Easy Seven Layer Salad Recipe

One of my favorite foods to bring to a backyard picnic or social gathering is Seven Layer Salad. Not only is it delicious, it also makes for a beautiful presentation when served in a glass bowl.

However, I rarely make it to enjoy it at home because standard size recipes simply create too big of portions for the two of us. Not to mention, because it is best eaten fresh, the leftovers go bad before we can finish it off.

Therefore, I decided to develop a recipe where we can enjoy the flavors of the salad but not have leftovers for days. Best of all, with a few ready to use ingredients, this recipe is prepared in very little time!

What Is In a Seven Layer Salad?

The seven layer salad is rumored to have gained popularity in the 1950’s. In this particular era of food trends, showing off your layers of colorful ingredients in a single dish was seen as a classy and innovative way to serve foods. 

However it is really the blend of flavors that has made this salad extremely popular still to this day. Although the actual 7 ingredients can vary from recipe to recipe, here are the most common ingredients used to make up the 7 layers:

1. Lettuce

To begin, the first layer is a refreshing crisp bed of romaine lettuce. You could also use iceberg lettuce, however romaine provides a bit more nutrients than a head of iceberg lettuce. 

No matter which variety of lettuce to use it is important that the lettuce covers the entire bottom of whatever container that you use. This will help prevent the other ingredients from seeping through to the bottom of the bowl.

2. Tomatoes

Cherry tomatoes are the ideal choice as they are small and provide a good amount of sweetness to the salad. However, it is best to cut them in half before adding them to the salad for ease of eating.

Although you can also slice whole tomatoes and layer them on top of the lettuce as well.

3. Onion

Diced red onion is preferred over white, yellow or sweet onions. They not only add a pop of color but the flavor of the red onions pair well with the other ingredients.

4. Frozen Peas

This is the one ingredient that probably gets substituted the most. However the peas add great texture to the seven layer salad.

If you aren’t a fan of peas, simply use another vegetable such as bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, or cucumbers.

5. Hard Boiled Eggs

For a lighter color, sliced hard boiled eggs are added to the mix. Both the egg white and yellow yolk gives a nice contrast to the dark green and red colors in the salad.

To make perfect hard boiled eggs use this Air Fryer Hard Boiled Egg recipe. They turn out perfect every time.

6. Shredded Cheese

Top the entire salad with shredded sharp cheddar cheese to give it a tangy and robust flavor. However feel free to substitute whatever cheese you prefer.

For a milder flavor use Mozzarella or Provolone. Or to add a little spice to your salad consider shredded Pepper Jack cheese.

7. Crumbled Bacon

The seventh and final layer is crumbled bacon. However resist the urge to use fake bacon bits! You want the smoky and salty flavor of real crumbled bacon to help balance out the sweetness of the dressing.

Seven Layer Salad Dressing

Although the salad ingredients themselves are delicious, it is the homemade dressing that makes this salad unique. The creaminess of the dressing comes from the combination of sour cream, mayonnaise and milk.

Then you add the a light, yet tangy flavor with a little lemon juice. Then stir in a little Parmesan cheese for a slightly nutty, salty and cheesy flavor.

But the real element of surprise here is that a little sugar is added to sweeten the dressing. However use the sugar sparingly as a little sugar goes a long way. You can always add more when you taste the dressing.

Easy 7 Layer Salad Recipe

*A printable recipe card is located at the bottom of this article which contains the specific measurements, temperatures and cook times. However, continue reading below to learn about more helpful tips about this specific recipe.

INGREDIENTS

• 9 oz. bag Romaine lettuce
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 2 Tbsp. red onion, finely diced
• 2/3 cup frozen peas
• 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar
• 2 hard boiled eggs, sliced
• 4 slices cooked bacon, crumbled

Dressing Ingredients

• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 2 Tbsp. mayonnaise
• 2 Tbsp. milk
• 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
• 1 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
• salt and pepper, to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

Place the frozen peas in a small bowl. Add 2 Tablespoons of water and microwave for 2 minutes. Drain and set aside.

In a small bowl, add all of the dressing ingredients and whisk together until well incorporated. Taste and add more sugar, salt and/or pepper as desired. Set aside.

In a small glass bowl cover the bottom with the shredded lettuce. Then add layers of tomatoes, peas, red onion, and hard boiled eggs.

Add the dressing over top of the eggs. Then add layers of cheddar cheese and bacon.

Store in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

*This recipe can also be made in two quart size mason jars. However, for best results you will need to adjust the order of the layers.

When using a mason jar, layer the ingredients in the following order: dressing, tomatoes, peas, red onion, cheddar, bacon, hard boiled eggs and lettuce. Then when you are ready to eat, dump the ingredients into a bowl so that the lettuce is on the bottom layer.

Making this easy seven layer salad is a simple and straightforward process that even a novice cook can master. The combination of crisp vegetables, creamy dressing, and savory toppings for a satisfying side dish or a filling meal.

More Salad Recipes

• Doritos Taco Salad Recipe
• Cold Ramen Noodle Salad
• Zesty Italian Pasta Salad
• Ground Turkey Taco Salad
• Easy Cobb Salad
• Creamy Cucumber Salad

Enjoy! Mary

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