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7 Layer Salad is super simple, customizable, and amazingly delicious. This salad has layers of fresh, flavorful vegetables, creamy dressing, cheese, and crisp bacon. It’s not only delicious, but it’s visually stunning!
Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe
- Customizable: You don’t have to have to make this with seven layers, it can have five or even ten! It’s up to you. Just like my incredible 7-Layer Dip, you can make it the way you want.
- Beautiful: Layering this salad in a trifle bowl allows the layers to be visible. It is visually stunning and super tasty!
- Fun Side Dish: This salad is perfect for Holidays and potlucks! It goes perfectly with Chicken, Salmon, and Steak.
Ingredients Needed For Easy 7 Layer Salad
The fresher the vegetables, the better the salad. Frozen peas are fine; just use the petite peas. They are sweeter than regular.
- Iceberg Lettuce: Washed and chopped.
- Cherry Tomatoes: Sliced, can use grape tomatoes too.
- Olives: Canned sliced olives.
- Red Onion: Diced
- Peas: Fresh or frozen thawed.
- Cucumbers: Washed and chopped
- Ranch Dressing: Use this simple homemade recipe for the best flavor and texture.
- Cheddar Cheese: Shredded.
- Bacon: Cooked and crumbled.
- Green Onions: These are for garnish and are optional but are awesome.
How To Make 7 Layer Salad
Once you chop it all up, you layer it up how you want it. Although I highly recommend the lettuce on the bottom.
- Layer: In a large glass bowl, layer the lettuce, tomatoes, olives, red onion, peas, cucumbers, then top with the ranch, cheese, bacon and green onions
- Serve: Serve immediately or refrigerate.
Variations to the Green Salad
As I mentioned before, there are no rules for this 7 layer salad. You can have 5, 10, or however many layers you want. They can be different from these ingredients. Here are some ideas to get you thinking.
- Protein: Substitute the bacon and use ham, chicken, or turkey. You will find many recipes that use hard-boiled eggs as well. All are yummy!
- Vegetables: There are so many options here. Use what you and your family will eat and enjoy. Other vegetables could include broccoli, cauliflower, avocados, corn, celery, peppers, mushrooms, and sugar snap peas.
- Cheese: This is customizable as well. Trade out the cheddar for blue cheese, feta, smoked provolone, or a sharper cheddar.
- Dressing: 7 layer salad is typically made with a mayonnaise-based dressing. Ranch dressing is a favorite because everyone loves it. You can use a simple combination of mayo, sour cream, vinegar, salt, and sugar as well.
- Trifle Bowl: Not everyone has a trifle bowl, so no worries. You can make this in a 9×13 pan as well. You won’t get the height, but you can still get the layers. Other options are to forget about the eye appeal and mix it all together in a nice salad bowl instead.
Make Ahead Instructions
With so many variations and ways to make this incredible 7 layer salad, it is hard to mess up. Serve this up with some homemade bread, and you have a perfect lunch or a light dinner ready to go.
- Toss it or Not: I like to serve this with long-handled spoons and let people really dig in. But you can also set it out on the table and let everyone ooh and ahh over the layers, and then toss it right before serving.
- Make Ahead: This is the perfect salad for potlucks or holiday dinners because it is so easy and even better if you make it ahead of time. You can make it up to 8 hours in advance. This gives the layers a chance to meld their flavors together.
More Salads to Try and Love
Everyone loves a good salad. Not only do they bring variety, flavor, and textures, but they also help round out a meal. Additionally, salads are a delicious way to eat more vegetables and fruit. Therefore, these tried and true salad recipes are ones you can confidently reach for, knowing they’re going to be amazing.
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7 Layer Salad
Ingredients
- 1 head iceberg lettuce chopped
- 1 Pint cherry tomatoes sliced
- 2 (2 ounce cans) sliced olives
- 1 red onion diced
- 2 cups peas
- 2 cucumbers chopped
- Homemade Ranch Dressing
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 pound bacon cooked and crumbled
- green onions for garnish optional
Instructions
- In a large glass bowl layer the lettuce, tomatoes, olives, red onion, peas, cucumbers, ranch, cheese, bacon and green onions.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Love this type of Salad, and it’s very close to the one I’ve been making. The recipe I have calls for a good quality mayo, which can be mixed with a favorite dressing (if desired), or U can just use Miracle Whip. It’s pretty & delicious, any way you decide to make it. Best served in a Trifile dish, but U can use a pretty & deep glass salad bowl, as well.