Food

16 Potato Salad Recipes to Update Your Summer Picnic

Don't overlook this humble staple side dish

By SAVEUR Editors

Updated: July 6, 2017

There is perhaps no side better suited for summer barbecues, picnics, and potlucks than a classic potato salad recipe. From warm potatoes tossed with a bright herb vinaigrette to a cool, creamy mayonnaise-based version with hardboiled egg, the humble side dish stands up to the smokiest of meats and spiciest of sauces with ease. No grilled meat is complete without its trusty sidekick: potato salad. For a sweet spin, swap your garden-variety spuds for sweet potatoes. From hot and cold potato salad dishes to potato salad hot dogs, we've rounded up our favorite potato salad recipes here.

Vinegar-Marinated Potatoes with Olives and Capers — This flavor-packed hors d'oeuvres from Francis Mallmann is topped with an umami-rich relish of capers, anchovies, and kalamata olives. For a burst of bright acidity, Mallmann drizzles red wine vinegar slowly over the cooked potatoes so that they soak in every drop, like dressing a still warm potato salad. Get the recipe for Vinegar-Marinated Potatoes with Olives and Capers »Paul Sirisalee | Food Styling: Eugene Jho

Lemon Mayonnaise Smashed Potato Salad — Homemade lemon mayonnaise adds zesty flavor to these tender, coarsely mashed potatoes. Get the recipe for Lemon Mayonnaise Smashed Potato Salad »Gemma and Andrew Ingalls

Potato Salad Hot Dog — You've probably gone to a barbecue where you've eaten both potato salad and hot dogs—just not together. That changes now. Get the recipe for Potato Salad Hot Dog »Farideh Sadeghin

German Potato Salad — Some recipes for this salad call for sauteing the onions in the bacon fat, but we prefer them left raw. This version comes from James Beard's American Cookery (Little, Brown & Co., 1972). Get the recipe for German Potato Salad »Helen Rosner

Crispy Smashed Za'atar Potatoes — Boiled buttery Yukon gold potatoes are smashed and roasted crisp in this side dish. A finishing sprinkle of za'atar, a heady Middle Eastern mix of spices, seeds, and herbs, brings these potatoes to the next level. Get the recipe for Crispy Smashed Za'atar Potatoes »Farideh Sadeghin

Roasted Potato Salad with Sour Cream and Shallots — Roasting potatoes for potato salad, rather than boiling them, lends a caramelized sweetness that's offset by a tangy dressing of sour cream, mustard, and shallots. Get the recipe for Roasted Potato Salad with Sour Cream and Shallots »Helen Rosner

Warm Red Potato Salad — Tender grilled red-skinned potatoes are doused in herb vinaigrette in this warm salad. Get the recipe for Warm Red Potato Salad »Laura Sant

Moroccan Potato Salad — Bright and aromatic with plenty of fresh parsley, this potato salad is definitive of Moroccan cuisine. Get the recipe for Moroccan Potato Salad »Helen Rosner

Potato Salad — This cool, creamy potato salad is spiked with pickle relish and red onion. Get the recipe for Potato Salad with Red Onion »Matt Taylor-Gross

Pesto Potato Salad — Serve this simple and bright potato salad warm or cold alongside grilled or roasted meats and seafood. Get the recipe for Pesto Potato Salad »Matt Taylor-Gross

Curried Potato Salad — Subarna Bhattachan, a Nepalese chef living in Lawrence, Kansas, folds a purée of cool yogurt, nutty tahini, and spicy red chiles into his fragrant take on potato salad. Get the recipe for Curried Potato Salad »James Oseland

Fingerling Potato Salad with Chive Mayonnaise — "This recipe came about when I had a fat bunch of chives threatening to wilt in my fridge. Our test kitchen director, Farideh Sadeghin, suggested I make chive oil, and then chive mayonnaise; I had some teeny-tiny fingerlings from the farmers market sitting on my counter, and a salad was born. —Marian Bull Get the recipe for Fingerling Potato Salad with Chive Mayonnaise »Matt Taylor-Gross

Ignacio Mattos' Potato Salad — Boiling potatoes whole and unpeeled means they don't absorb too much water as they cook. Mixing them with an egg yolk and olive oil yields a rich dressing without the heavy creaminess of mayonnaise. Get the recipe for Smashed Potato Salad »Marcus Nilsson

Fried Potatoes with Kashkaval Cheese — Piquant kashkaval, a Balkan cows' or sheep's milk cheese, and mildly spicy shifa peppers add sharpness to these fried potatoes. Get the recipe for Fried Potatoes with Kashkaval Cheese »Neal Santos

Potato Salad with Herring — The key to this potato salad is its powerful ingredients: Cured herring and bracing red wine vinegar give each bite a pop of flavor. Get the recipe for Lyonnaise Potato Salad with Herring »Matt Taylor-Gross

Jude's Perfect Potato Salad — A healthy dose of celery seeds and sharp Dijon mustard add a kick to this mashed potato and egg salad. Get the recipe for Jude's Perfect Potato Salad »James Oseland

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