German Potato Salad Recipe (Swabian) (2024)

Potatoes are mixed with cut up onions, bacon, and herbs and then covered in a vinegar-based dressing. Serve this alongside sausage for a great German meal!

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Recipe Origins

In America, when we think of potato salad it’s common to think about diced potatoes covered in mayonnaise, mixed with hard boiled eggs, sitting next to the hamburgers at the barbecue cookout. This type of potato salad, especially this homemade Ham Potato Salad with dill pickles and peas, is an American classic.

And while I love this style of Potato Salad, it is, of course, not the origin of potato salad. Centuries ago, a different kind of Potato Salad became popular amongst German immigrants in America.

This potato salad was served warm, and was served with cut up onions, bacon, fresh herbs, and a vinegar-based dressing. Because of its prevalence amongst the German immigrant community in America, it was called German Potato Salad or Hot Potato Salad.

This particular German Potato Salad recipe originated in the Southern portion of Germany, Swabia. There are other potato salad recipes across Germany, with some even being mayonnaise-based in the northern regions!

Why Make this Recipe

1. Travel to Germany: If you want to experience the beauty of German food, this is the recipe for you! It’s so simple to make and even easier to enjoy! Plus, you’ll feel like you’re in Swabia.
2. No Mayonnaise: If you’re like me, mayonnaise covering your potatoes maybe isn’t your favorite thing. This is a great way to enjoy potato salad without excessive amounts of mayonnaise. It’s also a way safer cookout recipe to keep on a picnic table in the heat of summer.
3. The Mix-Ins: The raw onions and cooked bacon in this recipe are to die for, and the dijon vinaigrette pulls it all together. It is sweet, tangy, and so flavorful.

What Do I Need to Make this Recipe?

Ingredients

1. Potatoes: You want to use a waxy potato. I used golden potatoes, but red skinned potatoes could work as well. Do not peel or cut the potatoes until after cooking them
2. Sunflower Oil: You can also use vegetable oil
3. Mustard: I used dijon mustard but if you can find it, I would recommend a German mustard!
4. Onion: Use a sweet onion. I used half of a large onion, but if you can find a small one, that should be the perfect amount.

Tools

1. Instant Pot (optional)
2. Large Pot (optional)
3. Cutting Board
4. Knife
5. Medium Frying Pan
6. Mixing Bowl
7. Whisk

How to Make this Recipe

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Step 1: Cook the Potatoes

Wash the potatoes. Put the whole, unpeeled potatoes in the Instant Pot with 6 cups of water. Cook on HIGH for 6 minutes with a 6 minute natural pressure release.

After the 6 minute natural pressure release, make sure that the potatoes are fork tender. If not, cook for a few more minutes.

Run the potatoes under cold water until they are cool enough to touch. Once cooled, use your hands to peel the skin off of the potatoes.

Use a knife to cut the potatoes in half, lengthwise. Cut each half in half lengthwise again, and then 3-4 times horizontally, effectively cutting each potato into 16ths. Place them in a large serving bowl.

Step 2: Cook the Bacon

In the meantime, cook the bacon.

Add the bacon to a small skillet and cook, turning occasionally, until very crispy. Remove from the pan to a paper-towel lined plate to remove excess grease.

Use a knife to cut the bacon into small bits.

Step 3: Make the Dressing

In a small bowl, whisk together the beef broth, sunflower oil, white wine vinegar, dijon mustard, nutmeg, and salt.

Step 4: Assemble

Pour about ½ of this mixture over the cut potatoes. Add bacon, onion, chives, and parsley to the bowl. Mix. Add more dressing if desired, or keep as is. Enjoy!

Expert Tips

• You do not have to use an Instant Pot if you don’t have one/prefer not to. Simply fill a large pot with water, add the potatoes, and bring the water to a boil. Continue boiling until the potatoes are fork tender. Then follow the rest of the steps as directed.
• Traditionally this recipe is served warm, but you can also chill it and serve cool if preferred
• If you don’t like raw onions, you can always saute the onions in the leftover bacon grease before adding them to the salad.
• It is delicious reheated so feel free to make it the day before you want to serve.

Recipe FAQs

How to Prepare this Recipe Ahead of Time

I find that with this potato salad, the flavor continues to deepen the longer that the potato salad rests. It’s delicious to serve the day of, but you can also make the German Potato Salad ahead of time and reheat it on the day you’d like to serve it.

Best Dishes to Serve this With

You can enjoy this German Potato Salad with pretty much anything, but some of my favorite options are:

• Sausage
• Burgers
• Chicken
• Ribs
• Wiener Schnitzel

Did you enjoy this German Potato Salad Recipe? If so, make sure to check out these other German recipes I picked out just for you:

• Cheese Spaetzle from Germany
• German Beef Rouladen
• German Black Forest Cake Recipe
• Obatzda: Beer Cheese Spread
• Wiener Schnitzel Recipe
• What To Serve with Corned Beef and Cabbage