This Loaded Baked Potato Salad is going to be your new favorite recipe for potlucks and parties!
You’re familiar with the make-up of a loaded baked potato, right? It’s a baked potato piled with sour cream, bacon, cheese and green onion. Well now you can enjoy it in salad form! This is the most decadent of decadent potato salads. A little scoop will be all you’ll need from this one. It will be entirely satisfying and feel like the most indulging bites of deliciousness ever.
How do you make a Loaded Baked Potato Salad?
Contrary to what the title of the recipe indicates, the potatoes are not actually baked. The name simply refers to the fact that the potatoes will be combined with other “loaded: ingredients.
Peeled potatoes are boiled in water on the stove until tender. Once tender, they’re drained, chopped and tossed with a bit of vinegar. The potatoes need to cool completely before you begin the next step. For this reason, I like to prepare the potatoes in the morning, refrigerate them, and then add the rest of the ingredients in the afternoon.
To finish making the salad, you’ll load it up! Combine the cooled potatoes with sour cream, mayonnaise, cooked bacon, shredded cheddar cheese and green onions. I always like to save a little of the bacon, cheese and onion to sprinkle on top to make it pretty. Also, note that the cheddar cheese you choose is important. You can either use a white sharp cheddar or orange. Use orange if you want more of a splash of color in your Loaded Baked Potato Salad!
This potato salad is one of those that is best when the flavors have had a chance to meld together when chilled in the refrigerator. For this reason, either plan to make it in the morning to be served later that same day. Or make it in the evening and refrigerate to be served the following day. Just wrap it well with plastic wrap and take it out of the fridge when ready to serve. If the salad doesn’t appear as creamy as you’d like, stir in another 1/2 cup of sour cream just before serving. Sometimes a stint in the refrigerator gives the potatoes in a potato salad time to soak up its dressing!
Here are a few more potato salad recipes you might like to try:
- All American Potato Salad
- Smashed Potato Salad
- Dilled Potato Salad with Feta
- Instant Pot Potato Salad
- Lemon- Basil Roasted Potato Salad
- Southern Potato Salad
- California Potato Salad
- Red, White and Blue Potato Salad
Loaded Baked Potato Salad
Ingredients
- 4 pounds Russet potatoes, peeled
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar
- 1 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 16 ounces sour cream (regular or reduced-fat)
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise (regular or reduced-fat)
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/3 cup finely chopped green onions
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a large pot, add the potatoes and cover with water. Add a couple of sprinkles of salt to the water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to low and simmer until the potatoes are tender (about 15 minutes-- don't overcook!) Drain the potatoes, chop, then add to a large bowl and toss with vinegar while they are still warm. Let the potatoes cool completely.
- Add the bacon, sour cream, mayonnaise, cheese, onions, salt and pepper. TIP: you may wish to save a little of the bacon, cheese and onions to sprinkle on top after you mix it all together. It will be prettier served that way!
- Cover and refrigerate. This salad is best when refrigerated overnight!
Notes
- If you are preparing this recipe as GLUTEN FREE, just be sure to use brands of bacon and mayonnaise that are known to be GF.
- When it's time to serve: If the salad doesn't appear as creamy as you'd like, stir in another 1/2 cup of sour cream just before serving. Sometimes a stint in the refrigerator gives the potatoes in a potato salad time to soak up its dressing!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
