The 22 Absolute Best Ingredients To Elevate Potato Salad

Potatoes are universally loved, whether they're baked, fried, or boiled. When it comes to potato salad, everyone seems to think that their "famous" recipe is best, but the truth is that there are so many ways to add variety to the dish that you should never make it the same way twice. Whether you're using a creamy mayonnaise base potato, bringing some tang by using an oil-based vinaigrette, going heavy with the addition of bacon fat, or keeping things light with a sprinkle of fresh herbs, the options are endless. 

That's why we've compiled the absolute best ingredients to elevate potato salad, so you can sample each and every one of them for yourself. You'll never question what to bring to a potluck once you get elbow-deep into the world of potato salads. From German to All-American, it may take you a lifetime to try them all, but it will be well worth it. Enjoy these additions solo or mix and match to land on the potato salad that best suits you.   

This unexpected ingredient can transform any potato salad from standard to memorable. Pesto can be mixed into both creamy and oily potato salads but should be paired with complementary ingredients. Mediterranean ingredients like olives, roasted garlic, capers, and Italian parsley complement the sauce well, and an acid like lemon juice can bring out the flavors. Cracked black pepper and fresh basil make incredible toppers, and balsamic reduction can be used for a sweet and sour finish.

Fresh-made basil pesto makes a huge difference when it comes to potato salad, so consider whipping up a homemade recipe in your food processor. If you are out of pine nuts, try using cashews, almonds, or even peanuts. Add sprouts, kale, or arugula to the mix and get creative with ratios. 

Elevate your classic potato salad recipe with creamy, hearty hummus. The beloved garbanzo bean and tahini spread provides a protein-packed, plant-based, hearty way to hold your potato salad together. This is a great option for those of you out there who aren't fans of mayo.  We recommend using hummus in any oil-based potato salad. Mix in as much as you'd like, and pair with acids like Italian dressing, pickle juice, or lemon juice. 

Crunchy vegetables like celery, pickles, red peppers, diced sweet onion, and chopped kale stems add variety to the creamy texture of humus and silky-boiled potatoes. If you want greater depth and variety without purchasing or preparing any extra ingredients, add flavored hummus like roasted red pepper, lemon dill, or even artichoke.

Name a more perfect pair than potatoes and onions ... we'll wait. You'll have success loading up potato salad with the allium in any form. But if you prefer a milder addition, we recommend going green. Green onions (scallions) and chives are all incredible additions to potato salad, but be sure to pair them wisely. 

Mild green onions can add a beautiful aesthetic to potato salad and are especially delicious in a French potato salad recipe paired with Dijon mustard, Champagne vinegar, parsley, and fresh dill. Chives are a bit stronger in flavor, and smaller in size and make a fantastic garnish or topping. Whichever way you decide to slice it, the addition of green onions or chives (or both, for that matter) to potato salad can certainly elevate your recipe and add an element of depth and flavor that is necessary for the famous side dish.

If we are being honest with ourselves, hot sauce pairs well with pretty much any savory dish on the planet. Of course, sriracha sauce is a particular favorite and once you start drizzling the blend of hot chili peppers, vinegar, and garlic on your food, it's hard to stop.

So for all of the sriracha fanatics out there, you'll be happy to hear that we highly recommend adding it to your potato salad for a spicy kick. In both oil and mayonnaise-based potato salads, the beloved rooster sauce can add a tangy element, as well as some heat to help the creamy mixture pop. Add it little by little to your dressing, or drizzle it on top.

If you love creamy potato salad but want to skip eggy mayonnaise, then it's time to utilize a favorite potato sidekick, sour cream. The light and refreshing flavors balance the potato's starchy, dense mouthfeel, and the slightly sour taste helps to give your salad some umph. Consider using sour cream to make a potato salad version of a loaded baked potato. Use ingredients like green onion, cheddar cheese, bacon bits, sour cream, yellow onion, salt, pepper, or anything you'd typically layer atop a baked potato.

Use sour cream to replace mayonnaise in any potato salad recipe or mix a few tablespoons into an oil-based potato salad dressing for added creaminess. No sour cream on hand? Make homemade sour cream in a few easy steps by curdling whole milk and heavy cream with lemon juice.

If you love the tangy smoothness of green goddess dressing on your leafy greens, then it may be time to expand your horizons. Often made with tahini, this creamy, lemony dressing is known for being jam-packed with herbs like parsley, cilantro, and dill. Potatoes are a fantastic vehicle for flavor, and green goddess dressing is loaded with it. Try whipping up a quick green goddess dressing recipe or buying a bottle of the store-bought version to pour over potato salad, along with minced celery, and fresh herbs. 

As green goddess dressing surges in popularity (it was the most searched TikTok recipe on Google in 2022), it is no wonder we want to use it on just about everything. It holds components of creaminess, acid, and quite a bit of flavor.

Horseradish is yet another ingredient that often gets overlooked but can make all the difference when added to potato salad. The root, which looks similar to ginger, offers a sharp, spicy punch, and therefore is often grated into a sauce so that the heat can properly disperse. 

All in all, it gives everything it comes in contact with a punch of heat that is sure to clear out those sinuses. It gives those mild creamy potatoes a little extra zing and pop. If you've ever enjoyed horseradish over a juicy cut of sirloin, then you know it makes an incredible addition to creamy spreads and sauces. In addition, vinegar is often used to stabilize the heat that comes from the root, so potato salad is a wonderful host for horseradish because if there is one thing that potato salad always has, it's some form of acid. 

While we've talked quite a bit about Mediterranean variants, we have yet to mention the addition of a popular, creamy, zingy, yogurt-based sauce to elevate your potato salad. Tzatziki has all the classic elements of a potato salad dressing: the acidic element, fresh herbs, a creamy component, and even a bit of crunch. 

Consider pairing the creamy sauce with tender potatoes, diced dill pickles, chopped cucumber, capers, and sliced olives. Fresh dill, parsley, and mint can all be used as a garnish or can be added right into the sauce. While it may be tempting to buy store-bought sauces, it's easy enough to whip together your very own homemade classic tzatziki sauce recipe (cucumber, Greek yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, mint, and salt are our preferred ingredients), and enjoy the fresh flavors of the Mediterranean.

While there is nothing more refreshing than the crunch of raw onion in a batch of potato salad, keep in mind that variety is the spice of life. Onions are incredibly sweet when caramelized properly, and they can add a layer of depth to any recipe. Simply dice a sweet onion, brown it, deglaze the pan with broth and simmer it until the onion's sugars and structure have broken down. Chill the onions and then toss them in your potato salad — you won't regret it. 

These little strands of rich, sweet, oniony goodness will make any recipe soar. If you're feeling less motivated, mix in a touch of caramelized onion dip to your potato salad recipe, and enjoy.

Paprika, often confused with cayenne and chili pepper, is quite mild in flavor and has a slight sweetness to it. Though it is actually made from ground peppers, sweet paprika (as opposed to the "hot" version") is typically not spicy.  You may have tasted paprika on deviled eggs, or egg salad, and sometimes paprika even finds its way onto gourmet mac and cheese, scalloped potatoes.

It also happens to be an ingredient you'll want to use to spice up your potato salad. Paprika adds a beautiful aesthetic to an otherwise colorless dish and is best when sprinkled on top of the finished product. Just keep in mind that a little goes a long way so be conservative with your dusting.   

Does your homemade potato salad need an extra punch of flavor? Enter red onions, which are sweet in nature but still have that oniony nip that we love. Whether you dice it and add it raw, or pickle it first, onions belong in salads, and with potatoes. 

The natural zing complements the creamy mild potatoes elegantly and pairs well with all classic potato salad ingredients. Raw red onions are a welcome addition but giving them the pickle treatment is even better. All you need to do is cut up your red onion and then bathe the slices in a bath of apple cider vinegar, sugar, and salt. Believe us, you'll keep a jar of pickled onions handy in the fridge to top almost any savory dish.