Move over white potatoes, this Cold Sweet Potato Potato Salad is a delicious twist on the classic! This healthy potato salad recipe is the perfect balance of sweet and savory; it's gluten-free, vegan, paleo, and allergy-free! This quick and easy side dish is ready in 15 minutes making it great for weeknight dinners or a make-ahead dish for potlucks and cookouts!
Why do white potatoes always get the potato salad spotlight? Let's get those sweet potatoes a chance to shine! Potato salad is such a perfect side dish for any occasion! Whether you have a crowd to feed or just a speedy weeknight side! This sweet potato salad is served cold, just like the classic, and full of sweet and savory notes with delicious crunch and crisp add-ins!
Why You'll Love This Sweet Potato Salad Recipe
This super easy (and quick!) recipe is loaded with healthy veggies, sunflower seeds, and even pops of cranberries! It has everything you want and nothing you don't! It's...
- Gluten-Free
- Vegan & Vegetarian
- Allergy-free (Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Egg-Free, Nut-Free, Peanut-Free, Wheat-Free, Sesame-Free, Corn-Free, Coconut-Free)
- Paleo & Grain-Free
- No Added Sugar
- Kid-Approved
- Only 7 Base Ingredients + 4 Ingredient Dressing
- Less Than 15 Minutes To Make
- Simple Side Dish or Make-Ahead for Cookouts & Potlucks
Ingredients You Need
- Sweet Potatoes: The star of the show! But here's a time-saving hack! You can use frozen cubed sweet potato if you don't want to peel, cube, and boil the spuds yourself! Grab a bag of frozen steamable sweet potatoes if you're in a pinch!
- Celery: Celery adds a natural crisp crunch and saltiness to the salad.
- Dried Cranberries: An extra chewy pop of tart sweetness is a perfect complement to the natural sweetness of the potatoes! If you don't want to use Craisins, you can swap them with Raisins or Currents!
- Red Onion: The savory flavor and aroma of red onion is perfect for just about every summer salad!
- Roasted Sunflower Seeds: This nut-free potato salad uses roasted sunflower seeds for a no-nut nuttiness! Make sure you use unsalted roasted seeds so you get the full sunflower flavor! Raw seeds are chewier and have less taste. If you can't have sunflower, feel free to swap in pumpkin seeds!
- Scallion: For some extra green and umami, a few tablespoons of chopped scallions (green opinion) is delicious, but totally optional if you chose!
- Parsley: Fresh herbs should always be a must in cold salads! So much natural healthy flavor.
For The Eggless Mayo Dressing:
- Vegan Mayo: The eggless mayo is the base of this tangy dressing! You can use my homemade recipe or your favorite store-bought vegan variety like Hellmann's.
- Dijon Mustard: If you are making this salad vegan you can use dijon mustard, if not, you can use honey mustard for a delicious sweet addition!
- Vinegar: To add tanginess and thin out the mayo dressing, a splash of white vinegar is all you need! You can even use some apple cider vinegar.
- Seasonings: You can change up the extra spices and herbs to flavor this dressing to your preference. I used lemon zest, black pepper, and a pinch of salt!
How To Make Cold Sweet Potato Salad
- Begin by prepping your ingredients! Boil, steam, or microwave your potatoes, chop your veggies, and mix together the mayo-mustard dressing.
- Add all your potato salad ingredients to a big mixing bowl, scoop in the dressing and mix well to combine!
- Chill the sweet potato salad until you're ready to serve.
Is It Better To Boil or Steam The Potatoes?
If you peel and cube whole sweet potatoes, you can add them to a pot of water on the stove and boil them just until tender for about 5-10 minutes depending on the size of the cubes. Make sure you don't overcook them and turn them into mush when you go to prepare your salad. Steaming the cubes of potatoes is best to reduce water-logging them. This can be done in a steamer or in the microwave. For ease, you can simply use frozen sweet potatoes and follow package instructions to cook them in the microwave.
How To Store A Cold Sweet Potato Salad
You can store this potato salad in the fridge for about 7 days in a closed container. The recipe is great to make ahead of time or use for a simple meal-prepped side dish. It's best served chilled or at room temperature. Since there is mayo (even though it's vegan mayo), you need to keep leftovers cold!
What Goes Well With Savory Sweet Potato Salad?
The flavors already in this cold salad are a mix of sweet, savory, and umami. You can pair this healthy side dish with just about anything! From grilled chicken, salmon, veggie burgers, or eggplant steaks during the summer months, to holiday entrees like lentil loaves and whole roasted chicken during the winter months!
More Potato Salads To Try:
- Vegan German Potato Salad
- Harissa Potato Salad
- Classic American Potato Salad
- Southern Potato Salad
- Tahini Celeriac Potato Salad
Sweet Potato Potato Salad
Move over white potatoes, this Cold Sweet Potato Potato Salad is a delicious twist on the classic! This healthy potato salad recipe is the perfect balance of sweet and savory; it's gluten-free, vegan, paleo, and allergy-free! This quick and easy side dish is ready in 15 minutes making it great for weeknight dinners or a make-ahead dish for potlucks and cookouts!
- Prep Time: 5 Minutes
- Cook Time: 10 Minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 Servings 1x
- Category: Side
- Method: Boil
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 2 lbs of Sweet Potatoes (peeled, cubed)
- ½ Cup Chopped Celery
- ½ Cup Diced Red Onion
- ½ Cup Dried Cranberries (unsweetened or sweetened)
- ⅓ Cup Unsalted Roasted Sunflower Seeds
- 2 TB Chopped Scallions
Mayo Dressing:
- ½ Cup Homemade Vegan Mayo (or store-bought)
- 1 TB Dijon Mustard (or Honey Mustard)
- 2 TB White Vinegar
- Lemon Zest, Black Pepper, Salt (to taste)
Instructions
- Prepare your sweet potatoes by method of choice: boiling, steaming, or microwaving. Add your fork-tender potatoes to a large mixing bowl to cool.
- Add the veggies, seeds, and cranberries to the cooked sweet potato.
- Mix together the mayo dressing and pour it over the salad.
- Toss everything to coat and combine. Chill before serving.
Notes
- You can peel and cube sweet potatoes yourself and boil them on the stove for 5-10 minutes depending on the size of the cubes. Just until fork tender and their shape still holds. You can also steam them or use frozen cubed sweet potatoes and microwave according to package directions.
- You can swap dried cranberries for raisins and sunflower seeds for pumpkin seeds if needed!
- Store leftover sweet potato salad in the fridge for 7 days. You can serve this recipe cold or at room temperature.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Serving
Keywords: sweet potato salad, sweet potato potato salad, cold sweet potato salad, healthy sweet potato salad
A healthy year-round potato salad, full of color, flavor, and nutrition! Whether you're just looking to change up your summer cookout salad rotation or you're in need of a quick and easy weeknight side dish, sweet potatoes make an ideal alternative to try in your vegan potato salads!
So tell me:
+ What is your favorite way to make potato salad?
———————————————-
Stay connected: Facebook: Strength and Sunshine Twitter: @RebeccaGF666 Instagram: rebeccagf666 Pinterest: RebeccaGF666 Bloglovin’: Strength and Sunshine
Erin
Looks delicious! If I don’t like Mayo, is there a substitute I could use?
Rebecca Pytell
Don't know why you're looking at a potato salad recipe then!
Donna
This is such a great looking recipe. Even if you don't make it vegan and gluten free, it will still be delicious.
★★★★★
Rebecca Pytell
A whole food recipe like this is just food for all!
Helen
Your Sweet Potato Salad looks delicious! Thanks so much for sharing!
★★★★★
Rebecca Pytell
Great change up!
Natasha Mairs
I really like the looks of this. But may have to swap the celery for something else.
Rebecca Pytell
Haha, celery is essential to mayo-based potato and macaroni salads!
Maiko
This salad looks delicious!! I love sweet potatos! I'm making it soon!
★★★★★
Rebecca Pytell
One of the best foods!
Julie
I love potato salad, it's one of my favourites. I do always use white potatoes though, maybe I do need to mix it up too!
Rebecca Pytell
The natural sweetness is a game changer!
Phuong
I love quick and easy recipes like this! Can't wait to try it.
Rebecca Pytell
Great for those speedy weeknight meals!
Liz
I have never used sweet potatoes in a potato salad. I love sweet potatoes, so will definitely be trying this recipe!
★★★★★
Rebecca Pytell
No reason not to!
Rachael
Yum! I love the addition of sweet and salty to the potato salad. This sounds so good!
Rebecca Pytell
It's the perfect mix and sweet and savory!
Michele Morin
This would be such a colorful and unique addition to a picnic!
Rebecca Pytell
Bright orange sunshine!
Pat Machado
Oh this sweet potato salad looks great! Nice quick, easy recipe! Thanks for sharing!
Rebecca Pytell
Great for a last-minute option!
Joi
This looks delicious and I love sweet potatoes!!!💕
Rebecca Pytell
They are the best!
Christy
This sounds so good! I’m always looking for a good vegan side to bring to cookouts. This sounds like the perfect thing!
Rebecca Pytell
Sweet potatoes should always be on the table!