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HomeMealtimeRecipes

Traditional German Potato Salad

4.88 from 16 votes
Angela SellariBy Angela Sellari
Angela Sellari
Angela Sellari Founder of AboutAMom

Angela is the founder of About A Mom and currently acts as a content creator and editor-in-chief for the About A Mom Team. She has been a professional blogger for over 10 years. Angela has appeared…

Expertise: Content Creation & Editing View all posts →
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Looking for a unique and flavorful potato salad recipe? Look no further than our German Potato Salad Recipe! This dish is packed with delicious ingredients like bacon, onions, and potatoes, and it’s perfect for any occasion.

Traditional German Potato Salad

I’ve got the perfect German potato salad recipe for you. This dish is simple to make and will be a hit at your next potluck or BBQ! Serve this potato salad recipe at your next gathering and watch as it quickly disappears. The combination of flavors in this dish is sure to please everyone’s taste buds.

This potato salad recipe is so good. It ranks right up there with my loaded potato salad.

Traditional German Potato Salad

How Is German Potato Salad Different From The American Kind?

German potato salad is usually served warm and comprises boiled potatoes, bacon, and a vinegar-based dressing. Also involved are mustard, parsley, and onions. (Side note: Try this recipe with mustard if you want a little kick). American potato salad, though, is usually served cold and features a mayonnaise-based dressing. Along with the boiled potatoes are onions, celery, and hard-boiled eggs and is often garnished with herbs such as dill or parsley.

Why Is It Called A ‘German’ Potato Salad?

Good question! This article from NPR seems to think it’s because Germans in the 1800s were the first ones to mix boiled potatoes with vinegar and mustard — a combination of flavors the Teutons really took to. Americans adapted the recipe shortly after mayonnaise became popular in the 1930s.

ingredients

Can I use the leftover bacon fat?

You can use the leftover bacon fat on this recipe (reduce, reuse, recycle, right?), but let it cool completely before adding to the salad.

How To Store German Potato Salad

German potato salad will stay fresh for 3-4 days when stored correctly. Just be sure to store it before it sits out for longer than 2 hours. Also, it is important to keep the potato salad in the refrigerator and in an airtight container. You can either eat it cold or warm it up in the microwave (stirring regularly) or on the stove.

Traditional German Potato Salad
Layered green salad with bacon, cheese, and vegetables.

Traditional German Potato Salad

Angela Sellari
Looking for a unique and flavorful potato salad recipe? Look no further than our German Potato Salad Recipe! This dish is packed with delicious ingredients like bacon, onions, and potatoes, and it's perfect for any occasion. Whether you're looking for a side dish for your next potluck or you're just in the mood for something new, our German Potato Salad Recipe is sure to satisfy.
4.88 from 16 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr
Course Side Dish
Cuisine German
Servings 6
Calories 114 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 pounds potatoes 4 medium cut into halves
  • 3 slices bacon
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 1 Tbsp flour
  • 1 Tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp celery seed
  • dash pepper
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 cup vinegar

Instructions
 

  • In a large pot, heat 1″ salted water to boiling. Add potatoes, heat to boiling, reduce heat and cover. Cook until tender, 10 to 25 minutes. Drain and cool.
    red potatoes
  • In 10-inch skillet, cook bacon over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until crisp. Remove bacon from skillet with slotted spoon; drain on paper towels.
    baon on paper towle
  • Cook and stir onion in bacon fat until tender.
    potatoes and sauce
  • Stir in flour, sugar, salt, celery seed, and pepper. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is bubbly.
    sauce in a pot
  • Stir in water and vinegar. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Remove from heat. Slice warm potatoes into hot mixture, crumble bacon in.
    red potatoes on a cutting board
  • Cook, stirring gently to coat potato slices, till hot and bubbly.
    Layered green salad with bacon, cheese, and vegetables.

Nutrition

Calories: 114kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 3gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 397mgFiber: 3g
Keyword german potato salad
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

About Angela SellariContent Creation & Editing

Angela is the founder of About A Mom and currently acts as a content creator and editor-in-chief for the About A Mom Team. She has been a professional blogger for over 10 years. Angela has appeared in numerous TV segments, advertising campaigns and her work has been featured by many top publications. She lives in Tampa, Florida.

Reader Interactions

Published: Jan 3, 2023 | Updated: Oct 28, 2025
4.88 from 16 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




  1. Leilani says

    Posted on 8/10 at 8:21 PM

    I had no idea you could use it to get rid of the hiccups. I’ll have to remember that one!

    Reply
  2. Emily says

    Posted on 8/10 at 9:46 PM

    Ooo this looks good! Anything that has potatoes and bacon listed as the top ingredients sounds amazing to me. 😀

    Reply
  3. Daisy says

    Posted on 8/10 at 10:25 PM

    5 stars
    This recipe is the best! It is so easy to make and my hubby can’t get enough.

    Reply
  4. Robin Gagnon says

    Posted on 8/10 at 10:34 PM

    I haven’t had German potato salad in awhile. Looks good.

    Reply
  5. Becca @ Mama B says

    Posted on 8/10 at 11:19 PM

    Mmmm! I love German potato salad! My Oma makes a big bowl of it for every family gathering.

    Reply
  6. Kelly says

    Posted on 8/10 at 11:20 PM

    I love me some German potato salad so I’m going to have to try your recipe 🙂

    Reply
  7. Rachel says

    Posted on 8/11 at 12:44 AM

    I LOVE a good German Potato salad but haven’t had it in years. Thanks for sharing this recipe!

    Reply
  8. Vanessa: the queen of swag ! says

    Posted on 8/11 at 12:54 AM

    5 stars
    I love Potato Salad and this looks delish. Theanks for sharing.

    Reply
  9. Ty @ Mama of 3 Munchkins says

    Posted on 8/11 at 1:15 AM

    I’ve never had German potato salad, but that looks super delish.

    Reply
  10. Sarah BB @ East9thStreet says

    Posted on 8/11 at 1:22 AM

    This potato salad looks fantastic! Can you ship it to Illinois?

    Reply
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