Bacon Ranch Potato Salad

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

• Apple-Grape Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette
• Deconstructed Hummus Salad
• Grilled Beet Salad

SaveSaved Pin Print

Bacon Ranch Potato Salad

4.50 from 4 votes

Light and lively, this bacon ranch potato salad is easy to make and makes for the perfect dish for warm weather picnics, reunions, and holiday meals.

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 15 minutes mins

Total: 25 minutes mins

Yield: 8 servings

By: Dan from Platter Talk

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 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

US Customary - Metric

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

Calories: 506kcal, Carbohydrates: 30g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 39g, Saturated Fat: 17g, Cholesterol: 61mg, Sodium: 993mg, Potassium: 694mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 445IU, Vitamin C: 26mg, Calcium: 202mg, Iron: 1.2mg

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

Additional Info

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Tried this recipe?Mention @plattertalk or tag #plattertalk!