The perfect Southern-Style Egg Salad starts with a blend of creamy and slightly crunchy textures coming together with bright, fresh flavors. It’s not even particularly fancy, and there are no unique secret ingredients, just old-fashioned goodness piled on top of rich butter crackers or freshly baked slices of homemade bread.
This deliciousSouthern-Style Egg Salad is the perfect lunch idea that will have you wondering why you didn’t make more of it for the family to enjoy. Southern-Style Egg Salad is super easy to make, combining hardboiled eggs, Duke’s mayonnaise, thinly sliced celery, sweet Vidalia onions, green olives, scallions, pimento, and yellow mustard served on rich buttery crackers.
There’s something very comforting about enjoying a batch of cold Southern-Style Egg Salad on deliciously buttery crackers with a glass of fresh brewed iced tea on a warm day. I’ll admit it, like most of us Southerners, I enjoy comfort foods, and Southern-Style Egg Salad is one of those comfort foods that come to mind during the hot summer days.
When I make my Southern-Style Egg Salad, I tend to make a fair amount of it because I know that everyone enjoys it, especially me. Keywords being especially me. Honestly, I prefer it on butter crackers but will settle for a nice thick slice of homemade bread if need be.
Mayonnaise is in my book is a personal experience, a high expectation, one most of us in the Southern states prefer over Miracle Whip, don’t get me wrong, I know plenty of Southern folks who enjoy using it in their recipes, and if you are one of them substitute Miracle Whip for my Dukes mayonnaise. Eat what you enjoy is what I always say.
Don’t be afraid to add a few of your favorite ingredients to this recipe. I have added a touch of smokey chopped bacon to mine from time to time, as well as a few other favorites. Live a little, have fun in the kitchen, enjoy your food, and not necessarily in that order either.
Southern-Style Egg Salad
-
Eight eggs, hard-cooked, peeled, and roughly diced
-
1/4 cup of Dukes mayonnaise
-
One stalk of sliced celery
-
1/4 of a cup of finely diced sweet Vidalia onion
-
Two scallions thinly sliced, including greens
-
5-6 green olives thinly sliced, optional
-
One tablespoon of diced pimento
-
One tablespoon of yellow mustard
-
1/4 of a teaspoon apple cider vinegar
-
salt to own taste
-
freshly ground black pepper to own taste
-
Fresh parsley, chopped for garnish
Tips for the perfect hardboiled eggs
-
Use older eggs– If possible, use older eggs to keep from tearing the egg whites; as old eggs will peel easier.
-
Bring the eggs to a boil– Place the eggs in a large pot and fill with cold water. Bring the cold water to a boil over medium heat, then turn off the heat source and cover with a lid.
-
Always set a timer-Set the timer for 11 minutes for hardboiled eggs.
-
While waiting– Fill a large bowl with ice and cold water to shock the eggs.
-
As soon as your timer goes off– Drain and transfer the hardboiled eggs to the ice water. Shocking the hardboiled eggs will stop the cooking process. Leave in the water for 2-3 minutes.

Southern-Style Egg Salad
Ingredients
- 8 Eggs hard boiled
- 1/4 cup Dukes mayonnaise
- 1 stalk Celery sliced
- 1/4 cup Sweet Vidalia onion diced
- 3 Scallions sliced
- 6 Green olives sliced
- 1 tablespoon Pimento diced
- 1 tablespoon Yellow mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon Apple cider vinegar
- Kosher salt to own taste
- Freshly cracked pepper to own taste
- Parsley garnish
Instructions
- Peel and rinse 8 hard-boiled eggs, roughly chop or dice them depending on your personal preference.
- In a medium bowl combine, Duke’s mayonnaise, sliced celery, diced sweet Vidalia onions, thinly sliced scallions, sliced olives, diced pimento, yellow mustard, apple cider vinegar, salt and freshly ground black pepper to own taste.
- Refrigerate for 45 minutes before serving on top of butter crackers or fresh bread.
Nutrition
If you enjoyed the Southern-Style Egg Salad you may like these suggested recipes
- Southern Ham Salad and White Bread go together like two peas and a pod. A delicious homemade Southern Ham salad made with sweet honey ham, celery, red onions, hardboiled boiled eggs, and pickles on a thick-sliced, white bread.
- Sloppy Joe Sliders are one of my delicious variations of an iconic childhood favorite turned into a fun slider sandwich that’s awesome as a dinner option or even appetizer.
- Southern Pimento Cheese Spread, aka Southern Caviar, is one of our favorite delicious iconic Southern Staples. It ranks right up there with our fried okra, cornbread, and collard greens.
Don’t forget to use the Pin and Print Options to save for later!
36 Comments
Aline
March 30, 2020 at 6:36 pmI love this recipe so much!!! Egg salads are my literal favorite, but people still manage to mess it up lol This recipe is so great, I’ll start giving out this link to my friends when they ask me what they should bring over haha THANK YOU!
Kacey Perez
March 30, 2020 at 8:25 amI Haven’t made egg salad in a long time but this egg salad recipe makes me want to whip some up!
hmccallum
April 2, 2020 at 9:11 amGood morning and thank you, Kacey! I bet you’ll love this version!
The Kitchen Whisperer
March 28, 2020 at 5:24 pmOh wow, what a unique twist on egg salad. I’m loving the addition of the pimento to it! I can’t wait to try this!
Sharon
March 28, 2020 at 1:27 pmEgg salad is so good anytime! This is one of my favorite lunches though on a flaky croissant.
Tammy
March 27, 2020 at 1:51 pmI absolutely love egg salad and this sounds so good! I’ve not had Southern-Style before but I’m def trying it soon. I have so many eggs on hand right now 😀
hmccallum
March 29, 2020 at 9:39 amHey there Tammy!!! This is a great recipe to use up some of those eggs! Thanks so much for sharing today!!
Erin
March 26, 2020 at 10:26 pmI’ve got five hungry kids home right now and this Southern-Style Egg Salad recipe looks so perfect for lunch tomorrow. I even have extra eggs!
hmccallum
March 29, 2020 at 9:39 amGood morning, Erin, it’s so budget-friendly too! I remember we ate it a lot as little kids!
Amy Liu Dong
March 26, 2020 at 4:57 amOh, I love this Southern-Style Egg Salad recipe! It’s a delicious and healthy dish to make for the family.
hmccallum
March 29, 2020 at 9:38 amThank you, so much Amy! So happy you enjoyed the egg salad.
Colleen
March 23, 2020 at 2:37 pmI’ve never put olives in my egg salad, but what a great idea! Our family really enjoyed this egg salad
hmccallum
March 29, 2020 at 9:37 amThank you, Colleen, the olives really add another great layer of flavor.
Sherri
February 21, 2019 at 5:08 pmI can’t say I’ve ever had a Southern style egg salad, but after seeing yours, I am wondering why and wishing I had! LOVE all these ingredients, especially the olives and pimentos! So fabulous!
hmccallum
December 2, 2019 at 10:12 amThanks for stopping by Sherri!
Kelly
February 21, 2019 at 4:59 pmEgg salad has always really appealed to me. Your recipe looks so delicious and tasty. I’m going to have to give it try for sure.
hmccallum
December 2, 2019 at 10:12 amThat’s awesome, I hope you REALLY enjoyed it! Have a wonderful day.