Seven Layer Salad is a delicious layered pea salad. This classic recipe has been around for generations. It’s delicious, fresh and best of all cold—perfect for summer! This salad is colorful, crunchy and creamy. It’s the perfect recipe for any warm weather gathering. The 7 Layer Salad is my favorite summer side dish.
More Summer recipes: Tomato Burrata, The Best Fruit Salad, Chicken Salad, Deviled Eggs, Healthy Grain Bowls, Tom Collins, Mojito, Agua Fresca
Ingredients in 7 Layer Salad
- Iceberg Lettuce – This is the base layer of the salad and adds a nice crunchy texture.
- Frozen Peas – You can add your peas to the salad when they are half thawed.
- Hard Boiled Eggs – I love hard boiled eggs as an addition to this salad—they add so much!
- Cheddar Cheese – Shredded sharp cheddar cheese is so delicious in this salad. Alternatively, you can add cubed cheese, but make sure you chop it small.
- Red Onions – To me, no salad is complete without some onion.
- Crispy Bacon – This makes the salad a grand slam. Feel free to substitute for turkey bacon or vegan bacon if you like.
- Homemade Dressing – You will whip up a quick dressing made of mayonnaise, sour cream, sugar, apple cider vinegar, salt and pepper.
There is some debate about which seven ingredients create the seven layers, so customize it to your personal tastes! Other optional layers are halved cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, green onions, celery, romaine lettuce, cucumbers or red bell peppers. I also think chopped up chicken is a very good idea. When it comes to choosing your layers, follow your heart!
How to assemble 7 Layer Salad
The 7 Layer Salad must be served in a glass bowl so you can see all the layers. It’s a very visually pleasing salad. I chose this glass bowl because it shows the layers really well. A trifle bowl is a great option as well. The salad is meant to be served without mixing the layers, so people can scoop straight down and get a scoop of all the layers.
Prep your ingredients by mixing up the dressing (instructions below), cooking the bacon and eggs and chopping all the ingredients.
To assemble your salad, begin by adding one layer at a time to your glass bowl. I went in this order: lettuce, onion, peas, hard boiled eggs, dressing, shredded cheese and bacon.
7 Layer Salad Dressing
In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, sugar, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper until well combined. The dressing should be smooth and creamy. If you want to add a bit of texture to your dressing, you can add half a cup of parmesan cheese.
Cover the bowl and refrigerate the dressing while you prepare the rest of the salad. Chilling the dressing helps the flavors meld together.
How far ahead can I make this salad?
The ideal time to make this salad is 1-2 hours before serving, but you can do as much as the night before. Seal it until you are ready to serve.
Tips for Making
- Choose a glass bowl, so you can see the seven layers.
- Customize the dressing according to your taste. If you prefer a tangier flavor, increase the amount of apple cider vinegar. You can also add a dash of hot sauce for some heat.
- If you’re serving the salad at a party or potluck, consider providing a small label or note next to the bowl, listing the layers. This way, guests can see and appreciate each ingredient that goes into the salad.
- Grab your picnic blanket, this is a perfect recipe for a meal outdoors!
- Miracle Whip can be subbed for mayo if you are a fan. I personally will stay loyal to the mayo version.
- Leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for up to two days. However, the salad is best enjoyed on the day it’s made.
Serving Suggestions/Goes Great With
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the history of a 7 Layer Salad?
The 7 Layer Salad is a southern recipe from the 1950s. Although the recipe has had many variations, the basic concept has remained the same.
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Ingredients
- 1 head iceberg lettuce (chopped )
- 10 ounces frozen peas (1 bag )
- 10 ounces cheddar cheese (shredded )
- 1 red onion (chopped )
- 6 hard boiled eggs (chopped )
- ½ pound bacon (cooked and crumbled )
- 1 cup mayonaise
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- The 7 Layer Salad must be served in a glass bowl so you can see all the layers. It’s a very visually pleasing salad. I chose this glass bowl because it shows the layers really well. The salad is meant to be served without mixing the layers, so people can scoop straight down and get a scoop of all the layers.
- Prep your ingredients by mixing up the dressing (instructions below), cooking the bacon and eggs and chopping all the ingredients.
- To assemble your salad, begin by adding one layer at a time to your glass bowl. I went in this order: lettuce, onion, peas, hard boiled eggs, dressing, shredded cheese and bacon.
- Dressing – In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, sugar, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper until well combined. The dressing should be smooth and creamy. Cover the bowl and refrigerate the dressing while you prepare the rest of the salad. Chilling the dressing helps the flavors meld together.
Notes
- Choose a glass bowl, so you can see the seven layers.
- Customize the dressing according to your taste. If you prefer a tangier flavor, increase the amount of apple cider vinegar. You can also add a dash of hot sauce for some heat.
- If you’re serving the salad at a party or potluck, consider providing a small label or note next to the bowl, listing the layers. This way, guests can see and appreciate each ingredient that goes into the salad.
- Grab your picnic blanket, this is a perfect recipe for a meal outdoors!
- Leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for up to two days. However, the salad is best enjoyed on the day it’s made.
Nutrition
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
Peas in salad is such a good idea.
I made this recipe last night for a family gathering. It was quick and easy to put together and a huge hit!
Thanks for posting this. I love this salad. The recipe I’ve used for years also has a layer of sliced water chestnuts. I’m going to make this recipe, the dressing sounds delicious!
Love it!
This is my first time making this salad, although I do remember it as a kid. It looks fantastic. I’m making it for a group, so hopefully it will go over big. Thank you
I remember having this as a kid at Christmas and Thanksgiving, but it was always missing something. THIS recipe however is not. I have loved serving this the past two years along with your tater tot casserole, my Grandma Outlaw’s Christmas punch and the ambrosia salad! So nostalgic!
This looks yummy and fun to make!! I’m thinking about an 8th layer…of slightly crumbled tortilla chips on top..am I crazy? Don’t really care 🤣
I am excited to try this showstopper at our next gathering.
Made this last weekend. We’re a vegetarian family so I swapped bacon for pinto beans. Delicious!
Tried this yesterday and it is delicious!
How did I forget about 7 layer salad? Such a perfect, easy, showstopper to bring to a gathering!
The dressing they are suggesting is similar to the one I make for taco salad (mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, sugar). For this salad I do all the layers and then spread a layer of mayonnaise on top, sprinkle with about 1 T sugar. At this point you can decorate with a tomato, candied pecans, or whatever you want. As part of the layers I also use celery, tomatoes, sliced water chestnuts, tomatoes….whatever suits your taste. I have made this for years and it is requested often for our dinners and BBQ’s.
Guests were super impressed with this one 🖤
I’ve made 7 Layer Salad for years. I found this recipe with one different ingredient (apple cider vinegar). I wouldn’t use the vinegar again. It made the dressing thinner and when layered on the salad, it poured down the sides, covering the beautifully applied layers. It tasted great, but visual, not so much…..
7 layer salad was a family get-together staple through my childhood. Even the picky children would eat it. Our standard 7 layers were lettuce, sliced cherry tomato, diced cucumber, hard boiled eggs, dressing (always Marzettis Slaw dressing), shredded cheese and bacon. This version sounds great though! I will have to try it out.
Not sure if I skimmed past this, but if it stays layered, is the dressing served on the side? I’ve never had one before. 🙂
Hi! The dressing is a layer so if you scoop down to get a bite you will get some dressing too. I know it sounds weird, but it works really well! 🙂
Everybody in my house likes something different, so I don’t do the dressing as a layer; we add it to the plate
Let me know if you have any questions! I love this recipe 🙂
Can you use romaine lettuce instead of iceburg
Yes, although iceberg is nice here because of how crunchy it tends to be