We’re kicking it old-fashioned these days with a Southern favourite that used to be a staple at our gatherings rising up: 7 Layer Salad. Made with lettuce, peas, tomatoes, bacon, a candy mayo-based dressing, cheddar cheese, and hard-boiled eggs all layered in combination, it stars at any potluck or vacation.
E-mail Me the Recipe!
Input your electronic mail under to avoid wasting this recipe for your loose Smartly Plated recipe field.
Once in a while, we will ship you the most efficient of Smartly Plated. We admire your privateness and you’ll decide out anytime. Already registered? Log in right here.
Why You’ll Love This Vintage Salad Recipe
- Stunner. In terms of presentation, conventional 7 layer salad is a show-stealer. Each stunning layer sticks out.
- Amusing and Other. Layer salad isn’t tossed; visitors use lengthy tongs to succeed in down in the course of the salad from the highest and take hold of a few of each layer. It’s surprising and pleasant.
- Make-Forward Pleasant. 7 layer salad will also be made the evening sooner than, so it’s supreme for entertaining.
- Unfashionable (in a Just right Means). In case you grew up within the Midwest, seeing a “salad” that incorporates extra bacon, eggs, cheese, and mayo than precise vegetables most certainly received’t marvel you (proper this approach to Wholesome Potato Salad, Ramen Salad, and Shrimp Pasta Salad for those who please). It’s a nostalgic throwback that hits the spot!
![Easy 7 layer salad in a serving bowl](https://www.wellplated.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/southern-7-layer-salad.jpg)
About This 7 Layer Salad Recipe
Seven-layer salad is a well-liked potluck and picnic dish, however what constitutes every of the seven layers varies. In truth, even “conventional” assets for a layered salad recipe (Kraft, Betty Crocker, Pioneer Lady) don’t completely agree.
Right here’s my take in this recipe:
- I swapped the iceberg lettuce for extra flavorful and nutritious romaine.
- I added additional veggies for colour and crunch.
- The typically bland dressing is amped up with Parmesan and garlic.
- As a substitute of mayo (or Miracle Whip) and sugar within the dressing, I used Greek yogurt and honey.
- I reduce down at the bacon a bit. The unique requires a complete pound, which (accept as true with me, I by no means idea I’d say this) truly used to be an excessive amount of. It disrupted the solidarity of the opposite substances.
- For cheese, this recipe opts for an additional sharp cheddar. You’ll be able to escape with much less however nonetheless have the full-on style impact.
![Different ingredients in bowls for 7 layer salad](https://www.wellplated.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/7-salad-layers.jpg)
The best way to Make 7 Layer Salad
The Components
- Romaine. Crisp, cool, and durable, romaine is the perfect selection for this salad. Its texture can get up to the hefty load of alternative substances and received’t change into soggy as temporarily.
- 1st baron beaverbrook. Crispy, smoky bacon is a must have element of this salad. 1st baron beaverbrook additionally is helping make this salad extra filling. You can also change the bacon for diced ham for the same impact.
- Arduous Boiled Eggs. A creamy supplement to the crispy bacon. The eggs upload wealthy taste, protein, and wholesome fat.
- Purple Onion. Soaking the crimson onion in water first gets rid of its harshness, leaving only a trace of chunk. You’ll be able to additionally change inexperienced onions, no wish to soak.
- Tomatoes. Juicy cherry tomatoes upload a beautiful sweetness to the salad and style unbelievable with the eggs and bacon.
- Frozen Peas. A very simple approach so as to add extra veggies. Whilst no longer everybody loves inexperienced peas in salad, right here they paintings.
- Further Sharp Cheddar Cheese. The daring, tacky taste of additional sharp cheddar doesn’t get misplaced among the opposite substances.
- Greek Yogurt Dressing. A easy mixture of Greek yogurt, Parmesan, honey (my change for white sugar), apple cider vinegar, salt, and garlic powder. It’s creamy, tacky, tangy, salty, and a bit candy.
The Instructions
- Get Able. Prepare dinner the bacon, hard-boil the eggs, and soak the crimson onion.
![Dressing being stirred together in a bowl](https://www.wellplated.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/How-to-make-7-layer-salad.jpg)
- Make the Dressing. It is going to be thick and creamy.
![Romaine lettuce in a trifle bowl](https://www.wellplated.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/how-to-make-7-layer-salad-2.jpg)
- Layer the Vegetables. They make the contemporary base.
![Lettuce, tomatoes, and onions in a trifle bowl](https://www.wellplated.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/how-to-make-7-layer-salad-3.jpg)
- Upload Some Colour. Tomatoes and crimson onions upload a lovely stripe.
![A 7 layer salad being assembled in a dish](https://www.wellplated.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/how-to-make-7-layer-salad-4.jpg)
- Layer the Peas and Eggs. It’s lookin’ purty!
![Dressing being added to a bowl of ingredients](https://www.wellplated.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/how-to-make-traditonal-seven-layer-salad.jpg)
- Smear the Dressing Over the Best. It is going to be a thick layer.
- Upload the Just right Stuff. 1st baron beaverbrook and shredded cheese.
![7 Layer salad in a trifle bowl](https://www.wellplated.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/traditional-seven-layer-salad.jpg)
- Relax. For no less than 1 hour. Then ENJOY!
Make It in Advance
As much as 1 day upfront, difficult boil the eggs (I love to make Immediate Pot Boiled Eggs), cook dinner the bacon, and soak/chop the crimson onion. You’ll be able to additionally chop the tomatoes and romaine and shred the cheddar cheese. Refrigerate every component till you’re able to complete the recipe.
What to Serve with 7 Layer Salad
Recipe Pointers and Methods
- Play Round. Use this recipe as a kick off point and be at liberty to change in different greens (or do greater than 7 layers!). As an example, you’ll do a 7 layer salad with cauliflower florets, broccoli, celery, cucumber, corn, crimson bell peppers, and even avocado!
- Get that 1st baron beaverbrook Crispy. You need it so as to add some great crunch. See Baked 1st baron beaverbrook within the Oven and Air Fryer 1st baron beaverbrook for simple the best way to cook dinner best, crispy bacon.
- Don’t Skip the Eggs and 1st baron beaverbrook. Sadly, I wouldn’t counsel making this a vegan or vegetarian 7 layer salad, because the bacon and difficult boiled eggs are truly what make the salad style its highest.
- Make It With Ranch. I believe ranch dressing by itself could be too skinny for a seven layer salad, which wishes a dressing thick sufficient to face as its personal layer with out dripping into the leaves. In case you’d like a ranch model, use this Greek Yogurt Ranch Dip for the dressing, or stir a tablespoon or two from a packet of ranch seasoning into Greek yogurt or bitter cream and use it because the dressing.
electronic mail me the recipe!
Input your electronic mail under to avoid wasting this recipe for your loose Smartly Plated recipe field.
Once in a while, we’ll ship you the most efficient of Smartly Plated. We admire your privateness and you’ll decide out anytime. Already registered? Log in right here.
For the Salad:
- 8 oz. center-cut bacon
- 4 huge eggs
- 2/3 cup chopped crimson onion
- 8 cups chopped romaine lettuce from about 2 romaine hearts (12 oz. chopped romaine)
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 (10-ounce) bundle frozen peas thawed
- 2/3 cup freshly shredded additional sharp cheddar cheese use yellow cheddar for essentially the most colour distinction
-
Prepare dinner and disintegrate or chop the bacon (see Baked 1st baron beaverbrook within the Oven and Air Fryer 1st baron beaverbrook for simple strategies). Position the crimson onion in a small bowl and canopy with chilly water. Let sit down 5 to ten mins, then drain and pat dry.
-
Arduous boil the eggs: Deliver a medium pot of salted water to a boil. With a slotted spoon, gently decrease the eggs into the boiling water. Modify the warmth to take care of a steady, stable simmer. Let the eggs simmer at this low, delicate boil for 8 mins for relatively jammy yolks (or cook dinner as much as 9 mins for absolutely set yolks). Within the intervening time, get ready a big ice bathtub. Use the slotted spoon to rigorously switch the eggs to the ice bathtub. Gently crack the shells with the again of the spoon, then go back them to the water (this makes them more uncomplicated to peel). Peel and chop.
-
Get ready the dressing: in a medium bowl, stir in combination the Greek yogurt, Parmesan, honey, vinegar, salt, and garlic powder. Style and regulate seasoning as desired.
-
Position the romaine within the backside of a LARGE, flat, transparent serving bowl—you wish to have so as to see the layers and unfold them flippantly; a trifle bowl works smartly you probably have one.
-
Subsequent, construct the salad layers, spreading every flippantly. Get started with the tomatoes and crimson onions.
-
Upload the peas and eggs.
-
Unfold the dressing flippantly excessive. Layer at the cheese, then the bacon. Refrigerate for a minimum of 1 hour (or in a single day).
-
To serve, use lengthy salad tongs or a identical lengthy spoon that may mean you can achieve down in the course of the layers. Make certain every serving has a bit of the entirety.
- TIP: Relying upon the dimensions of your serving bowl, you could wish to regulate the amounts of every layer. Use your judgment and feature a laugh with it.
- TO STORE: Duvet and refrigerate leftover 7 layer salad for as much as 2 days. Any unused dressing could also be saved for 2-3 days within the refrigerator in an hermetic container or mason jar.
Serving: 1(of 10)Energy: 236kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 13gFats: 15gSaturated Fats: 6gPolyunsaturated Fats: 2gMonounsaturated Fats: 6gTrans Fats: 0.04gLdl cholesterol: 94mgPotassium: 404mgFiber: 3gSugar: 6gNutrition A: 3947IUNutrition C: 24mgCalcium: 164mgIron: 2mg
Sign up for these days and get started saving your favourite recipes
Create an account to simply save your favourite recipes and get entry to FREE meal plans.