dill pickles, and egg slices. Pour some of the dressing over top.
5. Repeat with more potatoes, salt, pepper, diced onions, chopped pickles, egg slices, and dressing until all the potatoes have been used.
6. Gently toss all together. Either serve immediately or let stand to improve the flavor. Keep refrigerated to store.

Notes/Hints:

• Depending on the 'dryness' of the potatoes, you may need more dressing. Just mix extra as you need it.
• Make your own homemade mayonnaise for extra flavor.
• Adding extra fresh dill weed or dried dill adds extra flavor. (The flavor of fresh dill can't be beat. In fact, fresh herbs are always best.) You can add this to the dressing or sprinkle on each layer.
• Once you know about how much salt and pepper you like, add them to the dressing ingredients at first, instead of sprinkling on each layer. In fact, adding all the ingredients to a mason jar and shaking to mix is easy.
• Add more or less eggs, according to your own taste.
• For the type of potato you can substitute with red potatoes or other waxy potatoes. Fingerling potatoes would be interesting.
• Adding celery seed or celery salt to the creamy dressing is yummy.
• Adding green onions or using red onion looks extra special.
• Adding some chopped apple (leaving skin on for color), adds flavor and a nice crunch.
• .This should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge. However, do serve this at room temperature.
• If you're wanting a quicker and easier version of this, check out my easy German potato salad. 

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Updated on February 6, 2026