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Creamy Loaded Bacon Ranch Potato Salad

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A creamy, flavorful potato salad featuring Yukon Gold potatoes, crispy bacon, and ranch dressing, perfect for BBQs and potlucks. This recipe is easy to make, crowd-pleasing, and improves in flavor after chilling.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes
  • 8 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
  • 1 cup ranch dressing
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 small red onion, finely chopped
  • 2 stalks celery, diced
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Instructions

  1. Wash and peel the Yukon Gold potatoes. Cut into evenly sized chunks about 1 to 1.5 inches.
  2. Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold water by about 1 inch. Add a pinch of salt and bring to a boil over high heat.
  3. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 10-12 minutes until potatoes are fork-tender but still firm.
  4. Drain potatoes in a colander and let cool to room temperature. Spread on a baking sheet to speed cooling if desired.
  5. Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy, about 8-10 minutes, flipping occasionally. Drain on paper towels and crumble into bite-sized pieces.
  6. In a large mixing bowl, combine ranch dressing, mayonnaise, garlic powder, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper. Stir well.
  7. Fold in red onion, celery, chives, and parsley if using.
  8. Gently fold cooled potatoes into the dressing mixture, being careful not to break them apart.
  9. Add crumbled bacon last and stir just enough to distribute evenly.
  10. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving to allow flavors to meld.

Notes

Do not overcook potatoes to avoid mushiness. Cool potatoes completely before mixing with dressing to prevent watery salad. Cook bacon crisp for best texture. Use gentle folding to keep potatoes intact. Chill at least 1 hour or overnight for best flavor. If dressing is too thick after chilling, stir in a splash of milk or buttermilk.

Nutrition

Keywords: potato salad, bacon, ranch dressing, BBQ side dish, creamy potato salad, picnic recipe, easy potato salad

Find it online: https://sagestirs.com/creamy-loaded-bacon-ranch-potato-salad-recipe-easy-and-perfect-for-bbqs/