FREE 5-Ingredient Recipe EBook

• Why You’ll Love My Easy Egg Salad Recipe
• Ingredients & Substitutions
• How To Make Egg Salad
• My Top Tips
• Flavor Variations
• FAQs And Storage
• Serving Suggestions
• More Simple Egg Recipes
• Tools I Use For This Recipe
• Easy Egg Salad Recipe Recipe card
• Recipe Reviews

I’ve been making this easy egg salad recipe since my kids were toddlers. It’s my take on the classic… equal parts flavorful and familiar! While I’ve made many other creamy salads with a twist (like avocado egg salad or salmon salad ), this simple recipe for egg salad has just the flavors you’d expect. It also happens to be one of my favorite ways to use up leftover hard boiled eggs . With just a few ingredients, they transform into something totally different.

Why You’ll Love My Easy Egg Salad Recipe

• Classic taste and texture – We’re talking delicate chopped eggs, crunchy celery and onions, and a tangy, creamy dressing. I’m not reinventing the wheel here, but after lots of testing, this is the combo of ingredients that I found to work best.
• 7 simple ingredients – All my healthy recipes here on Wholesome Yum have 10 ingredients or less, and so does this one. It uses common staples you’d find at any grocery store.
• Quick prep time – It only takes a few minutes when you have boiled eggs on hand, as I often do. If you don’t, that doesn’t take long, either. This easy recipe will become one of your go-to lunches on busy days!
• Easy to make – Anyone can learn how to make egg salad! If you can boil eggs, chop, and mix some ingredients in a bowl, you got this — and I’ll walk you through it.

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain ingredients for my simple egg salad recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .

• Mayonnaise – The base of the salad dressing. You can make your own homemade mayo with avocado oil , or just buy it ( I like this one when I don’t have time to make my own). Greek yogurt — a common mayo swap in creamy salads — will also work, but the flavor will be different.
• Dijon Mustard – Adds a little peppery flavor. If you need to, you can substitute yellow mustard or brown mustard. But, Dijon is the most classic choice, so you’ll spot it in most egg salad recipes, including mine.
• Lemon Juice – Adds brightness and tang. Fresh lemon juice has the best flavor, but bottled is fine for convenience. A splash of vinegar makes an okay substitute, but it’s not my favorite.
• Hard Boiled Eggs – I usually make a big batch of my easy peel boiled eggs and keep them in the fridge for the week. You can also boil them fresh, or even make hard boiled eggs in the oven , Instant Pot, or air fryer eggs , too!
• Crunchy Veggies – White onion and finely chopped celery give this dish a nice crunch. Some readers have told me that they like to add pickle relish, so go for it if you want!
• Fresh Herbs – I prefer the mild onion flavor of fresh chives here, but fresh dill or fresh parsley would work. Or use green onions if you want a stronger flavor.
• Seasonings – Sea salt (or kosher salt is also fine), black pepper, and a garnish of paprika complete my easy egg salad recipe.

How To Make Egg Salad

I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card .

1. Boil the eggs. If you don’t have hard boiled eggs on hand already, follow my method for perfect boiled eggs like this . Shock in an ice bath, then peel and chop.
2. Whisk the dressing. In a medium bowl (or a large bowl), whisk together the mayo, mustard, and lemon juice, until smooth.

1. Mix together. Add the diced eggs, celery, onions, and chives to the bowl with the dressing. Gently stir.
2. Jazz it up. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. I always garnish my egg salad with a sprinkle of paprika, more chives, and sometimes a few reserved sliced eggs for a nice presentation (as shown below).

My Top Tips

• Make sure to place eggs into an ice water bath immediately after boiling. This prevents overcooking (the most important part), but it also ensures your egg salad turns out the right temperature and prevents it from getting watery. Peel and chop the eggs for the salad after 10 minutes, once they are cold.
• Using the same bowl for the dressing saves on dishes. You can combine the egg salad ingredients first, mix the dressing in a separate bowl, and then pour the dressing over everything. But, I prefer to use the same bowl (large enough for mixing), because I hate washing dishes.

Flavor Variations

• Avocado – You can add chunks of avocado to this recipe, but if I’m going to add it, I prefer to make my avocado egg salad (without mayo) instead.

• Tuna – This is like a cross between this easy egg salad recipe and my tuna salad recipe . Feel free to simply add a can of drained tuna to the recipe below, or try my tuna salad with egg .

• Chicken – Like tuna, adding a can of drained chicken to the salad works. However, I like to use leftover shredded chicken when I can, because the texture is better. You can also start with my chicken salad recipe instead and add egg to it.

• Deviled – If you like deviled eggs , you’ll love this variation. Instead of dicing up whole boiled eggs for egg salad, only use the diced yolks in the salad itself. Then, scoop the finished salad into the white parts of the eggs.

• Curried – If you’re a fan of spice, add a teaspoon of curry powder for a warm flavor. You can also add some cayenne pepper for a little kick.

• Bacon – Add bacon bits to the mix for the most convenient option, but for the best flavor and texture, I recommend making bacon in the oven (or air fryer bacon ) and crumbling it.

• How long to boil eggs for egg salad? For firm (but not dry) hard boiled eggs, submerge the eggs (straight from the fridge) in cold water in a saucepan. Add salt and vinegar, bring to a boil, and then boil for 9 minutes.

• How long does egg salad last? This classic egg salad recipe will last in an airtight container (I like these glass storage containers ) in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. I love it for meal prep! Just make sure your ingredients are fresh and refrigerate it immediately after assembling.

• Why does egg salad get watery? Egg salad gets watery if the veggies release too much moisture, if the salad gets warm from sitting out, or if the eggs weren’t completely cold when you mixed them in. If it happens, though, sometimes you can fix it by refrigerating the salad and/or stirring in an additional hard boiled egg.

• Can you freeze egg salad? Sorry, but freezing is a no-go! Eggs and mayo both lose their intended texture after thawing.

Serving Suggestions

Naturally, the most common way to enjoy this salad is to make an egg salad sandwich with your favorite bread. But it’s not the only way! Here are some other (more light and fresh) ways I like to to serve it:

• Lettuce Wraps – This is how I serve my egg salad most often, pictured above! Just scoop the salad into some romaine or butter (bibb) lettuce leaves. They can be a little messy to eat, but not too bad if your leaves are large enough.
• Crackers – Any cracker is great for scooping, as long as they aren’t too small. I like to use flax seed crackers , almond flour crackers , or sometimes even cheese crisps , but you can totally just pick up some store-bought ones that fit your lifestyle.
• Veggies – Use cucumber slices or mini bell peppers as a cracker-like option. You can also hollow them out and stuff the salad inside. (Imagine my stuffed mini peppers with egg salad instead of the cream cheese filling!)

More Simple Egg Recipes

I always reach for egg recipes when I need something quick and tasty — it’s my favorite food, so I’ve made it in many ways. Here are some of my popular ones:

Steak And Eggs

Classic Omelette

Egg Muffin Cups

Easy Frittata

Tools I Use For This Recipe

• Bowl Set – I love this set of glass bowls. It comes with all sizes and they nest for easy storage.
• Egg Slicer – I like to use this one to make it the process of chopping eggs faster. After slicing, just stack the slices and chop in a grid to make cubes. The slices are also great as a garnish (like my pictures you see here), and for other salads that call for sliced eggs, such as my chef salad .

Recipe Video

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

• 1/2 cup Mayonnaise ▢
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard ▢
• 1 tbsp Lemon juice ▢
• 8 large Hard boiled eggs (diced) ▢
• 1/4 cup Celery (finely chopped) ▢
• 2 tbsp White onion (minced) ▢
• 2 tbsp Chives (chopped) ▢
• 1/2 tsp Sea salt (to taste) ▢
• 1/8 tsp Black pepper (to taste) ▢
• Paprika (optional, for garnish) ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

1. If you don’t have hard boiled eggs on hand already, make perfect boiled eggs like this . Place eggs into an ice water bath immediately afterward for 10 minutes, then peel and chop them.
2. In a medium to large bowl , whisk to gether the mayo, mustard, and lemon juice, until smooth.
3. Gently fold in the eggs, celery, onions, and chives.
4. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Garnish the egg salad with paprika and more chives on top, if desired.

LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1/2 cup

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

Add Your NotesYour Notes

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.

Easy Egg Salad Recipe

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• The Basic Keto Meal Formula
• Understanding Macros
• Keto Food Swaps
• Keto Food List
• Electrolyte Basics
• Keto Diet Types
• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• Recipe Reviews

Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.

You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System + EBooks (Only $37)

The Basic Keto Meal Formula

Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.

Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.

Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.

Understanding Macros

Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.

Carbs Are A Limit.

Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.

A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.

“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.

A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.

Protein Is A Goal.

Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].

“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.

Fat Is A Lever.

Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.

A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).

Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.

Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.

“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.

Keto Food Swaps

One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.

So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .

Keto Swaps For Breakfast

Keto Swaps For Bread

Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes

Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces

Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking

Keto Swaps For Drinks

If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .

Keto Food List

When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.

The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!

Foods To Eat On Keto

• Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
• Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
• Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
• Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
• Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
• Avocados
• Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
• Almond flour and coconut flour
• Eggs
• Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.

Foods To Avoid On Keto

• White flour & sugar
• Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
• Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
• Cereal
• Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
• Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
• Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
• Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
• Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
• Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.

That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:

Get The Keto Cheat Sheet System PDF (Only $37)

Electrolyte Basics

Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.

For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .

The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.

Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:

Keto Diet Types

People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.

Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.

Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!

• Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
• Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
• Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
• Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.

For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ swaps) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System (75 pages, Only $37!)

Easy Egg Salad Recipe

This easy egg salad recipe has all the classic flavor and texture you love, and it’s so easy to make! You need just a few simple ingredients.

Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera for the full recipe, including tips, step-by-step photos, and storage, or to save it to your account. You can also find it at: https://www.wholesomeyum.com/egg-salad-recipe/

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp Lemon juice
• 8 large Hard boiled eggs (diced)
• 1/4 cup Celery (finely chopped)
• 2 tbsp White onion (minced)
• 2 tbsp Chives (chopped)
• 1/2 tsp Sea salt (to taste)
• 1/8 tsp Black pepper (to taste)
• Paprika (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

1. If you don’t have hard boiled eggs on hand already, make perfect boiled eggs like this . Place eggs into an ice water bath immediately afterward for 10 minutes, then peel and chop them.
2. In a medium to large bowl , whisk to gether the mayo, mustard, and lemon juice, until smooth.
3. Gently fold in the eggs, celery, onions, and chives.
4. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Garnish the egg salad with paprika and more chives on top, if desired.

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1/2 cup

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. :)