German Potato Salad Recipe (2024)

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If you thought you knew potato salad, this German Potato Salad Recipe is going to blow your mind.

With tender Yukon Gold potatoes, bacon, fresh herbs, and a vinaigrette to bring it all together. Serve this Whole30 and paleo potato salad hot or cold—it's fantastic either way.

German Potato Salad Recipe (1)

How to boil potatoes the right way

Yes, there's a chance you're going to roll your eyes, but I'm going to tell you how to boil potatoes for awesome potato salad.

First, chop up those potatoes into uniform-sized cubes. Put 'em in a pot. Add water until the potatoes are submerged by at least an inch. Put the pot on the stove and bring to a boil.

Make sure you boil the potatoes in that order. Growing up, I had always learned to boil the water and then add the potatoes — turns out that's WRONG. If you do that, the outside of the potatoes will cook before the inside and start to fall apart. On the other hand, if you bring the water to a boil with the potatoes already in it, the potato cubes will heat evenly.

German Potato Salad Recipe (2)

After the potatoes have boiled for 5-8 minutes, test them by stabbing a potato piece with a fork. If it slides off the tines, you're good to go. Turn off the heat and immediately strain through a colander. Give the potatoes a good shake. And here's the pro tip: add the potato cubes back to the pot on the burner (it should still be hot because you JUST turned it off) and quickly stir to evaporate the excess water. It only takes a few seconds, but this step truly makes a difference!

Plus, the quick stir breaks down the outsides of the potato cubes a little, which adds a tiny bit of creaminess to the end potato salad without adding any mayo. Win!

German Potato Salad Recipe (3)

What makes German Potato Salad different

Curious what sets German Potato Salad apart from other potato salads?

Essentially, German potato salad uses a vinegar-based instead of mayo-based sauce. Because of that, it can be served either hot or cold.

German Potato Salad Recipe (4)

When I first had a vinegar-based potato salad, I was amazed at how much I enjoyed it. After all, when you're used to mayo-based potato salad, anything else seams like a cheap knock-off. But that's absolutely not true.

With vinegar and bacon, German potato salad has the tart bite of vinegar with the umami flavor of bacon. Mustard, parsley, and dill create a little more complexity and beautify the dish.

German Potato Salad Recipe (5)

More summer recipes to try

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German Potato Salad Recipe (6)

German Potato Salad Recipe

  • Author: Chelsea at Do You Even Paleo
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x
  • Category: Side dish
  • Method: boiled
  • Cuisine: German

Description

Bacon, mustard, fresh herbs, and a bacon fat vinaigrette make German Potato Salad Recipe a summer potluck showstopper. It's Whole30, paleo, and gluten free!

Ingredients

Scale

  • 2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes
  • ½ pound bacon, chopped into 1-inch strips
  • ¾ cup minced red onion
  • ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon whole grain or stone ground mustard
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons sea salt
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 ½ tablespoons finely chopped fresh chives (optional)
  • ½ tablespoon finely chopped fresh dill (optional)

Instructions

  1. Cut potatoes into 1-inch cubes and place in a deep pot. Fill with water to an inch above the potatoes. Bring the pot to a boil, cooking for 15 minutes total from the time you turn the burner on.
  2. Meanwhile, heat a skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon to the skillet and cook for about 8 minutes or until crispy. Transfer the bacon to a plate, reserving the bacon fat in the skillet. Add red onion to the skillet, sauteing until tender. Add the apple cider vinger, mustard, garlic, black pepper, and sea salt. Bring the mixture to a boil for about 2 minutes to thicken.
  3. Once potatoes are done boiling, remove from heat immediately and drain. Give them a good shake in the colander to rid them of excess water. Return the potatoes to the pot on the burner, stirring constantly for about 10 seconds to evaporate any water clinging to the potatoes.
  4. Transfer the potatoes to a large bowl. Pour the apple cider vinegar mixture overtop and stir to coat. Add the bacon, parsley, chives, and dill, stirring just to combine. Serve warm or cold—your choice!

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German Potato Salad Recipe (7)

Reader Interactions

Comments

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  1. Karly says

    This sounds delicious! Oh and the bacon!! Yum.

    Reply

    • Chelsea says

      Thank you, Karly!

      Reply

  2. Trista says

    I made this to have with dinner tonight! We had it with bratwurst and sautéed cabbage. I totally did a little happy dance when I took my first bite of this German Potato Salad! So good!

    Reply

    • Chelsea says

      Hooray, Trista! I'm so glad to hear that! And bratwurst and cabbage? PERFECT pairing!

      Reply

  3. Staci says

    This was FANTASTIC! I grew up having German potato salad at Easter and made this for my family yesterday and we LOVED it! I substituted mustard seed for the mustard to be more similar to my family's recipe and it was perfect. I even made a larger batch for leftovers- YUM! Thank you for this great recipe!!! I'll definitely be checking out your site in the future.

    Reply

    • Chelsea says

      Thank you so much, Staci! I'm glad you enjoyed it. 🙂

      Reply

  4. Jackie says

    I've made this potatoe salad at least 4 times and it so delicious!

    Reply

    • Chelsea says

      Glad to hear it, Jackie! It's a favorite around here too!

      Reply

  5. Miriam says

    I’m anxious to try this potato salad, do you peel the potatoes before cooking them?

    Reply

    • Chelsea says

      You can if you'd like - personally, I often skip the step just to save time! 🙂

      Reply

German Potato Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between American and German potato salad? ›

There are two main differences between American and German Potato salads. American potato salad is usually tossed in a mayonnaise-based dressing and served cold. German potato salad is tossed in a vinegar-based dressing and is traditionally served warm (but you can totally serve it cold too! It's still delicious!).

What is German salad made of? ›

German Potato Salad Ingredients

Bacon: Bacon (and its grease) adds tons of meaty flavor to the hearty German potato salad. Onion: An onion, cooked in bacon grease, lends even more complexity and flavor. Vinegar: White vinegar adds tanginess that cuts through the richness from the potatoes and bacon.

Who makes canned German potato salad? ›

Read's brand canned German potato salad.

What is the best type of potato for potato salad? ›

To keep your salad from falling apart into mush, it's important to use the best potatoes for potato salad. Skip the russet potatoes and use a waxy variety instead, like Yukon gold, red potatoes or fingerlings.

Which is the most famous potato dish in Germany? ›

Pan-fried potatoes don't get much better than Bratkartoffeln, a German comfort food that is commonly enjoyed around the country. The dish consists of parboiled or boiled potatoes, sliced (in chunks, wedges, rounds, you name it), and pan-fried until they develop a mouthwatering golden-brown crust.

What are mashed potatoes called in Germany? ›

Kartoffelbrei m

I make mashed potatoes with milk and butter. Ich mache Kartoffelbrei mit Milch und Butter.

What is German potato salad made of? ›

This is a warm potato salad, German-style! Slices of boiled potato are tossed in a warm, tangy-sweet bacon vinaigrette while hot so they absorb the flavour. They're then showered with crispy, golden bacon bits and hit with freshness from dill and green onion.

What do Germans eat for vegetables? ›

As far as vegetables go, green beans, broccoli, peas and cabbage are staples at the German dinner table. Vegetables are often boiled, stir fried or come from the oven, to keep them slightly chewy.

Why is it called Waldorf salad? ›

Waldorf salad is named for the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City, where it was first created for a charity ball given in honor of the St. Mary's Hospital for Children on March 13, 1896.

What is the history of German potato salad? ›

American style “German Potato Salad” originated from German immigrants based upon the German Kartoffelsalat. But the true origin of this recipe may be southern Poland. Cuisine doesn't recognize countries borders so who knows for sure.

What country is potato salad from? ›

Potato salad is widely believed to have originated in Germany, spreading largely throughout Europe, North America, and later Asia. American potato salad most likely originated from recipes brought to the U.S. by way of German and other European immigrants during the nineteenth century.

Where is Mrs Gerry's potato salad made? ›

Mrs. Gerry's now sells more than 50 million pounds of product a year and employs 250 at our 214,500 square foot facility located in Albert Lea, MN.

Should I cut potatoes before boiling for potato salad? ›

Drop a whole russet into the pot and by the time the outside has cooked through, the inside will still be raw. Larger potatoes should be cubed to ensure they cook evenly (peeled first if desired). Smaller potatoes tend to have thin skins and can be boiled whole, no peeling required.

Is it better to peel potatoes before boiling for potato salad? ›

If you're going for the starchy potato, I would peel it first, then cut it into bite-sized pieces and boil it. Other potatoes have thinner skin and I think seeing the skin of potato adds some interest to the salad. You might disagree or want a more uniform look in which case, grab your peeler.

Should I peel my potatoes for potato salad? ›

There's no reason at all, so my advice is to leave the skins on. The skin on a potato adds a nice texture and flavor to the potato salad and it's also the healthiest part. We have several potato salad recipes with the skins intact.

What do German potatoes taste like? ›

Description/Taste

The flesh is a vibrant yellow to gold and is firm, waxy, and dense. When cooked, German Butterball potatoes have a creamy and tender flesh that takes on a smooth consistency and offers a rich, buttery flavor.

What is the difference between German and Amish potato salad? ›

It's worth remembering that Amish potato salad does share many similarities with other styles. Southern-style potato salad usually includes the sweet pickle mentioned above but less sugar and no vinegar. German potato salad also uses vinegar but in a sauce as an alternative to the mayo-slash-mustard base.

What type of potatoes do Germans use? ›

In German supermarkets, bags of mehlig kochende potatoes often have a blue label. The best-known varieties in Germany include: Adretta, Aula, Freya, Gunda (pictured top), Karat, Libana, Lipsi, Melina and Naturella.

What kind of potatoes are in Germany? ›

Germany's many varieties of potatoes are divided into three categories: festkochend (waxy), vorwiegend festkochend (medium waxy) and mehlig (mealy). German stores label potatoes based on these three categories with a colored coded strip: green for festkochend, red for vorwiegend festkochend and blue for mehlig.

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