Seven Layer Salad Recipe (2024)

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Posted by Aimee 23 comments
Published: Nov 28, 2023 Last Updated: Apr 5, 2024

A classic, easy 7 layer Salad recipe served in a trifle bowl. So many options for the seven layers, you choose what you love. Perfect for potlucks!

Love weeknight salads for dinner? This easy macaroni salad recipe is packed with pasta, veggies, and tuna! You may also love this Dorito Taco Salad for dinner!

Recipe for Seven Layer Salad

Growing up, my mom always made a 7 Layer Salad in the summer.

At family gatherings there was always an abundance of salads and side dishes, and the layered salad recipe with vegetables and sour cream never called my name.

I mean, things like Pistachio Fluff Salad and Snicker’s Taffy Apple Salad were my go-to choices.

And while I still love those sweet dessert salads, I’ve come full circle in life to where I tend to love and appreciate those foods from my childhood that I turned up my nose at (remember these 7 layer cookie bars?).

Anyway, let’s get started on all the details to making THE BEST Seven Layer Salad recipe!

What’s in a 7 Layer Salad?

EGGS: Make your hard boiled eggs. You’ll need about 6-8 large eggs for this recipe.

PRO TIP: I love using my Instant Pot Hard Boiled Egg recipe for quick and perfect eggs. They peel like a dream. Once cooked, cut eggs into quarters.

BACON: Whether you like your breakfast bacon chewy or crunchy doesn’t matter for today’s salad. You MUST make the crunchy version. Trust me, in a salad, wimpy chewy bacon is never a good option.

To get perfect crisp bacon I opt to fry it up in a skillet while my eggs are cooking! Crumble the bacon once it is cooked to a crisp!

VEGETABLES: Cut and dice your remaining vegetables.

• Lettuce: Iceberg lettuce is what I usually choose for 7 layer salad. Wash it good with cold water, shake off excess water, blot with paper towels, then give it a rough chop into bite size pieces.
• Cherry Tomatoes: Slice in half.
• Red Onion: Cut onion in half, peel, and make thin slices.
• Red Bell Pepper: Thinly sliced and seeded.
• Frozen Peas: Thawed. You can also use canned sweet peas that have been drained. I prefer the frozen though as they have a less “mushy” texture.
• Green Onion: Sliced thin, using the white and the green tops.

DRESSING: Mix the dressing. Using a medium size bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, granulated sugar, cider vinegar, salt, pepper, and onion powder.

ASSEMBLE: Assemble the salad. In a large trifle bowl or clear glass salad bowl (so you can see the layers!), layer 1/2 of the chopped lettuce, cherry tomatoes, red onion, hard boiled eggs. Add about 1/3 of the dressing. Top with the remaining lettuce, black olives, peas, and red bell pepper. Add the remaining dressing on top.

Garnish the top of the salad with shredded cheese, bacon crumbles, and green onions slices (optional).

CHILL: Refrigerate. It’s very important for a seven layer salad to chill in the refrigerator for 8 hours or overnight. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

Serve and enjoy!

Stop up on mayo so you can whip up this easy chocolate mayonnaise cake next!

How do you Make Seven Layer Salad

1. Lettuce
2. Tomato
3. Onion
4. Eggs
5. Olives
6. Peas
7. Peppers
8. OOPS. I have too many layers. Dressing.
9. Cheese.
10. Bacon.
11. Green onion

As you can see there is a LOT of flexibility with layers. Sometimes I omit the olives and peppers. Sometimes I get rid of the onion and peas. Seriously, make it with the layers YOU love.

This salad makes a big trifle bowl full of fresh veggies, and is the perfect crowd feeding recipe!

Traditional, Southern 7 Layer Salad recipe with zesty dressing. Perfect for potlucks and parties.