Quick & Zesty Jalapeño Popper Potato Salad Recipe

Jalapeño popper potato salad brings fiery excitement to a classic summer side dish, enhanceing familiar flavors into a bold culinary adventure.

Creamy potatoes merge with zippy pepper heat, creating a tantalizing fusion that awakens taste buds.

Crisp bacon bits and rich cream cheese elevate this dish beyond ordinary expectations.

Unexpected spices and textures dance together, promising a memorable dining experience that surprises and delights.

Sharp jalapeño notes cut through velvety potato richness, delivering a perfect balance of comfort and excitement.

Each bite promises a thrilling combination of familiar and adventurous ingredients that challenge traditional potato salad norms.

Gathering friends and family around this dish guarantees animated conversations and enthusiastic second helpings.

Jalapeño Popper Potato Salad: A Flavor Combo That Works

• Spice Up Your Comfort Food: This potato salad transforms the classic side dish with a fiery jalapeño kick, bringing excitement and bold flavors to a traditional recipe.
• Creamy Texture Meets Crispy Crunch: The smooth mayonnaise-based dressing perfectly complements the crispy turkey bacon bits and tender potatoes, creating an irresistible combination of textures.
• Quick and Easy Crowd-Pleaser: Requiring only 20 minutes of prep time and simple ingredients, this recipe delivers maximum flavor with minimal effort, making it ideal for summer gatherings, potlucks, and weeknight dinners.

Ingredients That Bring the Popper Salad to Life

• Potatoes: Starchy, creamy base that provides the main texture and substance of the salad.
• Mayonnaise, Sour Cream: Creamy dressing components that create a rich, tangy base for coating the potatoes.

• Turkey Bacon: Crispy, smoky protein that adds a savory crunch to the salad.
• Cheddar Cheese: Sharp, melty cheese that provides a bold, tangy flavor profile.
• Jalapeños: Spicy peppers that give a zesty, hot kick to the potato salad.
• Green Onions: Fresh, mild onion flavor that adds a light, crisp element.

• Garlic Powder: Aromatic seasoning that provides a subtle, deep garlic essence.
• Onion Powder: Complementary seasoning that enhances overall savory notes.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings that balance and enhance the overall flavor of the dish.

How to Prep This Spicy, Creamy Salad

Step 1: Prepare Potatoes

Wash and cube potatoes into bite-sized pieces. Place in a large pot with cold water and generously salt. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook until fork-tender, approximately 12-15 minutes. Carefully drain potatoes in a colander and spread on a baking sheet to cool quickly.

Step 2: Create Creamy Dressing

• Mayonnaise
• Sour cream
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Salt
• Black pepper

Blend until smooth and ingredients are fully incorporated.

Step 3: Chop Supporting Ingredients

• Crumble crispy turkey bacon
• Shred sharp cheddar cheese
• Dice fresh jalapeños (remove seeds for less heat)
• Slice green onions into thin rings

Step 4: Combine and Mix

Add cooled potatoes and prepared ingredients to the creamy dressing. Gently fold everything together, ensuring each potato chunk gets coated with the zesty mixture.

Step 5: Chill and Marinate

Cover the potato salad and refrigerate for minimum 1 hour. This resting period allows flavors to meld and intensify. Serve chilled as a delightful side dish perfect for summer gatherings.

Tips for Creaminess with a Kick

• Select Perfect Potatoes: Choose waxy potatoes like Yukon Gold or red potatoes that hold their shape when boiled, ensuring a creamy yet firm texture in your salad.
• Control Jalapeño Heat: Remove seeds and membranes from jalapeños for milder flavor, or keep them for extra spiciness- taste and adjust according to your heat preference.
• Crisp Bacon Technique: Cook turkey bacon until extra crispy, then crumble into small pieces to provide a satisfying crunch throughout the potato salad.
• Avoid Soggy Salad: Let potatoes cool completely before mixing with dressing to prevent breaking down and maintain the ideal potato texture.
• Enhance Flavor Depth: Make the salad a day ahead, allowing ingredients to marinate and develop richer, more complex taste profiles.

Best Storage and Serving Practices

• Refrigeration: Store leftovers in an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Seal tightly to prevent moisture and maintain freshness.
• Reheating: Gently warm potato salad in the microwave using short 15-second intervals, stirring between each burst to distribute heat evenly. Avoid overheating to prevent texture breakdown.
• Quick Tip: If the salad seems dry after refrigeration, stir in a small amount of additional mayonnaise or sour cream to restore creamy consistency before serving.

Great Foods to Serve Alongside

• Sip a Crisp Beer Companion: Match this spicy potato salad with a cold, light lager or pale ale that cuts through the rich, creamy dressing and complements the jalapeño kick.
• Pair with Zesty White Wine: Choose a chilled sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio with bright acidity to balance the salad's creamy texture and spicy jalapeño notes.
• Serve Alongside Grilled Proteins: Complement the potato salad with smoky grilled chicken, barbecue pulled pork, or juicy burgers to create a perfectly balanced summer meal that highlights the dish's bold flavors.
• Add Fresh Cucumber Salad: Introduce a cool, crisp cucumber side dish to provide a refreshing contrast to the rich, spicy potato salad and create a well-rounded plate.

Salad Twists You’ll Want to Try

• Smoky Southwest Style: Replace turkey bacon with chorizo, add roasted corn kernels, and mix in a dash of chipotle powder for a bold, spicy southwestern kick.
• Creamy Ranch Edition: Swap mayonnaise and sour cream with ranch dressing, incorporate diced bell peppers, and sprinkle extra ranch seasoning for a tangy flavor profile.
• Greek-Inspired Version: Use feta cheese instead of cheddar, add diced cucumber, replace jalapeños with mild pepperoncini, and mix in chopped fresh dill for a Mediterranean touch.
• Loaded Baked Potato Remix: Include crispy skin-on potatoes, top with additional crumbled bacon, extra cheese, and garnish with chives for a loaded baked potato salad experience.

Jalapeo Popper Potato Salad Recipe

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4.7 from 12 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Jalapeño Popper Potato Salad delivers spicy, creamy comfort with crispy bacon and sharp cheddar cheese. Zesty peppers and cool, tangy dressing create perfect balance for summer gatherings where guests will crave seconds.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 2 pounds (907 grams) potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 4 slices turkey bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1 cup (240 milliliters) shredded cheddar cheese
• 3 jalapeños, seeded and diced

Herbs and Aromatics:

• ½ cup (120 milliliters) green onions, sliced
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder

Dressing and Seasonings:

• ½ cup (120 milliliters) mayonnaise
• ½ cup (120 milliliters) sour cream
• Salt and pepper to taste

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Instructions

1. Prepare potatoes by submerging cubed pieces in generously salted boiling water, cooking until fork-tender and easily pierced, approximately 12-14 minutes.
2. Carefully drain potatoes and spread them on a flat surface, allowing natural cooling and preventing further cooking.
3. Whisk together creamy mayonnaise, tangy sour cream, aromatic garlic powder, robust onion powder, and precise seasoning until smooth and thoroughly integrated.
4. Incorporate crispy, crumbled turkey bacon pieces into the rich, velvety dressing, ensuring even distribution.
5. Gently fold cooled potato cubes into the creamy mixture, coating each piece with the flavorful base.
6. Sprinkle sharp, shredded cheddar cheese throughout the salad, creating pockets of melty goodness.
7. Dice fresh jalapeños, removing seeds for milder heat, and distribute evenly across the potato mixture.
8. Garnish with delicate, thinly sliced green onions, adding a subtle, sharp brightness to the dish.
9. Cover the salad and place in the refrigerator, allowing flavors to meld and intensify for at least 60 minutes before serving.
10. Just before presentation, give the salad a gentle stir to redistribute the creamy dressing and ingredients.

Notes

• Perfectly boil potatoes until tender, ensuring they’re soft but not mushy for the ideal potato salad texture.
• Create a creamy, zesty dressing by whisking mayonnaise and sour cream with aromatic spices for maximum flavor impact.
• Crumble crispy turkey bacon to add a smoky, crunchy element that elevates the classic potato salad experience.
• Dice fresh jalapeños with care, removing seeds for milder heat or keeping them for an extra spicy kick.
• Chill the salad for at least an hour to allow flavors to blend and develop a more complex taste profile.
• Sprinkle fresh green onions just before serving to add a bright, crisp finish to the dish.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Appetizer, Side Dish
• Method: Boiling
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 400
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 600 mg
• Fat: 25 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 35 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Protein: 9 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg