This potato green bean salad is super easy and perfect for summer barbecues and parties.  Warm potatoes are tossed with a tangy red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, extra virgin olive oil, and fresh herb vinaigrette.  It can be made ahead of time and will still be just as good.  The best part about this recipe is that you only need a few ingredients! 

Italian potato green bean salad in platter on wood table.

This summer Italian-style potato salad pairs well with so many dishes.

Serve it with some Italian chicken cutlets for a full meal all year long. 

Or during the summer when you’re grilling it’s great with these rosemary grilled pork chops, Italian dressing grilled chicken thighs, or prosciutto stuffed steak pinwheels.

 

You’ll need potatoes, green beans, red onion, cherry tomatoes, parsley, basil, olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and salt and pepper for this Italian green bean salad.  Super simple ingredients!

If you like more string beans or tomatoes, or maybe different herbs,  feel free to add them.  Use the detailed recipe below as a general guide and feel free to make changes if you desire.

Ingredients show on cutting board: red onion, potatoes, string beans and cherry tomatoes.

How to make Italian green bean potato salad

Each number corresponds to the numbered written steps below.

  1. Start by cleaning the green beans and snapping off the stem edge.  They snap off pretty easily, but you can also use a knife.
  2. Slice 1 medium red onion into thin slices as shown.  Finely chop a 1/4 cup of fresh parsley and a 1/4 cup of fresh basil.   Slice the cherry tomatoes in half.

Potato green bean potato salad process shot collage group number one.

  1. Clean and chop the potatoes into fairly large pieces.  About 1 1/2″ cubes or slightly larger is fine.  The measurement is not critical.
  2. Bring a salted (2 Tbsp kosher salt) pot of water to a boil and add the potatoes.  Boil the potatoes until almost fork tender.  This should take about 7-10 minutes.
  3. While the potatoes are boiling make the vinaigrette.  In a large bowl whisk together a 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/2 cup red wine vinegar, the herbs, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1 tsp kosher salt, and a 1/4 tsp black pepper.
  4. Add the onions into the vinaigrette and set it aside.

Potato green bean potato salad process shot collage group number two.

  1. After the potatoes have been boiling for about 7-9 minutes add the green beans into the water so that they both finish cooking at the same time.
  2. Remove the green beans with a slotted spoon, then drain the potatoes.  Note: You can run the green beans under cold water to stop the cooking and keep them crunchy.  If you don’t they will get softer.  Totally a personal preference.  Whisk the vinaigrette one last time, then add the warm potatoes to the bowl and toss to coat.  They will absorb all the flavors this way.

Potato green bean salad in glass bowl on cutting board.

Next, add the green beans, toss, then plate.  Taste test and adjust salt and pepper if required.  Finally, add the cherry tomatoes on top.

Salad plated on blue table.

And that’s how to make an easy Italian green bean potato salad.  You can add some more basil and parsley for garnish at this point.  

Substitutions and additions

  • Bacon – Use a half-pound of crumbled cooked bacon.  Toss it in right at the end with the tomatoes.
  • More herbs – Fresh oregano or other herbs like rosemary can be added.  Use what you like!
  • Greens – Kale and spinach both work quite well.  Substitute the greens for the string beans or add them to the recipe.  For the kale, add it to the pot during the last 3 minutes of cooking.  For the spinach (use baby), place it into the bottom of the vinaigrette bowl and let the warm potatoes wilt it with their residual heat.

Close up shot of the salad on blue table.

Tips

  • Use any type of potato you like.  Yukon gold was used in the pics, but new or fingerling potatoes would work nicely as well.  The potatoes should be almost fork tender.  Basically, still a tiny bit firm, if they are too soft they will get mushy when mixed with the vinaigrette.  Don’t worry though, cook it to your preference, no doubt some people like the potatoes in this salad on the soft side.
  • Toss the warm potatoes into the vinaigrette to achieve maximum flavor.  The warm potatoes will soak up and absorb the oil and vinegar much better this way.
  • Adding the tomatoes at the end helps avoid them breaking down from the hot potatoes.

More summer salads

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Potato Green Bean Salad

5 from 18 votes
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Servings: 6
Potato green bean salad with cherry tomatoes in red wine vinegar, parsley, and basil vinaigrette.

Ingredients 

for the salad

  • 3 pounds potatoes cut into 1.5" cubes
  • 3/4 pound green beans stems removed and cut into 3" pieces
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1 medium red onion thinly sliced

for the vinaigrette

  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1/4 cup basil chopped
  • 1/4 cup parsley minced
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Instructions 

  • In a large bowl make the vinaigrette by whisking the Dijon mustard, extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, pepper, and herbs. Add the red onions into the bowl, mix, and set aside.
  • Bring a large pot of salted (2 Tbsp kosher salt) water to a boil. Once boiling add in the potatoes and cook for 7 minutes. Add in the green beans and continue to cook until the green beans are bright green and the potatoes are almost fork tender (about 3-5 more minutes).
  • Remove the green beans with a slotted spoon and set them aside. Drain the potatoes into a colander.
  • Place the warm potatoes into the vinaigrette and toss to coat. Next, add in the green beans and toss them together. Taste test and make any final adjustments to salt and pepper if required.
  • Finally, add the cherry tomatoes on top and serve. Enjoy!

Notes

  • The cooking times are approximate.  If the potatoes need more time simply remove the green beans with a slotted spoon and allow the potatoes to continue cooking.
  • Only 1 tsp of salt was used in the dressing, plus the salt in the water.  Adjust to personal preference.
  • Potato green bean salad can be saved for up to 3 days. 

Nutrition

Calories: 341kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 5.6g | Fat: 17.3g | Saturated Fat: 2.5g | Sodium: 419mg | Potassium: 1226mg | Fiber: 8.5g | Sugar: 5.9g | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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26 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This is my favorite salad everl Thank you for posting the recipe with the delicious herby vinaigrette. I ordered it many years ago from an Italian restaurant on Broadway in Soho. They called it tri–colore. I have thought about this salad every since but your recipe is better than what I remembered. Thanks Tara and James. P.s. I also used to make my way out to Brooklyn fora tri-colore salad that had endive,radicchio, arugula and a small amount of blue cheese crumbles. Would you have any ideas what the vinaigrette should be for this one? I am thinking that the vinaigrette you have above might be perfect although I do not remember mustard or herbs. I would be ever so grateful for any ideas you might have.

    1. Hi Zoe, you can use an Italian vinaigrette similar to the one on our website, but I’ve also had tri colore with balsamic vinaigrette which often does contain dijon. We don’t have a recipe up for balsamic vinaigrette but plan to have one up soon. We’re so happy you love this salad and appreciate your comment!