When the weather starts to get a little warmer during springtime it's time to dust off the grill and do a little outdoor cooking. Whether you desire a juicy burger or succulent hot dogs, this homemade Mashed Potato Salad with Bacon & Chives Recipe is an excellent and delicious side dish to accompany any cook out.

You can use practically any type of potato for this recipe - here I used Idaho potatoes - as they boil well and have a great taste to them. I used regular bacon, but I've also made this recipe with a hardwood or apple smoked bacon, which gives the potato salad a wonderful flavor.

Your family and friends will not be able to get enough of this delicious salad, so feel free to double the quantities here for a crowd. Enjoy!
Ingredients

6 large eggs
8 cups all-purpose potatoes, peeled and diced
1 lb. bacon
1 large celery stalk
4 green onions
1/4 cup fresh chives
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream
Kosher salt
Ground black pepper

Method

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

1. Place the bacon on a foil lined pan and bake until cooked through. Drain on paper towels and finely chop. Set aside in a large bowl.

2. Bring the diced potatoes to a boil over a high heat and add 1 tbsp. kosher salt. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until tender but on the firm side, approximately 10 minutes. Drain in a colander and immediately run cold water over them to stop them from cooking further. Lay the cooked potatoes on a sheet pan/cookie sheet and spread them out. Refrigerate uncovered until they are very cold.

3. Place the eggs in a pan and cover them with water. Bring to a rapid boil, turn off the heat and cover with a lid. Let the eggs sit in the hot water for 12 minutes, then drain and run cold water into the pan until the eggs are cooled down. Peel and chop the eggs and set aside with the bacon.

4. Next, slice the celery, green onions and chives very thin and add these to the bowl. When the potatoes are very cold, take two thirds of them and mash. Add the mashed potatoes and the remaining diced potatoes to the bowl. Add the mayonnaise and sour cream into the potato mixture and combine well. Taste and add kosher salt and black pepper to your liking. Garnish with chopped chives or green onions.

Serves 6 – 8 people as a side.