26 Potato Salad Recipes Perfect for Your Next Cookout (2024)

Potato salad has been a cherished side dish for decades. The filling vegetable pairs perfectly with mayonnaise and other sauces for a delicious accompaniment to any meal. If you enhance your favorite recipe with an array of spices or creative add-ins, you can make something that's truly unique and flavorful. Whether you're creating a side dish for a summer barbecue or are preparing the dish for a lovely picnic, you'll find the perfect potato salad recipe here.

Whether you bake or boil them, it's easy to tell when a potato is fully cooked. While preparing the vegetable can take some time, most of these recipes require minimal prep, which means they're all low-maintenance sides—isn't that exactly what you want on a hot summer day? For a classic Potato Salad recipe, make our creamy go-to recipe pictured here. Our method is simple and only calls for six ingredients: eight to ten medium red potatoes, mayonnaise, salt and pepper, lemon juice and zest, and chives. If you're looking for something with a kick, make our Mexican Potato Salad. It consists of finely chopped chipotles in adobo for some spice and is paired with one cup of corn kernels. Their sweetness plays well with the spice.

If mayonnaise isn't your thing, we have a number of recipes that forego the condiment, like our German Potato Salad. It uses bacon, diced red onion, apple cider vinegar, and freshly chopped dill. A briny yet sweet option can be found in our Bread-and-Butter Potato Salad. The recipe incorporates the tasty pickles and uses Dijon-mustard as its base.

Whether you're looking to go salty or slightly sweet, rich or light, we think you'll have no trouble finding a potato salad recipe here that's sure to delight.

Herbed Potato Salad

A big spoonful of plain yogurt and a little dollop of mayonnaise create a creamy-but-light potato salad dressing.

German Potato Salad

Crumbled bacon, dill, and a dash of apple cider vinegar invigorate this potato salad.

Spiced Potato Salad

Store-bought Indian simmer sauce mixed with mint and cilantro adds big flavor to potato salad.

Grilled Potato and Pickled Green Garlic Salad

New potatoes are boiled then grilled before being mixed with tangy pickled garlic, mustard, and olive oil in this lively potato salad recipe.

Green Goddess Potato Salad

Add summery freshness to your favorite side dish with a delightful host of herbs. Choose any combination of basil, parsley, dill, or tarragon.

Bread-and-Butter Potato Salad

The sweet-and-tangy brine of bread and butter pickles sets this potato salad apart.

Mexican Potato Salad

Chipotles in adobo add smoky heat to potato salad, while sweet corn and tangy lime juice offset the spice.

Potato Salad with Celery, Cress, and Bacon

Peppery cress and crisp celery add a fresh twist to a favorite.

Caesar Potato Salad

Combine the flavors of two classic salads in one bowl when you jazz up basic potato salad with olive oil, garlic, Parmesan, and romaine.

Warm Potato Salad with Goat Cheese

Tart goat cheese gradually melts onto warm vinaigrette-covered potatoes to create a creamy coating.

Anchovy Potato Salad

The mayonnaise in this potato salad gets a boost of umami from chopped anchovies. There's also a hint of heat thanks to the red pepper flakes.

Tangy Potato Salad with Scallions

Equal parts olive oil and white-wine vinegar make a tangy vinaigrette for this quick potato salad. The salad can be made a day ahead of time and is delicious served either cool or at room temperature.

French Potato Salad

Parsley, thyme, shallots, and red onion give this fingerling potato salad a big boost of flavor. Whisk together sherry vinegar, Dijon mustard, and olive oil to create the tangy vinaigrette.

Basic Potato Salad

Yukon Gold potatoes have a creamy texture even when chilled, making them perfect for potato salad. A mixture of white-wine vinegar, light mayonnaise, and minced scallions creates an easy, well-balanced dressing.

Potato and Olive Salad

Kalamata olives and sherry vinegar give this red potato salad an unexpected punch of flavor. This easy-but-sophisticated dish is perfect with grilled fish or lamb.

Potato Salad with Sour Cream and Scallions

Reduced-fat sour cream, scallions, and crumbled bacon give this potato salad the flavor sensations of a loaded steakhouse baked potato. We like that this dish can be made up to a day in advance.

Potatoes with Ranch Dressing

Kid-friendly ranch dressing gets an upgrade with buttermilk, sour cream, mayonnaise, and a bevy of fresh herbs. Toss with boiled baby spuds to make a potato salad that will be a hit with the whole family.

Red Bliss Potato Salad with Blue Cheese, Bacon, and Chives

A buttermilk-blue-cheese dressing makes this potato salad delightfully tangy. Crumbled bacon and minced chives up the flavor quotient even more.

Balsamic Potato Salad

Dijon mustard, white balsamic vinegar, pepperoncini brine, and fresh thyme make a bright dressing for this tasty potato salad.

Warm German Potato Salad

Bacon, red onion, whole-grain Dijon mustard, and white-wine vinegar give this warm German potato salad its assertive flavor. This salad is the perfect accompaniment to grilled sausages, such as bratwurst.

Dijon Potato Salad

With only five ingredients—Dijon mustard, white-wine vinegar, olive oil, parsley, and potatoes (plus salt and pepper)—you can whip up this easy salad with what's in your kitchen. A big handful of chopped fresh parsley adds color and fresh flavor to the mix.

Beet, Potato, and Walnut Salad

This flavorful potato salad pairs two root vegetables—sweet roasted golden beets and creamy fingerling potatoes. An easy-to-make red-wine vinegar-and-chive dressing adds a piquant touch and means you can take it to a potluck or a picnic.

Potato Salad with Cornichons and Capers

Cornichons, capers, diced red onion, and a Dijon-mustard vinaigrette add a bold statement to this red-and-white-potato salad.

Warm Green Bean and Potato Salad

Bacon, green beans, and red potatoes make a winning combination. After boiling, sauté the potatoes with garlic and season with lemon juice to complete the salad. This salad is a terrific side for grilled steaks and chicken.

New Potato Salad

To make this tangy French-style potato salad, toss tender New potatoes with lemon zest, lemon juice, and your choice of chopped fresh herbs such as chives, parsley, tarragon, or dill. Serve it chilled or at room temperature.