Go Back
–+ servings
A bowl of German Potato Salad Recipe features sliced red potatoes, crispy bacon pieces, chopped onions, and fresh herbs, with a large spoon scooping up a hearty portion.
Print Recipe
5 from 2 votes

German Potato Salad

This easy German Potato Salad recipe is a tangy mixture of tender potatoes and crispy chopped bacon in a zesty vinaigrette. Simple to make, this classic German-style potato salad will be a hit at your next picnic or BBQ.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Main Course, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, German
Keyword: German Potato Salad Recipe
Servings: 6
Calories: 288kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds petite red potatoes, cut into quarters (approximately 1 ½ inch in size)
  • 8 ounces bacon, diced into ½ inch pieces (6 to 7 slices thick cut)
  • 1 cup yellow onion, diced
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons German style mustard, Boar’s Head brand (see tips)
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • ⅓ cup white vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, divided (2 tablespoons in potato salad and 1 tablespoon for garnish)

Instructions

  • To a large (5 quart) stock pot add the red potatoes and cover with water. Be sure that you have about 1 to 2 inches of water over the top surface of the potatoes. Bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat. Once the water is boiling, allow the potatoes to cook for 8 to 10 minutes or just until fork tender. You do not want your potatoes to overcook as they will fall apart once mixed with the other ingredients.
  • While the potatoes are boiling, start cooking the bacon. Add the bacon pieces to a medium skillet, on medium heat, and allow the bacon to crisp, and render its fat for 10 to 12 minutes.
    A frying pan with small pieces of crispy, cooked bacon—perfect for a German Potato Salad Recipe—sits on a light wooden surface. The bacon is browned and rendered, with some fat visible in the pan.
  • Using a slotted spoon, remove the crispy bacon from the skillet. Place it onto a paper towel lined plate to absorb any excess grease and set aside. Leave all the rendered bacon fat in the skillet.
  • To the skillet of bacon fat, add the diced yellow onions, salt and black pepper. Cook the onion for 2 to 3 minutes or just until translucent and tender.
    Diced onions sautéing in oil with spices for a classic German Potato Salad recipe in a frying pan on a wooden surface.
  • Add the mustard, granulated sugar, and white vinegar. Whisk until all the bacon fat is fully blended with the other ingredients. Remove from the heat.
    A hand holding a whisk stirs a mixture of chopped onions and creamy yellow sauce in a frying pan on a light wooden surface, just like the beginning steps of an authentic German Potato Salad Recipe.
  • Once the potatoes are cooked, drain the water from the stock pot leaving the potatoes in the pot.
  • Pour the warm dressing over the potatoes then add the crispy bacon and 2 tablespoons of the chopped fresh parsley. Very gently stir together the ingredients of the german potato salad being careful not to break apart the potatoes too much as you are mixing.
    A stainless steel pot on a wooden surface contains ingredients for a classic German Potato Salad Recipe—chopped potatoes, bacon pieces, herbs, and vegetables—ready to be cooked or mixed.
  • Transfer the german potato salad to a large serving bowl and garnish with the remaining 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley.
    A white bowl filled with chopped German Potato Salad, garnished with parsley and bits of bacon, sits on a wooden table surrounded by plates, forks, fresh herbs, and small bowls of condiments.

Nutrition

Calories: 288kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.05g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 529mg | Potassium: 822mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 198IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 2mg
QR Code linking back to recipe