Million Dollar Potato Salad

4.7
(31)

Million dollar potato salad, creamy and indulgent, has a rich sour cream and Parmesan dressing.

A bowl of million dollar potato salad, garnished with chives and bacon
Prep Time:
25 mins
Cook Time:
25 mins
Total Time:
50 mins
Servings:
8

For a potato salad that feels opulent and indulgent, this Million Dollar Potato Salad fits the bill. Here we’ve got the classic additions of eggs (for creaminess), celery (for crunch) and dill pickles with their brine (for irresistible tang). By using half mayonnaise and half sour cream in the dressing, the result is a lactic creaminess that can’t be beat. A flurry of grated Parmesan and dollop of Dijon mustard take things up a notch whilst helping to season the dressing, too. The final flourish is a garnish of crispy bacon, chives and crispy fried onions to bring it all together. 

A Trick to Help the Potatoes Stay Together

As I’m already using dill pickles and their brine in the dressing for the salad, I like to add a splash of said brine to the water I boil my potatoes in. The vinegar in the brine makes the water acidic which helps the potatoes stay together when cooked. If you don’t have enough pickle brine in the jar, just use a couple of tablespoons of a neutral vinegar (white wine, distilled, apple cider) instead. 

How to Dress the Potatoes

If you mix the potatoes with their dressing while warm, they soak up lots of the salty, tangy flavor. By the time they’ve cooled, the dressing is thickened and coats the potatoes nicely. I like to do this in a large tray as I find it easier to mix everything without breaking the potatoes up, but you can use a large bowl if that’s what you’ve got.

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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 8 servings

  • 4 large eggs

  • 3 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, peeled

  • 1/2 cup dill pickle brine, divided

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • 1 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise

  • 1/2 cup sour cream

  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

  • 6 slices bacon

  • 1/3 cup finely sliced chives

  • 1/4 cup chopped dill pickles

  • 2 stalks celery, chopped

  • 1/3 cup crispy fried onions

Directions

  1. Gather your ingredients.

    Ingredients to make million dollar potato salad

    Allrecipes/Izy Hossack

  2. Place eggs into a small pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then remove from the heat and cover with a lid. Let sit for 10 minutes.

    A small pot with four eggs

    Allrecipes/Izy Hossack

  3. Drain eggs and place into an ice bath to cool completely.

    A small bowl with four eggs in ice water

    Allrecipes/Izy Hossack

  4. Peel eggs and cut into quarters, or smaller if you prefer.

    A cutting board with peeled boiled eggs with two cut into quarters

    Allrecipes/Izy Hossack

  5. Peel potatoes and cut into roughly 2-inch chunks.

    A cutting board with three potatoes, a peeled potato with potato skins on the side, and a small pile of sliced potatoes

    Allrecipes/Izy Hossack

  6. Add potatoes to a large pot of cold water, season the water generously with salt, and add 1/4 cup pickle juice (this helps them to hold together once cooked - you can alternatively use 2 tablespoons white vinegar). Bring to a boil over a high heat, reduce the heat, and simmer until potatoes are tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain potatoes and set aside.

    A metal colander with chopped boiled potatoes

    Allrecipes/Izy Hossack

  7. Meanwhile, make dressing: Stir Parmesan, mayonnaise, sour cream, mustard, and remaining 1/4 cup dill pickle brine together in a bowl.

    A bowl of dressing made from Parmesan cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, mustard, and dill pickle brine

    Allrecipes/Izy Hossack

  8. Pour the dressing over the hot potatoes and stir to coat. Taste and season with salt, if needed, then leave to cool.

    A large dish with boiled potatoes tossed in dressing

    Allrecipes/Izy Hossack

  9. Place bacon into a large skillet and fry over medium heat, turning over to let both sides crisp up, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove to a chopping board and cut into bite-sized pieces.

    A cutting board with two whole slices of crispy bacon next to a small pile of chopped crispy bacon

    Allrecipes/Izy Hossack

  10. To the cooled potatoes, add the boiled eggs, celery, chopped dill pickle, most of the bacon and most of the chives. Mix together to combine. 

    A dish of potato salad with celery, chopped pickles, hard boiled egg, bacon, and chives

    Allrecipes/Izy Hossack

  11. When ready to serve, transfer the potato salad to a serving dish and garnish with remaining chives and bacon, as well as the crispy fried onions.

    A dish of million dollar potato salad served with chopped chives, bacon, and crispy fried onions on the side

    Allrecipes/Izy Hossack

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

440 Calories
23g Fat
44g Carbs
15g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Calories 440
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 23g 30%
Saturated Fat 7g 35%
Cholesterol 127mg 42%
Sodium 1152mg 50%
Total Carbohydrate 44g 16%
Dietary Fiber 4g 15%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 15g 30%
Vitamin C 19mg 21%
Calcium 175mg 13%
Iron 3mg 15%
Potassium 1080mg 23%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.