Loaded Baked Potato Salad
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This loaded baked potato salad is cool, hearty and satisfying. It features all the rich delicious toppings you’d put on a baked potato. Like sour cream, crispy bacon and cheddar cheese and green onions. It’s the perfect side dish for picnics, potlucks, and the 4th of July. Double the recipe to feed a crowd.
📌 PIN LOADED BAKED POTATO SALAD
👩🏻🍳 ABOUT this Loaded Baked Potato Salad
- This is not your traditional potato salad recipe. It’s so much better. If you enjoy baked potatoes with all the fixings like cheese, bacon, onions and sour cream, you’ll absolutely love this loaded dish.
- I received an email from a reader thanking me for the recipe. She served this loaded baked potato salad at her ranch-style wedding. She received so many compliments from guests who loved this dish.
- There’s a secret to achieving the consistency and flakiness of restaurant-style baked potatoes. It’s baking the potatoes for this salad, not boiling them. It makes all the difference.
- How to know when baked potatoes are tender and done? Once you can easily slide a knife all the way through them without resistance. In my oven, this takes 45 minutes to 1 hour of baking at 400ºF. But the cook time will vary depending on the size of the potatoes.
- For an incredible boost of flavor, we sprinkle apple cider vinegar over the cooled potatoes. We allow the vinegar to soak into the potatoes for about 10 to 15 minutes before adding in the rest of the ingredients.
🥔 MORE LOADED POTATO RECIPES: If you love this loaded baked potato salad, then you’ll also enjoy loaded baked potato casserole, loaded baked potato soup, and loaded potato skins. Try them all!
🛒 INGREDIENTS
- Russet Potatoes: This is the best type of potato to use for loaded baked potato salad. For faster cooking, select medium-sized potatoes rather than large baking potatoes.
- Olive Oil: We brush a bit of olive oil onto the potatoes before they’re baked in the oven. It makes the skins crispy and easy to remove.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: Provides a delicious tang that contributes incredible flavor to the recipe. In my book, this is a must-have ingredient for baked potato salad.
- Mayonnaise: Adds creamy richness and moisture. I prefer Best Foods Mayonnaise or Duke’s Mayo.
- Sour Cream: Provides a rich delicious flavor that’s slightly tangy and tart. It also adds moisture and delivers a creamy mouthfeel.
- Sea Salt: Brightens the flavors of the other ingredients.
- Black Pepper: Adds rustic taste and aroma with a slight bit of heat.
- Medium Cheddar Cheese: Has a smooth, mild, slightly buttery taste. A must-have ingredient for loaded baked potato salad.
- Crispy Bacon: We fry up thick-sliced bacon until it’s extra crispy. It adds amazing flavor and texture to the recipe.
- Green Onion: Adds beautiful color, freshness and extra texture.
📖 RECIPE STEPS
RECIPE PREP: Move oven rack to the middle position. Preheat oven to 400ºF. With a potato brush, scrub potatoes clean under running water. Dry them off with a lint-free kitchen towel.
- STEP 1: Pierce each potato 3 to 4 times on each side with a fork. Transfer them to a baking tray. Brush all sides with olive oil. Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until fork tender.
- STEP 2: On the baking tray, cut each baked potato into four pieces to allow steam to escape. Let them cool for 10 minutes, or until they can be handled without burning your fingers. With a knife and your fingertips, remove the potato skins and discard them.
- STEP 3: Cut the flesh of the potatoes into bite-size pieces. Transfer them to a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle the cooled potatoes with apple cider vinegar.
- STEP 4: In a small bowl, stir together the mayo, sour cream, salt, and pepper. Pour this creamy mixture over the potatoes. Gently fold it in with a spatula. Fold in the bacon, onions and cheese. Cover and refrigerate the potato salad for at least 1 to 2 hours before serving.
🥔 Helpful Tip for LOADED BAKED Potato Salad
To keep the flaky baked potato cubes from becoming mushy, use a separate bowl to combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, salt and pepper. Then gently fold the mixture into the potatoes along with crispy bacon, sliced green onion, and cheddar cheese.
🧑🏼🍳 RECIPE FAQ
These are the most commonly-asked questions for making the best loaded baked potato salad, and the most helpful answers for recipe success.
It’s different from a classic potato salad recipe that features hard-boiled eggs, mustard and pickles. Baked potato salad has all the toppings you’d add to a restaurant-style loaded baked potato. Add-ins like sour cream, shredded cheese, crispy bacon, and green onions.
Russet potatoes are a traditional favorite for loaded baked potato salad. If you can’t find them at the market, look for Idaho potatoes instead.
Extra-thick bacon. Buy it at the butcher’s counter. Thinner pre-packaged bacon will be light and crumbly. Once cooked, it won’t have the same hearty look and taste of thick-style bacon.
If stored in an airtight container in the fridge, it can last for up to 5 days.
🍽 MORE PICNIC SALAD RECIPES
During the hot-weather months we all look forward to delicious cool summer salads that family and friends will rave about. These tasty salads are easy to make and will please a crowd.
- Classic Macaroni Salad
- Tuna Pasta Salad
- Cucumber Salad
- Lemon Orzo Salad
- Chinese Chicken Salad
- Cold Spaghetti Salad
RATE THIS RECIPE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Flavor testers rated this the BEST loaded baked potato salad recipe. They compared it against their mother and grandmother’s recipes, and said hands down, this dish has the best flavors and textures – it’s amazing.
If you agree this recipe’s a keeper, give it a 5-star rating in the comments. Then be a recipe hero. Share it with a friend. 📌 Pin it to Pinterest.
Loaded Baked Potato Salad
- Total Time: 55 Minutes
- Yield: 8 Servings 1x
Description
This loaded baked potato salad features all the rich delicious toppings you’d add to a baked potato. It’s a crowd-pleasing recipe with amazing flavor. Ideal for picnics, potlucks and church socials.
Ingredients
- 3 pounds Russet potatoes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- Sea salt, to taste
- Ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 pound thick-cut bacon, cooked until crispy and coarsely chopped
- 3 green onions, sliced
- 1 packed cup shredded medium cheddar cheese
Instructions
RECIPE PREP: Move oven rack to the middle position. Preheat oven to 400ºF. With a potato brush, scrub potatoes clean under running water. Dry them off with a lint-free kitchen towel.
- Pierce each potato 3 to 4 times on each side with a fork. Transfer them to a baking tray. Brush all sides with olive oil. Bake for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, until tender. (The cook time will vary depending on the size of the potatoes.) When you can run a knife straight through the centers without resistance they’re done.
- On the baking tray, cut each baked potato into four pieces to allow steam to escape. Let them cool for 10 minutes, or until they can be handled without burning your fingers. With a knife and your fingertips, remove the potato skins and discard them.
- Cut the flesh of the potatoes into bite-size pieces. Transfer them to a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle the cooled potatoes with apple cider vinegar.
- In a small bowl, stir together the mayo, sour cream, salt, and pepper. Pour this creamy mixture over the potatoes. Gently fold it in with a spatula. Fold in the bacon, onions and cheese.
- Cover and refrigerate the potato salad for at least 1 to 2 hours before serving.
Notes
For best results: Select potatoes that are all about the same size so they’ll finish baking at the same time.
This is a perfect make-ahead recipe. The loaded baked potato salad tastes amazing the second day when all the flavors have had a chance to meld together.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
LOADED BAKED POTATO SALAD 👉🏻 JOIN THE CONVO
What will you serve with your Loaded Baked Potato Salad? I serve mine as a side dish for cheeseburger sliders, Sonoran hot dogs, chicken and steak. I’d love to hear what you think. Share your thoughts in the comments below.
LOVEEE this recipe! This is my go-to potato salad for any and every event! My in laws love when I make it and this weekend I finally get to make this delicious potato salad for my parents, sister, her boyfriend. This recipe is a keeper! ❤️
Hi Bethany. I’m so happy you’re enjoying this recipe and sharing it with the ones you love. Have a great weekend!
I only gave it 5 stars due to the fact that I couldn’t give it 10!!! LOVE the fact that you bake the potatoes instead of boiling them. Gave it a few tweaks. Didn’t use the apple cider vinegar. Left the skins on the potatoes for the extra flavor and used ranch dressing instead of mayo. Now I can’t put the fork down. I hope this makes it to the bbq before I eat it all!!
Can this be prepared night before ?
Hello Kellie! Yes, this potato salad recipe can be prepared in advance! Have a wonderful holiday weekend!
I’m in the process of making this and it dawns on me that my “mayonnaise” is Miracle whip! Is that ok to use instead of real mayo?? Southern girl here lol
Hello Christy! I’m all for using the ingredients you have on hand! Miracle Whip is different than mayonnaise in that it contains corn syrup, spices and more oil than mayo. If you love the flavor of Miracle Whip, then I’m absolutely sure you’ll love it in this recipe too. Next time around you can change things up and use mayo. :-)
I made three salads (and 5 desserts) for BBQ, /baby shower, and I must say, this loaded baked potato salad was eaten to the bottom of the bowl! I love potatoes but have never been a fan of potato salad, and all the cooking I do, I’ve never made one! This one has me HOOKED! It was a-mazing!
Just made this recipe to pair with my pulled pork sandwiches! I must say, I don’t know if I did something wrong but the potatoes took so long to peel. I was under the impression that the skin would almost fall off after being baked. Is there a reason we have to peel after baking them? Would it be possible to peel with a potato peeler before hand? I also found that while some potatoes seemed a little bit harder and uncooked, others were already beginning to get mushy. I guess I would have to mess with the recipe a bit next time. The tedious potatoes really upset me! Neat take on the traditional potato salad, though, we’ll see what my guests think of it tonight!
This is the recipe I’ve pinned to make this weekend… for 59 people!! I love the vinegar addition! But why in earth would you peel off those lovely crispy skins?? I’m leaving them on!
A follow up question based on Jodi’s wedding prep question.. is it best to bake the potatoes the night before and then cut and assemble the rest of the salad the day you are serving? Or was that hint for her larger scale prepping? Thanks!!
Hi Kate! When I make this loaded baked potato salad recipe I do everything the same day. I just allow enough time for the baked potatoes (that have been peeled, sliced and cut into bite-sized pieces) to cool down before proceeding with the recipe. To make things easier when large-scale prepping, the potatoes can be baked the evening before. :-)
WOW this looks amazing!! I can’t wait to try it!
Thank you so much Sarah! This loaded baked potato salad is perfect for summer gatherings, picnics and potlucks. I can hardly wait until you try it. Have a great weekend! :-)
Hi! This looks like a great dish to add to our wedding reception bbq, which will be out of town. I’d like to be able to prep as much as possible in my own kitchen before assembling at a rented cabin (with limited kitchen supplies). Can you recommend where to stop in the recipe if I’m prepping the day before serving?
Thanks so much!
Jodi, congratulations on your upcoming wedding! Woo-hoo! That’s so incredibly exciting! Here’s what I would do for the loaded baked potato salad: Bake the potatoes ahead of time, but leave the skins on until you’re at the cabin. Once you get to the cabin you can remove the skins, cube the potatoes and sprinkle them with apple cider vinegar. Ahead of time, I would fry the thick-cut bacon until it’s extra crispy, chop it up and put it in a zip-top bag. I’d slice the onions and shred the cheese ahead of time, putting the items in separate zip-top bags. You can mix the sour cream and mayonnaise together at the cabin. This advanced preparation will make your yummy loaded baked potato salad easy to finish and assemble on the afternoon of the big event! Many good wishes are sent your way for a fabulous wedding! :-)
Excellent! Thanks, Denay!
This looks delicious! I want to make it today but for only 5-6 people. Can you tell me the measurements for 1/2 the servings?
Silly questiOn–does the vinegar go in the wet mixture?
Hello Cait! Pour the apple cider vinegar right on top of the plain potatoes before anything else is added. If there’s enough time to give the apple cider vinegar 5-15 minutes to really soak into the potatoes before adding in the wet mixture, your potato salad will have an extra infusion of complete yumminess! I send many happy wishes your way for a delicious loaded baked potato salad and a wonderful week. ?
Well……found my 4th of July picnic contribution!!
Hi! I love your website and this recipe! Could I make this recipe the night before then refrigerate it till I need it? I have a church picnic tomorrow and I want to try this out! Thanks!
?Hello Anna. Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving such a sweet comment! Yes, this yummy loaded potato salad can be made a day in advance and served the following day. Have a wonderful time at your church picnic tomorrow. It sounds like so much fun! ?
I made something similar to this for a family cook out last month. It tastes so good.
This loaded baked potato salad is just as scrumptious as it looks! Thanks so much Ashlea for stopping by to visit me here at Confetti and Bliss. Have a great week. :-)
I make a version of this, and it is SO good. Pinned yours to remind myself to try it! Thanks!
Thank you so much Angie for pinning this loaded baked potato salad recipe to Pinterest. I really appreciate it! :-)
Wow this absolutely looks a yummy recipe and I can’t wait to try this on weekends I love potato salad so much
Aziel, get ready to fall in love at first bite! This loaded baked potato salad is creamy, hearty, scrumptious goodness. :-)
Potato salad is my favorite. I have never tried to make it. Your recipe looks so good I think I will give it a try. !!
I love it! I’ll add more bacon to mine.
OMG! this is so perfect. I love potatoes and I just bought a bunch of them. I’m going to try this tomorrow for sure. Thank you for sharing
Minus the bacon, this looks fantastic! I am pinning for later! Great pics of the food too! Yummy!
I am salivating. This look yummy and great. I would love to try this.
I want to try to make this asap. It sounds and looks delicious. Thanks for sharing.
XOXO //SINCERELY OPHELIA | NYC Petite Fashion Blogger
It sounds so good and yummy. I would love to try this baked potato salad.
Really really clever to bake the potatoes instead of boiling them for that authentic baked potato flavor- this looks great!
OH YUM! Totally pinning this to my group board! Thank you so much. Potatoes are my favorite comfort food, and they’re so versatile!
Oh my god I love potato salad and this looks so darn good! I feel like this would be perfect for me to take away with me to work and it would be filling as well!
This looks delicious! It’s going in my binder for future cooking days. It’ll be the first potato salad I try to cook!
You weren’t kidding about it being loaded! I am loving this recipe and I’m sure the whole family will love it as well. I think it’s awesome that you shared this recipe!
I pinned this because I HAVE to try it. It looks absolutely amazing – so creamy and delicious! BTW the vintage-inspired dishtowels are awesome: I have some actual vintage towels from my mom that look almost identical, and just used them in some photos for an upcoming post. Love it! :)
YUMMMMMMMMMMM These look so good! I’l have to tell you if they taste as good after I’ve tried them out!
It’s been forever since I had a loaded baked potato and I’ve never thought about turning it into a salad side dish before. Definitely going to make this the next time we have a barbecue!
This looks so delicious and easy to make. I will have to get the ingredients I need to make some for our BBQ this weekend. I am sure it will be a big hit.
This is such a yummy recipe. Will surely have to try.
This looks SO good! Perfect recipe for summer!
This looks so delicious! I love that it has the sour cream with less mayo. I will need to share this with my mom for a different twist for our family events!
What a wonderful twist on a summertime potato salad. This would be a huge hit at any party!
Oh my! Pinned! This is my contribution to our next potluck in the office!
holy cow! This looks amazing! I am obsessed with potato salad. Cant wait to try this
Oh yum! This looks and sounds amazing! Unfortunately, I’m dairy-free so I’d have to take out the sour cream and cheese, but I still think this would taste great :)
Bring on the summer bbqs! This looks so yummy and I love eating this with a burger!
Yes please! Potato salad is one of my favorite things ever. I need to make this!
oooo this looks amazing! Loaded potato anything is always bomb :)
xx nicole
http://www.nicoleparise.com
It looks so good! I am so hungry just now! I don’t have any of the ingredients listed but i’ll pin this post coz I rally want to do it! xx corinne
Mmmm…. I would love this for my next picnic.
bacon on anything is a plus for me so i’m totally into this recipe! it would be great for a summer cookout!
I love this! I used to hate potato salad because it has mayo in it, but I’ve definitely learned to like it a lot more but this looks truly delicious! It’s perfect for summer!
This potato saled would be the perfect side dish for my Fourth of July party. It looks easy to make and delicious.
Omg that loaded baked potato salad looks so delicious!
Rachel, I hope you make this loaded backed potato salad this summer! Your taste buds will thank you. :-)
Wow this looks amazing! I have to make this for a BBQ I am invited to on the weekend! Thanks for sharing! Here in Austria we have so many versions of potato salad but I have never seen anything like this before!
Sending love to you!
Theresa
Theresa, thank you so much for your lovely comment. I’m filled with so much happiness that you found my special potato salad recipe and love it. Many wishes are sent your way for an awesome summer season in Austria. :-)
Oh my gosh I just tried my hand at potato salad two nights ago and I felt like it was missing something. Maybe the bacon and sour cream would have helped a ton! This looks amazing. Your page is so beautiful, too! (:
Allie, thank you so much for your sweet comment. I really appreciate it! I know the next time you make potato salad and use this recipe you will have a dish that you’ll really enjoy.
I put dill pickles and some juice in my go to potato salad. I also add some lemon juice. The acidic and mayo/mustard really brings things together. I’m going to try this as a new idea, all though my family family loves my potato salad.
This looks amazingly good! I also love how simple and easy it looks to make. A great summer side dish for sure!
Hi Shannon. Yes! Loaded baked potato salad is the perfect side dish for any occasion. My friends and family rave about this potato salad recipe. It’s a real winner!
I want this in my belly! It sounds soooo tasty! I can’t wait to make it.
Hello Robin. I can hardly wait until you try this baked potato salad. Your tummy will be super happy. :-)