Bacon Ranch Sweet Potato Salad (Paleo, Whole30, AIP)
This bacon ranch sweet potato salad is the perfect summertime side dish! Serve it at picnics, barbecues, or just for a weeknight dinner. It’s paleo, AIP, and Whole30.
Bacon ranch sweet potato salad
Cold potato salad is such a classic this time of year. I don’t think I can picture summer without it… until I wound up having to go nightshade-free and ditch potatoes. Not only did that cut out endless other potato possibilities at the time, but the potato salad was completely off the table. I just couldn’t see myself having a potato salad without the star ingredient! However, once I discovered white sweet potatoes, I knew that sweet potato salad that could fool any regular potato eater was possible. And that’s where this Bacon Ranch Sweet Potato Salad was born!
Bacon and ranch is always a killer flavor combination, and it really shines in this potato salad. All of the ingredients are nutrient-dense, homemade, and completely packed with flavor!
The Ingredients In The Bacon Ranch Sweet Potato Salad
- White Sweet Potato. Something like Japanese Sweet Potato or Hannah Sweet Potato would work best for this recipe. I find both of these varieties at Natural Grocers and Whole Foods. They have great flavor and texture and are create the best potato salad look. However, if you can’t find white sweet potatoes, you can sub orange
- Celery. This is a more non-traditional potato salad ingredient, but it really gives the salad some extra crunch and freshness!
- Bacon. Wouldn’t be a bacon ranch potato salad without the bacon, right?
- Homemade ranch (or compliant storebought). Oh yeah, we’re doing this the right way! If you tolerate store bought ranch like Primal Kitchen, go for it, but with just a few extra steps, you can have a delicious homemade ranch for this salad.
How to Make Bacon Ranch Potato Salad
- Make the ranch. Combine all of the ingredients for the ranch in a large glass jar and blend with an immersion blender until smooth. Set aside in the fridge.
- Boil the sweet potatoes. Bring a large pot filled two-thirds of the way with water to a low boil over medium heat on a stove top. Add the white sweet potato and cook for 10-15 minutes or until the sweet potato can be easily pierced with a fork. Carefully strain the excess water with a colander and allow the sweet potato to cool completely. Pat dry if needed, and chill for 20-30 minutes in the fridge.
- Combine. Using a large bowl, combine the sweet potato, celery, bacon, and green onion and carefully mix with the ranch, adding 1/4 a cup at a time. Serve chilled with extra ranch on the side.
Can you swap orange sweet potatoes?
Yes! I find them to be a bit sweeter than white, but it’ll still work just fine.
Can you just use regular potatoes?
Yup! That’ll work too if you tolerate it!
How long can you store this?
I think this is best pretty fresh, but you can keep it in the fridge for 1-2 days. I like to store it in an airtight container.
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Bacon Ranch Sweet Potato Salad (Paleo, Whole30, AIP)
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Ingredients
For the potato salad
- 2 large white sweet potatoes, chopped (sub orange sweet potato)
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
- 3 sprigs green onion, sliced
- 3-4 pieces of cooked bacon, chopped
- ½ cup homemade ranch
For the ranch (see notes for storebought)
- ½ cup paleo mayo, sub egg free mayo for AIP
- ¼ cup coconut milk
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley
- 1 tsp dried dill
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp dried chives
- 1 tsp sea salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper, omit for AIP
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients for the ranch in a large glass jar and blend with an immersion blender until smooth. Set aside in the fridge.
- Bring a large pot filled two-thirds of the way with water to a low boil over medium heat on a stove top. Add the white sweet potato and cook for 10-15 minutes or until the sweet potato can be easily pierced with a fork. Carefully strain the excess water with a colander and allow the sweet potato to cool completely. Pat dry if needed, and chill for 20-30 minutes in the fridge.
- Using a large bowl, combine the sweet potato, celery, bacon, and green onion and carefully mix with the ranch, adding 1/4 a cup at a time. Serve chilled with extra ranch on the side.
Notes
Recipe by Michelle, Unbound Wellness. Photos by Eat Love Eats
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Hi, do you have another recommendation for AIP mayo? I want to make this but the link doesn’t work. Thanks
I also like this one: https://primalsam.com/no-mess-no-egg-mayo-aip-paleo-whole-30/
The link to the AIP Mayo no longer works
This recipe is phenomenal! My husband does not like potato salad at all! But this, he loves it! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! It will be on our menu regularly this summer!
Ah yay! I’m so happy to hear this!
Amazing!
First I want to say- I LOVE every recipe I try of yours. I’ve been doing AIP since last October and it has been great for me! I’m super excited about this bacon ranch potato salad. Do you have an AIP/eggless mayo you’d recommend?
Thank you so much, Kelly!! I have an AIP mayo linked in the recipe that I recommend 🙂 Hope you love it!
This sounds really yummy, but I think I’ll “roast” my potatoes in the air fryer instead!
Thanks for the idea 🙂
Love that idea!!
Oh goodness…I so want to echo what Victoria said! I have commented now and then but really needed to take the time to acknowledge all you have done and are continuing to do to help your fellow autoimmune sufferers. It’s such a difficult road sometimes and your recipes have been like a breath of fresh air…easily doable and delish!! Can’t wait to try this one, and so once again, thank you, thank you, thank you… from the bottom of my heart. 🙂 Wish you all the best!
This is an AMAZING recipe! I have a lot of dietary restrictions in my family and made thisfor a bbq. Everyone said it was the best potato salad they have ever had. Thanks!
Came across your site on Pinterest. AIP newbie here and am thrilled to see these recipes!!!!!
Thank you so much, Ashley!!
We made this yesterday and it’s so good! It was a hit for our family and friends! Thank you!
Yay! I’m so happy everyone liked it!! Thank you so much for trying it <3
This looks so delicious! Can you recommend a substitute for the celery? I usually just omit it but it seems like it adds a lot to this recipe.
Thank you! Hm.. maybe you can use fresh onion to get some crunch?
I keep reminding myself to write my appreciation for your professional, easy-to-use site, and the amazing gifts of incredible recipes that you give away. You breathe magic back into the desert of my food restrictions. So instead of feeling glum and not excited at all about what’s available, you come up with these incredible recipes and absolutely rock my world. So this is for all the amazing recipes you gift me with: kudos and so much appreciation to you!
Victoria, I cannot tell you how much your comment means to me! It seriously made me tear up and I’m saving it away!! Thank you so much for taking the time to write this and for your support <3