Sweet, sour and deliciously savory, this traditional Hot German Potato Salad will make your tastebuds go Oom-pa-pa!
My high school German teacher loved food, and often brought in German foods into class for us to try. Frau Müeller introduced us to exotic new-to-us delicacies like Butterkase (pronounced “booter-keh-zuh,” which literally means butter cheese), Kartoffelpuffer (German potato pancakes), and a profusion of buttery Bavarian pastries. However, the one German dish that stood out most to me was her traditional Kartoffelsalat – or Hot German Potato Salad.
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In America, the earliest written recipes for potato salad appeared the mid-19th century. Culinary historians speculate that the combination of cooked potatoes, oil, vinegar, and herbs was introduced by German immigrants, who had a penchant for rich, sour-sweet combinations.
Hot potato salad, usually made with bacon, onion and vinegar dressing, soon became so closely associated with German immigrants that it was dubbed “German Potato Salad.”
Equally scrumptious hot or cold, German Potato Salad is a deeply satisfying blend of sweet, tangy, bacony goodness. Unlike traditional American potato salad, the German version is completely devoid of anything remotely mayonnaisey.
Over the years, this recipe has become a family favorite, and is now a time-honored Oktoberfest tradition at our house. It’s very easy to put together, and should be made ahead of time. I usually make it at least a day ahead to allow all the flavors to meld together, and then rewarm it to serve for our big Oktoberfest meal.
PRO TIP: We usually eat the leftovers cold… with our fingers… from the fridge. Because it’s soooo delicious. This makes a great picnic salad, too!
Recipe Updated September 11, 2019 (Originally published October 2, 2014)
German Potato Salad (Kartoffelsalat)
Ingredients
Instructions
- Cut potatoes into 1/2- to 3/4-inch cubes and put them into a medium saucepan. (Leave skins on.) Add enough water to cover the tops of the potato cubes. Cover and boil about 15 minutes, or until tender but still firm.
While potatoes are cooking:
- Cook bacon until crisp, remove from pan and set aside, reserving bacon drippings.
- Saute the onion in the reserved bacon drippings.
- Turn the heat on the sauteed red onions down to medium low, and add vinegar, sugar, water and celery seed. Heat to a simmer and pour over hot potatoes. Make sure liquid and potatoes and both very hot when mixed together. Add cooked bacon pieces. Stir to combine.
- Salt and pepper to taste, and then put into 2 1/2 qt. casserole dish.
- Bake uncovered for 30 minutes at 325°.
Notes
Nutrition
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
Looking for more recipes to add to your Oktoberfest menu? Be sure to try these delicious German recipes:
- Rotkohl (German Sweet & Sour Red Cabbage)
- Crispy Sauerkraut Fritters {Easy Air Fryer Recipe}
- Rye Sourdough Spaetzle with Caramelized Cipollini & Sautéed Mushrooms
- Easy Apple Strudel (Apfelstrudel)
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What's on Your Oktoberfest Menu?
Hot German Potato Salad
Sweet, sour and deliciously savory, this traditional Hot German Potato Salad will make your tastebuds go Oom-pa-pa!
Crispy Sauerkraut Fritters {Easy Air Fryer Recipe}
These Crispy Sauerkraut Fritters with Bacon, Sausage and Cheese are the perfect appetizer for all your fall
celebrations!
Rotkohl {German Sweet & Sour Red Cabbage}
Each mouthful of this traditional Prussian Rotkohl {German Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage} is a symphony of smokey, sweetly spiced notes with just a hint of sour for balance.
Rye Sourdough Spaetzle with Caramelized Cipollini & Sautéed Mushrooms
Perfect for Oktoberfest (or Any-fest!), the recipe for this amazing Rye Sourdough Spaetzle – with Caramelized Cipollini, Sauteed Mushrooms, and Tabasco Shallots – comes to us courtesy of Chef Ryan Mead.
Easy Apple Strudel {Apfelstrudel}
Fresh, crisp, and sweetly spiced, this Easy Apple Strudel {Apfelstrudel} is fancy enough for the most elaborate Oktoberfest menu, yet simple enough for any night of the year.
I LOVE Hot Potato Salad! My mom learned to make it when she lived in Germany while my dad was stationed there in the Army. However, she only makes it once a year… for our New Year’s Day prosperity meal (sauerkraut, sausage, and Hot Potato Salad). I think I may ask her to consider a new tradition (she’s all about tradition!), “Family Oktoberfest” and give her a reason to make this wonderful salad more than once! She has always used russet potatoes, but I think the tender little reds could only make it better!
oh man, yum!
Damn, that looks awesome! I need to get me some sausages and make some blaukraut, too!
Thanks, Bill! Stay tuned: I have a heritage recipe for blaukraut from Prussia posting soon in the Oktoberfest lineup.
I’m an American living in Germany for the past three months. This is on today’s menu with ribs because I’m not a fan of sausage. The ribs will cook for nine hours. I’m attempting to learn traditional German recipes having mastered the traditional pork roast with bread dumplings. I saw the squash flowers at the market last week, the daily market being my favorite thing about living here, and I will pick some up this week and try them with your sweet potato filling. Happy to have found your website!
Thank you so much for your comments, Vickie! Slow cooked ribs sound delicious!
Surprisingly, to many of my friends, I loved German food. We spent 6 years in Germany and I felt like I ate my way through the country!
This is so good! I’m not a big fan of cold potatoes in mayo, but this sounds so different and really tasty!
It really is! I’m not a mayo fan myself, and this is one of my favorite things to eat.
German potato salad is my favorite! This recipe looks great and I can’t wait to try it!
It’s the Best! Hope you love it as much as we do!
You had me at potato. There is nothing more comforting.
This is one of my favourite recipes. I particularly love your version!!
Thank you so much for sharing.
Julie
This is a classic, delicious German potato salad recipe. A must for anyone’s Oktoberfest celebrations…thanks for sharing! 🙂
Such a yummy salad, I’ll have to give it a try
This sounds wonderful with the onions and the bacon, I can’t wait to make this.
Love how simple all the ingredients are. Looks great!
My husband loves this type of potato salad! I’ll definitely have to make it for him soon!
I love potato salads, but I’ve never had one like this before. I’d love to try your recipe with my shiitake bacon for a veg-friendly version. Yum!
I’d love to know how it turns out with vegan bacon!
I can only eat homemade potato salad because I just don’t like the mayo versions. Your hot potato salad recipe looks so much better than the usual deli version. I love that it includes apple cider vinegar!
I have not had this since I was a kid! My grandmother used to make it! Can’t wait to give this recipe a try!!!
Oh I’ve never heard of this Potato Salad, I love the way it sounds!! Its definitely perfect for Fall!
I beg to differ about Germans putting mayo in potato salad. I lived there for 8 years and I saw plenty of Germans along with my ex-wife who was German put mayonnaise in potato salad
I’m sure that many Germans use mayo in their potato salad. Perhaps I should be more succinct: there is never mayo in the traditional German dish commonly referred to as Hot German Potato Salad, which is what we are presenting here.
This is the same idea as saying, “American Potato Salad is always mayonnaise-based.” Because, while of course there are Americans who make non-mayo potato salad, traditional American Potato Salad is, by definition, always made with mayonnaise.
Hope that clarifies things.