Follow these easy steps for delicious, creamy bacon ranch potato salad! It is the perfect side dish for a cookout, potluck, or family meal.
Cooking tips
I am going to give you my favorite tip about potato salad that my husband's Aunt Molly taught me.
She was the sweet aunt that made incredible southern dishes like the Chicken and Pastry I shared with you…
Her trick is to boil the potatoes until perfectly cooked, then rinse them off in cold water, and set them in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or more until they are completely cold. Only after they are completely cold do you mix in the other ingredients.
Why? Because hot potatoes make the mayonnaise dressing melt and it becomes oily.
Cold potatoes keeps the dressing from melting into the potatoes and you have a perfectly dressed, creamy potato salad.
Ranch potato salad video
Ingredients
You will need the following ingredient for this salad:
- Small red potatoes-I used the little red potatoes for this potato salad. They have a nice flavor that doesn't get lost in the homemade Ranch Dressing.
- Bacon- use real bacon. Do not use precooked bacon bits.
- Mayonnaise- do not use low fat. I prefer Dukes for this recipe.
- Sour cream-do not use low fat
- Dry ranch seasoning mix
- Chives- chives really taste the best with this, but you can substitute for green onions
Step by step instructions
Follow these easy steps to make homemade bacon ranch potato salad.
- Boil potatoes until cooked. Do not over cook and undercook. Potatoes should be tender enough to cut easily with a fork, but not mushy. (photo 1)
- Rinse potatoes in cold water and dry potatoes. Refrigerate potatoes for 30 minutes or more until completely cold. (photo 2)
- Slice cold potatoes. (photo 3)
- In a small mixing bowl, mix mayonnaise, sour cream, chives, and dry ranch season mix. (photo 4)
- Carefully mix in ranch dressing mix with potatoes making sure each potato is fully covered in dressing. (photo 5)
- Add in bacon crumbles and mix well. (photo 6)
Can you make potato salad the night before?
Potato salad is actually better made a day ahead! It allows the flavors to build and the potatoes to absorb the dressing.
However, because you are using cold ingredients, the potato salad is still good if you serve it immediately.
I would try to refrigerate it a couple hours before serving if you have the time.
Why does homemade potato salad get watery?
If you slice potatoes while they are hot and mix them with the dressing, the potatoes will sweat as they cool and make your salad watery.
This is why waiting for the potatoes to completely chill is so important.
If you follow my directions precisely, you will not have watery potato salad.
Look at that! A perfect bite! Enjoy!
For more delicious Southern sides, try:
- Instant Pot Fried Cabbage
- Ambrosia Fruit Salad
- Southern Sweet Potato Casserole
- Collard Greens
- Slow Cooker Green Beans and Potatoes
- Spicy Tomato Grits
Please leave me a comment below if you make this bacon ranch potato salad and tell me what you thought about it. I would love to hear back, and so would my readers.
Also post your picture of your potato salad on Instagram or Facebook, and tag @aforkstale with #aforkstale hashtags! I will share with my followers! xoxo!
Bacon Ranch Potato Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 pounds small red potatoes
- 12 ounces bacon
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ cup chopped chives
- 3 tablespoons dry ranch seasoning mix
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Boil 3 lbs small red potatoes until cooked. Do not over cook and undercook. Potatoes should be tender enough to cut easily with a fork, but not mushy.3 pounds small red potatoes
- Rinse potatoes in cold water and dry off potatoes. Refrigerate potatoes for 30 minutes or more until completely cold.
- Meanwhile cook 12 oz bacon until crispy. Drain grease from bacon and crumble.12 ounces bacon
- Mix ¾ cup mayonnaise, 1 cup sour cream, ½ cup chives, and 3 tbs dry ranch season mix in a small mixing bowl.¾ cup mayonnaise, 1 cup sour cream, ½ cup chopped chives, 3 tablespoons dry ranch seasoning mix
- Slice cold potatoes.
- Mix in ranch dressing mix with potatoes.
- Add in bacon crumbles and mix well.
- Salt and pepper to taste. You can serve immediately, but it is best to refrigerate to allow the potatoes to soak up the dressing and time for the flavors to build.
