The Ultimate Creamy Loaded Potato Salad: Your Go-To Recipe for Unforgettable Gatherings
Get ready to elevate your side dish game with this incredibly delicious and easy-to-make Loaded Potato Salad. This isn’t just any potato salad; it’s a creamy, cheesy, and utterly irresistible concoction packed with crispy bacon and a blend of savory spices. Perfect for any occasion, from casual summer cookouts and family potlucks to a comforting weeknight addition, this recipe is guaranteed to become a household favorite. Imagine the rich flavors of a fully loaded baked potato transformed into a refreshing, make-ahead salad—pure comfort in every bite!
There’s something truly special about the arrival of summer, bringing with it the joy of outdoor gatherings, backyard barbecues, and vibrant potlucks. Cooking and dining al fresco create unforgettable memories, and what better way to enhance those moments than with a show-stopping side dish? This Loaded Potato Salad is more than just a recipe; it’s a celebration of classic flavors and hearty ingredients that will leave your guests asking for the recipe. Its robust taste profile and delightful texture make it an instant hit, ensuring it takes center stage at your next gathering.
The magic truly happens when you combine the humble potato with savory bacon. It’s a flavor combination that rarely disappoints, elevating any dish it graces. If you’re looking for other proven winners for your cookouts and potlucks, don’t miss out on our Taco Pasta Salad, which consistently receives rave reviews. For another tantalizingly savory summer side that complements grilled foods beautifully, our Dill Pickle Pasta Salad offers a unique and refreshing twist that is equally delightful.
Why This Loaded Potato Salad Will Be Your New Favorite
This isn’t just another potato salad recipe; it’s a culinary experience designed to impress and satisfy. Here’s why you’ll absolutely adore this loaded potato salad:
- Irresistibly Creamy and Flavorful: This salad boasts an incredible depth of flavor and a luxuriously creamy texture, achieved through a harmonious blend of tangy sour cream, rich mayonnaise, and sharp cheddar cheese. Each spoonful evokes the comforting taste of a fully loaded baked potato, making it a truly decadent side dish.
- Bacon-Packed Deliciousness: The star of the show, crispy, crumbled bacon, infuses every bite with a delightful smoky, salty, and savory element. This key ingredient elevates the salad to an extraordinary level, adding a textural contrast and an umami depth that is simply unparalleled.
- Effortless Entertaining: Designed for convenience, this potato salad is incredibly easy to prepare a day in advance. This makes it the perfect stress-free option for busy potlucks, lively barbecues, and cherished family gatherings, allowing you more time to enjoy with your loved ones.
- Budget-Friendly and Family-Approved: With a simple list of readily available and affordable ingredients, this recipe is not only kind to your wallet but also a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for all ages. It’s a versatile dish that caters to diverse palates without breaking the bank.
- Fantastic Leftovers: Should you be lucky enough to have any leftovers, they keep beautifully in the refrigerator. Enjoy this hearty salad throughout the week as a satisfying meal on its own, a quick snack, or a delightful accompaniment to other dishes, maintaining its deliciousness for days.
Essential Ingredients for Your Loaded Potato Salad
For the exact measurements and full instructions, make sure to scroll down to the bottom of the post for the COMPLETE PRINTABLE recipe card.
Crafting the perfect loaded potato salad begins with selecting the right ingredients. Each component plays a vital role in achieving that rich, creamy, and flavorful profile.
- Potatoes: The foundation of our salad. Opt for white potatoes, Yukon Golds, or any other waxy-skinned variety. These types hold their shape beautifully after cooking, ensuring your salad has a pleasant texture rather than turning mushy.
- Bacon: Crispy, savory bacon is non-negotiable for a truly “loaded” experience. Cook your bacon until it’s perfectly crisp, then crumble it into delicious bits to distribute throughout the salad, adding incredible depth and crunch.
- Green Onions: Freshly chopped green onions provide a vibrant touch of color and a mild, zesty flavor. Their subtle bite balances the richness of the dressing and other ingredients, adding a refreshing element to each mouthful.
- Cheddar Cheese: Sharp, aged cheddar cheese offers the best flavor contribution to this salad. For convenience, pre-shredded cheddar works wonderfully, but shredding your own from a block can sometimes yield an even creamier result.
- Sour Cream: Full-fat sour cream is essential for that signature tangy flavor and incredibly creamy texture. It forms the backbone of our luxurious dressing, making the salad rich and satisfying.
- Mayonnaise: Mayonnaise acts as the binding agent, holding all the delicious ingredients together while adding an extra layer of smooth, creamy goodness to the dressing.
- Garlic Powder: A foundational spice that imparts a warm, aromatic, and savory depth without the sharpness of fresh garlic.
- Onion Powder: Similar to garlic powder, onion powder contributes a sweet, savory, and aromatic flavor that enhances the overall profile of the dressing.
- Salt: Crucial for seasoning the potatoes during cooking and balancing all the flavors in the dressing.
- Black Pepper: Freshly ground black pepper adds a subtle kick and aromatic warmth that completes the savory flavor profile.
Choosing the Best Potatoes for a Superior Salad
The type of potato you choose is paramount to the success of your potato salad. For a truly fantastic texture where the potatoes remain firm yet tender, waxy varieties are your best bet. These potatoes have a lower starch content and thinner skins, which means they are less likely to break down and turn into a starchy mash when cooked and mixed with dressing.
- Top Recommendations: Look for Yukon Gold potatoes, white potatoes, or red potatoes. Their creamy texture and ability to hold shape make them ideal choices for this loaded potato salad.
- Potatoes to Avoid: Steer clear of russet potatoes. These are high in starch and will become very soft and crumbly, leading to a mushy potato salad that lacks the desired texture.
- The Waxy Advantage: Any potato with a more “waxy” skin, such as fingerling potatoes, will perform excellently. Their structural integrity ensures that each piece of potato remains distinct and delicious, perfectly coated in the rich, creamy dressing.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Loaded Potato Salad
Creating this flavorful loaded potato salad is simpler than you might think. Follow these easy steps for a perfect result every time:
- Prepare the Potatoes: Begin by washing and cutting your chosen potatoes into bite-sized, approximately 1-inch pieces. Place them in a large pot and cover them with cold water, ensuring there’s about an inch of water above the potatoes. Add 1 teaspoon of salt to the water, which helps season the potatoes from the inside out. Bring the pot to a rolling boil and cook until the potatoes are fork-tender, usually taking about 10-15 minutes. Drain them thoroughly and allow them to cool completely. This cooling step is crucial to prevent the dressing from becoming too thin.
- Mix the Creamy Dressing: While the potatoes are cooling, prepare your rich and tangy dressing. In a large mixing bowl, combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, garlic powder, onion powder, the remaining teaspoon of salt, and black pepper. Whisk everything together until the mixture is completely smooth and well combined. Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary, aiming for a perfectly balanced flavor profile.
- Combine the Salad: Once the potatoes are cool to the touch, add them gently to the large bowl with your prepared dressing. Then, fold in the crispy crumbled bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, and thinly sliced green onions. Mix all the ingredients until everything is evenly coated in the creamy dressing. Be careful not to overmix, which could break down the potatoes.
- Refrigerate for Best Flavor: For the best possible flavor, cover the salad and refrigerate it for at least 1-2 hours before serving. This allows the flavors to meld beautifully and the dressing to thicken slightly, resulting in a more cohesive and delicious salad. If you have time, making it a day ahead yields even better results!
Expert Tips & Creative Variations for Your Potato Salad
Achieve potato salad perfection with these helpful tips and feel free to get creative with delicious variations:
- Crucial Draining and Cooling: Do not skip these steps! After boiling, ensure the potatoes are thoroughly drained and allowed to sit, releasing all their steam. This crucial process helps dry out the potatoes slightly, allowing the creamy dressing to adhere better and preventing a watery or mushy final product.
- Customize to Your Heart’s Content: This loaded potato salad recipe is wonderfully versatile and can be easily adapted to suit your personal preferences. Consider adding chopped hard-boiled eggs for an extra boost of protein and richness, diced red bell pepper for a pop of color and subtle sweetness, or a tablespoon or two of diced dill pickles for a delightful salty zing and added crunch. Other great additions include chives, a touch of Dijon mustard for extra tang, or a pinch of smoked paprika for an added layer of flavor.
- Adapt for Dietary Needs: This salad can be thoughtfully adjusted to accommodate various dietary restrictions.
- For Vegetarians: Simply omit the bacon from the recipe. The salad will still be incredibly flavorful and satisfying with the cheese, sour cream, and spices.
- For Vegans: It’s easy to make this dish plant-based! Substitute the dairy sour cream with a high-quality vegan sour cream (brands like Tofutti are excellent), use vegan mayonnaise (Veganaise is a fantastic option), and opt for your favorite dairy-free shredded cheese (Violife shreds work wonderfully). Of course, omit the bacon.
To achieve firm yet tender potatoes and avoid a mushy texture, the key is twofold: first, select a waxy potato variety as recommended in the recipe (like Yukon Golds or red potatoes) because they hold their shape better. Second, pay close attention during the boiling process. Check your potatoes every few minutes with a fork; as soon as a fork slides into them easily with minimal resistance, they are done. Immediately drain them and allow them to cool completely to halt the cooking process and prevent overcooking.
Absolutely! While cheddar cheese provides a classic and robust flavor, this recipe is quite versatile when it comes to cheese choices. Other types of cheese that would be equally delicious and complement the “loaded” theme include spicy pepper jack for a bit of a kick, creamy Monterey Jack for a milder profile, or even a touch of grated Parmesan for a sharper, saltier note. If you opt for Parmesan, you might want to use a slightly smaller amount as its flavor is typically more intense.
Yes, this potato salad is an excellent make-ahead dish, which actually helps the flavors meld and deepen over time. You can prepare several components in advance: cook and crumble the bacon, and chop the green onions, storing both in separate airtight containers in the fridge. You can also boil, drain, and cool the potatoes, then store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. For best results, assemble the full salad within one day of cooking the potatoes to ensure freshness and optimal texture before serving.
Perfect Pairings: What to Serve with Loaded Potato Salad
Loaded potato salad is a versatile classic that shines alongside a wide array of main courses. While it’s often associated with grilled burgers and casual potlucks, its creamy, savory profile makes it a fantastic accompaniment to so much more:
- Chick-Fil-A Style Grilled Nuggets: Recreate your favorite fast-food experience at home by serving this awesome copycat grilled nuggets recipe with a generous side of potato salad. It’s a fun and easy summer meal that both kids and adults will adore.
- Grilled Chicken Legs: Marinated in a delightful blend of spices and finished with a sticky Asian barbecue sauce, these succulent grilled chicken legs are guaranteed to be a hit at any barbecue. Their savory sweetness contrasts beautifully with the rich potato salad.
- Herb-Grilled Pork Tenderloin: A tender, juicy pork tenderloin, infused with a vibrant lemon-herb marinade, makes for an unbelievably moist and flavorful main dish. Its fresh and aromatic notes provide a wonderful balance to the creamy richness of the potato salad.
- Turkey Burgers: Ditch the bland and try this foolproof turkey burger recipe on the grill. Serve them with all your favorite toppings and a hearty scoop of loaded potato salad for a wholesome and satisfying meal.
- Grilled Sausage and Vegetable Kabobs: For a ridiculously easy and flavorful dinner, assemble these quick kabobs with colorful vegetables and savory sausage. Paired with creamy potato salad, it’s a complete and utterly delicious summer feast.
More Delightful Summer Side Dish Recipes
If you’re looking to round out your summer menu with more fantastic side dishes, explore these other delicious options that are perfect for warm weather gatherings:
- Grilled Potato Packs
- Southwest Corn Salad
- Grilled Zucchini
- Bruschetta
- Mexican Coleslaw
- Tomato Mozzarella Salad
Loaded Potato Salad
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Ingredients
- 3 pounds white potatoes, (or any waxy potato for best results)
- 1 pound bacon, cooked until crispy and crumbled
- 1/2 cups green onions, thinly sliced (about 3-4 medium stalks)
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded (aged for best flavor)
- 1 1/2 cups sour cream (full-fat for ultimate creaminess)
- 1/2 cup mayo (use your favorite brand)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoon salt, divided (1 tsp for boiling potatoes, 1 tsp for dressing)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (freshly ground recommended)
Instructions
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Cut the potatoes into approximately 1-inch, bite-sized pieces. Place them in a large pot and cover with about 1 inch of cold water above the potatoes. Add 1 teaspoon of salt to the water. Bring the pot to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat slightly and cook for 10-15 minutes until the potatoes are easily pierced with a fork but still hold their shape.
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Carefully drain the cooked potatoes in a colander and allow them to sit for about 15-20 minutes until they are completely cool and any excess steam has escaped. This step is crucial for preventing a watery salad.
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In a separate large mixing bowl, combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, garlic powder, onion powder, the remaining 1 teaspoon of salt, and black pepper. Whisk these ingredients together thoroughly until the dressing is smooth and well combined.
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Once the potatoes are fully cooled, add them to the large bowl with the prepared dressing. Gently fold in the cooked and crumbled bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, and thinly sliced green onions. Mix everything carefully until all ingredients are well combined and coated with the creamy dressing.
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Cover the bowl tightly and refrigerate the loaded potato salad for at least 1-2 hours before serving. This chilling time allows the flavors to fully meld and deepen, resulting in the best possible taste. The salad is even better if made a day in advance!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation. Individual ingredient brands and preparation methods may affect precise nutritional values.
Additional Info
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