If you're tired of boring egg salad, this zesty and flavorful egg salad recipe will change everything! It's quick and simple to make and uses everyday ingredients that pack a punch.
Love eggs? Try my Potato Salad with Egg or this Deviled Eggs recipe.
Why you'll love it
Egg salad. When it's done right, it's just so satisfying. My version is anything but bland and kicks up the flavor a notch with smoked paprika and other delicious and bold ingredients. Egg salad sandwiches are such a classic, but you'll wish you had been eating them this way all along! Our kitchen is convinced it's the absolute best rendition.
This kind of reminds me of deviled eggs with the flavor profile. It was a happy accident, and I'm sure it ended up that way because I always avoid having one-dimensional recipes. There are no mayo-soaked sandwiches here. You'll actually look forward to eating these sandwiches for lunch since they're bright and crave-worthy.
Ingredients you need
- Eggs - as long as they're fresh, whatever kind you use will be great
- Mayo - I always go for Hellmann's. Don't worry, this recipe doesn't go heavy on it!
- Lemon juice - for brightness and a little acidity. Always use freshly squeezed.
- Mustard - a touch of Dijon mustard is my secret ingredient to take this over the top! It just adds savory goodness and doesn't taste of mustard itself.
- Paprika - we love smoked paprika here, but you can definitely use regular
- Garlic powder - for even more depth of flavor
- Parsley - we're using Italian parsley here, but the curly kind is fine
- Celery - for that signature crunch
- Onion - red onion is best for salads since it's quite mild
How to make egg salad
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
Start by hard boiling your eggs. I like to prep the ingredients while the eggs cook and then cool. Add the dressing ingredients to a bowl, and then mix until smooth with a spoon.
Chop the eggs as coarsely or as finely as you want, and then add them to the bowl along with the celery and onion. Combine, taste and adjust as needed, and season with salt & pepper generously. Chill if you like, and serve!
How to hard boil eggs
- Our favorite method is to simply time 10 minutes after they start boiling. I really don't like runny or even jammy yolks, but you could give it slightly less time if that's what you prefer.
- Then I drain out the hot water, stick the pan under running cold water for a minute or so, and then let the eggs sit in cold water for at least 5 minutes. They're much easier to peel when they're cool!
Substitutions and variations
- We think this recipe has the ideal balance, but you could swap the red onion for chives or scallions, or add in some fresh herbs from the garden like chopped dill for extra flavor.
- Add a few dashes of hot sauce or a pinch of cayenne pepper for a bit of heat.
- If you want a smaller quantity, you can easily halve every ingredient so you have enough for 2 sandwiches instead of 4.
How to serve it
- It's great on its own, but I love to put arugula in one of these sandwiches with fresh bread for a peppery vibe. Any kind of lettuce will do, though. Butter leaf is another favorite of mine! You could even toss in some sliced tomatoes and sprouts. Or skip the bread and make lettuce wraps.
- Try adding in a few slices of crispy oven-cooked bacon to take this sandwich over the top.
- Want a soup and sandwich combo? We enjoy it with this Easy Zucchini Soup.
Leftovers and storage
- This will keep for 3-4 days in the fridge in a tightly covered container.
- However, don't let it sit out for any length of time for food safety reasons. Discard it after 2 hours for sure if it's been sitting out at a potluck or picnic.
- If you're making sandwiches ahead of time and refrigerating them, I suggest not assembling them more than 12 hours ahead so that the bread doesn't get soggy. The night before works well for work lunches.
More tasty sandwich recipes
Questions about this recipe, or did you make it? It's just really good. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
Perfect Egg Salad
Ingredients
- 6 eggs
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 stick celery chopped small
- 1-2 tablespoons red onion chopped small
- For sandwiches: 8 slices bread, lettuce, etc.
Instructions
- Hard boil your eggs. My preferred method is to time 10 minutes from the point the eggs have started to boil, and then I drain them and rinse them under cool water then let them sit in cold water in the pan they were cooked in until they've cooled (about 5-10 minutes).
- Meanwhile, to a medium bowl, add the mayo, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, garlic powder, parsley, and some salt & pepper. Stir until it's combined.
- Peel and chop the eggs (chop them as coarsely or small as you like), then add them to the bowl along with the celery and onion. Stir/toss it together, then give it a taste and adjust ingredients if needed (e.g. add more salt & pepper - I am generous with both).
- You can serve it right away or chill it first to let the flavors meld some more. Serve in a sandwich/wraps, lettuce cups, etc.
Notes
- Recipe makes 4-6 sandwiches depending on how much people eat.
- Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
Susan Gemmell says
This is by far the BEST egg salad sandwich we've had. I have never had eggs peal so easy and come out perfect. Thank you for sharing your recipes. This is the third recipe I have made this week and all of them are to perfection.
Natasha says
I'm so happy to hear that, Susan!! 🙂 Thank you for taking the time to write me a review.
Cari says
Loved this! Super easy. I used fresh dill in place of parsley and added 1 chopped pickle for some crunch.
Natasha says
I'm thrilled you enjoyed it, Cari!! 🙂 Thanks for commenting!
Angelina says
I can't believe that a recipe as simple as "Egg Salad Sandwiches" drove me to submit a comment. I've been making Egg Salad since I was 12 yrs. old! I'm now married, have 4 kiddoes, & my family LOVES "Egg Salad Sandwiches", especially on busy days when it's hot, OR when there isn't much time to cook. I usually serve 'em w/a Side Salad & Oven Baked Onion Rings. I pile the Egg Salad onto lightly toasted WW Bread, OR on Craissants, over our choice of lettuce. A good quality mayo is always the key (either light or full fat - your preference. Personally, I prefer "Duke's"). For my family's taste buds, I don't add hot sauce, lemon juice, or paprika. I DO however, add PLENTY of diced celery, some fresh Dill & Parsley, and a pinch of Garlic Powder. I use Shallots, since they're somewhat milder than Red Onions, & that's what we prefer. I made your Egg Salad & pretty much liked it. Please try mine, & let me know how you liked it.
Natasha says
Hi Angelina! Yes... people definitely have strong opinions about egg salad... it's very interesting to me! I'm glad you liked this version. I need to try the shallots idea, and I always love adding fresh herbs too. 🙂