If you want an authentic German potato salad recipe, then you’ll fall in love with this one! When I make a German potato salad, I can bet it won’t be around one day after and most of the time, I’m absolutely right! Bacon and potatoes, cooked with an onion in bacon grease, stretches the flavors far and when combined with seasonings, they keep you coming back for more! What I love most about this dish is that it’s done in about 30 minutes and is naturally gluten free.
This dish reminds me of Christmas Eve at my parents’ house as my cousin, Crystal, used to often bring the best German potato salad! It makes the best holiday side dish for your Christmas or New Year’s party! If you like this recipe, then you’ll love my Greek Potato Salad (no mayo), classic Potato Salad, and Watermelon Feta Salad recipes!
My mouthwatering German Potato Salad contains potatoes, bacon, onion, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper, and only takes about a half hour to make. If you’ve never had bacon in your potato salad, you’ll surely love this delectable version!
Ingredients in German Potato Salad
Potatoes. Waxy potatoes are best for a German potato salad. If you don’t use gold potatoes, try to fnd red potatoes.
Bacon. Bacon cooked just the way you would eat it on its own. Use thick bacon similar to German bacon for the most authentic German flavor.
Onion. A diced onion fried in bacon grease gives the sauce a hearty, savory flavor that can’t be beat.
Vinegar. The zest of white vinegar gives the salad flavor and tang that’s too irresistible to pass up!
Sugar. Sugar, mixed with vinegar, salt, and other flavors, gives this salad a subtle sweet taste.
Salt. A little bit of salt mixed in with the cooked potatoes, bacon, and onion, give this potato salad the perfect amount of saltiness mixed with sweet.
Pepper. Freshly cracked black pepper is my preferred type of pepper and it brings out the flavors of this heavenly German potato salad unlike any other.
How to make the best German Potato Salad
STEP 1: Add the washed potatoes and salt to a large pot of water to cover by at least one inch. Turn the heat on and bring to a boil. Boil until the potatoes are cooked and tender, 22-25 minutes. Drain and set aside. Use a potato masher to reduce the size of the potatoes to about 1-inch cubes or various other similar sizes.
STEP 2: In the meantime, while the potatoes are cooking, fry the bacon until it’s cooked. Blot it on paper towels; let cool. Crumble the bacon and set aside.
STEP 3: In the same large pot, add the bacon grease and onion and cook over medium until the onion is translucent – about 5-6 minutes. Add the water, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper, and mix well.
STEP 4: Add the potatoes and about 1/3 of the crumbled bacon. Cook until warmed, about 4-5 minutes.
STEP 5: Pour the potato salad into a serving dish and serve warm or cold. Garnish with parsley.
STEP 6: If you make this recipe, don’t forget to leave a rating and comment!
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Final Thoughts
Finally, if you make this German Potato Salad, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I love to hear from everyone who makes this recipe and always try my best to respond to all comments.
If you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag #elisemccollister on Instagram! It makes me so happy to see your recipe photos!
German Potato Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 pounds gold potatoes
- salt
- 6 slices bacon cooked
- 1 yellow onion diced
- ½ c water
- 3 tbsp white vinegar
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper freshly cracked
- chopped parsley optional garnish
Instructions
- Add the washed potatoes and salt to a large pot of water to cover by at least one inch. Turn the heat on and bring to a boil. Boil until the potatoes are cooked and tender, 22-25 minutes. Drain and set aside. Use a potato masher to reduce the size of the potatoes to about 1-inch cubes or various other similar sizes.
- In the meantime, while the potatoes are cooking, fry the bacon until it’s cooked. Blot it on paper towels; let cool. Crumble the bacon and set aside.
- In the same large pot, add the bacon grease and onion and cook over medium until the onion is translucent – about 5-6 minutes. Add the water, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper, and mix well.
- Add the potatoes and about 1/3 of the crumbled bacon. Cook until warmed, about 4-5 minutes.
- Pour the potato salad into a serving dish and serve warm or cold. Garnish with parsley.
- If you make this, don't forget to leave a rating and comment!
Nutrition (per serving)
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