Old Fashioned German Potato Salad is dressed with a dijon vinegar dressing and can be served either hot or cold.
German Potato Salad is a traditional potato side dish originating in Southern Germany. In Northern Germany, the dish is different and more similar to an American style potato salad with mayonnaise. Generally, German Potato Salad refers to this Southern style dish.
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What is the difference between German Potato Salad and American Potato Salad?
In a Southern German Potato Salad, the dressing is made from bacon drippings and vinegar. In an American Potato Salad, the dressing is largely mayonnaise based.
What is German Potato Salad called in German?
Kartoffelsalat is the name of German Potato Salad in the German language.
Is German Potato Salad served warm or cold?
Either! German Potato Salad can be served either warm or cold. It’s a matter of personal preference, and it is delicious either way.
Storage of Leftovers: When chilling, you can simply cover the bowl in plastic wrap and place it in the fridge. For longer term storage, this salad should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Since it can be enjoyed cold, no reheating is required.
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Watch the video below where Rachel will walk you through every step of this recipe, including tips and tricks along the way. Sometimes it helps to have a visual, and we’ve always got you covered with our cooking show. You can find the complete collection of recipes on YouTube, Facebook Watch, or our Facebook Page, or right here on our website with their corresponding recipes.
Old Fashioned German Potato Salad
Ingredients
- 2 pounds red potatoes diced
- 1 pound bacon diced
- 1 red onion diced
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add in diced potatoes and boil until tender, about 10 to 12 minutes. Drain potatoes and place in a large mixing bowl.
- Meanwhile, add bacon to a cold large skillet. Heat over medium heat and cook bacon until crisp, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove bacon from grease and set aside, leaving grease in pan.
- Add red onion to grease and cook 5 minutes until onions are soft. Whisk in vinegar, olive oil, sugar, mustard, salt, and pepper until heated through, 1 to 2 minutes.
- Pour sauce over cooked potatoes. Toss with bacon and parsley. Serve hot, or chill to serve cold.
Nutrition
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Joyce Westner says
Fabulous! Made it for our part-German family who all love it, thank you.
Kathryn Cole says
My fathers grandparents came from Germany. My father got his German potato salad recipe from them. He made it with apple cidar vinegar. I wished that i would have gotten the recipe from him.
Kathy K says
Great recipe. Tasty and authentic.
A. McLaughlin says
Made this yesterday for a 4th of July BBQ and it was a hit! I doubled the recipe and there was nothing left …… it’s THAT good! Everyone absolutely loved it.
Holly Kidson says
So everything about this recipe made sense to my brain and my tastebuds… except the sugar! That sauce is so sweet! Maybe it’s just me, but I would have done maybe two tsp, not two tbsp of sugar. I tried to balance by adjusting with additional mustard, some Worcestershire sauce, and lemon juice, but it’s still not my cup of tea. I’ll make it again, but I think the proportions need some tweaking for a more savory end product.
Bailey Luder says
I made this for a work potluck, and even with a double batch, there was but a scoop left to take home. It’s SO GOOD!
thank you!
Mary says
This is almost exactly the way my mother and grandmother made it and I have made it most of my life except we didn’t put the olive oil and mustard in it and we always ate it hot I love German potato salad. I don’t understand the olive oil why would you need to add oil to it but La mustard might be good, I will try it next time.
Paul Brickler says
Spot on, just like grandma used to make. Thanks!
Don Keagy says
I made this for a party, and overheard three people say the potato salad is sooooo good.
Paul Haines says
I made it twice already and I love it
Brittany says
Wow!! This was excellent. I added a little less oil and a little more salt. Delicious!
Angel says
I love this! Husband hate mayo so I tried it. Have had it several times and it’s a hit at every get together.
Amy Hayden says
This is delicious. I halved the recipe because it’s just the two of us. At first I thought there would be way too much grease, but it ended up absorbing into the potatoes. I ate it hot last night and room temp for lunch today. Both ways are good, but I prefer it warm. I’ve made other German potato salad recipes, and they ended up bland. This one was great! Thank you!
Tim says
Very easy and very tasty. Jus like I remember as a young lad in Germany!
Amy says
Turned out just as I remembered it, delicious!