German Potato Salad

Thanks for sharing!

German potato salad is loaded with plenty of bacon and a zingy vinaigrette is the perfect side dish to so many meals. You can enjoy it warm or chilled. It is simple to make too!

This simple German style potato salad is a great side dish all year long. It is best served warm or at room temperature and is isn’t loaded down with dressing. 

Don’t let that make you think it isn’t flavorful though. It has a little zing and plenty of bacon!

We live in a town that has a lot of German heritage. It’s one of those old river towns that boasts a church and a tavern on every corner.

That may be a slight exaggeration, but there are parts of town where it’s not too far off! Our family also has a lot of German heritage.

So it’s no surprise that one of the matriarchs of the family a few generations back was famous for her German potato salad. Everyone wanted the recipe, but she was always coy with the details.

Can you guess why? Because she never made it herself!

She got it from a local deli. Talk about the ultimate rouse!

You won’t have to stage your own cover up like she did. You can really make your own!

Most German potato salad in our area is made with sliced potatoes.  I opted to dice them this time because I thought it would look more like “potato salad.”

It really doesn’t matter which way you choose to go, it’s delicious either way. Next time I am slicing them though, it just feels more right!

What is German Potato Salad

If you’ve never had German potato salad, it’s potatoes dressed in a simple vinaigrette with plenty of onion and bacon. I really love fresh chives and dill on it too. 

The dill really adds something, so don’t skip it if you can avoid it! Though if you don’t have any, it will still be good without.

It is great alongside a good German sausage and is usually served warm or at room temperature. My husband and I both agree that the leftovers are perfectly good straight from the fridge too!

Just remember potatoes love seasoning, so be generous with the salt and pepper. Be sure to give it a taste and add more if necessary.

You can serve it with German braised red cabbage and bacon wrapped pork loin like we did for a feast. The best part is you don’t have to fake it!

Does your family have any “secret” recipes like ours?

More great potato side dishes:

Bacon ranch potato salad is like a mix between potato salad and a loaded baked potato with a bit of ranch dressing for good measure. It is always a hit and is a fun twist on the classic picnic salad.

Cheesy potatoes with bacon is another great option. Soft buttery potatoes are baked with plenty of cheese and bacon to make a perfectly popular side.

Sour cream and chive new potatoes are easy to make and go perfectly with almost any entrée. They would be right at home on your plate at family dinner or for a holiday mashed potato upgrade.

Love this recipe? Give it a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review in the recipe card below!

Thanks for sharing!