Bacon Ranch Potato Salad

This super simple bacon ranch potato salad is the perfect addition to your summer BBQ dinner table. So full of flavor and lots of crunchy bacon.

I really hate the word potatoe potato. I always want to add an E at the end of the word. You may as well just call me Dan Quayle.

Can you believe I just referenced Dan Quayle in a blog post? I never thought that would happen.

However, whether or not you face issues with the word potatoe potato you should make this salad. It’s full of flavor and even includes bacon. Yes. Bacon. You know, the good stuff. Or, as I heard it referred to on Pinterest this evening “meat candy.”

Speaking of bacon. I feel I must tell you I once raised pigs as a kid. Now, I say “I raised” I really mean my dad raised and I helped. We had two pigs.

– Petunia: She was named after Porky the Pigs girlfriend. She was one of my favorite Loony Tunes characters. However, she is very unappreciated in terms of notoriety. Am I the only one who knows who she is? Petunia (my pig) grew up to be massive and was eventually taken the the slaughter house where she made awesome peppered bacon. I’m not trying to be unsensative when I say that. She really did make awesome bacon.

– Chops: She was our second pig. When we first brought her home she was so tiny that she actually lived with our beagle in the dog pen. Since she was our second pig things went a little more smoothy. We knew what and when to feed her and didn’t let her get too big. We had already made that mistake with Petunia.

Here is the thing about raising your own animals. You learn to respect them. Yes, they will eventually be slaughtered and become your dinner. However, that does not mean they are to not be treated kindly. I loved my pigs and they lived a very good life. I think having that experience growing up really taught me a lot.

Also, here is me with a baby tiger when I was a kid. I really do love animals…and apparently suspenders….really mom?

Now, I’m not sure what all my ramblings really had to do with this post (I guess we could connect it back to bacon…six degress of Kevin Bacon? Not the same thing…I think…) except I felt the need to share with you a story from my childhood. Don’t worry. I’m sure I will share more stories sometimes soon. You can hear about all the wild game I grew up eating, cleaning and shooting. I bet you can’t wait.

Deep down inside I really am just a mid-western girl at heart 🙂

So, what about you? Did you raise any of your own animals?

Bacon Ranch Potato Salad

This super simple bacon ranch potato salad is the perfect addition to your summer BBQ dinner table. So full of flavor and lots of crunchy bacon.

Yield: 4 cups potato salad

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

• 4 cups cubed red potatoes
• 1/2 cup chopped yellow onion
• 1 pound bacon - cooked and crumbled
• 3/4 - 1 cup mayonnaise (more or less depending on how creamy you want to the salad to be)
• 1/4 cup ranch salad dressing
• 2 tablespoons dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon champagne vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
• Salt - to taste
• Pepper - to taste
• 2 tablespoons parsley - chopped

Source: Adapted from Taste of Home

Directions:

In a large pot add potatoes and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil and let potatoes cook until tender. About 15 minutes. Drain.

In a large bowl add potatoes, chopped onion and bacon. Set aside.

In a small bowl whisk together mayonnaise, ranch dressing, dijon mustard, champagne vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper.

Pour mayonnaise mixture overtop potato mixture, toss gently and let sit overnight (covered in a refrigerator) for the best flavor. Season with more salt and pepper if needed after sitting. When you are ready to serve sprinkle with parsley, chives or green onion.

*Note: The bacon will bring a nice level of salt to the dish so keep this in mind when salting the potato salad.