Bacon Ranch Potato Salad
on Jun 17, 2017, Updated Jul 23, 2020
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This Bacon Ranch Potato Salad is a simple but flavorful side dish that you will be tempted to eat by itself if not as a side dish. This recipe is just that delicious and remember whichever option you choose, we promise not to judge.
What is this?
Potato salad is a hallmark of summer. It is standard fare at outdoor picnics and family reunions and is among the earliest food memories that I have coming out of my mom’s Mennonite kitchen.
Her potato salad, with its homemade creamy sauce, was a signature dish and one that everyone recognized as coming from my mom. This updated version of Bacon Ranch Potato Salad is a bit more 21st century in both compositions and in taste.
What’s in it:
- Baby red potatoes
- Bacon
- Ranch seasoning
- Sour cream
- Lemon juice
- Cheddar cheese
- Fresh chives
The lemon juice gives this recipe for bacon ranch potato salad a lively zing, keeping the tone lively and fresh. Sour cream keeps it lighter tasting when compared to a cream or mayonnaise base and the shredded cheese lends the structure and flavor that can only be found in good cheddar.
The stars of this show though are of course the bacon and the ranch dressing seasoning. The two are a bona fide match made in culinary heaven. We’ve made this bacon and ranch potato salad a couple of times and take my advice and do not sacrifice the quality of the bacon that you use for this recipe. Look for bacon that is not all fat and loaded with sodium and other preservatives. You pay a bit extra for the good bacon but believe me, it is worth it and your finished product will reflect this.
Lastly, there are fresh chives in this bacon ranch potato salad. We like the color and flavor that the chives bring to the picnic table. Feel free to substitute shallots or finely chopped red onions as well. As with almost any recipe, a dash of salt and/or pepper is always a personal option; use either one of these seasonings to your own personal taste.
More salad recipes
Bacon Ranch Potato Salad
Ingredients
- 2 lbs baby red potatoes
- 8 oz bacon
- 16 oz light sour cream
- 2 lemons, juiced
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup chives, chopped
- 1 ranch dressing seasoning
- 1 pinch salt
Instructions
- Wash and quarter baby red potatoes and place in large pot of boiling water. Cook for 10 to 12 minutes or until fork-tender, taking care not to over cook. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- While the potatoes are boiling, fry up 6 to 8 slices of bacon until crispy. Drain on absorbent surface such as a brown paper bag or paper towel. Cool and crumble or chop with a knife.
- In small mixing bowl, comb combine sour cream, ranch seasoning, lemon juice and shredded cheddar cheese. Thoroughly combine.
- Return potatoes to pot and then pour sour cream mixture over them while gently stirring with a soft spatula. Mix in chives and salt (if desired.) Transfer to serving dish and cool in refrigerator for at leas 1 hour prior to serving.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
It’s good but much too ‘lemony’ for my taste and am trying to find a solution to cut the sour before I serve it to my husband who definitely won’t like it. . I only used 1.5 small lemons juiced too. 🙁 I did use dried chives since I had no fresh, Coronavirus shut down, lol, and that worked well…it’s just the tang I have to temper.
Thanks for this summertime classic; looking forward to tasting it soon!
Thank, Amy! We know you will enjoy this potato salad!
Sounds delicious! I’m a big fan of potato in any form or style and this recipe definitely will keep me eating without stopping.
Thanks for the kind comments, Carlos!
This sounds lovely, I must try to make it ,Dan !!!
Thank you Claire; I think you will like this one!