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This bacon ranch potato salad is packed with bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, and green onions tossed in a tangy Ranch dressing. Perfect for summer cookouts!
We all know I have a thing for summer side dish salads, especially if they contain bacon or my one true love, potatoes. Have you seen my broccoli salad recipe or my honey mustard potato salad?
I think both of them are the perfect window into my flavor-loving heart.
This bacon ranch potato gives you both creamy soft potatoes and loads of crispy bacon but also throws in sharp cheddar cheese, green onions, and a creamy Ranch dressing.
Yeah, it’s pretty much the best potato salad on planet Earth.
I like to use thick sliced bacon for this recipe because it makes super crispy bacon nuggets. However, you can use precooked bacon or even packed real bacon bits if you’re short on time.
I made the homemade potato salad dressing by mixing mayonnaise, sour cream, Ranch seasoning, and garlic powder. It’s tangy, salty, and packed with Ranch flavor. It pairs perfectly with pillowy potatoes, crispy bacon, sharp cheddar cheese, and green onions.
This ranch potato salad is a real Midwest treat!
Ingredients needed
- Baby potatoes
- Mayonnaise
- Sour Cream
- Ranch seasoning
- Garlic powder
- Crispy bacon
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Green onions
How to make bacon ranch potato salad
This salad is simple but still packed with delicious flavor. It’s a great addition to your family potluck or weeknight dinner.
- Bring your potato to a boil. Drain and set aside when soft.
- Whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, Ranch seasoning, and garlic powder.
- Cook your bacon until crispy and crumble.
- Add cooked potatoes, Ranch mixture, bacon, shredded cheese, and green onion in a mixing bowl.
- Stir until thoroughly combined, cover, and let sit in the fridge for 2 hours before serving.
My Pro Tips
Recipe Tips
- Don’t use starchy potatoes like Russet, as they crumble and become soft when boiled.
- You can use larger red or yellow potatoes, but you’ll want to cut them into bite-size pieces.
- Replace pork bacon with turkey or beef bacon if you do not eat pork.
- Add up to 1/2 cup more sour cream if you want a heavily dressed potato salad.
- Hard-boiled eggs make a protein-packed addition.
- If you’re short on time, use packaged bacon bits.
- Replace the sour cream with Greek yogurt to cut down on fat.
FAQ’s
More potato salad recipes
Bacon Ranch Potato Salad
Ingredients
- 2 pounds baby potatoes, halved or quartered, depending on size
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 (1 ounce) packet Ranch seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 pound bacon, thick sliced
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ cup sliced green onions
Instructions
- Add potatoes to a large pot and cover with cold water until the potatoes are covered.
- Set over high heat, boil, and cook until the potatoes are fork-tender.
- Drain and let cool in a colander while you prepare the filling.
- Mix mayonnaise, sour cream, Ranch seasoning, and garlic powder in a small bowl. Place in the fridge while you cook your bacon.
- Place a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add your bacon and fry until crispy.
- Once cooked, place on a paper towel lined plate.
- Chop your bacon into small pieces.
- Add your cooled potatoes to a large mixing bowl along with your crumbled bacon, shredded cheese, green onion, and Ranch mixture.
- Stir to combine until evenly coated. Cover and let sit in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serving.
- Keep refrigerated and consume within 3 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
The suspenders!! I die!! And I could eat this potato salad by the bucket-full 🙂
Love the retro picture!
Bacon can only make potato salad that much better. Yum!
We were at my parents house yesterday and my mom came downstairs with a HUGE Rubbermaid box filled with childhood pictures. Let’s just say that I have some outfits that make those suspenders look like child’s play. What were our parents thinking? Seriously.
PS-I have the same exact issue with tomatoe. I mean tomato.
I could eat the entire bowl. I love ranch, potato salad, and the bacon is a plus. This salad would go great with a burger!!! and that photo of you with the tiger, love it!!! your skinting smile so freaking cute. wish I was able to pet a baby tiger. ps: the suspenders were cute, just don’t try pulling that outfit now. kids can get away with any outfit.. adults not so much.. heehee…
I’m raising a cow named Peter right now and he goes to slaughter in about a month. Not a whole lot you have to do for a cow though We’re ready to fatten him up and feed him grain only, I want some marble in my meat!!! 😉 Your potato salad looks scrumptious. Yes, bacon makes life better. . 🙂
What a little cutie in those suspenders! I truly think if I were to raise my own animals I’d become a vegetarian. But that damn bacon would ruin it! I can’t resist. Your potato salad rocks!
Dude, I lived in pink satin dresses. And bows the size of my head.
I need this potato salad to ease the pain….
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm yes please. I am a super big sucker for potatoe salad. 😉 Love it. This looks freakin awesome. Totally making it.
Love ya
H
Now, here’s a new potato salad for me! Yup …. I’d try it, but I wouldn’t tell my mom. She such a traditionalist about the family potato salad recipe!
I’m raising a golden retriever, does that count? Love this creamy carby salad!