Old Fashioned Potato Salad Recipe with Leftover Mashed Potatoes

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Potato Salad with Leftover Mashed Potatoes features an ingenious way to use up mashed potatoes. In a time-crunch and want a delicious side dish? Check out this recipe on those busy days, no need to boil, drain or mash those potatoes!

Potato Salad with Leftover Mashed Potatoes features an ingenious way to use up mashed potatoes. In a time-crunch and want a delicious side dish? Check out this recipe on those busy days, no need to boil, drain or mash those potatoes!

Potato Salad with Leftover Mashed Potatoes Recipe

I’m obsessed with recipes that recreate leftovers into entirely new dishes, and this instant mashed potato salad is just that. This is the result of being married to a leftover-hating man; however, I come from a long line of leftover-users.

For example, our Granny used up leftover mashed potatoes to make Potato Pancakes.  They are crispy little cakes that can be served along side any meal.

Five ingredients is all it takes to make Granny's Leftover Mashed Potato Cakes.  Using a base of your favorite leftover real mashed potatoes. you can easily make this economical side dish that the whole family will love. 

Can you make potato salad with leftover mashed potatoes?

As it turns out, my friend Maryann has her Grandma’s recipe that uses up leftover mashed potatoes by making potato salad. How cool is that? I had never, ever heard of this before; it’s sort of a hillbilly potato salad.

It has all the classic flavors of Grandma’s Potato Salad with ingredients like celery, onions, hard boiled eggs, Miracle Whip and relish. Want a try a slightly different flavor? Check out the Farmwife Feeds’ Dill Potato Salad.

I love the shortcut factor of using leftover mashed potatoes. You’ve already went through the process of peeling and boiling the potatoes for the mashed potatoes, so you may as well capitalize on it by re-using the leftovers.

Potato Salad with Leftover Mashed Potatoes features an ingenious way to use up mashed potatoes. In a time-crunch and want a delicious side dish? Check out this recipe on those busy days, no need to boil, drain or mash those potatoes!

What are the Best Pre-made Mashed Potatoes?

Want to know a secret?  I am slightly ashamed by this. When making this potato dish a time or two, I may or may not have started with a tub of prepared mashed potatoes that can be found in the refrigerated section of the grocery store.  It’s my dirty, little secret. I rarely make homemade mashed potatoes.

I guess it’s because I’m always in a rush, and everyone is ready to eat RIGHT THIS SECOND. And truth be told, Bob Evan’s makes a mean mashed potato.  If you’re on my team in this one, go ahead and take the shortcuts below with me.

  • Shortcut one: Buy a tub of prepared mashed potatoes at the grocery store.
  • Shortcut two: Use them to make Mashed Potato Salad.
  • Two shortcuts = One happy momma
Potato Salad with Leftover Mashed Potatoes features an ingenious way to use up mashed potatoes. In a time-crunch and want a delicious side dish? Check out this recipe on those busy days, no need to boil, drain or mash those potatoes!

Old-Fashioned Potato Salad Recipe

This potato salad using leftover mashed potatoes is definitely old-fashioned.  It reminds me of many of our grandma’s recipes, mainly because it includes sugar in the recipe.

Our grandma added sugar to everything. Did you know that adding a tablespoon of sugar to cooked corn will make it taste just like Granny’s. Try it.  It’s the missing ingredient, that flavor that you’ve never been able to recreate but always remember.

Grandma even added sugar to Deviled Eggs, and they are amazing.

Potato Salad with Leftover Mashed Potatoes features an ingenious way to use up mashed potatoes. In a time-crunch and want a delicious side dish? Check out this recipe on those busy days, no need to boil, drain or mash those potatoes!

Ingredient List

  • Mashed Potatoes
  • Hard Boiled Eggs
  • Sweet Pickle Relish
  • Onion, chopped
  • Celery, chopped
  • Miracle Whip
  • Sugar
  • Salt and Black Pepper
  • Paprika (optional)

How to Make Potato Salad with Leftover Mashed Potatoes

Step By Step Instructions

  1. Stir together leftover mashed potatoes, hard boiled eggs, sweet pickle relish, chopped onion, chopped celery, Miracle Whip and sugar in a large bowl.
  2. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  3. If desired, sprinkle with paprika before serving (optional).
  4. Serve with burgers, steak, grilled chicken or pretty much any other dish.

Storage Instructions

Store in an airtight container, and store in the fridge for 3 to 5 days.

For the full instructions for Mashed Potato Salad, scroll to the bottom of this post. 

Potato Salad with Leftover Mashed Potatoes features an ingenious way to use up mashed potatoes. In a time-crunch and want a delicious side dish? Check out this recipe on those busy days, no need to boil, drain or mash those potatoes!
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Recipe FAQs

  • Use leftover mashed potatoes from the holidays, or if you just want a super fast potato salad recipe, start with refrigerated, prepared mashed potatoes. Another option is to whip up some of the instant kind straight from the box. No judgement here.
  • All the ingredient quantities are estimations; so if you have a little more or a little less mashed potatoes to start with, just adjust the proportions.
  • If the potato salad is a bit stiff, try adding a little milk to loosen it up. (Grandma’s tip!)
  • Regular mayonnaise can be substituted for Miracle Whip, but you’ll most likely need to add a bit more sugar.
  • To make a pretty presentation, sprinkle with paprika before serving.
Potato Salad with Leftover Mashed Potatoes features an ingenious way to use up mashed potatoes. In a time-crunch and want a delicious side dish? Check out this recipe on those busy days, no need to boil, drain or mash those potatoes!

More Old Fashioned Salad Recipes

Cherry Fluff

Grandma's Cherry Fluff recipe has just five ingredients and is a dump and go dish perfect for pitch-ins.

Southern Vegetable Salad

Southern Vegetable Salad is a tried and true vinegar based salad that marinates in the refrigerator.  It's cool and refreshing, and gets better with time. Store this marinated vegetable salad up to a month in the refrigerator. 

Classic Macaroni Salad

Classic macaroni salad is a traditional dish for your summer potluck.

Red Bean Salad

Do you need a quick side dish for a summer cookout? Try this Red Bean Salad that can be pulled together quickly with just a few simple ingredients.

Pink Lady Salad

Pink Lady Salad is a vintage Jello salad.

Potato Salad with Leftover Mashed Potatoes

Potato Salad with Leftover Mashed Potatoes is an ingenious way to use up mashed potatoes. It's also great for days when you're in a time-crunch and are wanting a delicious side dish. 
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time0 minutes
Total Time10 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: hillbilly potato salad, instant mashed potato salad, mashed potato salad, potato salad using leftover mashed potatoes, potato salad with leftover mashed potatoes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 153kcal
Author: Barbara

Ingredients

  • 3 cups leftover mashed potatoes
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1 stalk celery, chopped
  • 3 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
  • 1 Tablespoon sweet pickle relish, heaping
  • 1/2 cup Miracle Whip
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • dash paprika, optional

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients except salt, pepper and paprika; mix well. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
    Potato Salad with Leftover Mashed Potatoes is an ingenious way to use up mashed potatoes. It's also great for days when you're in a time-crunch and are wanting a delicious side dish.
  • If the salad is too stiff, add a little bit of milk to loosen it up.
    Potato Salad with Leftover Mashed Potatoes is an ingenious way to use up mashed potatoes. It's also great for days when you're in a time-crunch and are wanting a delicious side dish.
  • If desired, sprinkle with paprika before serving.
    Potato Salad with Leftover Mashed Potatoes is an ingenious way to use up mashed potatoes. It's also great for days when you're in a time-crunch and are wanting a delicious side dish.

Notes

  • Use leftover mashed potatoes from the holidays, or if you just want a super fast potato salad recipe, start with refrigerated, prepared mashed potatoes. Another option is to whip up some of the instant kind straight from the box. No judgement here.
  • All the ingredient quantities are estimations; so if you have a little more or a little less mashed potatoes to start with, just adjust the proportions.
  • If the potato salad is a bit stiff, try adding a little milk to loosen it up. (Grandma’s tip!)
  • Regular mayonnaise can be substituted for Miracle Whip, but you’ll most likely need to add a bit more sugar.
  • To make a pretty presentation, sprinkle with paprika before serving.
  • If you love this recipe, try Grandma’s Deviled Eggs!
  • The nutritional information below is auto-calculated and can vary depending on the products used. 

Nutrition

Calories: 153kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 71mg | Sodium: 192mg | Potassium: 304mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 154IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg
Potato Salad with Leftover Mashed Potatoes features an ingenious way to use up mashed potatoes. In a time-crunch and want a delicious side dish? Check out this recipe on those busy days, no need to boil, drain or mash those potatoes!

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