Potato salad is the trusty standby at every barbecue, but it’s not nearly as flashy as the caprese peach salad and Brussels sprout sliders beckoning from across the picnic table. That’s because you’ve been sleeping on making it at home in favor of the lackluster store-bought stuff. This summer, put spuds back in the spotlight with one (or all) of these 25 potato salad recipes, ranging from classic to completely new. Whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, gluten free or somewhere in between, there’s something for you. Now, pass that buffalo potato salad.
25 Potato Salad Recipes That Will Win the Summer Barbecue
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Published Jul 7, 2022
1. Ranch Potato Salad
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: less than 500 calories, low sugar, crowd-pleaser
We’re always scheming about ways to sneak ranch dressing onto the party menu. This homemade version has all the familiar flavors but is classy enough for any summer soiree.
2. Meal-prep Mayo-less Potato Salad
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, less than 500 calories
This make-ahead salad has all the creaminess of the original, without the major calorie count. There’s just half a cup of sour cream in the whole recipe.
3. German Potato Salad
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: less than 500 calories, crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
While a mayonnaise-based salad is undeniably delicious, we’re not interested in babysitting it in sweltering heat at the next picnic. Instead, we’ll opt for this vinegar-based dish, which has a tangy-sweet flavor and can hang at the party, no problem.
4. Cauliflower ‘potato’ Salad
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: low carb, keto, make ahead
Just because carbs didn’t make the guest list doesn’t mean potato salad can’t make an appearance…if you swap the spuds for cauliflower, that is. This side has all the herby flavor and creamy texture as the original.
5. Greek Potato Salad
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, ready in <30 minutes, <10 ingredients
You know what makes an excellent dressing for potato salad? Greek yogurt. You know what’s even better? Tzatziki.
6. Baked Potato Salad
- Time Commitment: 4 hours, 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, less than 500 calories
Take your side dish from steakhouse to potluck with bacon, scallions and cheddar cheese. Bonus, this one will keep in the fridge for up to five days.
7. Pink And Purple Potato Salad
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
There’s no mayo—instead, the dressing is a lighted-up combination of red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard and garlic. But no one will miss it once they see those gorgeous colored spuds.
8. Vegan Roasted Sweet Potato Salad
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: gluten free, vegan, vegetarian, Whole30
In our humble opinion, sweet potatoes don’t get enough summer love. This vegan salad might be a departure from the traditional, but it’s no less tasty (plus, it’s a lot healthier).
9. Red Potato Salad With Creamy Cashew Dijon Dressing And Dill
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: ready in <30 minutes, vegan, gluten free, <10 ingredients
How do you make a vegan potato salad without any mayo, sour cream or yogurt? Easy: You whip up a quick and easy cashew cream sauce and wow the socks off everyone at your barbecue.
10. Grilled Potato Salad With Black Garlic, Dill And Chives
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, dairy free
Black garlic—aka fermented garlic—gives the salad an earthy, slightly sweet flavor. You can buy it online and at stores like Trader Joe’s, but feel free to use roasted garlic if it’s hard to source.
11. Curry Roasted Cauliflower Sweet Potato Salad
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegan, gluten free, Whole30, less than 500 calories
If your idea of potato salad is a gut-buster that requires a nap after eating, think again. This balanced version has tons of herbs and a tahini dressing for flavor, but it’s surprisingly light and nutritious.
12. Buffalo Potato Salad
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, Whole30, gluten free, paleo
You already put buffalo sauce on everything, so why not add it to your potato salad? One bite and the vinegar-y kick makes total sense.
13. Creamy Potato Salad
- Time Commitment: 2 hours, 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, less than 500 calories
Yes, it’s ultra-rich, but there’s also relish, mustard, cider vinegar and shallot to balance out all that mayonnaise.
14. Simple French-style Potato Salad
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: gluten free, dairy free, vegan, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
Of course the French can manage to turn a humble barbecue side into something elegant. It’s all in the garlicky mustard dressing.
15. Quinoa Sweet Potato Salad
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: less than 500 calories, make ahead
Go ahead, give yourself permission to stretch the definition of “potato salad.” Among all the meats and heavy sides, this healthy dish will be a welcome addition.
16. Chinese Sausage Potato Salad
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser
Chinese sausage, or lap cheong, is a type of sausage that’s cured and dried with a sweet-and-salty flavor profile. Add it to your potato salad for a hit of umami and you’ll never look back.
17. Green Goddess Potato Salad
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, ready in <30 minutes
This one goes out to the gardeners with fresh herbs growing in their backyard. Time to harvest all your basil, parsley and chives.
18. Buttermilk Herb Smashed Potato Salad
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, special occasion–worthy
Smashing and roasting the potatoes before dressing them is an extra step, but it’s 100 percent worth it for the crispy texture it adds to this salad.
19. Pesto Potato Salad
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: less than 500 calories, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
Here’s further proof that pesto is good on everything. You could streamline this recipe by using store-bought, but the homemade version is pretty easy to make as it stands.
20. Avocado Potato Salad
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, dairy free
For a dairy-free side dish that’s just as creamy as its mayonnaise-based counterpart, look no further than a few ripe avocadoes.
21. Herbed Potato Salad
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: dairy free, ready in <30 minutes
Here’s a secret trick to making a creamy potato salad sans dairy: Reserve some of the starchy water from boiling the potatoes, then add it to the dressing for a richer texture.
22. Niçoise Potato Salad
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, less than 500 calories, gluten free
It’s like a classic salade Niçoise, but all in one bowl. Use baby potatoes so you don’t have to worry about peeling the skins beforehand.
23. Classic Potato Salad
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: dairy free, gluten free, kid-friendly
Hello, best in show. This version of the classic contains fresh cucumbers and radishes for a pickle-y, peppery bite.
24. Dill Pesto Potato Wedge Salad
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: gluten free, dairy free, vegan, ready in <30 minutes
It’s wedge salad meets potato salad and it’s equal parts ingenious and delicious. (We think most picnic table spreads would benefit from some greens, just sayin’.)
25. Italian Potato Salad
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: ready in <30 minutes, less than 500 calories, gluten free, vegan
Serve it cold or warm, just don’t skimp on the lemon vinaigrette. It’s the star of the show.
