These 15 Twists on Potato Salad Are the Pride of the Picnic

Creamy ranch dressing is this potato salad's secret weapon, proving that it isn't just for green salads. Here it combines with sour cream, shredded Cheddar, and bacon. "Add a little taco seasoning to spice it up — or you can add other veggies for texture," says KristenB, the recipe submitter.

Secret weapon? The grill. This recipe makes quick work of potato salad prep. You'll cook the taters whole on the grill. Then, simply quarter them. It's a German-style potato salad with an apple cider vinegar and olive oil dressing. Zero mayo. "Absolutely perfect for summertime grilling," says bd.weld.

The slow cooker can act as your secret weapon, too. Sliced potatoes and aromatic veggies cook low and slow with vinegar and oil. Garnish with crumbled bacon and chopped fresh parsley.

This simple salad swaps creamy Caesar salad dressing for the mayo. Enjoy it warm or cold. Sadly, Caesar himself never sampled potato salad, much less Caesar salad. But this creamy potato salad makes up for it, deliciously, like the culinary equivalent of a triumphal arch.

This potato salad does away with the mayo and replaces it with plain Greek yogurt seasoned with mustard, cayenne, and minced garlic. It's a sensational nearly no-fat alternative to regular potato salad.

White potatoes pair up with sweet potatoes and go bathing in a tangy dressing with vinegar, mayo, sour cream, and fresh lemon juice. This potato salad gets a kick in the pants from curry powder and fresh cilantro.

What happens when potato salad strives for main dish status? Total deliciousness. Grilled or broiled lean sirloin steak tops a simple salad of boiled potatoes and greens drizzled with a simple dressing of red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and tarragon. "Comfort food without the guilt," says frank11, the recipe submitter.

Sour cream and buttermilk add great tang to this potato salad tossed with chives, Cheddar, and crispy bacon.

"I liked the combination of ingredients in this recipe. It was tasty, quick, and easy, and it’s a very different type of potato salad," says lutzflcat. "I’ll definitely make this one again. It’s a keeper."

For something different at your next picnic, try this Japanese potato salad recipe including imitation crab, corn kernels, and cucumber.

When it comes to potato salads, we think smoked salmon could become the new bacon. "This potato salad is usually served as an appetizer in Italy. Potatoes are finely cubed and paired with a simple lemony cream dressing," says recipe creator Alemarsi.

"Three ingredients really enhance this potato salad’s flavor: bacon, dill and horseradish, the last of which I will increase in the future. The rest of the ingredients are fairly typical for a mayo-based potato salad, but that horseradish really makes it distinct." —lutzflcat

"These were BOOZY! I love cooking with sherry, and the alcohol cooks off, but the flavor is still dominant," says Soup Loving Nicole. "If you are sensitive to the taste of alcohol in your food or do not like the taste of sherry, then I highly recommend you cut it in half in this recipe. I personally loved it." 

"Delicious potato salad! Double the dressing and served on a bed of spinach. Also, I doubled the amount of olives and added some capers," Elvira Silva says. Follow her advice for a deliciously briny dish. 

"Pesto and potato salad lovers, rejoice!" Phoebe says. "Added a small amount of Dijon mustard and sliced some fresh basil to add with the red onion on the top for garnish and flavor."