German Potato Salad

Published June 27, 2020. Updated July 20, 2021

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German Potato Salad recipe – made with creamy red or yellow potatoes, richly flavorful bacon, parsley bursting with freshness, vibrant red onions, and it’s all tossed with a simple, lightly tangy, perfectly tasty dressing.

So much to love in this easy potato salad!

German potato salad shown in a white bowl. A silver serving spoon and fork are resting to the side, bowl is sitting on a wooden board with parsley in the background.Hot German Potato Salad

No heavy on the mayo dressings here! This German potato salad is made with a part bacon dripping part olive oil dressing, plus chicken broth to moisten the potatoes and vinegar for a tangy boost of flavor.

Potato Salad Video

Most potato salads are served chilled from the fridge, but sometimes it’s nice to switch things up and have a potato salad served warm just off the stovetop like this.

When everything is blended together here it creates a delicious harmonious flavor, each ingredient complimenting the next.

Plus it’s a side dish that’s fit for serving 365 days of the year! And potato side dishes go well with so many different things.

Really this is just one of those must try recipes!

Overhead image of german potato salad in a bowl with a grey striped napkin to the side.

German Potato Salad Ingredients and Subsitutes

  • Red potatoes: Look for those that are medium and approximately the same size. Yukon gold or other creamy yellow potatoes work great too.
  • Bacon: If you want the bacon to be extra crisp you can just sprinkle over at the end (don’t toss right in with the liquid). Unfortunately there aren’t any great subs for this ingredient since the bacon fat really helps flavor the dressing.
  • Red onion: This adds so much depth to the potato salad. Yellow onions will work as well.
  • Garlic: I like the extra boost of flavor this adds but if you want it more traditional you can omit.
  • Chicken broth: This adds a little extra something that water wont. If you’ve got homemade stashed in the freezer that will be even better.
  • Apple cider vinegar: I like the more mellow flavor of apple cider vinegar, plus overall I think it just tastes better but you can use plain white vinegar if that’s what you have.
  • Dijon mustard: Another ingredient that helps ramp of the flavor. In a pinch you could use regular yellow mustard.
  • Granulated sugar: Don’t worry, there isn’t enough here to make it overwhelmingly sweet. It’s just enough to balance out the tartness of the vinegar (though if you want it sweeter feel free to add more). Honey could work here too.
  • Salt and pepper: Add to taste. I like to wait until closer to the end after I’ve concentrated the dressing mixture in the skillet.
  • Fresh parsley: If you aren’t big into herby flavors you could omit this. Another good herb to use if you don’t have parsley would be dill (maybe 1 Tbsp or so).
  • Olive oil: I feel there aren’t enough bacon drippings to add the richness this potato salad needs, so this is added in addition to it. Extra virgin olive oil works great too.

Image of ingredients that are used to make German potato salad. Includes red potatoes, olive oil, bacon, vinegar, onion, chicken broth, garlic, dijon mustard, parsley, and bacon.

How to Make German Potato Salad

  1. Steam potatoes: Place red potatoes on a steamer basket* set in a pot with about 1 1/2-inches of water. Bring water to a simmer over medium-high heat.
  2. Cover with a snug lid and let steam until potatoes are tender, about 20 – 25 minutes (test for doneness by piercing potatoes through center with a knife, it should glide through). Set aside to cool just until warm enough to cut into chunks.
  3. Cook bacon: While potatoes are steaming, cook bacon in a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat until crisp. Remove bacon, set aside and leave drippings in skillet.
  4. Saute onions and garlic: Add onions to skillet with drippings and cook 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds longer.
  5. Make german potato salad dressing: Pour in chicken broth, vinegar, dijon mustard and sugar. Bring to liquid to a simmer and let reduce by about half for a minute or two.
  6. Toss dressing mixture with potatoes: Toss in chopped potatoes, cooked bacon and olive oil. Season mixture with salt and pepper to taste.
  7. Finish with herbs: Remove from heat, toss in parsley. Serve warm.

Collage of six photos showing hot to make german potato salad. Shows potatoes in pot before and after steaming, bacon in skillet before and after cooking, sautéing onions and making dressing, and chopping potatoes. Prepared German potato salad ingredients shown in a mixing bowl before tossing.

Can it be served cold?

Yes. If we are ever lucky enough to have leftovers I have served this cold. In this case you may opt to add a little more olive oil or broth because the moisture gets absorbed into the potatoes as it rests in the fridge.

Can the potatoes be boiled?

Yes. If you don’t own a steamer basket the whole potatoes can be boiled in a pot covered with water until tender through the center (directions are listed in notes of recipe).

What to eat with German potato salad?

I recommend serving this with a grilled meat such as chicken, steak, or pork chops.

Close up image of german potato salad with red potatoes, parsley, bacon and onions in white ceramic serving bowl.

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German potato salad shown in a white bowl. A silver serving spoon and fork are resting to the side, bowl is sitting on a wooden board with parsley in the background.
5 from 27 votes

German Potato Salad

Made with creamy red or yellow potatoes, richly flavorful bacon, parsley that's brimming with freshness, vibrant red onions and a simple, yet perfectly tasty dressing.
Servings: 6
Prep20 minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place red potatoes on a steamer basket* set in a pot with about 1 1/2-inches of water. Bring water to a simmer over medium-high heat.
  • Cover pot with a snug lid and let steam until potatoes are tender, about 20 - 25 minutes (test for doneness by piercing potatoes through center with a knife, it should glide through). Set aside to cool just until warm enough to cut into chunks.
  • While potatoes are steaming, cook bacon in a 12-inch non-stick skillet over medium-high heat until crisp (about 6 - 7 minutes). Remove bacon, set aside and leave drippings in skillet.
  • Add onions to skillet with drippings and cook 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds longer.
  • Pour in chicken broth, vinegar, dijon mustard and sugar. Bring to liquid to a simmer and let reduce by about half for a minute or two.
  • Add chopped potatoes, bacon and olive oil and toss. Season mixture with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Remove from heat, toss in parsley. Serve warm (or see notes to serve chilled). If mixture seems to be just slightly dry you can either toss in a little more olive oil or chicken broth.

Notes

  • *If you don't own a steamer basket potatoes can also be cooked in water. To do so:
  • Place potatoes in a large pot  and cover with water by an inch or two. Season water with salt (about  1 Tbsp). Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer until potatoes are just tender all the way through, about 10 - 15 minutes (they should pierce easily with a knife, but you also don't want them really tender/mushy). 
  • Tip: This salad is also good served chilled then when ready to serve you can add more olive oil or broth to moisten potatoes (they absorb some of the moisture as they rest in the fridge).
Nutrition Facts
German Potato Salad
Amount Per Serving
Calories 287 Calories from Fat 126
% Daily Value*
Fat 14g22%
Saturated Fat 4g25%
Cholesterol 15mg5%
Sodium 300mg13%
Potassium 905mg26%
Carbohydrates 34g11%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 7g8%
Protein 7g14%
Vitamin A 432IU9%
Vitamin C 26mg32%
Calcium 43mg4%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

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70 Comments

  • Ashley

    Really good, with some modifications:

    -I omitted the bacon because I’m vegetarian.
    -I couldn’t really taste the vinegar flavor I was wanting so I made about a cup more dressing from vinegar, Dijon mustard, sugar, water, and olive oil and mixed it in. Next time I’ll double the amounts of those things when making the sauce.
    -I used chopped dill in addition to parsley.

    I’ll definitely make this again.

  • Jan

    This is an excellent recipe and I made it pretty much according to the recipe but next time I’d leave out the garlic. It is definitely overwhelming (great for Italian dishes, not so much for German)! My German mother-in-law would whip heavy cream and stir it in at the end so I did that. I doubled the recipe and used about half a cup that I whipped (no added sugar). Everyone loved it.

  • Nancy

    Made for family cookout and everyone gobbled it up! Haven’t had a good German Tater Salad in a while and this recipe hits it out if the park.

  • Erin

    Overcooked the potatoes and reduced sauce too much, but who cares because it tastes awesome anyway. I’ll be serving it cold at a bbq tomorrow and am hoping it to be a hit! Definitely will be a regular side for my family. Thank you for this unique take on potato salad! Was so excited to stumble across a vinegar based version.

    • Erin

      You mentioned adding more liquid after refrigeration, should I add more cider vinegar too? Or just oil and broth? Thx!

      • Jaclyn

        Jaclyn Bell

        I recommend starting with oil/broth then taste to see if you’d like it a little tangier. Hope you love it!

  • Dena

    Best potato salad I’ve ever made. Will be my go to from now on. Thanks so much for the delicious recipe. I made it for the 4th, and everyone loved it.

  • Sheri Strobaugh

    Loved it!!! Perfect thing for 4th of July! Thank you.

  • Susan

    If I make it 3 hours before serving does it keep well if kept warm on a low temp in the oven or low temp on a shaving dish

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      I would probably try keeping warm in a slow cooker on warm setting and I may just very slightly undercook the potatoes so they don’t end up too soft.

  • Greg Steffee

    I dont know what some of these people are talking about .I made it followed the reciepe and we thought it was great .