Potato Salad with Bacon

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Bacon Potato Salad — This no mayo potato salad is studded with crispy bacon pieces and coated in a tangy vinegar dressing. It’s ready in just 30 minutes and the whole family will love it!

potato salad with bacon in a large serving bowl

The BEST Bacon Potato Salad

This isn’t your grandma’s potato salad. You know, the one that’s loaded with gloppy mayo, mushy potatoes, and hard-boiled eggs? Not even close.

First, there’s bacon, which makes it an instant crowd pleaser.

Second, there’s no mayo so it feels lighter, and as a bonus you don’t have to worry about it as much at warm outdoor potlucks, picnics, and events.

To keep it fresher and to boost the flavor profile while incorporating texture and crunch, there’s fresh sweet corn, spinach, parsley, red onion, and a touch of garlic. I love seeing the green because it feels healthy, and I remember my mom making spinach salads with warm bacon dressing — it’s a natural pairing!

german potato salad with bacon in large white serving bowl

Bacon Potato Salad Ingredients

This potato salad recipe with bacon is my go-to in the warmer months when I need a quick and easy side for a potluck or party. Gather the following basic ingredients:

  • Baby potatoes
  • Bacon
  • Red onion
  • Garlic
  • Sweet corn
  • Spinach
  • Fresh parsley
  • Olive oil
  • Red wine vinegar
  • Dijon mustard
  • Granulated sugar
  • Salt and pepper
This NO MAYO Potato Salad with Bacon is ready in just 30 minutes! It’s a vinegar potato salad the whole family will love. perfect for all your summer holidays, picnics, potlucks, and barbecues! 

How to Make Potato Salad with Bacon

This is an easy potato salad to make, and you can serve it warm or chill it. Either way it’s a great side and will be sure to disappear whenever you make it!

Let’s quickly review how the no-mayo potato salad comes together:

  1. Boil the potatoes until fork tender — be careful not to overcook them! Drain and rinse the potatoes with cold water to prevent them from cooking further. 
  2. While the potatoes are cooking, make the bacon. You can make the bacon as crisp as you’d like. When the bacon is cooked to your liking, transfer it to a paper towel-lined plate and crumble it once it’s cool enough to handle. 
  3. In that same skillet you cooked the bacon in, sauté the onion and garlic until tender. 
  4. Then, whisk together the potato salad dressing in a small bowl.
  5. Dice the cooked potatoes and add to a large bowl along with the remaining potato salad ingredients.
  6. Toss gently to combine and add more salt and pepper as needed. 

Tip

This is similar to a German Potato Salad and tastes incredible warm. However, you could also chill it in the fridge and serve it cold! 

This no mayo Potato Salad with Bacon is ready in just 30 minutes! It's a vinegar potato salad the whole family will love.

FAQs

How Long Should You Boil Potatoes for Potato Salad? 

For this easy potato salad recipe, I used baby gold potatoes. They required around 15 minutes to boil until fork tender.

Your cook time may vary slightly depending on how large your potatoes are and which variety your purchase. 

If this is your first time making potato salad with bacon, I recommend checking the potatoes every 3 minutes after they’ve been boiling for 10 minutes. This way you won’t accidentally overcook them! 

Can Potato Salad Be Made Ahead of time?

Yes! You can make this bacon potato salad up to 4 days before serving it. If you do make this ahead of time, be sure to give it a good toss before serving to help redistribute all of that yummy dressing! 

What Ingredients Can Be Substituted?

This is a super versatile recipe! You could swap frozen corn for fresh, arugula for spinach, cilantro for parsley, green onion for red, and so forth. It’s a flexible recipe based on what flavors you enjoy most.

Can I Boil Potatoes for Potato Salad the Night Before?

Yes! If you want to quickly toss this dish together in the morning for a lunchtime gathering (or simply are short on time most days!), you’re welcome to boil the potatoes and chill them in the fridge until ready to use.

What Potatoes Are Best for POtato Salad?

For this bacon potato salad recipe, I recommend using baby gold potatoes (aka Yukon Gold potatoes). Generally speaking, you want a small potato with a thin skin.

Should I peel the potatoes for potato salad?

There’s no need to so long as you use baby gold or Yukon Gold potatoes. The skin is thin enough to eat, plus it adds a subtle texture and nutrients.

This no mayo Potato Salad with Bacon is ready in just 30 minutes! It's a vinegar potato salad the whole family will love.

What to Serve with Bacon Potato Salad

Try pairing this vinegar and bacon potato salad recipe with one or more of the following entrees:

In general, I find that potato salad pairs well with any grilled protein! I especially love it with chicken, pork, or beef recipes like hamburgers.

Bacon Potato Salad - There's NO MAYO in this easy potato salad that's loaded with BACON, corn, red onions, and tossed with a flavorful dijon dressing!! Always a FAVORITE at picnics, potlucks, parties, and events!!

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4.40 from 275 votes

Potato Salad with Bacon

By Averie Sunshine
This no mayo potato salad with bacon is ready in just 30 minutes! It's a vinegar potato salad the whole family will love.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 10 cups
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Ingredients  

Bacon Potato Salad

  • 2 pounds baby gold potatoes
  • 2 teaspoons salt, for the boiling water
  • 1 pound bacon
  • one small/medium red onion, diced small
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely minced or pressed
  • 1 medium/large ear fresh sweet corn with kernels cut off, 3/4 cup frozen corn may be substituted
  • 1 to 2 cups fresh baby spinach, loosely measured
  • ½ cup fresh parsley, regular or Italian flat-leaf, finely chopped

Dressing

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, or to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper, or to taste

Instructions 

  • To a large pot, add the potatoes, cover with water, add 2 teaspoons salt, bring to a boil over medium-high heat, and allow potatoes to simmer for about 15 minutes, or until done and fork-tender. Drain and rinse potatoes under cold water to stop the cooking process; set aside. While potatoes cook, make the bacon.
  • To a large skillet, add the bacon and cook over medium heat until done and as crisp as desired, about 10 minutes, flip intermittently. Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate and when it’s cool enough, crumble it; set aside.
  • To the skillet with the bacon fat, add the onion and cook for about 5 to 7 minutes or until tender, stir intermittently.
  • In the last minute of cooking, add the garlic, stir, and cook for about 1 minute, or until fragrant. Take skillet off the heat and set aside.
  • To a very large bowl, add the olive oil, red wine vinegar, mustard, sugar, 1/4 teaspoon salt, pepper, and whisk to combine; set aside.
  • Halve or quarter the potatoes depending on their size and add to the large bowl. Add the crumbled bacon, red onion and garlic (use a slotted spoon to remove because there will be excess bacon fat in the skillet; discard oil in a small container – don’t pour it down the drain), corn, spinach, parsley, and toss well to combine.
  • Taste potato salad and make any necessary adjustments, i.e. more salt, pepper, sugar, dash of extra mustard or vinegar, etc.
  • Serve immediately if desired or cover and refrigerate until chilled. Potato salad will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Notes

Nutrition

Serving: 1, Calories: 368kcal, Carbohydrates: 27g, Protein: 19g, Fat: 21g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 14g, Cholesterol: 45mg, Sodium: 1379mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 3g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

More Potluck Salads:

Roasted Sweet Potato Salad – Goodbye mayo-loaded, mushy, boring potato salad. Hello to a Mexican-inspired potato salad full of flavor and texture with corn, black beans, peppers, and cilantro! Great for outdoor events and lunchboxes because there’s no mayo!

Roasted Sweet Potato Salad - Goodbye mayo-loaded, mushy, boring potato salad. Hello to a Mexican-inspired potato salad full of flavor and texture with corn, black beans, peppers, and cilantro!! (Great for outdoor events and lunchboxes because there's no mayo!)

Warm German Potato Salad — A classic potato salad made with tender red potatoes, bacon, onions, and a tangy vinegar dressing! This no-mayo potato salad is a family favorite side dish that’s perfect for parties, picnics, and potlucks!!

Watergate Salad — The classic side salad that’s light, sweet, fluffy, and creamy! Made with just 6 ingredients including pineapple, pistachio pudding mix, marshmallows, maraschino cherries, pecans, and whipped topping!

Ambrosia Salad — This classic fruit salad is made with pineapple, mandarin oranges, grapes, coconut, and tossed in a light and creamy, tangy-yet-sweet dressing! The EASIEST side dish ever — just add everything to one bowl and stir!

Grape Broccoli Bacon Salad — My FAVORITE recipe for the classic salad with a tangy dressing that everyone LOVES!! Flavor and texture galore in this EASY salad that’s perfect for parties, picnics, and potlucks!!

Dill Pickle Pasta Salad — Calling all pickle fans, you’re going to love this creamy pasta salad with crunchy dill pickles in every bite! Along with cubes of cheese and crumbled bacon, this pasta salad will be the star of your next picnic, potluck, barbecue, or summer holiday!

Amish Pasta Salad — A family-favorite classic pasta salad recipe with al dente pasta, bell peppers, celery, red onions, and hard-boiled eggs tossed in a creamy tangy-sweet dressing!

Originally posted June 13, 2016 and reposted May 31, 2021 with updated text.

About the Author

Welcome to AverieCooks! Here you’ll find fast and easy recipes that taste amazing and are geared for real life. Nothing fussy or complicated, just awesome tasting dishes everyone loves!

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Please note: I have only made the recipe as written, and cannot give advice or predict what will happen if you change something. If you have a question regarding changing, altering, or making substitutions to the recipe, please check out the FAQ page for more info.

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Comments

  1. 4 stars
    This recipe looks and sounds absolutely delicious! I make a hot German potato salad similar to this. However, I have read and reread (and reread) the recipe and don’t see where you cook the sweet corn. I would think you’d want to at least blanch it while on the cob.

  2. 5 stars
    12/08/2022 made this tonight at first when I tasted the dressing I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it but when I mixed it in with the potato salad  OMG it all came together and it was absolutely delicious.. my son also enjoyed it and it is now going to be used instead of store bought dressings .. Thank you for sharing your recipe 😊😊