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Layers of fresh veggies, eggs, mayo dressing, cheese, and crispy bacon, make this 7 layer salad a must for all of your summer parties. Simple to make, creamy, fresh, and delicious. You’re going to love it!
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A 7 layer salad is easily my go-to whenever we are hosting, or joining a cookout. It always looks so pretty in the bowl and it is universally loved!
Impressive to serve, but in reality, it is so simple to make. Basic salad ingredients, a creamy and zingy mayo dressing, and some shredded cheese, and cooked bacon and you are good to go.
Fresh, creamy, and packed full of flavor, what’s not to love?!
Be sure to try my Strawberry Spinach Salad and Tuna Pasta Salad too!
Why you will love this 7 layer salad recipe!
- Make ahead: This is a great make ahead salad, so it’s a great choice if you are planning a big feast or a potluck.
- Quick and easy: It takes no more than 15 minutes to put this easy traditional seven layer salad recipe together, just chop the ingredients and layer into a bowl.
- Great for a crowd: This will easily serve 8 people as a side at a BBQ or picnic. It’s a great option for potlucks too!
Ingredients for layered salad recipe
- Salad vegetables: Iceberg lettuce, red onion, cherry tomatoes (or grape tomatoes), cucumber and peas.
- Hard Boiled Eggs: The addition of these perfect boiled eggs adds a great texture, and I love how they look in the bowl!
- Cheddar cheese and slices bacon: For the topping. These are optional but super delicious! Alternatively, you could also use Parmesan cheese.
- For the seven layer salad dressing: Mayonnaise, sour cream, apple cider vinegar (or lemon juice), hot sauce, sugar, salt and pepper.
Here are the layers:
- Lettuce
- Red onion
- Tomato
- Cucumber
- Peas
- Hard Boiled Eggs
- Bacon
Toppings
- Cheddar
- Dressing
How to make 7 layer salad – Step By Step Instructions
- Place lettuce in the bottom of a trifle dish/bowl. Sprinkle with salt. Top lettuce with red onion. (The trick for this salad is to see everything, so make sure your layers go all the way to the sides of your bowl.)
- Place egg slices around the side of the bowl, pressing into the side a bit so it’ll stick. Chop any remaining eggs, slices, and ends. Sprinkle all over the salad.
- Top eggs with halved cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, green peas in a single layer.
- Make the dressing by whisking together the mayo, sour cream, vinegar, hot sauce, sugar, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl until smooth. Pour the dressing over the salad and spread it into an even layer.
- Top the dressing with shredded cheese and then bacon bits, for garnish. (This is optional but delicious!)
- Serve cold.
Can you make it ahead of time?
Yes, this is a great make-ahead salad, in fact, it’s best to make this salad at least 6 hours before to really let the flavors develop. You can make it up to 24hours ahead of time, and be sure to serve it chilled. Because there is mayo in the dressing, it’s best not to leave it at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
What do you serve it with?
This traditional 7 layer salad is so perfect for the warmer weather and it’s great to serve with meats, chicken, seafood, and veggie dishes. Try it with:
Be sure to serve it alongside your other favorite sides like broccoli and potato salad!
Recipe Variations
This salad is super delicious as it is, but you can easily make it your own with some simple variations.
- For a healthier option, you can use a low fat mayonnaise instead of full fat.
- For a vegetarian option, simply omit the bacon topping.
- Feel free to add in other veggies like red bell peppers, carrots or potatoes.
TIPS FROM NELI’S KITCHEN
Recipe Notes and Tips for the Best 7 Layer Salad
- This 7 layer salad is best when it’s made at least 6 hours ahead of time. Keep it covered in the fridge until you are ready to serve.
- Slice and chop the veggies as evenly as you can so that they sit well in the bowl.
- For perfect hard-boiled eggs every single time, use my Instant Pot or stovetop method for boiling eggs.
- Make sure you check out my recipe for perfectly crispy bacon baked in the oven.
- You can omit the sweetener if you are watching your sugar intake.
- You can customize it to your liking and add different toppings, veggies or meat (some ideas: red bell peppers, avocado, carrots, potatoes, cauliflower, radishes, corn, olives, turkey, ham, Romaine lettuce, green onions, etc)
More Delicious Salad Recipes
7 Layer Salad
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INGREDIENTS
- ½ of iceberg lettuce, chopped
- 1 red onion, sliced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 English cucumber, sliced & quartered
- 1 cup green peas
- 6 – 7 Hard boiled eggs, 2 – 3 sliced in rounds & the rest chopped
- Dressing, ingredients below
- Shredded cheddar cheese & cooked crumbled bacon, for topping
Dressing:
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- ½ tablespoon hot sauce
- ½ tablespoon sugar, or alternative sweetener of choice (ie honey)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
- Place lettuce in the bottom of a trifle bowl. Sprinkle with salt. Top lettuce with red onion. (The trick for this salad is to see everything, so make sure your layers go all the way to the sides of your bowl.)
- Place egg slices around the side of the bowl, pressing into the side a bit so it’ll stick. Chopp any remaining eggs, slices, and ends. Sprinkle all over the salad.
- Top eggs with halved cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, green peas in a single layer.
- Make the dressing by whisking together the mayo, sour cream, vinegar, hot sauce, sugar, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl until smooth. Pour the dressing over the salad and spread it into an even layer.
- Top the dressing with shredded cheese and then bacon bits, for garnish. (This is optional but delicious!)
- Cover the salad in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for at least 6 hours, and up to 24 hours.
- Uncover and serve cold.
TIPS & NOTES
- This 7 layer salad is best when it’s made at least 6 hours ahead of time. Keep it covered in the fridge until you are ready to serve.
- Slice and chop the veggies as evenly as you can so that they sit well in the bowl.
- For perfect hard-boiled eggs every single time, use my Instant Pot or stovetop method for boiling eggs.
- Make sure you check out my recipe for perfectly crispy bacon baked in the oven.
- You can omit the sweetener if you are watching your sugar intake.
- You can customize it to your liking and add different toppings, veggies, or meat (some ideas: bell peppers, avocado, olives, turkey, ham, etc)
NUTRITION
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We love 7 layer salad for our gatherings too! Our layers are lettuce, fresh spinach, hard boiled eggs, frozen peas, shredded cheddar, crispy bacon & freshly made Hidden Valley Ranch Buttermilk dressing, YUM! Sometimes we’ll add chopped green onions to the frozen peas layer!