When you’re in a rush and planning a summer barbecue, finding the perfect store-bought potato salad can be a game changer. These ready-made options can stand toe-to-toe with your cherished family recipes, making them a convenient choice for any gathering.
Side dishes play a crucial role in any barbecue, complementing the grilled meats beautifully. After selecting the best sausages and your family’s favorite barbecue sauces, it’s time to enhance your meal with refreshing summer salads. From crisp leafy greens to chilled pasta salads and hearty potato salads, these dishes are essential for a successful summer feast.
To find the best store-bought potato salads, we visited several grocery stores:
- Aldi
- Jewel/Albertson’s
- Mariano’s/Kroger
- Meijer
- Target
- Walmart
- Whole Foods
We evaluated the potato salads based on their freshness, cooking technique, creaminess of the dressing, and additional ingredients. Price-per-pound was also a factor, as we wanted to ensure that each serving was worth the cost.
1 / 7
Walmart’s Classic Potato Salad
This potato salad features a blend of potatoes, mayonnaise, water, sugar, celery, and sweet pickle relish, all without artificial flavors or corn syrup. Priced at a budget-friendly $3.47 per pound, it seems like a steal.
However, the texture left much to be desired. The potatoes were overly soft, and the dressing was too runny. We prefer salads with firm potato chunks that can be easily forked, but this one resembled mashed potatoes more than a salad.
Bottom Line: While the price is appealing, the texture of Walmart’s potato salad may not satisfy everyone.
2 / 7
Meijer’s Variety of Potato Salads
Meijer offers a wide selection of potato salads, including loaded smashed, red potato, Amish-style, and mustard varieties. For our tasting, we chose their American potato salad, which includes celery, sweet pickle relish, onion, and mustard, available in a 16-ounce container for $3.59.
This salad had a tangy flavor that could benefit from more seasoning, but we appreciated the crunch from the celery and the absence of high-fructose corn syrup.
Bottom Line: With a diverse range of options at reasonable prices, Meijer is a great choice for those looking to try multiple salads for a gathering.
3 / 7
Aldi’s Affordable Potato Salad
Aldi, known for its German roots, offers a 32-ounce potato salad at an unbeatable price of $3.99, making it the best value among the stores we visited.
While it excelled in cost, the flavor was more average. The potatoes were well-cooked, and the mustard flavor was present, but it leaned towards the sour side. A bit more seasoning and color would have elevated this dish. The ingredient list includes potatoes, mayonnaise, celery, hard-boiled eggs, sugar, water, onion, sweet pickle relish, green onion, and dehydrated parsley.
Bottom Line: If budget is your main concern, Aldi’s potato salad is a fantastic option. Enhance it with fresh herbs for added flavor.
4 / 7
Target’s Classic Potato Salad
Target’s potato salad features well-cooked potato chunks and a colorful mix. The dressing was creamy, though perhaps a bit excessive. Made with potatoes, mayonnaise, celery, hard-boiled eggs, sugar, water, onion, and sweet pickle relish, we appreciated the distinct flavors of each ingredient. Priced at $3.69 for a 1-pound container, it offers good value.
Bottom Line: While not the top contender, Target’s potato salad is a convenient and affordable choice for summer gatherings.
5 / 7
Jewel’s Original Potato Salad
Jewel’s deli case features several potato salad options, including Grandma’s and buttermilk varieties. At $4.99 per pound, it is pricier than some competitors, but the quality justifies the cost.
The potatoes were perfectly cooked, and the salad had a vibrant yellow color. The addition of celery seed enhanced the flavor, which was lacking in other salads. However, we wished for more mix-ins to elevate the dish further.
Bottom Line: Jewel’s potato salad is visually appealing and flavorful, making it a great addition to any summer potluck.
6 / 7
Mariano’s Classic Potato Salad
Mariano’s offers a variety of potato salads, including German, steakhouse, metro, and classic yellow. We sampled the traditional yellow potato salad priced at $4.49 per pound, made with russet potatoes, mayonnaise, dressing, celery, bell peppers, onion, mustard, sugar, salt, and white pepper.
The salad featured well-cooked potato pieces, and the flavors were well-balanced, thanks to the creamy dressing. The use of white pepper added a subtle touch that enhanced the overall taste.
Bottom Line: Mariano’s is an excellent choice for those who appreciate a classic potato salad made with quality ingredients.
7 / 7
Whole Foods’ Red Bliss Potato Salad
Whole Foods’ red bliss potato salad topped our taste test. Even before tasting, its vibrant appearance was enticing. Made with unpeeled red potatoes, it had a delightful texture thanks to the skin.
The ingredients include mayonnaise, sour cream, celery, onion, green onion, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, brown sugar, parsley, water, cornstarch, and white pepper. The combination of mayonnaise and sour cream created a creamy consistency, while the apple cider vinegar and Dijon mustard added a zesty kick.
At $5.99 per pound, it was the most expensive option, but the quality and taste made it worth every cent.
Bottom Line: If you’re willing to invest a little more, Whole Foods’ potato salad is a fresh and delicious choice that tastes homemade.