This cool and creamy bacon ranch potato salad is the perfect spring or summer side dish. It’s full of flavor from crispy bacon and a homemade dairy-free ranch dressing that pulls it all together.
Bacon Ranch Potato Salad
Can I tell you a little secret? I spent twenty-seven years of my life hating potato salad. I know, I know, for all of you die-hard potato salad loving people, you may be in complete disbelief reading that, but it’s the truth. It wasn’t until I tasted my mother-in-law’s homemade potato salad a few years ago that I began to actually entertain the idea that potato salad could be delicious.
Looking back, I just don’t think I had ever had really good potato salad but thankfully (and thanks to my mother-in-law) I have seen the light! Truth be told, I’m still pretty picky about my potato salad. While my mother-in-laws classic potato salad will always be a favorite, I wanted to switch things up a bit and experiment with some different flavor combinations.
If you have also been wanting to try something new, this bacon ranch potato salad is for you! It is the perfect combination of cool, creamy, and slightly tangy ranch, smoky bacon, and fresh herbs. Not only is it delicious and full of flavor, this recipe is also Whole30 compliant, dairy-free, and Paleo-friendly.
More Reader Favorite Potato Recipes
- loaded baked potato salad
- Chipotle Potato Salad
- bbq chicken stuffed sweet potatoes
- crispy smashed potatoes
- slow cooker buffalo chicken stuffed sweet potatoes
- cheesy potatoes au gratin
Best Potatoes for Homemade Potato Salad
When it comes to picking potatoes for potato salad you want to go with a variety that is more waxy than starchy. While starchy potatoes like russets are great for mashed potatoes or French fries, they are a bit too starchy for a potato salad. Russet potatoes will begin to break down and lose their shape after boiling and they also have a thick outer skin which does not make them the best candidate for a potato salad recipe.
Instead, grab a few pounds of a “waxy” potato like reds, fingerlings, or Yukon golds. These potatoes have less starch, a thin outer skin (which makes peeling an option not a requirement), and they hold their shape and won’t break down after boiling.
Bacon Ranch Potato Salad Recipe Ingredients
Mayonnaise: The base of the dressing for this potato salad is mayonnaise. Pick a variety that is made with a high quality oil, like avocado oil. This brand is one of my favorites.
Homemade Ranch Seasoning: This recipe uses dried herbs like dill, chives, and parsley combined with onion powder, garlic powder, and salt to make a homemade ranch seasoning that is full of flavor and much better for you than the ranch seasoning packets you’ll find at the grocery store.
Apple Cider Vinegar: Adds just a little tang to the potato salad to help enhance that yummy ranch flavor.
Bacon: this adds the most delicious smoky taste the potato salad and who doesn’t love bacon?!
Fresh Dill: A must-have in ranch potato salad.
Green Onion: Adds a little crunch and even more delicious flavor.
How Long Do You Need to Boil Potatoes for Potato Salad?
The trick to good potato salad is not to overcook your potatoes. Depending on the size of the potatoes, twelve to fifteen minutes should be enough time to get them fork tender and perfect for potato salad. However, if you cut your potatoes into smaller pieces, it could take as little as eight minutes for them to be fully cooked and ready to use.
Remember, you are not making mashed potatoes. You want the potatoes to be able to hold their shape so they don’t disintegrate into pieces when you’re stirring the potato salad. If you can easily stick a fork into the piece of potato without resistance, they are probably done.
How to Make Bacon Ranch Potato Salad
Step One: Clean and cut the potatoes into bite-sized pieces. Add the potatoes to a large bot and cover with water. Bring the water to a boil and then add a generous sprinkle of salt (around one or two teaspoons). Let the potatoes boil in the salted water for twelve to fifteen minutes or until fork tender. Once the potatoes are done, drain them and give them a rinse with cold water.
Step Two: While the potatoes are cooking, make the bacon. Slice the bacon into strips and then add it to a skillet heated over medium heat. Cook the bacon until crispy, stirring occasionally to make sure that it does not burn.
Step 3: Next, make the ranch dressing. Add the mayonnaise, dried herbs, spices, and apple cider vinegar to a small mixing bowl and whisk until well combined, smooth, and creamy.
Step 4: Add the potatoes, sliced green onions, cooked bacon, and ranch dressing to a large mixing bowl. Stir until well combined. Give the salad a taste and add more salt if needed. Cover and refrigerate for thirty minutes before serving.
Tips and Tricks for the Best Potato Salad
Here are few tips and tricks to get perfect potato salad every single time:
- Because red potatoes have a thinner skin, there is no need to peel your potatoes before boiling. The red skin also adds a pop of color to the salad. Feel free to peel the potato skin if you prefer.
- Try to cut your potatoes roughly the same size before boiling. This will help them to cook more evenly.
- When boiling the potatoes, do not forget to salt the water. Potatoes can be pretty bland on their own and salting the water helps to ensure each individual piece of potato has some flavor.
- If you are making this potato salad a day in advance but still want the bacon to be crisp when serving, I recommend making the salad without the bacon and storing it in the fridge. Once you are ready to serve, you can sprinkle the cooked bacon on top or stir it into the potato salad a few minutes before serving.
- Store your potato salad in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
More Reader Favorite Side Dishes
- Italian Pasta Salad
- Red Cabbage Slaw
- Greek Chickpea Salad
- Avocado Corn Salad
- Taco Pasta Salad
- Healthy Broccoli Salad
I hope you give these Bacon Ranch Potato Salad a try! They are so easy to make and delicious! If you do give this recipe a try, let me know!
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Print
Bacon Ranch Potato Salad
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: sides
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: american
- Diet: Gluten Free
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: sides
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: american
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 2 pounds red potatoes, cleaned and cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- 1 teaspoon dried chives
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
- 3/4 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 4 strips bacon
- 1/2 cup sliced green onion
- 1 tablespoon dill
Method
- Add the potatoes to a large bot and cover with water. Bring the water to a boil and then add a generous sprinkle of salt (around one or two teaspoons). Let the potatoes boil in the salted water for 12-15 minutes or until fork tender.
- Slice the bacon into strips and then add it to a skillet heated over medium heat. Cook until crispy, stirring occasionally to make sure that it does not burn.
- Add the mayonnaise, dried herbs, spices, and apple cider vinegar to a small mixing bowl and whisk until well combined, smooth, and creamy.
- Add the cooked potatoes, sliced green onions, cooked bacon, and ranch dressing to a large mixing bowl. Stir until well combined. Give the potato salad a taste and add more salt if needed. Cover and refrigerate for thirty minutes before serving.
Recipe by: Ashlea Carver / All the Healthy Things | Photography by: Eat Love Eat
