This Bacon Potato Salad is a classic potato salad that will make your heart happy. Made with bacon, hard-boiled eggs, and mayo, this humble salad is perfect for any occasion, from barbecues to potlucks and everything else in between.
Potato Salad With Bacon- Midwest Style
Who doesn’t like a good potato salad? This recipe comes from the Midwest, where comforting food is a must. The potato salad recipes I saw in Minnesota are easy to make and require ingredients most people have in their pantries.
There are not too many spices or crazy ingredients, and everything is kept simple and delicious. There is no potluck, church gathering, or summer barbecue without the humble potato salad.
Ingredients
Potatoes
There is no potato salad without potatoes, right? However, the main question always comes to what kind of potatoes are suitable for this salad.
There are many types of potatoes out there, but I like only two kinds for this recipe: red potatoes or Yukon potatoes. These potatoes keep their shape, providing texture to the salad. I used Yukon.
Eggs
I use large hard-boiled eggs that I usually boil in water for a maximum of 7 minutes to achieve a perfect result.
Bacon stripes
The best bacon for this salad is the bacon you like the most and have in the refrigerator. If I had to choose what kind of bacon I like the best, it would be the thick-cut hickory-smoked bacon. However, I like turkey bacon too, and I would not hesitate to use it in a potato salad.
Green celery
Celery is always used to bring crunchiness and texture to the salad.
Green onions
Green onions or scallions are my first choice for the salad. They are milder than regular onions and provide freshness and texture to the dish.
Mayonnaise or salad dressing?
There are many brands and flavors out there, and people like different things. If you know a brand that you like more than the other, use it. I personally like Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise because it is an all-purpose mayo that is perfect for all kinds of jobs. It is thick enough but also spreadable and tangy without being overpowering.
However, you will probably use Duke’s mayo if you are in the South. I was visiting my daughter in D.C. when I made this recipe, and Duke’s mayo is what was popular in the grocery stores, so I tried it.
I have to say that I quite like it and I know that many people would agree with me. It is really good mayo. I do not like salad dressings because most of them have added sugar, which I try to avoid. My recommendation is real mayo.
Mustard
Regular yellow mustard is classic for this recipe. However, Dijon is a suitable replacement. I would not use spicy mustards if you serve the salad at a potluck, for example.
Also, whole-grain mustard is not suitable for this recipe.
White Vinegar
White vinegar is the secret to an amazing potato salad. It brings acidity and the “umami” that binds all ingredients together.
How to make this Bacon Potato Salad
Step 1. Clean and cook the potatoes.
Clean the potatoes in cold water and place them unpeeled in a pot of salted water. Bring to a boil.
Cook for about 25 minutes or until the potatoes are cooked through. A fork should go through them easily. Drain the water and allow the potatoes to cool.
Peel the cooked potatoes and chop them into bite-size pieces. Place them into a salad bowl.
Step 2. Boil the eggs.
Place the eggs in a pot with cold water and bring them to a boil. Set the timer for 7 minutes from the moment when the water starts boiling. When the time is up, place the eggs under cold water to stop the cooking.
Step 3.
In a frying pan, cook the bacon until crisp. Drain and set aside to cool.
Step3. Chop the rest of the ingredients.
Chop the celery stalks, green onions, and eggs into bite-size. Place them over the potatoes. Add chopped bacon, but reserve some for sprinkling the salad when ready to serve.
Step 4. Make the dressing.
Combine mayonnaise and mustard, and add salt and pepper to taste. Add the dressing to the salad bowl and mix lightly until all the ingredients are well coated.
Step 5. Add bacon and place it in the refrigerator.
Crumble bacon over the top and refrigerate.
When ready to serve, give the salad a good toss to help redistribute the dressing.
Can I make this salad in advance?
Yes, and you should, for better results. This way, the ingredients have time to get friendly with each other and create a symphony of flavors on the plate.
How to store this potato salad
It keeps well in the refrigerator for about 4-5 days. Keep it in a covered container or a bowl covered well with plastic wrap.
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Bacon Potato Salad
Equipment
- Spoon
Ingredients
- 8 potatoes large, red
- 3 eggs large, hard boiled
- 6 bacon stripes
- 3 stalks celery
- 4 green onions
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- ½ tablespoon mustard regular
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Clean the potatoes in cold water and place them unpeeled in a pot of salted water. Bring to a boil. Cook for about 25 minutes or until the potatoes are cooked through. A fork should go through them easily. Drain the water and allow the potatoes to cool.
- In a frying pan, cook the bacon until crisp. Drain and set aside to cool.
- Peel the cooked potatoes and chop them into bite-size pieces. Place them into a salad bowl.
- Chop the celery stalks, green onions, and eggs. Place them over the potatoes.
- Combine mayo and mustard and add salt and pepper to taste. Add the dressing to the salad bowl and mix lightly until all the ingredients are well coated. Crumble bacon over the top and refrigerate.
- When ready to serve, give the salad a good toss to help redistribute the dressing.