Seven Layer Salad

This Seven Layer Salad recipe features a myriad of colors and flavors. It’s a potluck classic that remains popular through the generations. It seems to get better and better every time it’s made. It’s not only delicious, but when made in a clear glass bowl, it adds color and visual interest to the table.

What is 7 Layer Salad Made Of?

It’s a layered salad made famous at potlucks and picnics that combines layers of lettuce, onion, boiled eggs, tomatoes, bacon and shredded cheese with peas drizzled with a homemade dressing. You’ll note, in my Southern 7 layer salad I add black olives and red bell peppers.

Ingredients to Make Seven Layer Salad Recipe

I’m certain you’ve heard the old adage that we eat with our eyes first. It’s completely true, the more attractive and eye catching a dish is, the more people are enticed to try it. Knowing this, has influenced my love of making both savory and sweet recipes using my trifle bowls. Savory layer salads like my Chicken Bacon Ranch Layer Salad and BLT Penne Pasta Layer Salad are examples of some of my family’s favorites. Not only are they scrumptious, but when they’re made in a large glass bowl they also add an element of height to the table. Ingredients you’ll need to make Southern 7 Layer Salad Recipe: (Scroll down for full printable recipe card.)

• Lettuce – Roughly chopped green leaf lettuce, romaine lettuce or iceberg lettuce.
• Hard-Boiled Eggs – Large eggs boiled, peeled and quartered or sliced eggs.
• Bacon – Classic bacon, cooked and crumbled.
• Onion – Red onion thinly sliced.
• Tomatoes – One pint cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes, halved.
• Peas – Frozen petite green peas, thawed.
• Olives – Sliced black olives, drained.
• Peppers – One red bell pepper seeded and thinly sliced. You could use yellow or green bell pepper, instead.
• Cheese – Shredded colby-jack cheese or sharp cheddar cheese. You could also use parmesan cheese or pepper jack cheese for a taste of spice.
• Dressing – Mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, sugar, apple cider vinegar, garlic salt, lemon pepper, onion powder and green onions. Use real mayo not miracle whip.

How to Make the BEST Seven Layer Salad Recipe

While this is called Seven Layer Salad I’ve added a couple of extra layers to the mix for my layer salad. It’s not only ingredients that we love to eat, but I wanted to show the flexibility you have and the ability to personalize the the layers. The flavors and textures meld together beautifully and it’s bound to become a family favorite. How do you make a layer salad?

• Cook the Eggs – Boil the eggs then peel and cut into wedges or slice eggs. Set aside to cool.
• Prep the Fresh Vegetables – Shred the lettuce, slice the red bell pepper, chop the onion and cherry tomatoes.
• Bacon – Cook the bacon until crispy then chop. I like to do this on a sheet pan in the oven.
• Make the Dressing – Make the mayo dressing per the recipe up to one day in advance.
• Assemble 7 Layer Salad: In a large trifle dish or glass bowl create even layers starting with a bottom even layer of shredded lettuce, then onion, tomatoes, and eggs. Drizzle with dressing and repeat even layers. Spread remaining dressing evenly on top. Finish with a sprinkle of shredded cheese and bacon. Garnish with green onion, if desired. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 8 hours or overnight.

Tips for Making Southern 7 Layer Salad

• Kitchen Tools You’ll Need: Large clear glass bowl or trifle bowl, measuring cups and spoons, skillet, large pot, sharp knife and cutting board and cheese grater.
• Which Lettuce is Best for Layer Salads? It’s best to use a hearty lettuce so it maintains its integrity. Green leaf lettuce, romaine lettuce or iceberg lettuce works best. This is the one salad that doesn’t do well with a gourmet Spring mix salad.
• Can I Assemble this 7 Layer Salad in Advance? Classic Seven Layer Salad is intended to be chilled overnight. If you plan on having it for dinner, it’s perfectly fine to assemble it earlier in the day then cover with plastic wrap and pop it into the refrigerator to chill.
• Bake the Bacon: What’s the easiest way to prep the bacon? Instead of frying the bacon, I bake it while I prepare the rest of the ingredients to save time. See how to make bacon in the oven here.
• Make-Ahead Tip: The mayo dressing can be made one day in advance and kept chilled in a mason jar or airtight container until you’re ready to assemble the salad.
• How to Thin the Dressing? You can thin the dressing but please note, it’s designed to be a bit thicker so as not to cause the salad ingredients to become soggy. If you’re concerned, you may opt to pour half on top, then save the rest for serving on the side for those who may want a bit more dressing for their salad.

Recipe Variations

• Customize the Vegetables: When creating the salad layers, have fun and add other fresh veggies that you like. Switch out the bell peppers for chopped poblano or jalapenos to add a little kick. You can also add a layer of sliced mushrooms in place of the olives, if you prefer. Other veggies you may want to add broccoli, cucumber, cauliflower, corn or celery for crunch.
• Protein: You could add a layer of bite-size ham cubes or diced avocado, just before serving. No matter how many layers it ends up having, I still call it Seven Layer Salad. After all, who’s counting, anyway?
• Seasoning: I recommend that you season the egg layer with salt and pepper then continue with the layers per the recipe. Avoid adding salt to the tomato layer or it can make the salad soggy.
• Use a Large Bowl: I have trifle bowls in a plethora of sizes specifically for dessert trifles and layer salads. If you don’t have one, you can use any large glass bowl.

Storage and Leftovers

• Leftovers: Store Southern 7 layer salad covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container chilled in the fridge for up to 2 days.
• Freezer: I don’t recommend freezing leftovers.

More Easy Salad Recipes to Make

• Some of my visitors tell me they use my Layered Southwestern Cornbread Salad as a dip with tortilla chips. How fun!
• Frito Taco Salad is a complete meal.
• This retro Grape Salad is always a winner.
• Whip up a batch of Southern Chicken Salad for light meals and snacking.
• This fresh Arugula Salad is dressed with a delicious homemade vinaigrette.
• This Italian Spaghetti Salad doubles as a side dish or an entree.
• Supreme Pizza Tortellini Salad is terrific for game day or pizza night with the family.
• Vintage Sweet Pea Salad is a retro salad that always satisfies.
• Layered Greek Salad Around My Family Table.

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• Mixing Bowls
• Knife and Chopping Board
• Measuring Set
• Colander