I’ve made this 7-layer salad recipe numerous occasions for potlucks, events, and barbecues! It’s a basic Midwestern aspect dish made by stacking layers of crisp lettuce with purple onion, peas, cheese, crunchy celery, creamy dressing, and salty bacon.
7 Layers of Previous-Long-established Deliciousness
A basic 7-layer salad is strictly what it feels like. It’s a layered salad, just like 7-layer dip. What goes into these layers could be absolutely anything, however right here within the Midwest, you’ll normally discover crisp lettuce, purple onion, peas, sharp cheddar, contemporary veggies, and bacon with creamy dressing.
I’ve been making and consuming this seven layer salad at block events, potlucks, and church gatherings for years. It’s a staple aspect dish that’s easy, however all the time tasty and refreshing. And if you wish to toss the salad earlier than you serve it? I’ll simply look the opposite approach. 😉
Why This Salad Is a Favourite Aspect Dish
- It’s make-ahead-friendly. Layering retains the toppings and dressing separate. Not like a standard salad, which may change into soggy with time, you’ll be able to assemble this 7-layer salad half-hour to 24 hours forward of serving.
- Eat together with your eyes. Each time I want an aesthetic salad for a cookout, potluck, or vacation, I make a seven-layer salad. I initially layered my Russian salad recipe this fashion, making a rainbow of a salad that tastes pretty much as good because it appears to be like.
- Crowd-pleasing flavors. The dressing is creamy and gentle, so the actual magic of this salad lies within the mixture of crunchy veggies, smoky bacon, and cheese.
What Are the Layers in a 7-Layer Salad?
Every ingredient is just about a layer! Right here’s a take a look at what you’ll must make this basic Midwestern aspect dish. Scroll to the recipe card for the whole ingredient quantities for the salad and dressing.
- Iceberg Lettuce – Or your alternative of sturdy greens. Romaine is nice; in any other case, strive a darker inexperienced like Spinach or arugula.
- Crimson Onion – Subsequent up is gentle purple onion. Candy Vidalia onion or shallot additionally goes properly.
- Peas – Frozen peas work completely, simply make sure you thaw them. For those who’re not a fan of inexperienced peas, use one other veggie, like cooked (or frozen and thawed) inexperienced beans.
- Shredded Cheese – I exploit sharp cheddar, however Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack (should you prefer it spicy), Gouda, and Havarti are all nice choices. Freshly shredded cheese tastes so significantly better (and fewer chalky, IMO) than pre-shredded cheese, although each will work.
- Celery – Chopped. Be at liberty to go half celery, half shredded or chopped carrot should you’d like. It’s also possible to add diced tomatoes, chopped cucumber, and different contemporary veggies to this layer.
- Dressing – Conventional 7-layer salad recipes use Miracle Whip. I gown my salad in a lighter home made dressing created from Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, grated Parmesan, a little bit of sugar, and salt and pepper to style. You’ll be able to swap Greek yogurt with bitter cream if wanted. And, should you’d desire, you should use Miracle Whip as a substitute of mayo. Miracle Whip already has added sugar, although, so skip the sugar within the dressing on this case.
- Bacon – Cooked and crumbled. I prefer to make a batch of air fryer bacon, however you should use your most popular cooking technique.
Seven Layer Salad Suggestions and Variations
- Spice it up. To offer the dressing slightly kick, add a splash of pepperoncini juice or a splash of scorching sauce.
- Completely different dressing. This 7-layer salad would additionally style nice with creamy ranch dressing.
- Lighten it up. For a lighter dressing choice, strive my home made Italian dressing or this maple French dressing.
- Add eggs. Some basic variations of this salad embrace a layer of chopped boiled eggs between the lettuce and peas.
- Vegetarian. Swap the bacon with crunchy fried onions for a vegetarian-friendly salad.
- Pasta salad. Substitute the lettuce with cooked pasta, akin to penne, shells, or rigatoni.
- Make a 7-layer Southwestern salad. Substitute the peas with drained and rinsed canned beans, swap the celery with a mixture of candy corn and halved cherry tomatoes, and use leftover pulled hen as a substitute of bacon. High it off with my creamy avocado dressing.
Make This Salad Forward
Each time doable, I put together this layered salad not less than half-hour forward of serving and maintain it within the fridge. It tastes even higher as soon as it’s chilled down. The important thing right here is to ensure all of the components are dry earlier than you stack them. Spin the lettuce in a salad spinner, and pat the thawed peas dry so any extra water doesn’t make the salad soggy.
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Make the dressing. Mix the dressing components in a bowl. Set it apart, in a fridge ideally, so the sugar melts whilst you make the salad.
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Assemble the salad. In a bowl, begin with a layer of shredded lettuce, then add a layer of the chopped purple onion, adopted by the peas, cheddar cheese, celery, ready dressing, and bacon on high.
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Chill. Cowl and chill for half-hour earlier than serving.
- You need to use iceberg or romaine lettuce.
- Different veggies could be added, like tomatoes or cucumbers.
- Be sure the sugar dissolves within the dressing.
- For some spiciness, you’ll be able to add a little bit of pepperoncini juice into the dressing or scorching sauce.
Serving: 1.5cups | Energy: 252kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 7g | Fats: 22g | Saturated Fats: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 9g | Monounsaturated Fats: 6g | Trans Fats: 0.1g | Ldl cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 302mg | Potassium: 139mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 341IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 108mg | Iron: 0.5mg
Dietary information is an estimate and supplied as courtesy. Values might differ based on the components and instruments used. Please use your most popular dietary calculator for extra detailed information.
Storing Leftovers
Retailer any leftover salad lined within the fridge. As soon as the salad components are blended with the dressing, it’s finest to get pleasure from leftovers inside a day or two.