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    Home » Recipes » Gluten-Free Rice & Potato Sides

    Published: May 19, 2020 · Modified: Jul 27, 2022 by Jen Wooster

    Blue Cheese Potato Salad

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    blue cheese potato salad in a serving bowl
    blue cheese potato salad in a serving bowl with a bag of potatoes

    This blue cheese potato salad recipe is loaded with the tangy creaminess you expect from a potato salad but with an incredible blue cheese and bacon twist. We used Greek yogurt instead of mayo so the blue cheese could shine. And loaded it with chives and parsley for the most delicious cookout side dish around.

    bacon and blue cheese potato salad in a serving bowl

    Please read the entire post for tips and tricks to ensure a perfect recipe every time. And don't forget to tag @peelwithzeal on Instagram so we can admire your creation!

    This post may include affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    Jump to:
    • 📖Why This Recipe Works
    • 🧾Ingredient Notes
    • ⏲️How to Make Blue Cheese Potato Salad
    • 💭Blue Cheese Potato Salad Variations
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 Expert Tips
    • 🌡️Storage and Making Ahead
    • Side Dish Recipes for Cookouts
    • 💬Frequently Asked Questions
    • 📖 Recipe
    • ⭐Reviews

    I love a classic potato salad, along with a cherry tomato salad and grilled corn ribs, it is my go-to summer side dish. So if I am going to change it up, I need the recipe to be flavorful and special.

    📖Why This Recipe Works

    This is why I love this red white and blue potato salad. It has all the texture elements of the all-American potato salad but with a tangy twist. The creamy blue cheese dressing and green onion flavor complement each other.

    Many specialty potato salad recipes roast their potatoes, but creamy dressings don't play nice with greasy roasted potatoes. Instead boiling our baby red potatoes is the way to go.

    Crispy bacon tops off our delicious recipe!

    🧾Ingredient Notes

    Red Skinned Potato Salad

    Red potatoes- This recipe uses small, skin-on red potatoes. Any small round waxy potato will work but you want to avoid the larger russet style potatoes. The starch level is too high for this recipe.

    Bacon- You want super crispy bacon. Avoid any varieties that are sweet, maple-flavored, etc. Remember cooking bacon for a recipe is not the same as cooking to eat on its own. You want it a tad crispier.

    Celery- Make sure it is fresh and crispy to give the potato salad a nice crunch.

    Scallions- We use scallions rather than raw white onion so the potato salad has a nice onion flavor but we don't overwhelm the blue cheese, which is obviously the star of the show. The white and light green parts go in the salad and I reserve the dark green parts for garnishing the salad.

    Fresh Herbs-Chives and parsley are responsible for giving the salad its aromatics. You can play around with the combination of herbs and the portion. If chives aren't available using all parsley words fine but you might want to through in a few extra green onions.

    Blue Cheese Dressing

    Greek Yogurt- Thick, creamy, and tangy. Don't use fat-free yogurt as it tends to have a bland flavor. You can also substitute sour cream.

    Apple Cider Vinegar- Vinegar gives a little hint of acid that all potato salads need. You can also substitute white wine vinegar or red wine vinegar.

    Blue Cheese- It may be tempting to use that beautiful block of creamy blue cheese sitting in your fridge but the drier blue cheese crumbles are easier to work with, not to mention less expensive.

    I like the gorgonzola crumbles but any type of blue cheese will work.

    See the recipe card for exact quantities.

    ⏲️How to Make Blue Cheese Potato Salad

    Blue cheese potato salad follows the same general directions as a traditional potato salad, so there should be no big surprises here.

    Step 1- Crisp your Bacon

    The bacon should be nice and crispy. I prefer to chop my bacon before cooking it rather than crumble it afterward. Drain on a paper towel to removed excess grease.

    Step 2- Boil the Potatoes

    Cut your potatoes into bite-size pieces. You want them between half and one-inch dice. Depending on the size of your potatoes this may be in half or quarters. I typically use baby potatoes for this recipe.

    Place potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring them to a boil and cook for 8-10 minutes or until tender.

    Drain the potatoes and allow them to cool to room temperature. You can throw them in the fridge for a bit to speed up the cooling process.

    red potatoes in pot and covered with water

    Step 3- Blue Cheese Dressing

    While the potatoes are cooling make the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk the yogurt, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Then stir in the blue cheese crumbles. I like to reserve back a tablespoon or two of cheese for garnishing the top.

    adding the blue cheese to the dressing

    Step 4- Mix

    Place the potatoes in a large bowl. Add bacon, scallions, celery, and herbs. Gently toss to combine.

    Pour the dressing over the salad and gently stir to combine. Chill about one hour before serving. Garnish with extra herbs, onions, and bacon.

    dry potato salad ingredients including potatoes, celery, bacon, and chives

    💭Blue Cheese Potato Salad Variations

    You might think that this is a one-and-done recipe. But you would be wrong, here are some of our favorite variations on this unique potato salad recipe.

    Vegetarian Blue Cheese Potato Salad

    This should be obvious but... leave out the bacon. The bacon is great but if I don't have it on hand or we have veg-heads coming over for a cookout we leave it out. Blue cheese potato salad is still amazingly tasty without the bacon.

    Blue Cheese and Caramelized Onion Potato Salad

    This is my favorite variation! Leave out the scallions and substitute caramelized onions.

    Thinly slice a medium white or yellow onion. In a medium saute pan melt 1 tablespoon of butter with 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and saute until they begin to brown slightly about 3 to 5 minutes.

    Turn the heat all the way down and cook until the onions are brown and caramelized. This will take 30 to 40 minutes. You will need to stir frequently to prevent burning. Allow the onions to cool, chop the onions, and add to the blue cheese dressing.

    Steakhouse Entree Sized Potato Salad

    This is a great way to use up leftover potato salad. For each person spread 2 cups of spinach on a dinner plate, add one serving of the blue cheese potato salad, 6 to 8 cherry tomatoes cut in half, and top with grilled flank steak or a seared bavette steak. You could also top with grilled chicken.

    Mustard- Blue Cheese Potato Salad

    Omit the apple cider vinegar in the blue cheese dressing and instead add 2 tablespoons dijon mustard.

    👩🏻‍🍳 Expert Tips

    • Start the potatoes in cold water. This will ensure that the potatoes cook evenly. You don't want the outside to crumble before the center is done.
    • Don't forget to salt your water. It really makes a difference. I typically do about 1 teaspoon of salt for 2 pounds of potatoes.
    • The potatoes will continue to cook while they are cooling. They are "done" when they barely fork tender.
    • To save time on this recipe I cook the bacon and the potatoes at the same time. While they are cooking I prep the remaining ingredients.
    • Season to taste right before serving so the flavors have time to meld.
    potato salad served with BBQ chicken and a salad

    🌡️Storage and Making Ahead

    The potatoes will absorb whatever liquid you put on them. To make the potato salad ahead of time add 2 tablespoons of milk to half of the dressing to thin it out. Pour that half the dressing on the potatoes and save back the bacon. When ready to serve, add the remainder of the dressing and the bacon.

    Blue cheese potato salad should be stored in an airtight container and kept in the refrigerator. It will keep for 3 days.

    Side Dish Recipes for Cookouts

    Here are a few of our favorite recipes for your next backyard BBQ (P.S. they are all gluten-free too!).

    • Crustless tomato pie on serving platter
      Crustless Tomato Pie
    • lemon orzo salad on a platter with wooden spoon
      Lemon Orzo Salad
    • baked beans in baking dish
      Molasses Baked Beans with Bacon
    • gluten-free scalloped potatoes with cheesy topping in casserole dish.
      Gluten Free Scalloped Potatoes

    💬Frequently Asked Questions

    Is Blue Cheese gluten-free?

    Blue cheese is naturally gluten-free. However, you need to double-check the package to make sure it is gluten-free. There is a terrible rumor going around the internet that blue cheese is not gluten-free. That is untrue! But some brands do use bread so always best to verify.

    If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave us a rating or a comment. It helps other wonderful people connect with our food.

    📖 Recipe

    complete blue cheese potato salad recipe in serving bowl

    Blue Cheese Potato Salad

    A new twist on a summer classic, gorgonzola blue cheese plus savory bacon amp up this red skin potato salad.
    Servings: 6
    Prep: 15 mins
    Cook: 10 mins
    Chilling Time 1 hr
    Total: 1 hr 25 mins
    5 from 16 votes
    PRINT PIN SAVE

    Equipment

    • Large saucepan
    • Large mixing bowl

    Ingredients
      

    Red Skinned Potato Salad

    • 2 lb red potatoes skin on and cut into bite size pieces
    • 6 slices bacon crisped
    • ¼ cup celery diced
    • 4 scallions thinly slices (white and light green parts)
    • 2 tablespoon chives
    • 1 tablespoon parsley

    Blue Cheese Dressing

    • ½ cup Greek yogurt
    • 2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
    • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • 4 ounces blue cheese crumbles
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Place potatoes in a large saucepan. Cover potatoes with salted water, and bring to a boil. Cook for 8-10 minutes or until tender. Drain the potatoes and allow the potatoes to cool to room temperature.
      2 lb red potatoes
    • Place the potatoes in a large bowl. Add bacon, scallions, celery, and herbs. Gently toss to combine.
      6 slices bacon, ¼ cup celery, 4 scallions, 2 tablespoon chives, 1 tablespoon parsley
    • In a small bowl, whisk the yogurt, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Gently stir in the blue cheese crumbles.
      ½ cup Greek yogurt, 2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, 4 ounces blue cheese crumbles
    • Pour the dressing over the salad and gently stir to combine. Chill thirty to 60 minutes before serving.
    Rate this Recipe

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    Notes

    1. See post for recipe variations.
    2. The potatoes will absorb whatever liquid you put on them. To make the potato salad ahead of time add 2 tablespoons of milk to half of the dressing to thin it out. Pour that half the dressing on the potatoes and save back the bacon. When ready to serve, add the remainder of the dressing and the bacon.
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 196kcal | Carbs: 26g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 7g | Fiber: 3g
    Author: Jen Wooster
    Course:: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American, BBQ
    Keyword blue cheese potato salad, Potato salad, potato salad with bacon, potato salad without eggs, red white blue potato salad
    Tried this recipe?Tag us @peelwithzeal so we can see your creation!

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    1.3K shares
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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Jo says

      June 15, 2020 at 7:56 am

      5 stars
      I'm a huge potato fan and this is simply the best salad to make. Love the addition of blue cheese on the recipe. Flavors are perfect!

      Reply
    2. Natalie says

      June 15, 2020 at 7:54 am

      5 stars
      Lovely addition of blue cheese. I love it! What a brilliant idea. I bet it gave so much flavor. I will definitely give this recipe a try. Looks really delicious.

      Reply
      • Jen says

        June 16, 2020 at 7:30 am

        Let us know how it turns out.

        Reply
    3. Jenny Graves says

      June 14, 2020 at 12:04 pm

      5 stars
      Our new favorite potato salad! My husband LOVES blue cheese and got so excited when I told him I am making this wonderful salad. Thank you!

      Reply
    4. Denise says

      June 13, 2020 at 11:31 am

      5 stars
      What a delicious twist for potato salad! This will be made and enjoyed many times this summer for sure!

      Reply
    5. Paige says

      June 13, 2020 at 8:27 am

      5 stars
      This is a tasty riff on potato salad! I love the blue cheese addition, and this would be a great side for any BBQ!

      Reply
    6. Nicole says

      June 13, 2020 at 2:01 am

      I'm blue cheese's biggest fan, and I'm all over this recipe. It would go great with a bbq'd steak, or in my case, as the whole meal, haha! The more blue cheese (and bacon), the better.

      Reply
    7. Carol Borchardt says

      June 12, 2020 at 3:40 pm

      5 stars
      I've been wanting to do some new variations on potato salads this summer and this looks great! I love blue cheese so am super anxious to give this a try!

      Reply
    8. Chef Dennis says

      June 10, 2020 at 9:19 am

      5 stars
      I love bleu cheese and never thought of adding it potato salad. What a great idea, I can't wait to try it!

      Reply
    9. Loreto and Nicoletta Nardelli says

      June 09, 2020 at 2:41 am

      5 stars
      Thanks for all the tips! This bacon blue cheese potato salad is awesome and perfect for the warmer months ahead!

      Reply
    10. Gloria says

      June 08, 2020 at 1:10 pm

      5 stars
      You can never have too many potato recipes this time of year. Love the addition of blue cheese. I think this would be a hit at bbq parties for sure.

      Reply
      • Jen says

        June 09, 2020 at 6:32 am

        I think my husband would agree with that! And I love the blue cheese- perfect match.

        Reply

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    Greetings!

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    My name is Jen and I am the recipe developer, writer, and photographer around here. Since being diagnosed with celiac disease over 10 years ago I have been slowly curating a recipe box full of gluten-free goodness. I adore vegetables, crave chocolate, and I am always up for an adventure.

    More About Me...

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