High-Protein Bacon Ranch Potato Salad Low-Carb
This Bacon Ranch Potato Salad is protein-packed and low-carb, featuring red potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, bacon, cheddar cheese, and my homemade ranch dressing. Perfect for a barbecue, picnic, or quick lunch, it’s easy to prepare and store in the fridge to enjoy throughout the week.
If you’re looking for a protein-packed, low-carb twist on a classic dish, this Bacon Ranch Potato Salad is just what you need. Made with tender red potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, crispy bacon, cheddar cheese, and my homemade ranch dressing, it’s the perfect side for a barbecue, picnic, or even a quick lunch. You’ll love how easy this salad is to prepare, and the best part—it’s even better after a night in the fridge, so you can make it ahead and enjoy it all week long.
What makes this recipe stand out is the way every ingredient is carefully balanced. The cheddar cheese is chopped into perfect bite-sized cubes, adding creamy richness to each bite, while the crispy bacon and fresh green onions give it a pop of flavor and texture. And let’s not forget the ranch dressing! Made with my homemade mayo and light olive oil, it brings everything together for a truly satisfying dish. This potato salad isn’t just a side—it’s a crowd-pleaser.
Why You’ll Love This Healthy Bacon Ranch Potato Salad Recipe
- High in protein, low in carbs: A healthier spin on a classic potato salad without sacrificing any flavor.
- Make-ahead convenience: Perfect for prepping ahead and storing in the fridge to enjoy throughout the week.
- Homemade ranch dressing: My special ranch recipe with homemade mayo and light olive oil adds richness and flavor.
- Versatile: Serve it as a side for barbecues, potlucks, or as a hearty, quick lunch.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here is everything you need to make the best healthy potato salad recipe:
Red Baby Potatoes: You can use any variety of potatoes you like including yukon gold potatoes and russet potatoes. You can also use baby or mini potatoes.
Large Eggs: These give this salad it’s classic flavor and protein boost.
Bacon: You can use any variety of bacon you like, including turkey bacon or smoked bacon. I like to use uncured bacon as the healthiest option. You can also omit the bacon or replace it with cooked sliced ham or turkey.
Cheddar Cheese: I like using an orange-colored mild or sharp cheddar cheese. You can omit the cheese or replace it with feta cheese, swiss cheese, Monterey Jack or provolone cheese.
Ranch Dressing: You can use any ranch dressing you like. I highly recommend my homemade ranch dressing with my homemade mayo made with light olive oil.
Green Onions: You can use scallions, finely diced red onion or white onion if you prefer. You can also omit the onions or replace them with 1/2 teaspoon of onion powder for onion flavor.
Paprika: This gives delicious flavor to the potato salad but you could omit it or replace it with a small amount of chili powder for more kick.
How to Make My Healthy Bacon Ranch Potato Salad Recipe
Step 1: Prep the Potatoes
Rinse and dry the red baby potatoes. Cover them with 1 inch of water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and boil for ten minutes. Drain water and allow them to cool completely before using. This step can be done several hours or a day before making the salad to allow time for the potatoes to cool.
Once cooled, dice them into the desired bite-size pieces. My favorite method is to use a strong egg slicer. Place the potato in the slicer bowl, pull down the slicing wires, lift the potato, and slice it in half on a cutting board. The slicer will instantly pull off most of the potato peel. You can easily pull off any remaining peels or leave them on the potato.
Step 2: Cook the Bacon
OVEN METHOD:
Place the bacon strips side-by-side on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bake at 375°F for 10-15 minutes until they reach your desired crispiness.
AIR FRYER METHOD:
Place the bacon strips side-by-side inside the air fryer basket. Bake at 350°F for 8-11 minutes until they reach your desired crispiness.
Place the bacon strips on a paper towel on a plate to cool and absorb the excess fat.
Step 3: Prep the Eggs
My favorite fool-proof method for boiling eggs is using an egg cooker. You can also boil the eggs in a saucepan of boiling water for 10 minutes. Allow the eggs to cool before slicing.
You can slice the eggs with a knife or use my favorite egg slicer. Slice the egg, turn it 90°, slice it again, then carefully slice it in half while holding in your hand. Then add to the mixing bowl.
Step 4: Assemble the Salad
You can grate the cheddar cheese or cut it into small cubes. Slice the bacon into small bite-size pieces. Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl.
Step 5: Add the Ranch Dressing
You can use a store-bought ranch dressing or make my deliciously healthy homemade ranch dressing.
Add 1 cup of ranch dressing to the mixing bowl. Thoroughly mix all the ingredients with a spatula. Add more salt or pepper to taste.
You can garnish the top with an additional hard-boiled egg sliced once in the egg slicer to make circular egg shapes. Then top with a few more diced bacon, cheese, and green onions.
Expert Recipe Tips
Cooked Potatoes: You can steam or boil the potatoes. Bring them to room temperature before slicing and combining them with the salad or they could start to melt the cheese.
Garnishes: It looks really beautiful and colorful to sprinkle some bacon, cheddar cubes, green onions, and thinly sliced boiled egg on top of the salad before serving.
Healthy Bacon Ranch Potato Salad Serving Suggestions
Sandwiches and Wraps:
- Classic BLT: Combine bacon ranch egg salad with lettuce and tomato on your favorite bread.
- Avocado Toast: Spread bacon ranch egg salad on a slice of avocado toast for a healthy and flavorful option.
- Lettuce Wraps: Serve the egg salad in lettuce wraps for a low-carb option.
Appetizers:
- Deviled Eggs: Fill hard-boiled eggs with bacon ranch egg salad for a twist on a classic appetizer.
- Miniature Sandwiches: Cut bread into small squares and top with bacon ranch egg salad for a party appetizer.
Main Courses:
- Salad: Serve bacon ranch egg salad as a topping for a bed of mixed greens or spinach.
- Bowls: Create a power bowl by combining bacon ranch egg salad with grains, vegetables, and a protein source.
Side Dishes:
- Chips and Dip: Serve bacon ranch egg salad as a dip for potato chips, tortilla chips, or vegetables.
- Crudités: Serve bacon ranch egg salad with a platter of fresh vegetables for a healthy and satisfying snack.
Do you love eggs? Check out more of my easy and nutritious egg recipes:
High-Protein Bacon Ranch Potato Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 oz red baby potatoes about 12 baby potatoes
- 4 hard boiled eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 8 oz bacon about 8 strips, uncured is my fave
- 4 oz cheddar cheese
- 1 cup ranch dressing
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 green onion stalks
- 1 teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Rinse and dry the red baby potatoes. Cover them with 1 inch of water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and boil for ten minutes. Drain water and allow them to cool completely before using. This step can be done several hours or a day before making the salad to allow time for the potatoes to cool.
- Once cooled, dice them into the desired bite-size pieces. My favorite method is to use a strong egg slicer. Place the potato in the slicer bowl, pull down the slicing wires, lift the potato, and slice it in half on a cutting board. The slicer will instantly pull off most of the potato peel. You can easily pull off any remaining peels or leave them on the potato.
- Cooking the bacon:
OVEN METHOD:
- Place the bacon strips side-by-side on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bake at 375°F for 10-15 minutes until they reach your desired crispiness.
AIR FRYER METHOD:
- Place the bacon strips side-by-side inside the air fryer basket. Bake at 350°F for 8-11 minutes until they reach your desired crispiness.
- Place the bacon strips on a paper towel on a plate to cool and absorb the excess fat.
- My favorite fool-proof method for boiling eggs is using an egg cooker. You can also boil the eggs in a saucepan of boiling water for 10-12 minutes. Allow the eggs to cool before slicing.
- You can slice the eggs with a knife or use my favorite egg slicer. Slice the egg, turn it 90°, slice it again, then carefully slice it in half while holding in your hand. Then add to the mixing bowl.
- You can grate the cheddar cheese or cut it into small cubes. Slice the bacon into small bite-size pieces. Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl.
- You can use a store-bought ranch dressing or make my deliciously healthy homemade ranch dressing.
- Add 1 cup of ranch dressing to the mixing bowl. Thoroughly mix all the ingredients with a spatula. Add more salt or pepper to taste.
- You can garnish the top with an additional hard-boiled egg sliced once in the egg slicer to make circular egg shapes. Then top with a few more diced bacon, cheese, and green onions.
Video
Nutrition
This recipe has been reviewed by a healthcare professional for its nutritional balance and alignment with healthy eating principles.
Very yummy potato salad. It tasted so crisp, crunchy, and healthy.
Thank you Carolyn! I’m so you glad you enjoyed it 🙂