BBQ Baby Shower Potato Salad (Print Version)

Loaded baked potato salad with smoky bacon, BBQ sauce, cheddar cheese, and fresh herbs.

# Ingredient List:

→ Potatoes

01 - 3 lbs baby potatoes, washed and halved
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt

→ Dressing

04 - 3/4 cup sour cream
05 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
06 - 1/4 cup BBQ sauce, smoky or sweet style
07 - 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
08 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
09 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Mix-ins and Toppings

10 - 5 oz smoked bacon, cooked crisp and chopped
11 - 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
12 - 4 scallions, thinly sliced
13 - 2 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped
14 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
15 - 1/2 small red onion, finely diced

# How to Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Toss halved baby potatoes with olive oil and salt. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 25–30 minutes, until tender and golden. Let cool to room temperature.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together sour cream, mayonnaise, BBQ sauce, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and black pepper until smooth.
03 - Add cooled roasted potatoes to the dressing. Gently toss to coat evenly.
04 - Fold in chopped bacon, cheddar cheese, scallions, chives, parsley, and red onion, reserving a little of each for garnish.
05 - Transfer to a serving dish. Garnish with reserved bacon, cheese, scallions, and herbs.
06 - Chill for at least 1 hour before serving to allow flavors to meld. Serve cold or at room temperature.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes even better the next day when all those smoky, tangy flavors have had time to get to know each other.
  • You can make it completely ahead of time and just pull it straight from the fridge when guests arrive—no last-minute stress.
  • It feeds a crowd without feeling like you slaved away, and nobody will believe you didn't spend hours on it.
02 -
  • Don't skip cooling the potatoes—I learned this the hard way when I tried to shortcut it once and ended up with potato mush instead of a salad.
  • The hour in the fridge isn't optional; it's when this dish transforms from good to genuinely crave-worthy as the flavors meld and deepen.
03 -
  • Chop your bacon while it's still warm and let it cool in a separate bowl—it stays crispier and doesn't release grease into everything.
  • Reserve some of every topping to scatter on top right before serving because that fresh garnish hits different than things buried in the dressing.
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