Hot, warm, or cold, this traditional German Potato Salad is a scrumptious blend of sweet, tangy, and bacony goodness. A tried-and-true family favorite!
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 dish that stood out most was her traditional Bavarian Kartoffelsalat – commonly known in the United States as German Potato Salad.
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German potato salad is distinctly different from American potato salad; most notably, it is completely mayonnaise-free. However, it has one very important thing in common its American counterpart: no two potato salad recipes are quite the same! This recipe has been honed and perfected over three decades, and is now a tried-and-true family favorite and a time-honored Oktoberfest tradition.
Culinary historians speculate that the combination of cooked potatoes, oil, vinegar, and herbs was introduced in the US by 19th-century German immigrants, who had a penchant for rich, sour-sweet combinations. Hot potato salad soon became so closely associated with German immigrants that it was dubbed German Potato Salad.
Dressed with bacon, onions, and vinegar, German potato salad as we now know it in the US has its roots in the south of Germany. Known historically as the Bavarian region, it hails from the home of all things Oktoberfest: brightly embroidered lederhosen and dirndl skirts, decorative beirstiens, and festive Oompah bands.
Equally scrumptious hot, warm, or cold, German Potato Salad is a deeply satisfying blend of sweet, tangy, bacony goodness. This traditional Bavarian Kartoffelsalat recipe is very easy to put together, and we strongly suggest making it ahead of time. (We always make it at least a day ahead to allow all the flavors to mingle and meld, and then rewarm it to serve for our big Oktoberfest meal.)
Pro Tip: We eat the leftovers cold… with our fingers… from the fridge. (Try it - you'll like it!) It makes a great picnic salad, too!
Recipe Updated October 1, 2021 (Originally published October 2, 2014)
How to Make the Best German Potato Salad Ever!
Gather and prep ingredients.
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
Red potatoes - We prefer to use small red potatoes, quartered. You can use any red potato, cut into about ¾- to 1-inch cubes. (Cubed potatoes stand up to the cooking process much better than potato slices.)
Bacon - Use a high-quality, thick bacon for best results. We prefer to use an unpeppered, smoky bacon.
Red onion - Red onions add more color, and have a sweet undertone that works well in this recipe. You can use yellow or sweet onions, but the flavor will be slightly different.
Sugar - We use white sugar for this recipe, and don't recommend using any alternative sweeteners, as they can dramatically change the overall flavor profile.
Apple cider vinegar - We have successfully used red wine vinegar with this recipe, but much prefer the flavor added with apple cider vinegar.
Prep the Potatoes
Cut potatoes into ½- to ¾-inch cubes and put them into a medium saucepan. (Leave skins on.) Add enough cold water to cover the tops of the potato cubes.
Salt the water, cover the pot, and bring the potatoes to a boil. Cook for about 15 minutes, or until tender but still firm.
While the Potatoes are Cooking
In a 10-inch Dutch oven or large, heavy saucepan, cook bacon over MEDIUM heat until crisp.
Remove from heat. Remove bacon from pan and set aside. Leave bacon drippings in pan.
Return pan to MEDIUM heat, and sauté the onion in the reserved bacon drippings.
Reduce heat on the sautéed red onions down to MEDIUM-LOW. Add vinegar, sugar, water and celery seed.
Heat onion-vinegar mixture a low simmer. Remove from heat.
Add the hot potatoes to Dutch oven. (Make sure liquid and potatoes and both very hot when mixed together.)
Add cooked bacon pieces, and stir everything together gently to combine.
Salt and pepper to taste. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes at 325°F [163°C].
German Potato Salad (Authentic Bavarian Kartoffelsalat)
Ingredients
- 2 lbs red potatoes any waxy potato will work
- 6 slices thick-cut bacon chopped 12-to ¼-inch
- 1 medium red onion sliced thinly, from stem to blossom end.
- ⅓ cup sugar
- ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
- ⅓ cup water
- 1 teaspoon celery seed
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- salt & pepper to taste
- pepper
Instructions
- Cut potatoes into ½- to ¾-inch cubes and put them into a medium saucepan. (Leave skins on.)Add enough cold water to cover the tops of the potato cubes. Salt the water, cover the pot, and bring the potatoes to a boil. Cook for about 15 minutes, or until tender but still firm.
While potatoes are cooking:
- In a 10-inch Dutch oven or large, heavy saucepan, cook bacon over MEDIUM heat until crisp. Remove from heat. Remove bacon from pan and set aside. Leave bacon drippings in pan.
- Return pan to MEDIUM heat, and sauté the onion in the reserved bacon drippings.
- Reduce heat on the sautéed red onions to MEDIUM-LOW. Add vinegar, sugar, water and celery seed.
- Heat onion-vinegar mixture a low simmer. Remove from heat.
- Add the hot potatoes to Dutch oven. (Make sure liquid and potatoes and both very hot when mixed together.)Add cooked bacon pieces, and stir everything together gently to combine.
- Salt and pepper to taste. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes at 325°F [163°C].
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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Gail says
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!
kelsey says
oh man, yum!
Bill Volckening says
Damn, that looks awesome! I need to get me some sausages and make some blaukraut, too!
Renée ♥ says
Thanks, Bill! Stay tuned: I have a heritage recipe for blaukraut from Prussia posting soon in the Oktoberfest lineup.
Vickie B. says
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!
Renée ♥ says
Thank you so much for your comments, Vickie! Slow cooked ribs sound delicious!
Marta says
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!
Helen Little says
This is so good! I'm not a big fan of cold potatoes in mayo, but this sounds so different and really tasty!
Renée ♥ says
It really is! I'm not a mayo fan myself, and this is one of my favorite things to eat.
Jessica Formicola says
German potato salad is my favorite! This recipe looks great and I can't wait to try it!
Renée ♥ says
It's the Best! Hope you love it as much as we do!
Jacqueline Meldrum says
You had me at potato. There is nothing more comforting.
Julie says
This is one of my favourite recipes. I particularly love your version!!
Thank you so much for sharing.
Julie
Traci says
This is a classic, delicious German potato salad recipe. A must for anyone's Oktoberfest celebrations...thanks for sharing! 🙂
Paula @ I'm Busy Being Awesome says
Such a yummy salad, I'll have to give it a try
Andrea says
This sounds wonderful with the onions and the bacon, I can't wait to make this.
Amanda says
Love how simple all the ingredients are. Looks great!
Erin @ Platings and Pairings says
My husband loves this type of potato salad! I'll definitely have to make it for him soon!
Waz says
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!
Renée ♥ says
I'd love to know how it turns out with vegan bacon!
Catherine @ To & Fro Fam says
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!
Angela says
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!!!
Marisa says
Oh I've never heard of this Potato Salad, I love the way it sounds!! Its definitely perfect for Fall!
Earnest says
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
Renée says
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.