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Home Blog Course Side Dishes

Easy 7 Layer Salad with Homemade Dressing

Cheryl Malik
Cheryl Malik Posted: 07/27/20 Updated: 11/21/22
5
/5
7 Comments
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GF Gluten Free V Vegan VG Vegetarian

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Pin graphic for 7-layer salad.
Pin graphic for 7-layer salad.
Pin graphic for 7-layer salad.
Pin graphic for 7-layer salad.
Pin graphic for 7-layer salad.
Pin graphic for 7-layer salad.
Pin graphic for 7-layer salad.
Pin graphic for 7-layer salad.
Pin graphic for 7-layer salad.
Pin graphic for 7-layer salad.
Pin graphic for 7-layer salad.
Pin graphic for 7-layer salad.
Pin graphic for 7-layer salad.

This easy 7 layer salad is a classic potluck and entertaining favorite made even better with all the best layers! With lettuce, peas, tomatoes, cucumber, chopped eggs, and lots of bacon, cheese, and a heavenly creamy dressing, your guests will be fighting over the last of this make-ahead layered salad side!

7 layer salad in a bowl

What Makes This Salad So Good

  • This classic recipe is the perfect summer salad. Fresh produce topped with a creamy, tangy dressing and crisp, savory bacon. YUM.
  • It’s super easy to make, and it’s pretty to look at! Absolutely the go-to salad when you want a side that’s tasty and also aesthetically pleasing. Bring this one along when you want to wow a group without a ton of effort.
  • It’s an easy recipe to personalize. You can adjust the quantities on the ingredients below or swap something out entirely, replacing it with your favorites.
  • You could make this the night before your event! Yup, 7 layer salad is a pretty good make-ahead option. Just make sure to cover it with plastic wrap and seal it tightly. The tomatoes could make the other ingredients wet if they sit too long, so if you’re making this more than 12 hours in advance, you might leave them out, adding them to the top just before serving. I’d also recommend leaving the bacon off until just before serving, so it stays crispy.

Ingredients

(OK, you might be thinking “Cheryl, this salad has 9, maaayyyybeeee 8, layers! What’s the deal??” Since they all go on top and round everything off, I consider the dressing, cheddar cheese, and bacon to be one layer.)

  • Iceberg Lettuce – With a crunchy texture and solid form, iceberg lettuce holds up well under all the ingredients without getting soggy.
  • Red Onion – So perfect for salads, red onions hold up well with dressing and are the quintessential astringent taste of onions, but just a little sweet.
  • Tomatoes – For my 7 layer salad, I used traditional, full-sized tomatoes chopped into cubes. You can absolutely use smaller tomatoes like cherry or grape chopped in half if you prefer. You could also use red bell peppers instead of tomatoes for a different flavor.
  • Peas – Green peas add a layer (literally) of juicy texture and sweet flavor. You can use the frozen variety (thawed and drained), but we love our peas fresh!
  • English Cucumber – Sweet, thin, and seedless, English cucumbers don’t have the bitter flavor of their traditional cousins.
  • Hard-boiled Eggs – Buttery yolks and tender egg whites finish off this salad with a kick of protein and texture.
  • Cheddar Cheese – With a sharp and buttery taste, cheddar is a nice strong component to this 7 layer salad that complements the more mild flavors.
  • Bacon – Crispy, salty bacon is one of the best parts of a salad, so we couldn’t leave it out! Since it goes on last, bacon literally (and figuratively) completes your 7 layer salad!

How Do You Serve a 7 Layer Salad?

First of all, the bowl you use for your 7 layer salad is important! The easiest bowls to work with are ones that have flat bottoms and straight, tall sides – like a trifle bowl! That’s just an example, if you don’t have a trifle bowl, any bowl that matches the description will work. It doesn’t have to be a glass dish either, but glass will show off the layers of your salad!

So, what about the actual serving? Are you supposed to mix it all up?

Nope! Instead, use a deep spoon with a long handle (longer than the sides of the bowl are tall!) to reach all the way in to the salad dish. This way, you’ll pull out a little of each layer while leaving the rest of the salad intact!

Chef’s Tips

  • Depending on the size of your bowl, you may not use the entire amount of each ingredient in this recipe. Adjust the quantities as needed!
  • Want to make a 7 layer salad that the vegans in your group will love, too? No problem! Swap out the cheddar cheese for vegan cheese, leave out the eggs, and use plant-based bacon bits or pieces. McCormick Bac’n Pieces are vegan! You can also just sub the dressing with the vegan dressing of your choice.
  • If you’re not using pre-cooked bacon or bacon pieces on top of your 7 layer salad, there are quite a few methods you can use to cook yours! Bacon in the air fryer is super easy and pretty much hands-off, but you could also opt for this oven-baked method!
  • For perfect hard-boiled eggs every single time, try my air fryer or Instant Pot methods, or use my easy stovetop method!
  • The dressing for your 7 layer salad doesn’t have to be chilled, but if you’ve got the time, I recommend it! Chilling the dressing for at least 30 minutes gives the flavors time to develop, making it a little tangier than if you mix it up immediately before you construct your salad.
Close-up of dressing being added to 7 layer salad

More Easy Salad Recipes You’ll Love

  • Avocado Salad
  • White Bean Salad
  • Watermelon Feta Salad with Mint
  • Zucchini Salad
  • Cucumber Tomato Salad
  • Mexican Street Corn Salad
  • Perfect Pea Salad
  • Broccoli Cauliflower Salad
  • Red Potato Salad
  • Keto Broccoli Salad
  • Crisp Apple Salad with Raisins and Pecans
  • Cauliflower Potato Salad

Hey – you’ve made it this far, so now we’re basically best friends! If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to give it a quick review & star rating ★ below. Make sure you follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and Facebook, too!

5 from 6 votes

7 Layer Salad

Prep:15 minutes
Cook:0 minutes
Total:15 minutes
This 7 layer salad is a classic potluck and entertaining favorite made even better with all the best layers! With lettuce, peas, tomatoes, cucumber, chopped eggs, and lots of bacon, cheese, and a heavenly creamy dressing, your guests will be fighting over the last of this make-ahead layered salad side!
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12 servings

Ingredients

For the Dressing

  • ⅔ cup parmesan cheese freshly grated
  • 1 ⅓ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 clove garlic pressed
  • ¾ teaspoon salt

For the Salad

  • 1 small head iceberg lettuce rinsed, patted dry, and shredded
  • 1 cup red onion diced
  • 1 ½ cup tomatoes cubed
  • 12 ounces peas thawed if frozen
  • ½ of one English cucumber about 1 cup
  • 6 whole hard-boiled eggs cubed
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
  • 1 pound bacon cooked and crumbled

Instructions 

  • In small bowl, mix together parmesan cheese, mayonnaise, garlic, and salt until mixture is smooth and creamy. Set aside and construct salad immediately, or place dressing in refrigerator to chill.
    Lemon-garlic aioli in a small bowl
  • In dish with tall sides, layer each ingredient, in this order:
    Layer 1 (Bottom Layer): lettuce, Layer 2: red onion, Layer 3: tomatoes, Layer 4: peas, Layer 5: cucumbers, Layer 6: hard-boiled eggs, Layer 7 (Top Layer): dressing, cheddar cheese, and bacon

Notes

  • Depending on the size of your bowl, you may not use the entire amount of each ingredient in this recipe. Adjust the quantities as needed!
  • Use a deep spoon to serve so you get something from every layer! This’ll also help the layer definition stay intact as long as possible.
  • Make it Vegetarian: Use plant-based bacon bits or pieces. 
  • Make it Vegan: If vegan, sub out bacon pieces, omit eggs, use vegan cheddar cheese, and use vegan dressing or substitute mayo and parmesan for plant-based.
  • Tips for cooking bacon: Cooking it in the air fryer is super easy and pretty much hands-off.
  • Tips for hard-boiling eggs: Use my easy method on the stove or in the air fryer.
 

Video

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 462kcal, Carbohydrates: 8g, Protein: 15g, Fat: 41g, Saturated Fat: 12g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 14g, Monounsaturated Fat: 13g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 142mg, Sodium: 738mg, Potassium: 310mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 815IU, Vitamin C: 16mg, Calcium: 169mg, Iron: 1mg, Net Carbs: 6g

Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

 

Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

 

To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.

© Author: Cheryl Malik

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Cheryl Malik

Meet Cheryl Malik

Cheryl Malik is the recipe developer, writer, and photographer behind the healthy, flavorful, family friendly recipes at 40 Aprons. She's been a blogger for 10+ years and is known for her delicious recipes and detailed recipe instructions. Cheryl is a mom of three who lives in Memphis, TN.

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  1. Tammie L Rico-Hamby says

    Posted on 8/21/22 at 8:04 pm

    I made this for my daughter’s birthday BBQ and it was a huge hit. So yummy! To make life easier, I cooked the bacon and hard boiled eggs the day before, and sliced the onions. Made the assembly much easier the next day.5 stars

    Reply
    • Megan | 40 Aprons TeamMegan | 40 Aprons Team says

      Posted on 8/23/22 at 9:58 pm

      Thank you so much, Tammie! I’m so glad you enjoyed this salad so much, especially on such an important day!

      Reply
  2. Mandy says

    Posted on 4/4/21 at 7:11 pm

    Made this for Easter and it was a hit! This will definitely be a go to from now on.

    But…it’s not 7 layers, it’s 8! 9 if you include the dressing! Why call it a 7 layer salad? Asking in all seriousness!5 stars

    Reply
    • Karen says

      Posted on 3/16/22 at 3:31 pm

      I think this recipe must have 7 ingredients of whatever 7 you prefer. I have some who love it without tomatoes. I have some who like it without onions. You can personalize your 7 layers.5 stars

      Reply
    • Megan | 40 Aprons TeamMegan | 40 Aprons Team says

      Posted on 3/16/22 at 4:09 pm

      We count the top layer (dressing, cheddar cheese, and bacon) as a single layer even though it has multiple components!5 stars

      Reply
  3. Dana says

    Posted on 9/10/20 at 11:00 am

    Beautiful presentation. How do you serve it so you can get every ingredient? Do you toss it just before serving?

    Reply
    • Amelia Camurati says

      Posted on 9/10/20 at 12:27 pm

      Use a deep spoon to serve all the layers together without losing the definition for as long as you can! Thanks for asking Dana!5 stars

      Reply

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