Wow your crowd with this nostalgic, classic seven layer salad recipe. Colorful layers of vegetables, bacon, hard-boiled eggs, cheese, and topped with a simple mayonnaise dressing.

 

This classic seven layer salad recipe has been served at potlucks, holidays, family gatherings, and more for years. It’s a simple recipe that is always a crowd pleaser and best of all, can be made ahead of time.

Try serving this layered salad in a 9 x 13 casserole dish to make it easy to refrigerate and transport. It can also be made in a trifle dish for a true table show stopper.

Layered salad can be a meal itself but also pairs perfectly with chicken, burgers, pork, seafood, and more.

Ingredients needed

• Lettuce – Iceberg lettuce is the classic choice for this recipe. You can substitute with crunch Romaine lettuce for a more leafy, darker green base.
• Green Peas – Crisp, tender peas are a staple in this delicious salad.
• Onion – Diced red onion adds color to this salad.
• Cucumbers – I like adding diced English cucumber for extra crunch.
• Tomatoes – Cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes work well for this recipe.
• Bacon – Crumbled, crispy bacon adds a nice, salty kick.
• Egg – Chopped hard-boiled eggs.
• Mayonnaise – Use your favorite mayo like Best Foods or Hellmans.
• Sugar – Granulated white sugar adds a hint of sweetness to the mayonnaise dressing. Feel free to omit if you want to reduce your sugar intake.
• Cheese – Shredded cheddar cheese is used to top the salad.

How to make seven layer salad

Step one: Spread the shredded lettuce out in a 9 x 13 casserole dish or large trifle dish. Top with peas and diced onion.

Step two: Layer on diced cucumbers and tomatoes.

Step three: Add on chopped bacon and eggs.

Step four: Stir together mayonnaise and sugar. Spread on top of the salad. Top with shredded cheese. Cover the dish with plastic wrap. Chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving.

Recipe tips

• Make sure to remove any excess water from the lettuce. This will help to keep the salad crisp and crunchy.
• Be sure to cook the bacon so that it’s more on the crispy side.
• This can be served as is or tossed before serving.

7 layer salad variations

Dressing – You can use half mayonnaise and half sour cream for a tangy dressing. Miracle Whip can also be used in place of mayonnaise. If you want to add extra flavor, mix the mayonnaise with 1 tablespoon of ranch seasoning.

Cheese – Use your favorite shredded cheese like a blend of Colby Jack, Mexican blend, feta cheese, crumbled goat cheese, or even blue cheese crumbles.

Protein – Add shredded chicken, diced ham or turkey for added protein.

Vegetables – Change up your vegetables or add more like diced bell peppers, celery, corn, mushrooms, edamame, green onions, olives, and more.

Lettuce – I recommend using a crunchy lettuce but you can add in some spring mix, spinach, or other.

Other – This salad really is so versatile. Try adding other ingredients like chopped avocado, sunflower seeds pumpkin seeds, or chopped nuts.

How to store

Make ahead – This salad can be made a day ahead of time before serve. Be sure to store in the refrigerator.

Store – Make sure to keep any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to 3 days before the mayonnaise starts to get soggy.

If you try this 7 layer salad recipe, be sure to let me know in the comments or tag me on Instagram.

More easy salad recipes

• Cowboy caviar – A hearty bean salad or dip.
• Grinder salad – Viral salad recipe with a delicious dressing.
• Chicken salad – Copycat Arby’s chicken salad recipe.
• Pea salad – Cool and crunchy pea salad with bacon.
• Broccoli salad – Great potluck side dish.