Description
Pioneer Woman’s loaded baked potato salad combines creamy potatoes with crispy bacon, sharp cheddar, and green onions for a classic American side dish. Guests will devour this hearty recipe that delivers comfort and flavor in every satisfying bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 lbs (1.8 kg) russet potatoes
- 1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 8 slices cooked bacon, chopped, divided
- 1 ¼ cups sour cream (full-fat or light)
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup pickle juice
- ¼ cup thinly sliced green onions, plus more for serving
- 2 tbsps finely chopped pickles
- 1 tbsp ranch seasoning
- 2 tsps yellow mustard
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- Potato Preparation: Preheat oven to 400°F and line baking sheet with parchment paper. Wash potatoes, puncture with fork, and roast for 50-60 minutes until tender. Cool for 15-20 minutes, then peel and cube into 1-inch pieces.
- Flavor Infusion: Drizzle potato cubes with pickle juice, allowing them to marinate at room temperature for 30-45 minutes, enhancing their tangy profile.
- Dressing Creation: Whisk sour cream, mayonnaise, chopped pickles, ranch seasoning, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper into a smooth, creamy mixture.
- Salad Assembly: Gently fold dressing into potato cubes, maintaining potato integrity. Mix in most of the bacon pieces, cheddar cheese, and green onions, reserving some for garnish.
- Chilling and Serving: Refrigerate potato salad for at least 1 hour to develop flavors. Before serving, top with reserved bacon and green onions for added texture and visual appeal.
Notes
- Pickle Juice Magic: Adds unexpected tanginess and helps potatoes absorb incredible flavor depth during marination.
- Roasting Technique: Ensures potatoes develop a rich, concentrated taste and perfect tender texture compared to boiling.
- Dressing Harmony: Whisking ingredients thoroughly creates a creamy, well-balanced sauce that coats each potato chunk evenly.
- Chilling Strategy: Refrigerating allows flavors to intensify and develop, transforming simple ingredients into a gourmet side dish.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg