German potato salad’s absence of mayo and typically overcooked potatoes have generally prevented me from appreciating it. So, in my adaptation, I grill the potatoes over some smoky coals until they are fork-tender. This is the ideal accompaniment to a sunny picnic table and is best consumed warm, or at least room temperature.
| Prep Time: | 10 mins |
| Cook Time: | 30 mins |
| Additional Time: | 5 mins |
| Total Time: | 45 mins |
| Servings: | 8 |
| Yield: | 8 servings |
Ingredients
- 2 ½ pounds Yukon Gold potatoes
- ½ pound bacon, sliced
- 1 cup diced yellow onion
- 2 tablespoons white sugar
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
- ½ cup white wine vinegar
- ¼ cup freshly chopped Italian parsley
Instructions
- Preheat a grill for 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Add potatoes. Grill, flipping occasionally, until potatoes are barely just tender when poked with a skewer, about 15 minutes. Let sit until cool enough to handle.
- Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until grease becomes foamy, about 5 minutes. Remove half the bacon with a slotted spoon; reserve for the topping. Add onion to the rest of the bacon in the pan; cook until translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, peel potatoes. Cut into quarters, then into 1/2-inch slices. Place in a bowl.
- Stir sugar, salt, black pepper, cayenne, and vinegar in with the bacon. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Stir and remove dressing from heat.
- Pour dressing over the potatoes; toss to combine. Let sit for 5 minutes. Mix again and add parsley. Top with reserved bacon. Enjoy warm.
- I use a ton of bacon in my version, because it’s bacon, but if you do decide to use less, you’ll have to add some vegetable or olive oil to the dressing to make up the difference. If you want your dressing tangier, add more vinegar, but if you want it less so, you’ll have to adjust with vegetable oil, since you can’t add more bacon fat.
Nutrition Facts
| Calories | 184 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 31 g |
| Cholesterol | 10 mg |
| Dietary Fiber | 3 g |
| Protein | 7 g |
| Saturated Fat | 1 g |
| Sodium | 706 mg |
| Sugars | 4 g |
| Fat | 4 g |
| Unsaturated Fat | 0 g |
Reviews
I have been making this for years and my grandson said it was better than his other grandmothers (who is a professional cook) and he ask for me to make this several times a month. He doesn’t often times praise my cooking but when he does, I know it is high quality coming from him!
We loved it! Reminded us of the potato salad at Ted Peter’s near St. Pete, Florida. The recipe is a keeper!
I did not care for it. However, i grew up eating a specific German potato salad at a specific BBQ place in Athens, Texas. I did modify the recipe, though. Small golden potatoes and half the sugar. My wife liked it.
Another great recipe Chef John! I’ve made this over a dozen times and it’s always a hit. Wonderful served with pulled pork or burgers.
This reminds me of the German potato salad my mother made when I was a kid. It was not overpowered by the vinegar like another recipe I tried. I did not have Yukon Gold potatoes, so I used the red potatoes that I had. I boiled them and left the skins on. My husband asked me to make it again.
Delicious. I decided to smoke the potatoes using mesquite wood and kept the skins on instead of peeling. Amazing flavor. Used about half of the Italian Parsley than what the recipe called for and added a bit more bacon…because it’s bacon.
This recipe was awesome. Brought me back to my childhood and a plate of sausage, sauerkraut, and potato salad. Definitely keeping this recipe.
I made this recipe as described. It had a stronger vinegar taste than I would have liked. If I make it again, I may substitute something else for part of the vinegar. Just my personal preference.
Made this several times now, great recipe. I also boiled the potatoes vs. grilling them, and I’ve made it with both white wine vinegar and regular white vinegar and it tastes great either way.
Big hit with my big family.
I boiled the potatoes whole instead of grilling them. Too hot for the grill today. My husband loved it. He knows his German potato salad.