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Apple Butter BBQ Potato Salad

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Sweet and tangy Apple Butter BBQ Potato Salad tossed with bacon, corn, and scallion will be the winning side dish at your next picnic.


Apple Butter BBQ Potato Salad with bacon, corn, and scallion #AppleButterSpin

What is it about picnic food that makes us go crazy?

Is the smell of the grill, charring our iconic hot dogs and hamburgers?

Is it the roasting of fresh sweet corn that is later slathered in butter?

Is it the BBQ ribs that are smoked to perfection and practically fall off the bone?

Or is it the wide assortment of side dishes that stretch as far as the eye can see, ranging from potato and macaroni salads to coleslaw and baked beans?

Is your mouth watering yet?

When I think about picnic food, I think about two things – meat and side dishes.

My choice of meat is BBQ ribs, something I don’t have very often (which makes it even more special to eat).

My choice of side dish is a toss up between potato and macaroni salad.

Lately I’ve been craving a good potato salad. With so many variations out there – mayonnaise-based, mustard-based, German style, even San Francisco style (that I haven’t heard of until a reader mentioned it) – how can I make mine different?

Simple – with Apple Butter BBQ Potato Salad, which is a sweet and tangy potato salad tossed with bacon, corn, and scallion.

Your meal isn’t complete without this beauty.


Apple Butter BBQ Potato Salad with bacon, corn, and scallion #AppleButterSpin

Pairing potatoes and BBQ sauce together is nothing new to me.

When my family makes ribs at home, we often serve them with mashed potatoes.

Instead of gravy, we pour extra BBQ sauce over. What better way to soak up all that extra sauce than with mashed potatoes?

This potato salad is just like that. The red potatoes soak up the sauce while having a party with the bacon, corn, and scallions.


Apple Butter BBQ Potato Salad with bacon, corn, and scallion #AppleButterSpin

I kicked my BBQ sauce up a notch by using Musselman’s Apple Butter, which gives it a unique sweetness.

Most of the time people use apple butter as a spread or an ingredient in baked goods, but this time I wanted apple butter to shine as a savory side dish.

BBQ sauce reminds me of meat and potatoes, and although the only meat in this recipe is the bacon, the essence of the idea is still there.

I know I’ve been pushing this recipe for picnics, but that doesn’t mean you can’t serve it all year round. How often do you serve meat and potatoes for dinner?

My married friends often say that’s the only thing their husbands will eat.

Instead of serving a side of red potatoes, serve a side of Apple Butter BBQ Potato Salad. It’s pretty much just red potatoes tossed in BBQ sauce. And who can say no to that?

Apple Butter BBQ Potato Salad

Apple Butter BBQ Potato Salad

Yield: 4
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes

Ingredients

BBQ Sauce

  • 1/2 cup apple butter
  • 1/4 cup ketchup (homemade or store-bought)
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Potato Salad

  • 1 pound red potatoes, cubed (roughly 8 small potatoes)
  • 1/2 cup crumbled bacon (roughly 5-6 slices)
  • 1/4 cup chopped green onion (green part only)
  • 1/2 cup corn kernels

Instructions

  2. In a large pot of salted water, add the potatoes. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, cook for 10-15 minutes or until potatoes are soft (but not mushy). Drain and cool slightly.
  3. Meanwhile, make the sauce: In a large saucepan, whisk together the apple butter, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 teaspoon chili powder (add the extra 1/2 teaspoon if desired), paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder. Bring to a boil. Turn the heat down to simmering, cover with a lid, and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally*.
  4. Toss the still-warm potatoes with the sauce. Let sit for 20 minutes.
  5. Stir the bacon, green onion, and corn into the potato salad. Chill in the refrigerator at least an hour or until cold before serving.

Notes

*The sauce can be made ahead of time. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Did you make this recipe?

Let me know what you think! Rate the recipe above, leave a comment below, and/or share a photo on Instagram using #HITKrecipesAll recipes are tested in a U.S. kitchen with U.S. ingredients at normal elevation using a conventional gas oven. Results may vary.

© Carla Cardello (www.chocolatemoosey.com)

Want more picnic recipes?



Italian Potato Salad

Amish Macaroni Salad


Herbed Cream Cheese Grilled Bell Pepper Boats


Beef Stir Fry Kabobs


Maple BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches

Disclosure: I was compensated by Musselman’s for this recipe. As always, thank you for reading and supporting brands I work with, which allows me to bring you more recipes. All opinions, text, and photographs are my own.

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Please let me know by sharing a photo in my private Facebook group or uploading and tagging me on Instagram using #HITKrecipes (Note: If your Instagram account is private, I won't be able to see your photo)

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. cheryl illinois says

    Sounds weird to me but I want to try it. Sort of sweet/sour stuff. My husband is not a fan of potato salad but I think he might like this.

    Reply

  6. Christiane says

    I adore potato salad and agree that any kind of potato was made to be a sauce sopper-upper. Your potato salad looks amazing and I love the addition of the apple butter.

    Reply

  11. Lori @ RecipeGirl says

    oh my gosh, I absolutely LOVE apple butter. Adding it to potato salad to create a sweet addition is just brilliant! And there is bacon and hints of BBQ in there too??? Totally serving this up Labor Day weekend!

    Reply

  14. Samantha says

    What a unique twist on potato salad. I just so happen to have a lot of potatoes from my CSA and a jar of apple butter… Thanks for such an original idea!

    Reply

  23. Kim Beaulieu says

    I don’t know why but that weird bottom jeans song is playing in my head right now, lol!

    I love this recipe Carla, too much, I can’t stop staring. Apple butter rules.

    Reply

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