Instant Pot Dairy-Free Ranch Potato Salad: Your Go-To Allergy-Friendly BBQ Side Dish

Just because you navigate a world of food sensitivities doesn’t mean you have to compromise on flavor, especially when it comes to classic comfort foods like potato salad. This summer, prepare to experience a creamy, tangy, and utterly satisfying ranch potato salad that defies expectations. Bursting with savory goodness from crispy bacon and fresh green onions, this side dish is designed to be a showstopper at any BBQ or potluck – effortlessly winning over every guest, regardless of their food allergies or dietary restrictions. This Instant Pot Dairy-Free Ranch Potato Salad is meticulously crafted to be free of: wheat, gluten, dairy, egg, soy, peanut, and tree nuts, making it a truly top-8-free delight. For those seeking a completely plant-based option, simply swap the bacon for your favorite vegan bacon crumbles to make it a delicious vegan ranch potato salad.

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The Quest for the Perfect Dairy-Free Ranch Flavor

For many, ranch dressing is more than just a condiment; it’s a culinary cornerstone, practically a “nectar of the gods.” So, when dietary changes necessitated saying goodbye to dairy, the thought of abandoning my beloved ranch dips and dressings felt like a significant loss. The ease of grabbing a store-bought seasoning mix packet and stirring it into Greek yogurt or sour cream for a quick homemade dip seemed like a distant memory, making the prospect of a truly delicious ranch potato salad feel almost impossible.

My search for an acceptable store-bought dairy-free ranch packet was extensive, leaving me largely disappointed. While options like Hampton Creek Just Ranch exist and can be great in a pinch, they often lack the thick, creamy consistency essential for coating something as hearty as potato salad. I needed a dressing that would cling to every potato cube, infusing it with that unmistakable ranch tang and richness.

So, what’s a ranch-loving home cook with food allergies to do? While traditional potato salad holds a special place in my heart, a ranch potato salad had always been my absolute favorite. It embodies everything you want in a BBQ side dish: creamy texture, vibrant flavors, and an irresistible appeal. The answer, I realized, lay in creating my own homemade ranch mix.

I turned to a trusted culinary resource, The Pioneer Woman, whose recipes, despite her liberal use of butter, often provide excellent starting points for adapting dishes. Her approach to cooking from scratch resonated deeply with my need to create allergy-friendly meals without relying on pre-packaged ingredients. I found her homemade ranch seasoning mix and, with a few careful tweaks, transformed it into a completely allergy-friendly version. This adaptation became the foundation for the most incredible dairy-free ranch dressing, ensuring that everyone could enjoy the rich, bold flavors without concern.

Unforgettable Flavor: The Secret to Our Homemade Ranch

The beauty of making ranch from scratch, particularly without dairy, is the incredible depth of flavor it achieves. By skipping buttermilk or other dairy-based thinning agents, this ranch seasoning delivers an intense, tangy, and incredibly flavorful profile that is unlike anything you’ve ever tasted. Seriously, once you try this homemade version, other ranches might just seem bland in comparison. Its robust taste makes it a star ingredient in this potato salad, but don’t stop there! The leftover ranch mix is pure heaven as a dip for fresh vegetables like sugar snap peas, carrots, cucumbers, and bell peppers. It’s a versatile condiment that will quickly become a staple in your kitchen.

Effortless Cooking with the Instant Pot: Perfect Potatoes Every Time

Preparing the potatoes for this ranch potato salad is exceptionally quick and painless, thanks to the Instant Pot. For those who follow my culinary adventures, you know I’m utterly obsessed with this kitchen marvel. In fact, I recently submitted the manuscript for my allergy-friendly Instant Pot cookbook, which is a testament to how extensively I rely on it. If you haven’t yet discovered the magic of pressure cooking, now is the perfect time to invest in an Instant Pot so you’ll be ready when my cookbook arrives in spring 2019!

One of the many reasons I adore the Instant Pot, especially during the warmer months, is its ability to cook without heating up the entire kitchen. Boiling a large pot of water on the stovetop on a hot summer day is never a welcome experience, leaving your kitchen steamy and uncomfortable. The Instant Pot bypasses this issue entirely, tenderizing potatoes to perfection in just 8 minutes of active cooking time (plus the time it takes to come up to pressure and naturally or quick-release). This efficiency means less time in a hot kitchen and more time enjoying your summer gatherings.

Customizing Your Dairy-Free Ranch Potato Salad: Substitution & Enhancement Tips

This Instant Pot Dairy-Free Ranch Potato Salad recipe is incredibly adaptable, allowing you to tailor it to your specific dietary needs and preferences without sacrificing flavor. Here are some helpful substitution and enhancement tips:

**Mayonnaise Choice:** The success of this creamy potato salad heavily relies on your mayonnaise. Feel free to use any mayo that suits your needs. If you can consume eggs, a regular good-quality mayonnaise works perfectly. For those who are vegan or egg-free, your favorite vegan/egg-free mayonnaise can be used at a 1:1 ratio. Many excellent brands are available today that offer a wonderfully creamy texture.
**Making it Vegan:** To make this potato salad entirely vegan, simply swap out the traditional bacon for vegan bacon crumbles. Many plant-based bacon alternatives offer a similar smoky flavor and crispy texture, making them an excellent substitute.
**Alternative Aromatics:** If green onions aren’t available, chives make a fantastic alternative. They offer a milder, delicate onion flavor and a similar vibrant green color that adds freshness to the dish.
**No Instant Pot? No Problem!** While the Instant Pot offers unparalleled speed and convenience, you can absolutely make this recipe without one. Simply boil your red potatoes in a large pot of salted water until they are fork-tender. This usually takes 15-20 minutes, depending on the size of your potato pieces.
**Bacon Convenience:** If you’re short on time or prefer not to cook bacon from scratch, pre-cooked bacon crumbles are a convenient option. However, there’s something truly special about the aroma and crispiness of freshly cooked bacon, which I highly recommend if you have the time!

I genuinely hope this recipe empowers you to bring a side dish bursting with flavor and pride to your next pool party or BBQ. Guests will be amazed that this creamy, savory creation is completely allergy-friendly. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s the first dish to disappear from the table – after all, who can resist the irresistible combination of ranch and bacon? It’s a match made in side dish heaven. Happy cooking and even happier eating of this incredible Instant Pot Dairy-Free Ranch Potato Salad!

Do You Have a Video Showing How to Make This Dairy-Free Ranch Potato Salad?

Yes, I do! For a quick visual guide, I love using TikTok because their videos are short, engaging, and to the point. This general overview should provide you with a clear understanding of the preparation steps. You can also find this video conveniently saved to my Instagram Highlight Bubbles. Enjoy watching and cooking!

@allergyawesomeness##dairyfree ranch potato salad. The only ##potatosalad recipe you need! ##learnontiktok ##tiktokpartner ##foodallergy ##eggallergy ##greenscreen

♬ original sound – Megan Lavin

Instant Pot Dairy-free Ranch Potato Salad

Yield:
6 servings

Prep Time:
10 minutes

Cook Time:
8 minutes

Total Time:
18 minutes

Ingredients

12 oz bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 cup water
5 pounds red potatoes, cut into bite-sized pieces
1/2 Tablespoon dried parsley
1/2 Tablespoon garlic powder
1/2 Tablespoon onion powder
1 tsp dried dill
1/2 tsp dried chives
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 cup vegan mayo
2 bunches green onions, thinly sliced–both the green and white parts

Instructions

Open the lid to the instant pot and hold several pieces of bacon over the pot. Using kitchen shears (these are my FAVORITE), cut the bacon into bite sized pieces and let it fall into the pot. Do this until you’ve cut all of the bacon. Hit “saute” and cook the bacon until it’s extra crispy. This takes around 5 minutes, while it’s cooking stir it occasionally. While it’s cooking, wash and dice your red potatoes and set them aside.
Turn off the instant pot, and remove the bacon and set it on several paper towels to absorb excess grease.
Carefully pour the grease out into a safe container (I like to save mine). If you do not save yours, you can throw it away once it’s cool.
Wash, or wipe out your instant pot to remove any leftover grease..
Add one cup of water. Place your trivet on top of the water (or if you have a steamer basket, this works even better!). Place the potatoes on top of the trivet or steamer basket. Close the lid and move the valve to “sealing”.
Hit “manual” and use the plus and minus buttons until you reach 8 minutes.
While the potatoes cook, combine all of the spices: parsley, dill, chives, garlic powder, onion powder, sea salt and pepper. Add the vegan mayo and stir well to combine. Set it aside.
Once the potatoes are done cooking, move the valve to “venting” to quickly release the pressure. Drain the water and add the potatoes to a large bowl. Gently stir in the spiced mayo mixture, using a little bit at a time, until it’s coated to your liking.
Dice your green onions and add them, along with the crumbled bacon to the potato mixture. Serve immediately, or keep cold until you’re ready to serve.
If there’s any leftover ranch mix, it’s fabulous as a dip with bell peppers, carrots, cucumbers, sugar snap peas and cucumbers!

Notes

Adapted from The Pioneer Woman. Also inspired by The Recipe Critic

Don’t forget to save this recipe! Pin it to your favorite Pinterest board so you always have it on hand. Be sure to also check out all of my other allergy-friendly Pinterest boards for more inspiration.

Looking for More Allergy-Friendly Summer Side Dishes?

If you loved this dairy-free ranch potato salad, you’re in luck! I have a host of other allergy-friendly side dishes perfect for summer potlucks, BBQs, and family meals. Here are some of my top recommendations:

Gluten, Egg & Dairy-Free Avocado BLT Pasta Salad

Apple, Bacon & Spinach Salad with Sweet Red Onion Vinaigrette

Allergy-Friendly Tuscan Pasta Salad

Roasted Cauliflower Pasta Salad