BBQ-Style Potato Salad

Side dish · The Rub Kitchen
Prep time30 min
Servings4–6
DifficultyEasy
MethodStovetop

Short answer: Cook waxy potatoes until done, mix warm with a vinaigrette of mustard, apple cider vinegar and BBQ rub. Add crispy bacon, red onion, and chives. Serve warm for the best flavor.

Warm potato salad is the most underrated BBQ side dish. Unlike the cold mayonnaise-based version, this recipe features a sharp mustard vinaigrette that perfectly cuts through the richness of pulled pork and spare ribs.

Ready in 30 minutes, it’s even better if allowed to rest while the meat is resting.

01

What do you need?

For 4–6 servings:

  • 1 kg waxy potatoes (e.g., Nicola or Charlotte)
  • 150g smoked bacon or pancetta, diced
  • ½ red onion, very finely sliced
  • 3 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 4 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp Memphis BBQ rub
  • Salt and black pepper
  • Handful of fresh chives or parsley, finely chopped
Waxy potatoes are essential

Use waxy potatoes — they won’t fall apart and will absorb the dressing better. Floury potatoes will become mushy. Nicola, Charlotte, or Roseval work best.

02

Preparation

  1. Boil the potatoes in salted water until tender (approx. 20 minutes). Drain and let them steam dry briefly.
  2. Meanwhile, render the bacon in a dry skillet until crispy. Reserve the fat in the pan.
  3. In a large bowl, mix: mustard, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, and the BBQ rub. Whisk well.
  4. Slice the warm potatoes into disks or quarters and add them directly to the dressing.
  5. Add the red onion, crispy bacon, and any reserved bacon fat. Mix gently.
  6. Season with salt, pepper, and extra vinegar or mustard to taste.
  7. Garnish with chives and serve warm or at room temperature.
Mixing warm is the secret

Add the dressing while the potatoes are still warm — they will absorb the flavors much better. A cold potato salad always tastes less intense than a warm one.

03

Variations

Adapt the potato salad to your main course:

  • With spareribs: Memphis rub + extra honey in the dressing
  • With pulled pork: add a splash of BBQ sauce to the dressing
  • Vegetarian version: omit the bacon, add roasted sunflower seeds
  • Creamy version: replace half of the olive oil with crème fraîche
Also read

More BBQ side dishes

→ Grilled sweet potato on the BBQ → Coleslaw — fresh BBQ coleslaw → Grilled corn on the BBQ → BBQ baked beans

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