Classic Egg Salad

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Egg Salad

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Searching for the best homemade egg salad? Look no further — this is the only egg salad recipe you’ll ever need!

Egg Salad on a thick slick of bread.

Egg salad is a simple dish that’s undeniably delicious when done right (and, let’s be honest, falls a bit flat when it’s not). The trick is to begin with perfectly cooked hard-boiled eggs, aiming for tender whites and creamy yolks. From there, it’s all about amping up the seasoning with a good-quality mayo, a squeeze of lemon, a spoonful of Dijon mustard, and a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce. For a little crunch and color, I like to stir in some celery and fresh parsley, and finish it off with scallions for a subtle onion flavor. The result? An egg salad that’s rich and creamy yet also vibrant and fresh — perfect for sandwiches, wraps, or simply on its own.

“Without a doubt THE best egg salad ever! It was so good I made a second batch.”

Marsha Porter

What You’ll Need To Make Egg Salad

ingredients for egg salad
  • Eggs: Hard-boiled and chopped, they’re the protein component and base of the salad.
  • Mayonnaise: Adds creaminess and binds the salad together. Use a good-quality brand, such as Hellmann’s or Duke’s.
  • Dijon mustard: Introduces a tangy depth and sharpness.
  • Fresh lemon juice (or white wine vinegar): Adds brightness and acidity, balancing the richness of the eggs and mayo.
  • Worcestershire sauce: Offers a hint of umami and complexity to the salad, deepening the flavors.
  • Celery: Provides a crunchy texture and a fresh, slightly bitter contrast to the creamy components.
  • Scallions: Add a mild onion flavor and a touch of color, enhancing the freshness of the salad.
  • Fresh parsley: Contributes a pop of color and a fresh, herbal note.
  • Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements

Step-by-Step Instructions

Begin by hard boiling the eggs. Place the eggs in a saucepan in a single layer, and fill the pan with enough cold water so that it covers the eggs by about an inch. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat, then remove the pan from the heat, cover, and let stand for 10 minutes.

eggs simmering in boiling water

Carefully pour out the hot water; place the pan in the sink and run cold water over the eggs until the pan is lukewarm, 1 to 2 minutes. Drain and refill with cold water; let stand until the eggs are room temperature, about 10 minutes.

cooling eggs under the tap

Gently crack the eggs all over and peel under running water. Then dry the eggs and chop into 1/4-inch pieces.

peeling eggs under running tap water

Meanwhile, finely chop the herbs, celery, and scallions.

chopped parsley, celery and scallions on cutting board

In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, mustard, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and sugar.

whisked dressing in mixing bowl

Add the chopped eggs, celery, scallions, and parsley.

dressing, eggs, and add-ins in mixing bowl

Using a rubber spatula, fold to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary, then serve or refrigerate until ready to use.

egg salad mixed and ready to serve

If you refrigerate the egg salad, be sure to taste it again before serving and adjust the seasoning; I find the flavors mellow out a bit after some time in the fridge.

Egg Salad on a thick slick of bread.
Photo by Our Salty Kitchen

Video Tutorial

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Classic Egg Salad

Searching for the best homemade egg salad? Look no further — this is the only egg salad recipe you’ll ever need!

Servings: Makes 2½ cups, or enough for 4 sandwiches
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 10 Minutes
Total Time: 20 Minutes

Ingredients

  • 6 large eggs
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise, best quality such as Hellmann's or Duke's
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 1½ teaspoons fresh lemon juice or white wine vinegar
  • ¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon sugar
  • ¼ cup finely diced celery, from 1 stalk
  • 3 tablespoons finely sliced scallions, from 2 to 3 scallions
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley leaves

Instructions

  1. Place the eggs in a saucepan in a single layer, and fill the pan with enough cold water so that it covers the eggs by about an inch. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat, then remove the pan from the heat, cover, and let stand for 10 minutes.
  2. Carefully pour out the hot water; place the pan in the sink and run cold water over the eggs until the pan is lukewarm, 1 to 2 minutes. Drain and refill with cold water; let stand until the eggs are room temperature, about 10 minutes. Gently crack the eggs all over and peel under running water. Dry the eggs, then chop into ¼-inch pieces.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, mustard, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and sugar. Add the chopped eggs, celery, scallions, and parsley. Using a rubber spatula, fold to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary. Serve or refrigerate until ready to use. (If you refrigerate the egg salad, be sure to taste it again before serving and adjust the seasoning; I find the flavors mellow out a bit after some time in the fridge.)
  4. Make Ahead: The eggs can be cooked, peeled, and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator 3 days ahead. If you keep the eggs in their shell, they can last for up to a week. The egg salad will keep well in a covered container in the fridge for about 3 days.
  5. Tip: When peeling an egg, start at the wider end -- there's usually a small air pocket in there, which makes the egg shell easier to remove.

Nutrition Information

Powered by Edamam

  • Per serving (4 servings)
  • Calories: 214
  • Fat: 18 g
  • Saturated fat: 4 g
  • Carbohydrates: 2 g
  • Sugar: 1 g
  • Fiber: 0 g
  • Protein: 10 g
  • Sodium: 248 mg
  • Cholesterol: 285 mg

This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.

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Comments

  • I tried this salad because the ingredients intrigued me. It is so savory. I did not have all the ingredients, so I improvised. I added spicy deal pickles. Fresh cucumbers chopped. I did not have celery, but the cucumbers sure made it pop. Thanks

    • — Robert Ponce on February 24, 2023
    • Reply
  • This is my go to recipe for egg salad.
    I did have to add a small amount of finely diced red onion, as no scallion in the house. And I usually don’t have it unless a recipe calls for several pieces. I have kept regular onion out of the recipe.
    What made it a little different was my addition of about an 1/8tsp of Sumac. Just gave it that Unami taste. So will be adding it from now on.
    Thanks again Jenn.

  • Best egg salad I have ever made

  • This was very good. I would however, only use one green onion. I used two and felt like I couldn’t taste the eggs as much as I would like. I’m also not a huge raw onion fan so maybe that’s part of it.

  • Our 7 year old has been begging for an egg salad sandwich to take to camp. I usually make mine blindly with eggs, Mayo, Dijon, and a pinch of salt and pepper (basic). My husband picked up dinner tonight so I had time to put a little more effort in, and I made this recipe for her for tomorrow. I asked her to be the taste tester and upon trying it her eyes rolled back and closed for a moment. With a smile before she opened her eyes she told me it was like Calgon was taking her away. So I think we are now calling this Jenn’s Calgon Egg Salad.

  • Egg salad is an often served breakfast in our home. Typically my renditions are a very short list of ingredients yet always satisfying. And normally the onion thing is not happening in what I prepare. Well, hello “Egg Salad Jenn Segal”…..gosh what a fun breakfast sandwich on toasted rye bread this morning , with strong black coffee. The small amount of Scallions was a fantastic ingredient, not to mention the kiss of lemon. Loved this recipe like all get out.

  • This has a home in my do again file,made it today for lunch but did not have any green onions on hand and subbed in about 1 1/2 T. of minced shallots and it was still delicious.Thanks Jenn

  • Seriously, the best egg salad recipe!
    I had to make a couple adjustments due to diet and what I had on hand.
    I used dried parsley, a little chopped red onion instead of scallion, and powdered xylitol instead of sugar.
    I also separated the yolks and mixed that in with the Mayo mixture, then added in the onion, celery and chopped egg whites.
    This will for sure be my go to!

    • — Life of Fragrances
    • Reply
  • best egg salad Ive ever had. Thank you

  • Yay! Fantastic recipe. Im making a double batch this time. Its so good its not going to last long.

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