Don’t let the creamy dressing fool you! This Potato Salad with Bacon is a lightened up recipe, but it packs in lots of big, bold flavor with bacon, hardboiled eggs, fresh chives, and a creamy mustard dressing. The perfect side dish for those summer BBQ parties!
Everyone needs to have a go-to potato salad recipe on hand, and I guarantee this will be yours! Because it’s even better than a regular old potato salad—it’s a Potato Salad With Bacon! And we all know that adding bacon makes everything extra delicious. Despite that, this is a fairly healthy, lightened up recipe because like my Green Goddess Dressing, I swap the mayo for tangy Greek yogurt.
Why This Potato Salad Will Be Your New Favorite
Even though it’s not quite traditional, this is a potato salad with traditional vibes thanks to the creamy, classic dressing. (For a non-traditional option, try my Grilled Sweet Potato Salad.) Here’s why you’re going to love it.
- Greek yogurt makes it light. But it’s not just about making the potato salad a little healthier. I actually love how the yogurt makes the dressing tangy, which really livens things up.
- So many layers of flavor. There’s the hardboiled eggs and bacon, the tangy yogurt, as well as fresh thyme, mustard, lemon juice and a little honey to balance out the flavors. It’s going to blow your mind!
- Perfect for a party. This recipe makes a huge portion so you could totally cut it in half if you’re making it just for your family. I hope it makes an appearance at your summer parties—it’s become a regular at mine!
What You’ll Need
Here’s everything you’ll need to make this creamy, bacon-y potato salad recipe come together! Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.
- Yukon potatoes – I love that Yukon golds have a buttery flavor to them. They’re my favorite for this recipe!
- Hard boiled eggs – I like to cook them in the Instant Pot for this recipe.
- Bacon – For a smoky flavor and crispy texture. Don’t skip it, it’s SO good!
- Chives – For a fresh, mild onion flavor.
Creamy Mustard Sauce:
- Thyme – Fresh thyme adds a woodsy, herbal note to the dressing.
- Mustard – I use a combination of stone ground mustard and Dijon for maximum flavor and some texture too.
- Plain Greek yogurt – For that essential creaminess!
- Lemon juice – Use freshly squeezed juice for the best flavor.
- Honey – Balances the flavors with a touch of sweetness.
- Salt and pepper – I like to use kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
How to Make Creamy Potato Salad With Bacon
If you’ve made potato salad before, you’re probably familiar with this process!
- Cook the potatoes. Boil the potatoes in a large pot of water until fork-tender, then drain and set aside.
- Make the dressing. Whisk together all of the ingredients in a small bowl.
- Combine. Add the potatoes, diced hard-boiled eggs, bacon, chives, and dressing to a large bowl.
- Toss to coat. Gently toss the potatoes with the dressing, then serve.
Tips and Variations
Here are a few tips and ideas for switching up this bacon potato salad recipe.
- Go halfsies. If you’re a mayo fan, you can replace half of the Greek yogurt with mayo.
- Get a head start. You can make this potato salad a day ahead of time if you’d like. When using a creamy based sauce it is best to dry the potatoes when they are completely cooled. This will keep the potato salad creamy instead of drying out.
- Switch it up. Try adding different herbs, spices, and mix-ins to your potato salad for some extra flavor. Paprika, dill, parsley, or even chopped dill pickles would be delicious!
- Try different potatoes. While Yukon gold potatoes are the traditional choice for potato salads, red potatoes would work well in this one too.
Serving Suggestions
Pair this potato salad with Wisconsin Beer Brats, The Ultimate Fall of the Bone BBQ Baby Back Ribs, or Keto Bacon Cheeseburger Recipe. I love serving it alongside other backyard BBQ salads like my Light Broccoli Salad and The BEST Summer Fruit Salad.
How to Store Leftovers
When stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, this bacon potato salad will last up to 3-4 days. The key is not letting it sit out on the counter or in the heat, so if you’re making it for a party, put leftovers back in the fridge ASAP.
More Side Salad Recipes
Creamy Potato Salad with Bacon
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 8 cups (20 servings) 1x
- Category: Side Dishes, Gluten Free, 30 Minute Meal, Holiday, Patriotic Recipes
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Potato Salad With Bacon is a lighter recipe, but it packs in big flavor with bacon, hardboiled eggs, chives and a creamy dressing!
Ingredients
- 3.5– 4 lbs of yukon potatoes, cut into 1/4” thick cubes
- 5 hard boiled eggs, sliced or diced
- 5 strips of bacon, diced
- 1/3 cup of chives, diced
Creamy Mustard Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons of fresh thyme, diced
- 1/2 cup of stone ground mustard
- 1/2 cup dijon mustard
- 1/3 cup of plain greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons of honey
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a skillet to medium high heat, add diced bacon and cook until crispy. About 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove bacon from pan and place on a place with paper towel to soak up the grease. Set aside.
- Place diced potatoes in a large pot, completely cover potatoes with water. Place on medium high burner, bring to a boil.
- Let potatoes cook for 10-15 minutes, until fork tender. (meaning you can poke potatoes with a fork because they are tender)
- Drain potatoes and let sit.
- In the meantime, to a small bowl add stone ground mustard, dijon mustard, greek yogurt, lemon juice, thyme, honey, salt, and pepper. Whisk until smooth.
- Add potatoes to a large bowl along with hard boiled eggs, bacon, chives, and creamy thyme mustard sauce.
- Gently toss potato salad until everything is coated with sauce.
- Serve!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 103
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 106 mg
- Fat: 2 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
45 comments on “Creamy Potato Salad with Bacon”
Love this! I would have to double the bacon though cause in my family you can never have enough of that!
I agree! Extra bacon is always a must!
What a perfect recipe for summer! I love your addition of bacon, and your food photography is gorgeous!
Thank you so much! Yes, bacon is a must!
This looks absolutely delicious! Yummy!
Thank you! I hope you enjoyed!
This was the perfect side dish with our barbecue dinner last night! Looking forward to having this again today!
Agree, it is a great side dish! So glad you enjoyed!
This salad is so flavorful. Love the combination of ingredients and creaminess to making it. Surely tasty and a must try salad for sure.
Such a great side dish option! Soooo tasty!
What a savory side dish with dinner! I know what I will be making tonight! This looks amazing!
This dish pairs great with any protein! I hope you loved it!
oops…just saw the previous comment and read it…sorry….I only used like a TBSP in mine tonight and it was very good still
hehe.. no worries! I like my potato salad tangy. 🙂 Glad you still liked it Carrie!
Is that right….1 CUP of stone ground mustard?? Seems like a lot!
Looks delicious! 1 cup of mustard sounds like a lot of mustard – is that the right measurement?
hey Diane, yes it is alot but this recipe makes a TON so it needs all the “sauce” it can get. Mixed with the yogurt and the other ingredients it will become mild with the rest of the potato salad, but yes thats the right measurement. Thanks for asking! 🙂 Hope you like it!
I love that you used greek yogurt to lighten it up! Summer barbecues just aren’t the same without potato salad. 🙂
Right.. its like a staple at all bbq’s so might as well lighten it up so you can indulge on the rest of the stuff there! 🙂
Oh mah goodness! LOVE! Watch out – I’m coming through the screen!!! 😀
haha.. don’t blame ya girl!
This looks so good, Krista, I’m going to give it a try for the 4th! I love replacing mayo with Greek yogurt and this version is totally calling out my name! Hope your trip was awesome, I’ve always wanted to go to St. Lucia!
It was wonderful, if you ever get the chance go!
Hope you enjoy this salad on the 4th, I think it will be a hit! 🙂
Mmm! I love potato salad. I make mine with the red potatoes, too! I thin I might use Dijon mustard, though.
I recently made a cooking and baking blog, too.
I would greatly appreciate it if you would check it out!
Thanks so much!
Thanks so much Kennedy! Mustard potato salads are the best!
So awesome that you just started food blog, you will love it! Its so fun and has turned into my passion! Best of luck!
I can’t wait to hear all about your vacation to St Lucia! I went once and have been wanting to go back. In the meantime, I can’t wait to try this potato salad recipe. I love the bacon and thyme mustard sauce!
I don’t blame you, I just got back and want to go again! 🙂
Oh I found out writing them only a week in advance is the fartherts I can write them or exactly what you described will happen! I sit there. Blank stare and just type random stuff hoping some words come together!
And I CANNOT wait to hear about your trip! I am trying to plan a trip post baby and I have been DYING to go to St Lucia. So write it up because I am anxiously waiting!
hahaha…. totally agree! I am the same way, about a week is all I got! 🙂
I can’t wait to share the stories from our trip, you and the hubs would love st lucia! Perfect place to relax!
I’m right there with you on writing posts ahead of time, it feels so weird. I can’t wait to hear about your trip to St. Lucia, how fun! This potato salad is a must make for me this summer, love the bacon and mustard sauce!
Thanks Danae! So glad someone else understands! 🙂
Pumped your like the potato salad, hope you get a chance to try!
Welcome back Krista!! Can’t wait to hear about your trip! Loved following along on instagram!
And this light potato salad looks amazinggg!! Pinning!
Thanks girl! I can’t wait to tell you! 🙂 Glad you enjoyed the pics on instagram! It was so hard to capture all the fun and beauty that we saw, but I tried anyway! 🙂 Thanks for the pin!
I love potato salad and this looks so good! Love the addition of thyme!
Thanks Michelle, the thyme in this is such a fun flavor that sneaks up on you as your eating it. So delicious!
Summer pasta and potato salads are great but usually so heavy! I love that you used yogurt and mustard for the dressing on this delicious looking salad. Perfect picnic food for sure!!!
Thanks so much girl! 🙂
I have always loved potato salad, but never make it because I just will not use mayo – this version sounds SO much better, and well there’s bacon
Bacon + no mayo makes this salad hands down my favorite, plus I like the tang from the mustard! 🙂
I’m a sucker for a good potato salad! So happy this one isn’t of the borrrring variety. 😉 Pinning!
haha… agreed!!! No more boring! Boo!!! Thanks for the pin girl!
Great Minds think alike! I totally made potato salad last night. After reading this I think I am going to add some eggs! Your salad looks utterly amazing.
Thanks Chandra and yes … add the eggs! Totally amps up the potato salad!
I write posts in advance and hate it for the reasons you mentioned! BUT I also love not scrambling the night before!
On another note, I have recently found a love of potato salad and this lighter version with Greek yogurt protein goodness is so calling my name! Pinned!
Exactly! Its a two sided coin, both with equal perks or dislikes. Oh well… life of blogging! 🙂 At least I can just stuff my face with this potato salad! Thanks for the pin girl!