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Bright, colorful, and loaded with veggies like tomatoes, cucumber, and peas, this 7 Layer Salad is a hit at every gathering! Topped with a delicious dressing, this salad is ready in no time at all.
If you’re looking for a show-stopping side dish for your next gathering, look no further than this 7 layer salad. It’s a classic recipe that never fails to impress. It’s truly one of my favorites!
Why You’ll Love This 7 Layer Salad Recipe
I love to make this salad, especially in the summer months. Here’s why.
- Beautiful presentation. I recommend making this 7 layer salad in a clear trifle dish so you can see the full rainbow of colors. It’s so bright and colorful when assemble and definitely grabs your attention on a table.
- Quick & easy to prepare. All you need to do is layer the ingredients and add the dressing and toppings. It takes just a few minutes, especially if you prep the veggies ahead of time.
- Loaded with veggies. There’s peppers, peas, tomatoes, and cucumber all layered on top of lettuce. Plus I included some suggestions if you want to turn your seven layer salad into eight or nine layers.
What You’ll Need
This 7 layer salad recipe is loaded up with a variety of veggies and a creamy mayo-based dressing. Scroll down to the recipe card below for measurements.
- Lettuce – I used Romaine lettuce but other varieties of lettuce or even mixed greens will work just fine.
- Veggies – Red peppers, frozen peas, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber make up the various layers of this salad.
- Boiled eggs – Cooked and cooled. My baked hard boiled eggs are perfect for this.
- Mayonnaise & sour cream – The base of the creamy salad dressing. The sour cream adds some tang to balance the richness of the mayo.
- Green onions – Finely chopped for flavor and color.
- Honey – Sweetens the salad dressing.
- Dijon mustard – Adds a bit of heat and earthy tang.
- Seasonings – Garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Toppings – Extra green onions, grated cheddar cheese, and chopped bacon pieces.
Variations
Here are a few easy ways to customize this seven layer salad to your exact preferences.
- Try a different dressing. If you don’t like mayo or just don’t feel like making the dressing, you can substitute it. Popular alternatives include ranch dressing, blue cheese dressing, or a tangy vinaigrette.
- Make it vegetarian or vegan. For a vegetarian version, simply omit the bacon or use a vegetarian bacon alternative. For a vegan version, use vegan mayonnaise and skip the eggs and bacon. You can also add vegan cheese or nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor.
- Add more layers. Feel free to get creative and add additional layers or ingredients to customize the salad to your liking. Some delicious additions could include avocado slices, shredded carrots, cooked quinoa, or red onion. Just ensure the flavors and textures complement each other well.
- Use lighter ingredients. Use low-fat or light mayonnaise and lean turkey bacon instead of regular bacon to reduce the calorie and fat content while still maintaining great taste.
- Add more color. Use a mix of different colored cherry tomatoes (yellow, orange, red) to add vibrancy and visual appeal to the salad.
How To Make 7 Layer Salad
This salad recipe is super simple to make! Here’s how:
- Layer the ingredients. Layer everything in the following order – lettuce, red peppers, boiled eggs, thawed peas, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber.
- Make the dressing. Combine the salad ingredients in a bowl. Taste test and adjusting the seasoning if needed.
- Finish the salad. Pour the dressing over the top layer of the salad. Top with grated cheese, cooked bacon, and green onions.
- Chill. Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least an hour.
- Enjoy. Toss the salad to mix the dressing or serve as-is so the guests see the beautiful presentation.
Tips for Success
Here are a few tips to help you make the best 7 layer salad.
- Use fresh and quality ingredients. Crisp vegetables and ripe cherry tomatoes will elevate the salad’s taste and you’ll get the best texture too.
- Layer everything evenly. Aim for even and uniform layers of ingredients in the salad to ensure a balanced mix of flavors and textures in each bite.
- Drain excess moisture. Pat dry any excess moisture from the sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, and boiled eggs before layering to prevent the salad from becoming watery.
- Adjust the dressing consistency. If you feel the dressing is too thick, add a small amount of milk to adjust the consistency.
- Serve the dressing on the side. If serving the salad at a gathering or potluck, consider serving the dressing on the side to allow guests to customize the amount they prefer.
- Use a trifle dish. A trifle dish with deep sides is ideal for showcasing the salad’s beautiful layers and makes for an impressive presentation.
Serving Suggestions
7 layer salad is a great dish to serve at potlucks, family gatherings, or anytime you need to serve a group. It’ll pair well with anything off the grill, from burgers and hot dogs to steak and chicken skewers.
I also love to serve it for family dinner. It’s great with roasted salmon and sometimes I’ll serve it with a hearty soup, like potato soup, for a soup & salad combo.
Make Ahead & Storage
- Make ahead. While you can prep the ingredients ahead of time, I recommend not assembling the salad more than a few hours before you plan to serve it. I like to refrigerate the assembled salad for just an hour or two, to give the flavors time to meld.
- Storage. 7 layer salad is best enjoyed within 24 hours. Keep it covered tightly in the fridge. Keep in mind that the texture of the veggies, especially the lettuce, may change as they sit in the dressing.
More Salad Recipes To Try
7 Layer Salad
Bright, colorful, and loaded with veggies like tomatoes, cucumber, and peas, this 7 Layer Salad is a hit at every gathering! Topped with a creamy dressing, this salad is ready in no time at all.
Servings: 8 people
Ingredients
Ingredients for the Salad:
- 1 head Romaine lettuce chopped
- 2 red peppers chopped
- 8 boiled eggs sliced into quarters
- 2 cups frozen peas thawed
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced in half
- 1 English cucumber chopped
Ingredients for Creamy Salad Dressing:
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2-3 green onions finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Toppings:
- 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
- 1 cup chopped cooked bacon
- A sprinkle of green onions
Instructions
- In a large glass bowl or trifle dish, layer the salad ingredients in the following order:
- Layer 1: Chopped Romaine lettuce
- Layer 2: Chopped red peppers
- Layer 3: Sliced boiled eggs
- Layer 4: Thawed frozen peas
- Layer 5: Sliced cherry tomatoes
- Layer 6: Chopped cucumber
- For the Creamy Salad Dressing:
- In a mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of mayonnaise, 1 cup of sour cream, 2-3 finely chopped green onions, 2 tablespoons of honey, 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon of garlic, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
- Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Pour the Creamy Salad Dressing evenly over the top layer of the salad.
- Sprinkle the top of the salad with grated cheddar cheese, chopped cooked bacon, and a sprinkle of green onions.
- Cover the salad with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.
- Toss the salad gently to mix the dressing and toppings with the layers, or serve it as is, allowing guests to scoop through the layers as they serve themselves.
Last Step:
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Nutrition
Calories: 584kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 49g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 16g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 249mg | Sodium: 861mg | Potassium: 631mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 8797IU | Vitamin C: 62mg | Calcium: 208mg | Iron: 3mg
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