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My favorite go-to recipe for a quick and delicious picnic side without sacrificing flavor. This red potato salad combines roasted spuds with crispy bacon, green onions, and hard-boiled eggs for a creamy and delicious side in just 30 minutes!

red potato salad on a green plate with a yellow napkin.

At almost every Southern potluck or picnic during the summer months, you’ll find a big bowl of someone’s famous potato salad proudly displayed on the table.

And rightfully so — do you know how long it takes to prepare traditional homemade potato salad?

When I make my Fresh Herb Potato Salad, I can easily plan on several hours to boil, peel, dice, and mix those spuds — not to mention the cleanup! It’s delicious, of course, but it does require a lot of time.

Not the case with this roasted potato salad recipe. It’s quick and easy, and it tastes just as delicious alongside burgers and barbecue. Even better, it only requires a handful of simple ingredients to make!

ingredients for red potato salad on a table.

Key ingredients & substitutions for Red Potato Salad

  • Red potatoes — These have a more subtle sweet flavor than Russets, plus they don’t need to be peeled! The skins are nice and thin, and packed with nutrients. Plus, this waxy variety holds its shape when cooked so the pieces won’t turn to mush when stirred.
  • Hard boiled eggs — Chop these up into tiny pieces for best results. The yolks will blend nicely with the mayonnaise, and the whites will add another layer of texture (and protein!) to the dish.
  • Green onions — These add a fresh, earthy flavor and subtle crunch to your red potato salad. Chives or shallots would be a tasty substitute.
  • Bacon — Reduce the amount of dishes you have to clean and use the same pan for cooking the bacon  and roasting the potatoes! Bake the strips for about 20 minutes at 400 degrees, then drain. Just be sure to change out the foil before cooking the potatoes.
  • Mayonnaise — This creamy ingredient brings everything together and really lets the flavors shine. If you prefer a lighter option, replace half of the mayo with sour cream or plain Greek yogurt.

How to make roasted potato salad?

preparing to roast potatoes on an aluminum foil lined pan by drizzling with olive oil.

STEP 1 | Prep the potatoes

Chop the spuds into bite-sized pieces but don’t remove the peel. Toss with olive oil until well coated, then spread into a single layer on a baking sheet.

roasted red potato chunks in a bowl for red potato salad.

STEP 2 | Roast until softened and browned

Cook in the oven for about 15 minutes at 400 degrees until they are soft enough to poke with a fork. Be sure to stir and flip the pieces once or twice so they brown evenly.

Meanwhile, crumble the cooked strips of bacon and chop the hard-boiled eggs and green onions.

stirring chopped eggs, onions, and bacon into a bowl of roasted red potatoes.

STEP 3 | Stir it all together

Once the potatoes are done, add them to a large bowl with the prepped ingredients. Gently stir in the mayonnaise until everything is well coated. Season with salt and pepper to taste and add more mayo if needed.

STEP 4 | Serve or chill

This roasted potato salad can be served immediately or chilled first, depending on your preference. If serving warm, be sure to refrigerate within two hours so it doesn’t spoil. Otherwise, it will keep in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.

tips

  • Line your baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy cleanup.
  • If you’re in a real pinch for time, substitute a package (or two) of Hormel Real Bacon Pieces instead of frying the bacon yourself.
  • Drop boiled eggs into ice water for a few minutes for easier peeling.

stirring mayonnaise into a bowl of red potato salad with a rubber spatula.

Frequently asked questions

What is the secret to making the best potato salad?

Regardless of the recipe, there is one trick that will guarantee the best results every time. Always combine the potatoes with the other ingredients while the potatoes are still WARM. This creates a creamier dressing and guarantees that the flavors will blend together nicely.

Is it better to boil potatoes before roasting?

No need, especially with red varieties. Boiling first may reduce the time in the oven with Russets, but these cook up fast enough as is. 

Trying to chop them after they’ve been boiled will also result in a bit of a mess! You’ll get perfectly tender and browned spuds for your red potato salad just by baking them with a little olive oil.

How do you keep roasted potato salad cool outside?

It’s simple — fill a large bowl halfway with ice, then nestle the bowl of red potato salad inside. This is especially helpful with mayo-based salads that can spoil quickly in hot weather.

red potato salad on a green plate with a yellow napkin and serving spoon, Italian parsley to the side.

Serving suggestions

Because my red potato salad is a delicious blend of savory and sweet with a hint of tang, it goes well with all of your cookout favorites!

From finger-lickin chicken wings to juicy, fall-off-the-bone smoked ribs, you can’t go wrong with this roasted potato salad recipe as a side. You could even serve it with grilled pork chops for an easy weeknight meal.

Please share!

Your shares are how this site grows, and I appreciate each one. Do you know someone who would enjoy this recipe? I’d love it if you would share it on Facebook or Pinterest!

red potato salad on a green plate with a yellow napkin and serving spoon, Italian parsley to the side.

Red Potato Salad

This red potato salad combines roasted spuds with crispy bacon, green onions, and hard-boiled eggs for a creamy and delicious side in just 30 minutes!
4.23 from 9 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings
Calories 302 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 3 pounds red potatoes scrubbed and cut into bite size pieces (do not peel)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 hard boiled eggs chopped
  • 3 green onions sliced
  • 6-8 slices bacon fried and crumbled
  • 1/2 cup lite mayonnaise
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Toss diced red potatoes (do not peel) with olive oil and spread in a single layer on a baking sheet. Roast for 15-18 minutes, turning once or twice, or until fork-tender and lightly browned.
  • Transfer the potatoes to a large bowl. While still warm, gently stir in the eggs, onion, and bacon. Add the mayonnaise, salt, and pepper, stirring just until all the potatoes are coated. Adjust the amount of mayo, if desired.
  • Serve immediately or chill and serve cold.

Notes

  • Always combine the potatoes with the other salad ingredients while the potatoes are still WARM. This creates a creamier dressing and guarantees that the flavors will blend together nicely.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingsCalories: 302kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 10gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 84mgSodium: 399mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3g

Life Love and Good Food does not claim to be a registered dietician or nutritionist. Nutritional information shared on this site is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.

Keyword potato salad, red potato
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was.
Sheila Thigpen, blogger

About Sheila Thigpen

Recipe Developer, Food Photographer, Food Writer

Sheila Thigpen is the publisher of Life, Love, and Good Food — a Southern food blog — and the author of Easy Chicken Cookbook and The 5-Ingredient Fresh and Easy Cookbook. After 20+ years in the publishing industry, she retired in 2018 to focus on her own creative endeavors full time. She and her husband live near the beautiful Smoky Mountains and have a precious little granddaughter who has stolen their hearts. As an influencer, Sheila has collaborated with brands like Creamette, Kroger, HERSHEY’S, Hamilton Beach, Garafalo Pasta, OXO, Smithfield, Valley Fig Growers, and more.

3 Comments

  1. This is perfect for a cookout! The weather has been getting really nice here in Florida, so we will be cooking out with friends a lot before it gets too hot. I’m going to make this next time!

  2. I loved the idea of this recipe, but in the end I felt it lacked acid. Added some apple cider vinegar and paprika. Worked!!

  3. 5 stars
    This was absolutely fantastic! I did add a little bit of Ranch dressing powder and it was just enough. Thank you so much!

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