7 Layer Salad Recipe
This classic 7 Layer Salad is a vibrant, crowd-pleasing dish featuring crisp iceberg lettuce, fresh tomatoes, peas, hard-boiled eggs, green onions, creamy dressing, shredded cheddar cheese, and crispy bacon. Perfect for potlucks, barbecues, or holiday gatherings, this layered salad offers a delightful mix of textures and flavors with a cool, creamy dressing enhanced by a touch of sweetness and seasoned salt.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes (for boiling eggs and cooking bacon)
- Total Time: 4 hours 40 minutes (including chilling time)
- Yield: 8 to 10 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Fresh Vegetables
- 1 head iceberg lettuce, chopped
- 2 cups diced fresh tomatoes (or sliced cherry tomatoes)
- 2 cups frozen peas, thawed
- ½ cup sliced green onions (or diced red onion)
Protein & Cheese
- 8 hard boiled eggs, cooled, peeled and chopped
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, lightly packed
- 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ¾ cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
Instructions
- Prepare the Dressing: In a medium bowl, combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, sugar, and seasoned salt. Mix thoroughly until smooth and well combined, then set aside to allow flavors to meld.
- Clean and Prepare Lettuce: Use a salad spinner to wash the chopped iceberg lettuce thoroughly. Dry it very well to prevent sogginess. Place the dried lettuce as the bottom layer in a large trifle bowl or a 9×13 inch pan.
- Layer the Vegetables and Eggs: Evenly layer the diced tomatoes over the lettuce, followed by a layer of thawed peas. Next, add the chopped hard-boiled eggs, then sprinkle the green onions on top to create distinct layers.
- Add the Dressing Layer: Carefully spread the prepared dressing over the layered salad, extending it all the way to the edges to seal in freshness.
- Chill the Salad: Cover the bowl or pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate the salad for at least 4 hours or preferably overnight. This chilling time allows the ingredients to meld and the salad to set properly.
- Add Cheese and Bacon: Just before serving, sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top, followed by the crumbled cooked bacon to finish the salad with a crunchy and savory topping.
Notes
- Use a large, clear trifle bowl for an impressive visual display of the salad layers.
- Ensure the lettuce is very dry to avoid a watery salad.
- The salad is best made a day ahead for flavors to blend and layers to set firmly.
- Variations can include swapping cheddar with other cheeses like Monterey jack or Colby.
- For a lighter version, use light mayonnaise and reduced-fat sour cream.
Keywords: 7 layer salad, layered salad, summer salad, picnic salad, bacon salad, easy salad recipe
Find it online: https://kitchenbyclara.com/7-layer-salad-recipe/
