Traditional Seven Layer Salad is the perfect salad for potlucks, parties, or family dinners. Layers of lettuce, tomatoes, peas, hard-boiled eggs, cheddar cheese, homemade dressing, and bacon make this salad epic.
Traditional Seven Layer Salad Recipe
This classic seven-layer salad is one of my favorite side dishes to bring to events. It always gets amazing feedback and looks great on the table.
The layers of basic salad ingredients look amazing when layered in the trifle bowl.
One thing to know is this recipe makes a lot of salad! I would say at least 8-10 people could enjoy this salad recipe if not more. It depends on if it is the main attraction for a meal or a side dish.
You can make additional seven-layer salad dressing and serve it on the side if you know the people you are serving like a saucy salad.
Ingredients
- Iceberg Lettuce
- Frozen Peas
- Hard-Boiled Eggs
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Bacon
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- Mayonnaise
- Sour Cream
- Sugar
- Salt and Pepper
Optional - You can add additional layers by adding in red onions, red bell peppers, green onions, cauliflower, celery, turkey, olives, romaine lettuce, chicken, blue cheese, or parmesan cheese
Hard Boiled Eggs - We make quick and easy air fryer hard-boiled eggs for this recipe.
Cherry Tomatoes - You can use any tomato that you enjoy in this recipe. We like the look of the cherry/grape tomatoes in this make ahead 7 layer salad.
Bacon - You can change it up and use diced ham or even hamburger if you want a different flavor.
Cheese - Feel free to use any cheese that you enjoy.
Equipment Needed
Trifle Bowl/Serving Bowl - I like to serve this 7 layer salad in a trifle dish so you can easily see the layers, and it looks amazing on the table.
Knife/Cutting Board - you will need a knife and cutting board to chop the lettuce and slice the tomatoes if desired.
Plastic Wrap - To cover the salad in the refrigerator.
Recipe Tips
The hardest part of this recipe is the prep. Making sure the lettuce is chopped, salad dressing is made, and you have everything set out.
The order of the layers is from bottom to the top -
Lettuce
Tomatoes
Peas
Hard-Boiled Eggs
Shredded Cheese
Creamy Dressing
Bacon
You can easily change this order based on your preference. You do want to make sure the lettuce is on the bottom so it gets sealed in and doesn't get a lot of air to prevent it from turning brown.
I like to mound the lettuce into almost a cone shape so it sets up the tomatoes to layer easily.
We add the bacon to the top of the salad right before serving.
If you like a sweet dressing you can sprinkle a bit of white sugar into the mayo mix.
Make sure to cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate it.
This recipe can easily be doubled for larger groups.
Printable recipe card instructions are below.
Nutrition information, including calories, protein, calcium, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamin c, potassium, cholesterol, sodium, trans fat, monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, and more, will vary depending on the products used.
Great Salad Recipes
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Traditional Seven Layer Salad
Ingredients
- ½ head iceberg lettuce
- 1.5 cups frozen peas
- 4-5 Hard Boiled Eggs
- 2 cups grape tomatoes
- 6-8 Bacon
- 1.5 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 cup Mayonnaise
- 1 cup Sour Cream
- 2 Tablespoon White Sugar
Instructions
- Chop lettuce and add it to the trifle serving bowl.
- Combine mayonnaise, sour cream and sugar in a bowl until mixed together.
- Add tomatoes, frozen peas, hard boiled eggs, shredded cheese into the trifle bowl making sure to layer up the side.
- Spread dressing evenly over the salad to the edge of the bowl.
- Cover trifle bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Top with chopped bacon right before serving.
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