11 Potato Salad Recipes—From Cookout Classics to Bold New Twists These recipes will steal the show at any cookout, potluck, or picnic. Close Credit: Carson Downing Potato salad is a classic side dish that pairs well with a variety of mains—from grilled meats and poultry to hearty deli sandwiches. It's a staple at summer cookouts, barbecues, and picnics, but it's delicious enough to enjoy year-round. With countless variations featuring ingredients like mustard, mayonnaise, fresh herbs, and bacon bits, there's a potato salad for every palate. To inspire your next potato salad, we've rounded up a collection of our favorite potato salad recipes, each offering a unique, flavorful twist in addition to the traditional classics we all know and love. The Difference Between Waxy, Starchy, and All-Purpose Potatoes 01 of 11 Old-Fashioned German Potato Salad Credit: Kelsey Hansen Unlike American potato salad, this old-fashioned German potato salad is mayo-free, served warm, and studded with chopped bacon for rich flavor. The potatoes are simmered in a mixture of beef broth, bacon, and onions to create a creamy sauce that keeps them moist. View Recipe 02 of 11 All-American Potato Salad This traditional all-American potato salad delivers a tangy and creamy flavor all at once, thanks to the vinegar and mayonnaise. The potatoes are also tossed with chopped hard-boiled eggs, celery, red bell peppers, cornichons, and scallions for a colorful crunch. View Recipe 03 of 11 Deviled Egg Potato Salad Credit: Mike Krautter Deviled eggs and potato salad are both classic summer side dishes—so why not combine them into one? Our deviled egg potato salad is a hefty, flavorful dish that delivers equal parts comfort and flavor in every bite. View Recipe 04 of 11 Dijon Potato Salad Credit: Jacob Fox Our Dijon potato salad is a delicious dairy-free alternative that's perfect for cookouts. Made without mayo, it comes together with just five simple ingredients you likely already have on hand: potatoes, mustard, vinegar, parsley, and olive oil. View Recipe 05 of 11 Smoky Potato Salad With Corn and Chipotles Credit: Bryan Gardner / MSLO We gave this potato salad a bold Mexican twist, with the addition of boiled corn, lime juice, crumbled cotija cheese, chili powder, and smoky canned chipotle chiles for a kick. It's a go-to side dish for all your favorite cookout mains—burgers, grilled chicken, fish, and more. View Recipe 06 of 11 Basic Potato Salad Credit: Andrea Araiza If you're a fan of classic, no-frills potato salad, this recipe is for you. It's a reliable crowd-pleaser—perfect for bringing to a summer potluck party. View Recipe 07 of 11 Martha's Favorite Potato Salad Credit: decorvow Martha's favorite potato salad is a cherished family recipe passed down from her Aunt Catherine. It features red-skinned potatoes, and they are steamed instead of boiled, then peeled, sliced, and tossed with white vinegar, mayonnaise thinned with buttermilk, and sliced cornichons. Martha always garnishes the dish with thinly sliced hard-boiled eggs, just the way her Aunt Catherine did. View Recipe 08 of 11 Balsamic Potato Salad Credit: Ryan Liebe Lately, pepperoncinis are popping up everywhere—first in martinis, and now in potato salad. Our balsamic potato salad offers a unique take on the traditional side dish, boasting bold flavor without mayonnaise. Yukon gold potatoes are tossed with Dijon mustard, white balsamic vinegar, pepperoncini brine, and fresh thyme. View Recipe 09 of 11 Test Kitchen's Favorite Potato Salad Credit: Ren Fuller The test kitchen's favorite potato salad strikes the perfect balance of creamy and tangy. It blends vinegar, mustard, and mayonnaise with classic mix-ins like chopped celery, scallions, and cornichons. The result is a well-rounded side dish with just the right amount of crunch. View Recipe 10 of 11 New Potato Salad With Red-Wine Vinaigrette Credit: Ren Fuller This mayo-free potato salad combines our favorite Mediterranean flavors—like oregano, lemon, parsley, and olive oil—with slightly smashed potatoes. It's a lighter rendition of potato salad that everyone is destined to devour at your next summer cookout. View Recipe 11 of 11 Classic Potato Salad Credit: Carson Downing This classic Southern potato salad features all the good things—hard-boiled eggs, freshly chopped dill, sweet onion, and lemon juice. It tastes even better than it looks and is the perfect addition to your cookout spread. View Recipe Explore more: Recipes Ingredients Vegetables Potato Recipes