Loaded Baked Potato Salad is packed with cheese, bacon, sour cream, and a dash of mayo to make it taste like your favorite stuffed potato. This creamy recipe will turn your potato salad haters into potato salad lovers. This easy BBQ side dish recipe will be an instant hit for all your summer parties and backyard gatherings. You won’t believe how easily the recipe comes together.
Why I Love Loaded Baked Potato Salad
Mainly, this recipe hits home because I need some serious carbs in my life right now. You see, there’s only one week left until summer break. As a mom of six school-aged kids, I am extremely relieved and excited. However, I am also anxious and full of dread.
The first two weeks of summer vacation are comparable to the first two weeks with a newborn baby. You are so happy and miserable all at the same time. You have to keep reminding yourself just to gut it out, then everything will get significantly better. After those first two weeks, everyone makes the needed adjustments and settles into the new schedule. Emotions calm back down to an acceptable level. The new summer mojo becomes the new normal and life chugs along.
To help me prepare for the inevitable summer, I took a gamble on this loaded baked potato salad. It is safe to say that I am ambivalent when it comes to potato salad. Until this recipe, I have never had a potato salad that was worth the carbs and calories! This salad completely changed my opinion. As I shoveled this down, I kept telling myself I needed the carbs for my 5-mile run in the morning. I think I need to double it to 10 miles for the amount I ate. It was life-changing!
Loaded Baked Potato Salad Ingredients
What makes this loaded baked potato salad recipe amazing is that it uses simple ingredients. All the best recipes keep the ingredients whole and the flavors amazing.
- Yellow or red potatoes
- Shredded cheese
- Cooked bacon
- Green onions
- Sour cream
- Mayonaise
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
How to Make Loaded Baked Potato Salad
The recipe for this loaded baked potato salad comes together in just a few minutes and there’s no need to chill it before serving.
Time needed: 20 minutes
How To Make Loaded Baked Potato Salad
- Prepare the potatoes
Dice the potatoes and boil for 10 minutes in salted water. Cook them long enough just until they are fork tender.
- Prepare the base of the salad
Combine the salad mix-ins of bacon, cheese, and green onions with the sour cream, mayonnaise, and seasonings.
- Combine the base with the cooked potatoes while they are still warm.
Doing this allows the potatoes to absorb some flavor from the salad base.
- Serve at room temperature
You can also chill it and serve it cold if you prefer.
Loaded Baked Potato Salad FAQs
Potato salad has a bad reputation for good reasons! No one likes bland potatoes coated in way too much mayonnaise. To make potato salad special, reduce the mayonnaise and replace it with sour cream instead. This keeps the dressing from overpowering the flavors of the salad. Next, think of all the toppings you love on a baked potato and add those: bacon, cheese, and green onions are a great place to start.
The base of a potato salad is dependent on the recipe but usually includes mayonnaise and pickle relish. It is fairly strong and can easily overpower the flavor of the potatoes and any mix-ins such as vegetables, bacon, cheese, and onion. For this reason, the base of this recipe uses sour cream with just a hint of mayonnaise.
Can I use red potatoes instead of yellow?
Yes, red potatoes would work well in this loaded baked potato salad. They are waxier potatoes so the texture will be slightly different. Also, yellow or Yukon gold potatoes have a natural buttery flavor to them. To compensate for that when using red potatoes, add a tablespoon of butter to the finished potatoes and allow them to absorb it while they cool after cooking.
How to make loaded baked potato salad ahead of time
Loaded baked potato salad can easily be made ahead of time and tastes just as delicious as the day it was made. Prepare the recipe as instructed below and transfer it into a large airtight container before storing it in the refrigerator. You can make this 5 days in advance and it will still be good to eat. I prefer the salad at room temperature so you can either eat it cold or take the cold off in the microwave before serving.
How long is potato salad good for?
As long as you have kept the salad at a safe temperature while serving it, the leftover potato salad will be good for at least five days. Store it in an airtight container inside the refrigerator until you are ready to eat the leftovers. It could be good past the 5 days but use your best judgment. A refrigerator doesn’t keep bacteria from growing on your food. It just slows that growth.
Baked Potato Salad Recipe Variations
Being a home cook provides endless opportunities to experiment with recipes, personalizing them to your tastes and creativity. Any of the following variations would be great spin-offs of this loaded baked potato salad recipe.
- Add spice to the dressing with a few shakes of red pepper flakes, or a few shakes of your favorite hot sauce. You could also add some fresh diced jalapenos with the green onions.
- Add vegetables to the salad for a bit more fiber and flavor. Small pieces of blanched broccoli or cauliflower would be delicious. As would fresh chopped bell peppers and mushrooms.
- Make it vegetarian by either eliminating the bacon or using a bacon substitute. If you want to add protein to the salad, you could use garbanzo beans in the salad.
- Add more protein with some chopped cooked chicken or your favorite beans.
What to Serve With Loaded Baked Potato Salad
While potato salad is often reserved for backyard BBQs and picnics, this specific recipe really pairs well as a side dish with so many dinner recipes. When deciding what to serve with the salad, keep in mind that it is creamy and rich from the dressing, cheese, and bacon. Think about recipes that balance that on the other end of the spectrum. Here are a few suggestions:
- Baked BBQ Chicken Sliders
- Easy Salmon Marinade
- Grilled Boneless Pork Chops
- Marinated Chicken Breasts
- Juicy Grilled Hamburgers
- Pork Loin Roast
- Parmesan Skillet Chicken
Loaded Baked Potato Salad Video
Watch this short video to see how easy it is to make a loaded baked potato salad at your house! You’ll never buy the nasty stuff from the store again.
Looking For More BBQ Side Dishes?
If this loaded potato salad was just what you were looking for, be sure to check out these other delicious recipes. Go grab them now before you forget!
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Print
Loaded Baked Potato Salad
Our favorite BBQ side dish recipe because we hate normal potato salad. This tastes just like a baked potato with cheese, bacon and sour cream.
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 6 large Yukon Gold, Russet, or red potatoes
- 3/4 C sour cream
- 6 Tb mayonaise (not Miracle whip)
- 3/4 C shredded cheddar cheese
- 4 green onions, chopped
- 12 strips bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled or 2.5 oz bag precooked bacon pieces
- 1 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tsp kosher salt, divided
Instructions
- If you desire, peel the potatoes or leave the skin on for a more rustic salad. Dice the potatoes into bite sizes pieces. Put them in a large pot of water and cover the potatoes with cold water. Add 1 tsp kosher salt to the water, cover, and bring to a boil.
- Once boiling, cook for about 8-10 minutes depending on the size of the potato pieces. You want them tender enough to cut through them with a fork, but not so tender that they fall apart. Keep an eye on them! Drain the potatoes and set aside to cool a bit.
- Mix together all the remaining ingredients in a medium bowl, holding back a bit of the green onions and bacon for the topping on the salad. Once the potatoes have cooled slightly, mix in the dressing, top with the green onions and bacon you set aside.
- Serve immediately if you would like it warm. You can also serve it cold, but wait to top it with the extra chives and bacon until serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Boiled
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/12th
- Calories: 148
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 490 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 12 mg
Keywords: loaded baked potato salad
Karan Cox says
This sounds so god. A definate must try for me.
Brooke B says
This sounds like yummy taste bud heaven. I’m new to a more fit lifestyle, but I’m not willing to give up food that tastes great. I only live once and this my friend is something I have to try. Hello Yumville!! Thank so much for sharing. B https://smilingrunningshoes.blogspot.com/
Stacy Larsen says
I’m confused a bit. It states add remaining ingredients, and then it says add dressing. What dressing, am I missing something?
Carole says
Good question Stacy. The remaining ingredients make up the dressing, which you then add to the cooked potatoes.
Anonymous says
Can I mix the night before, especially the cheese?
Carole says
Absolutely! In fact, the flavors are a bit better by day two.
Bobbi says
A lot like mine…next time I’ll try your version. Thanks for sharing!
Linda Adcox Drummond says
i will definitely try this, sounds yummy and a great side dish to Easter lunch, barbeque, etc. I enjoy potato salad with crackers for a quick snack. This is going to be a winner!
Veronica Zamora says
About how many servings is this?
Carole says
Veronica- as a side dish, I would say it serves 8. Thanks for your question!
Stephanie says
Doing this recipe for the second week in a row! Everyone loves it 🙂
Carole says
So glad Sephanie! Thanks so much for coming back and sharing your experience with the recipe! It is my favorite part of what I do 🙂 – Carole
Anne-Marie says
My husband just raved over this and I’m making it for the second time in a month. This is delish!
Thanks so much for coming back Anne-Marie and letting me know how it turned out for you! ❤️Carole
Kayla says
I’m a recently married military wife and just moved on post with my husband. We’re heading to a BBQ tomorrow at his friend’s house so that I can meet some of the people he works with, along with their wives, and I’m going to give this a try to take along as a side dish! It’s sounds delicious and very easy to make.
Kayla- enjoy your BBQ and let me know how the dish turns out for you!
Sam Lucas says
I made this for our engagement party today. This is my first ever time making and trying one and I have to say it was easy to follow and delicious! I omitted the salt to be added at the end and found it wound have been far too much. It was so good I have now been converted and have passed on the recipe to friends. Will definately make again.
So glad you like it Sam and congratulations on your engagement! – Carole
Marion Franklin says
Approximately how many servings would you say this recipe would be?
Marion- as a side dish, I would say around 10 servings
Marion Franklin says
OK thanks. Thinking of making this for my daughters birthday party. She just turned one so it’s more for the adults than her. But I’m sure she’ll eat a little. Thanks for the recipe.
Marissa says
You should try adding hard boiled eggs when you mix it! My grandma does and it’s delicious 🙂
Thanks for the great suggestion Marissa! -Carole
Kimber says
This is absolutely amazing!!! I made it a couple weeks ago for a family get together and most of it was gone that night. I’m getting ready to make some more as we speak!
So love to hear feedback like this Kimber! Keep coming back and find some more great recipes
Lori says
My recipe is similar, I however bake the potatoes rather than boil. I also add a few hard boiled eggs. Wonderful recipe! Thank you for sharing!
I’ve made this with baked potatoes before as well! Thanks for sharing
Monique says
This looks amazing! Question, though: would using miracle whip instead of Mayo make a difference? I almost never buy mayonnaise. Thanks!
Great question Monique! Yes, there is quite a difference between the two. Miracle whip would work, but think this tastes much better with mayo
Marcia says
made it as a side dish and everyone raved about it. This ones a keeper. Thanks!!!
So glad it was a hit Marcia
Bonnie says
nothing goes better with potatoes than corn try adding some
will definitely give that a try Bonnie! -Carole
kathy says
yikes! hope you can help with a fast answer. found this and want to make for saturday party. do you have any idea how many pounds of potatoes you used. cant get large potatoes where im at so im stumped as to how many to use.thanks
My best guess would be 2 -3 pounds Kathy!
Kristin Smith says
I am so excited to try this recipe but could it be cut in half ? It’s just my hubby and me and that’s a lot of potato salad for two! Any info would be greatly appreciated and thanks for sharing
Absolutely Kristin!
Coleen says
This sounds great..I want to make it today (Friday) but not using until Sunday..bringing it away with us..will it keep that long? I’m most concerned with cheese..I noticed an earlier comment stating it is better next day but have u ever used it 2 days later?
I think you should be fine Coleen!
Meredith says
I’m making this right now for tomorrow (Memorial day ) we are having a cookout. Making a day ahead a good idea? Ok to add the cheese a day ahead?
Thanks!
Absolutely Meredith! Go for it
victor says
Just made this for a bbq I have to say this was absolutely amazing! 5 stars all around! Instead of the cheddar cheese I used a 4 cheese Mexican mix and dried chives but the flavor was great! Thank you worked out great.
Thank you so much Victor for coming back and letting me know how well it worked for your BBQ! It means a lot to me 🙂
Page says
Made for Father’s Day to go with smoked ribs and everyone loved it!!!!!!! My son doesn’t eat my traditional potatoes salad due to him not liking mayo but he sure ate this. Definitely a huge hit and I am sure to quickly become a family favorite. Thanks
Love hearing comments like this Page! Thanks so much for coming back to share -Carole
Heidi says
This is by far, the best potato salad I have ever made!!! Thank you for sharing your recipe!
Woo hoo! Thanks for your kind comment Heidi. -Carole
Marti says
I made this with just a couple changes. Would have followed it exactly but I didn’t want to make a trip to the store. My guests loved it. Thanks for sharing your recipe.
I’m glad you made it work with what you had on hand Marti!
Raven says
I have made this 3 times and the first time I made it for my dorm roommates and the last two times I made it when I would go home for breaks and now I am home for summer break and my older sister asked me if I could drive to the store and get the ingredients because she was craving the loaded baked potato salad so I went today and I decided to look at another recipe and everytime I make it every body loves it
Thanks so much Raven! So glad it works for you every time 🙂 Carole
kim says
Quick question-I am going to use dried chives. Would it be 6 tablespoons still or less do you think?
Hi Kim! You will want to use less because dried herbs are more concentrated.
Gabi Tamez says
Would it still taste great if I added cream cheese? Or substituted the mayo for cream cheese
I don’t know Gabi! I’ve never made it with your substitution. You could certainly try it but you will definitely need to add milk or cream to the cream cheese first or it will be much too thick. Let me know how it turns out!
Shirley R says
I may be redundant in this statement but I make a dynamite “potato salad” using cauliflower. Not sure why this can’t be converted into it as well . That way you can have your salad and save on carbs too.
I love that idea Shirley!! I love to roast cauliflower in the oven and I can totally see using that instead of potatoes.
Erin says
Love this! I made it for a family gathering and everyone fell in love with it. Not bad for my first ever potato salad! I did tweak it and used a red onion but it tasted great and looked beautiful!
Awesome Erin!
Lisa says
Thanks for sharing this recipe. There are some things that I do differently but I’m not great at potato salad so I’ll try this one. One thing caught me… there’s no ‘baked’ potatoes in this baked potato salad recipe. I was so confused for a bit. haha.
Very good point Lisa! I call it that because it has all the ingredients people love in a baked potato. You could certainly bake your potatoes if you want and then make them into the salad 🙂
Judy says
I cannot wait to try this. It sounds delicious and easy to make. I am a little puzzled by the name though. Loaded Baked Potato Salad? You do not use baked potatoes nor do you bake this. Am I missing something?
Hey there Judy! No, you are completely correct. I refer to it as baked potato salad because it tastes just like a loaded baked potato with sour cream, bacon, cheese and green onions. Come back and let me know how you liked it!
Chris says
Hey I love Miracle whip in my Potato salad. :O) kidding aside I made this with just sour cream, Never with mayo, and sour cream… Looks good thanks for the recipe…
Thanks for your comment Chris! Glad you make it work for you!
Grandma Pam says
We are going to a family get together and I was asked to bring the potato salad because “your is the best. So yummy!” I will give you the credit this time! Thanks for the wonderful recipe.