Description
Creamy cheesy bacon ranch potato salad delivers classic summer cookout comfort with irresistible flavor combinations. Southern-style potatoes dressed in tangy ranch and crisp bacon promise a crowd-pleasing side dish that keeps everyone coming back for seconds.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 pounds (907 grams) red potatoes
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) bacon, cooked and chopped
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) cheddar cheese, shredded
Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 package ranch seasoning mix
Dressing Ingredients:
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) sour cream
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) milk
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) mustard
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- 2 green onions, chopped
Instructions
- Dice red potatoes into uniform cubes, ensuring even cooking and bite-sized portions for easy eating.
- Submerge potato cubes in cold water, bring to a rolling boil, and simmer for 12-14 minutes until tender but not mushy, checking doneness with a fork.
- Drain potatoes thoroughly and spread on a baking sheet to cool quickly, preventing overcooking and maintaining their texture.
- Crisp bacon in a skillet until golden brown and crunchy, then crumble into small, irregular pieces for maximum flavor distribution.
- Whisk together sour cream, Greek yogurt, and ranch seasoning in a spacious mixing bowl until smooth and well-incorporated.
- Fold shredded cheddar cheese and crumbled bacon into the creamy ranch base, creating a rich and tangy dressing.
- Gently incorporate cooled potato cubes into the mixture, ensuring each piece is evenly coated without breaking the potatoes.
- Sprinkle fresh chives over the salad for a subtle onion flavor and vibrant green color.
- Refrigerate for 1-2 hours to allow flavors to meld and develop, serving chilled for optimal taste and texture.
Notes
- Opt for waxy red potatoes to maintain their shape and prevent turning mushy during cooking.
- Salt the boiling water generously to enhance the potato’s natural flavor from the inside out.
- Use thick-cut bacon for a more robust crunch and deeper smoky taste in the salad.
- Consider Greek yogurt as a healthier alternative to reduce overall calorie content while maintaining creamy texture.
- Swap ranch seasoning with homemade mix for lower sodium and control over ingredients.
- Allow salad to sit for 2-3 hours before serving to let flavors meld and intensify.
- For gluten-free version, ensure ranch seasoning is certified gluten-free or make from scratch.
- Prepare extra bacon as crispy topping just before serving for added textural contrast.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 375 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 13 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg