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I’ve been making, eating, and enjoying 7 Layer Salad for the past 40+ years. This classic Midwestern side dish is a staple at potlucks, barbecues, neighborhood block parties, and family reunions, and it’s just as tasty now as it was back then.
If you’re from Ohio, you probably want to toss the salad before serving. It sounds crazy to me, but that’s how they do it! And to the sub-section of the population that adds hard-boiled eggs to your salad, please carry on. That sounds like a fabulous addition.
With over 500 5-star reviews, you can trust that this version is the very best and the one that will take you on a trip down memory lane – right back to your own childhood where you loved a hearty bowl of 7 Layer Salad, too.
Table of Contents
7 Layer Salad Ingredients:
At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.
Ingredient notes:
- Lettuce: Iceberg, crispy head lettuce, or Romaine.
- Red onion: I love the color of this one, but you can substitute white, yellow, or sweet onion if you prefer. Tame harsh raw onions by soaking in ice water for 10 minutes, then draining well.
- Celery: A few ribs for extra crunch.
- Peas: Run frozen peas under cold water until thawed and drain well.
- Mayonnaise: Plain, good quality mayo like Hellman’s or Best Foods is perfect.
- Sugar: A little sugar transforms your mayo into salad dressing, but you can leave it out if you want to.
- Cheddar cheese: Or change the cheese to the one you love like smoked provolone, blue cheese, or feta cheese.
- Bacon: You could layer in some turkey or ham instead of the bacon.
How to make Seven Layer Salad:
Before you begin, you should decide on what bowl to use for your layered salad. A clear glass bowl shows off all the hard work you put into chopping the vegetables. And a clear glass bowl with straight sides makes it easy to assemble.
- First layer: In the bottom of the bowl, spread the shredded lettuce
- Second layer: A thin layer of chopped red onion
- Third layer: Chopped celery
- Fourth layer: Peas
- Fifth layer: Spread the mayo over everything and sprinkle with a little sugar
- Sixth layer: Shredded cheddar cheese
- Seventh layer: Crispy chopped bacon
4. Cover the salad up with plastic wrap and chill for a at least a couple hours.
How to Make 7 Layer Salad Ahead of time:
This salad is a make-ahead marvel! The salad needs to chill for a couple of hours anyway, but you can safely make it a full day ahead if needed. The flavor gets better as it sits! The key to make Seven Layer Salad in advance is to ensure all of the layers are totally dry. Spin that lettuce in a salad spinner or blot with clean kitchen towels. Your peas should go in thawed, not frozen. Celery and onion aren’t water-logged anyway, so you’ll be good to go there. And the mayonnaise layer provides a nice moisture barrier for the cheese and bacon. I’m always surprised at how well the leftovers hold up here, too!
7 Layer Salad Recipe Tips & Variations:
- Hard Boiled Eggs: Not in my Seven layer salad! But many people say that’s how they make it.
- Miracle Whip: Substitute Miracle Whip for the mayo if you are a Miracle Whip fan. The only difference between them is that the salad dressing Miracle Whip already has added sugar, paprika, and garlic powder.
- Sour cream: Some cooks love mixing half mayo, half sour cream for a tangier dressing.
- Parmesan cheese: A few tablespoons of freshly grated Parmesan cheese taste great added to the mayo.
- Extra veggies: Change out your layers for different vegetables like bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, scallions
- More toppings: Not traditional, but avocado, olives, and crunchy fried onions are so good!
More delicious salads:
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Seven Layer Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 head lettuce shredded
- 1/2 cup red onion diced (see note 1)
- 2-3 celery ribs sliced (about 1 cup)
- 12 ounces frozen peas thawed (see note 2)
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar (see note 3)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 pound bacon fried and crumbled
Instructions
- Spread the lettuce evenly in the bottom of a glass bowl. Top with red onion, celery, and peas.
- Spread mayonnaise on top of celery and sprinkle with sugar. Top with cheddar cheese and bacon. Cover and chill.
Recipe Video
Notes
- Red onion: I love the color of this one, but you can substitute white, yellow, or sweet onion if you prefer. Tame harsh raw onions by soaking in ice water for 10 minutes, then draining well.
- Peas: Run frozen peas under cold water until thawed and drain well.
- Sugar: A little sugar transforms your mayo into salad dressing, but you can leave it out if you want to.
This may already be in an older comment so apologies for any repetition: Can this be made the day before the event?
Thanks, Lori
Hi Lori, yes! Just make sure it is chilled for at least 30 minutes before serving. Hope you enjoy! – Meggan
I have made this layered pea salad from your recipe probably 4-5 times now and it is ALWAYS a hit. And I don’t even like peas?! So yummy, thank you!!!!
Thanks Courtney, I’m so glad you love it as much as I do! – Meggan
I had been craving a 7-layer salad and decided to give this recipe a try. For the dressing, I opted for Miracle Whip with Parmesan cheese; I also added a small amount of sour cream. It turned out delicious – thank you for sharing this recipe!
That sounds amazing Allison, thanks! Glad you liked it. – Meggan
And this is IT!!! From the 70’s! I’d lost my aunt’s handwritten layering instructions, but my fuzzy memory served me well. Served at dinner, my kid’s went crazy….it was devoured and enjoyed! Don’t count calories…count the wonderful memories this delicious salad still brings to the table! ❤
Hi June! I got chills! Don’t count the calories, count the memories. 😭 Seven layer salad brings all the memories back for me, too. I am totally inspired to make this now. It is SO GOOD, I just love it. I’m so thrilled that you found it, made it, and enjoyed it. Thank you thank you! You made my day. -Meggan 🙂
Have been making this salad for years have an OLD Betty Crocker cook book that listed it under vegetable salad. Everyone loves and never had any left. If there was I have found friends in fridge with forks. Tacky I know but it is that good !
Hi Irmie, so glad you love it! Thanks! – Meggan
can you use chicken and shrimp together in a sevenm layer salad
Hi Nita, sure! You can use our version for inspiration and change it to whatever you love. Hope you enjoy! -Meggan
I love this salad recipes it’s a great and delicious and yummy salad recipes..I like it it’s a good idea and good and great and delicious and yummy and overall well and great and wonderful and delicious and yummy salad to eat up it’s a excellent meal.. I mean a excellent salad to eat..I love it
Hi Saundra, so glad you love it! -Meggan
Can this be made the morning of the event. I read that it should be refrigerated for a few hours. Is that true?
Hi Valerie, yes! As long as you chill it for at least 30 minutes prior to serving, you should be good to go! -Meggan
This reminds me of my former mother in law’s. Tasted just as I remembered her making it. She had given me her recipe and unfortunately I lost it. Being careful with my sugars, could skipping the sugar and peas be subbed with red or yellow bell peppers? For sweetness?
Thanks for bringing back great memories.
Hi Adam, I’m so glad! You can definitely substitute peppers, some readers even add them as an 8th layer. Enjoy – Meggan
Delicious summer salad
Thank you Jay! -Meggan