19 Potato Salad Recipes for Cookouts, Weeknights, and More
19 Potato Salad Recipes for Every Summer Mood
There’s simply no way to crown a single best potato salad recipe. Some belong next to a platter of sliced grilled porterhouse, others alongside stovetop burgers, hot dogs, and a cooler packed with beer. Some potato salad recipes are creamy and classic, built to anchor the side dishes at a summer cookout. Others skip the mayo entirely in favor of sharp mustard, fresh herbs, chile heat, or punchy vinaigrettes. No matter the vibe, potato salads always show up for the function.
So whether you’re hosting a backyard cookout, packing a picnic, or figuring out dinner when it’s too hot to turn on the oven, here are 19 of our favorite potato salad recipes. We’ve got smashed potatoes loaded with bacon and sour cream, a potato salad with spicy Caesar dressing, another that channels the flavors of an everything bagel (yes, with lox), and even one topped with crunchy potato chips. Frankly, potatoes have range.
Photographs by Mamadi Doumbouya, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Shannon Maldonado1/19Classic Potato Salad
Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Prop Styling by Alex Massilion, Food Styling by Thu Buser.2/19Muffuletta Potato Salad
The joy of New Orleans’ favorite sandwich, but make it potato salad. It’s packed with deli meat, pickled peppers, briny capers, and (of course) plenty of olives.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, Prop Styling by Linden Elstran3/19Dill Pickle Potato Salad
If you’re the type to snack straight from the pickle jar, this tangy potato salad belongs in your regular summer rotation. Fresh herbs, briny dill pickles, and red onion keep every bite punchy.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Plate by Heath Ceramics5/19Grilled Potato Salad With Chiles and Basil
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Spencer Richards, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua6/19Spicy Caesar Potato Salad
This potato salad borrows everything we love about a great Caesar salad recipe: anchovies, Parmesan, lemon, garlic, and enough black pepper and hot sauce to keep things interesting.
Ted Cavanaugh8/19New Potatoes With Parmesan, Black Pepper, and Gribiche Dressing
Roasted potatoes are already hard to resist, but the real star here is the gribiche: a punchy French dressing packed with hard-boiled eggs, capers, and cornichons.
Alex Lau10/19Potato Salad With Lox and Everything-Bagel Spice
A deli-counter fever dream in potato salad form, this recipe combines smoked salmon, everything seasoning, herbs, and creamy potatoes into one extremely brunch-friendly situation.
Photo by Alex Lau, Styling by Sue Li11/19Potato Salad With Mustard Sauce and Watercress
This bright, mayo-free potato salad leans sharp and peppery thanks to mustard sauce and fresh watercress, making it especially good alongside grilled steak or other rich mains.
Photo by Peden + Munk, food styling by Sue Li, prop styling by Rebecca Bartoshesky12/19Potato Salad With Bacon and Eggs
Somewhere between potato salad and egg salad, this hearty side dish folds crispy bacon, olives, and tomatoes into a creamy dressing that tastes even better after a little fridge time.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Christina Allen13/19Korean Potato Salad
Creamy, slightly sweet, and loaded with crunchy vegetables, Korean potato salad pairs especially well with spicy mains like bulgogi short ribs.
Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Gerri Williams14/19Grilled Purple Sweet Potato Salad
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Christina Allen15/19Herby Salmon and Potato Salad
Layered on a sheet pan for easy assembly and even easier cleanup, this salmon and potato salad works equally well for laid-back lunches or low-effort summer dinners.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Jillian Knox, prop styling Sophie Peoples16/19Grilled Sweet Potatoes With Charred Scallion Mayo
Photograph by Heami Lee, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by JoJo Li17/19Chaat-Style Potato Salad
Inspired by Indian papri chaat, this boldly flavored potato salad recipe combines potatoes with crunchy pita chips, tangy tamarind chutney, herbs, and cooling yogurt for maximum contrast.
