Looking for the best Southern Potato Salad? These easy picnic potatoes are way better than anything you can find at your market’s deli. Tangy with a bit of crunchy vegetables, this bacon and egg potato salad is everything you want in a potato salad recipe.
There’s still a few weeks left of summer.  A few more precious opportunities to relax with friends, soak up the sun, splash in the water and have a picnic at the beach, park or even in your own backyard.  And what is more picnic-y than Southern potato salad? Maybe this Bacon and Egg Potato Salad!Â
Tender potatoes and crispy veg in a piquant dressing.  If you like Southern style potato salad, which I do, then it’s got to have some chopped hard-boiled eggs mixed in as well.
Which got me thinking… eggs.  What goes with eggs???  Well, duh — bacon.  Ooooh, yes!  Bacon and eggs — in a potato salad recipe.  It makes perfect sense.  So much so that I’m surprised it’s not the accepted method for making this popular side dish.
I know some people buy their cole-slaws, macaroni salads and the like at the grocery store.  Trust me, once you tasted a homemade potato salad, you will snub your nose at those deli-department wannabes.  They just can’t compete.  And there’s nothing easier or more economical than this bacon and egg potato salad at your next pot-luck.  Especially if you’re feeding a crowd.
The best Southern potato salads should have big chunks of identifiable potato, and plenty of crunchy celery and onion. Â But the real secret, is sprinkling the still hot potatoes with a little vinegar. Â It adds tang and dimension to the salad. Â Don’t leave it out — without it, it’s very one-note.
And in my not-so-humble opinion, a good potato salad should have eggs.  And bacon.  It can be served cold, but I have to be honest, I found myself powerless to resist the siren-call of this still warm melange.  If you want to elevate your picnic spread and earn high marks from family and friends, make a bacon and egg potato salad  for your next cookout and prepare yourself for the compliments.
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Bacon and Egg Potato Salad
Ingredients
- 6-7 strips bacon
- 1 1/2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 stalks celery finely diced
- 1/2 cup red onion finely diced
- 2 scallions thinly sliced
- 3 eggs hard boiled
- 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoon mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons parsley chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
- I like to cook bacon in the oven because there's no splatter and it yields a perfect strip of crispy pork. To do it in the oven, preheat to 400 degrees. Cover a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Set a wire rack on top of the cookie sheet. Lay the bacon on the wire rack and cook for about 20-23 minutes until crisped.
- Cut the potatoes into 1" pieces (no need to peel them). Fill a large pot halfway with water. Add the salt and bring to a boil. When the water boils, add the potatoes and cook for 15 minutes. Carefully add the eggs and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Using a spider or slotted spoon remove the potatoes and transfer to a large bowl. Sprinkle the hot potatoes with vinegar and toss to coat. Let the eggs sit in the hot water for another 5 minutes. Then remove them from the water and set aside to cool.
- In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, dijon mustard, kosher salt, black pepper and smoked paprika. Stir to combine.
- Add the celery, onion, scallions and bacon to the potatoes. Peel and chop the eggs and add them to the potatoes. Toss gently. Add the dressing to the potatoes and toss to combine. Sprinkle with a little extra paprika and the parsley. Serve.
Nutrition
“Pin It” For Later!
More Tasty Picnic Sides:
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- Grilled Vegetables with Feta and Farro
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- Brussel Fennel Apple Slaw
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- Tangy Lentils and Quinoa
I meannnn, you had me at bacon, my friend! Srsly Lisa, I would eat this for breakfast if it was in my refrigerator right now. Why not, right? It has ALL the things I want on a warm summer morning. Just pinned this beauty…thanks for the recipe! 🙂
There is nothing like a good homemade potato salad. One of the husbands favorites. I love the tip you shared about the vinegar & will be trying that. And potato salad is definitely better with eggs.
Well, Lisa, you’ve done it again with another great recipe. Potato Salad is one of those recipes that was my Mama’s specialty and I’ve always been afraid I couldn’t live up to hers. You’re inspiring me to try, though. And, by the way, I’ve never heard of the vinegar sprinkling tip. Great idea!
Love the addition of bacon, always good in my opinion! And like the vinegar idea too. Looks great!
I like how you styled the ingredients for this recipe. Sounds like an awesome recipe.
I made your bacon and egg potato salad for a July 4th picnic. Everybody loved it. It is the best potato salad I have ever had. Thank you
Hi Phyllis, I’m so glad you enjoyed the potato salad! It’s always a winner for a summer picnic!
The mayo & bacon are both missing from the ingredient list – how much of each did you use?
I’m so sorry, Jodi! I recently switched to a new recipe card widget and it has fussed with some of my older posts. I’ve fixed it. Use 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise — more if you think it needs more binder and 6-7 strips of bacon. I’ve updated the recipe. Thanks for the catch!
I never thought about bacon in my potato salad.But I will be trying your recipe
Everything’s better with bacon – at least that’s what my better half says!