We’re kicking it old school today with a Southern favorite that was a staple at our gatherings growing up: 7 Layer Salad. Made with lettuce, peas, tomatoes, bacon, a sweet dressing, cheddar cheese, and hard-boiled eggs all layered together, it stars at any potluck or holiday!
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A potluck favorite with a few modern touches.
I love the 7 layer salad I grew up eating, but I wanted to give it a little Well Plated twist!
- If you grew up in the Midwest, seeing a “salad” that contains more bacon, eggs, cheese, and mayo than actual greens probably won’t surprise you (right this way to Healthy Potato Salad, Ramen Salad, and Shrimp Pasta Salad if you please). It’s a nostalgic throwback that hits the spot!
- Rather than a sweet mayo dressing made with (lots of) sugar, I use tangy Greek yogurt and sweeten it with honey. It still brings the creamy factor, but just a bit fresher and lighter!
- When it comes to presentation, traditional 7 layer salad is a show-stealer. Every beautiful layer stands out and guests use long tongs to reach down through the salad to get a little of everything.
And if you’re making this for a party, you’ll be happy to know that 7 layer salad can be made the night before!
5 Star Review
“A truly delicious blast from the past! It’s fun to make it for people who have never heard of or tried it. They are always skeptical then end up asking for the recipe.”
— Rebecca —
The Elements of My 7 Layer Salad
- Romaine. Crisp, cool, and sturdy, romaine is the ideal choice for this salad. Its texture can stand up to the hefty load of other ingredients and won’t become soggy as quickly.
- Bacon. Crispy, smoky bacon is a must-have component of this salad. Bacon also helps make this salad more filling. You also can swap the bacon for diced ham for a similar effect.
- Hard Boiled Eggs. A creamy complement to the crispy bacon. The eggs add rich flavor, protein, and healthy fats.
- Red Onion. Soaking the red onion in water first removes its harshness, leaving just a hint of bite. You can also swap green onions, no need to soak.
- Tomatoes. Juicy cherry tomatoes add a wonderful sweetness to the salad and taste fantastic with the eggs and bacon.
- Frozen Peas. An easy way to add more veggies. While not everyone loves green peas in salad, here they work.
- Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese. The bold, cheesy flavor of extra sharp cheddar doesn’t get lost amongst the other ingredients.
- Greek Yogurt Dressing. A simple mix of Greek yogurt, Parmesan, honey (my swap for white sugar), apple cider vinegar, salt, and garlic powder. It’s creamy, cheesy, tangy, salty, and a little sweet.
How to Make 7 Layer Salad
Get Ready. Cook the bacon, hard-boil the eggs, and soak the red onion.
Make the Dressing. It will be thick and creamy.
Layer the Greens. They make the fresh base.
Add Some Color. Tomatoes and red onions add a pretty stripe.
Layer the Peas and Eggs. It’s lookin’ purty!
Smear the Dressing Over the Top. It will be a thick layer.
Add the Good Stuff. Bacon and shredded cheese.
Chill. For at least 1 hour. Then ENJOY!
Make It in Advance
Up to 1 day in advance, hard boil the eggs (I like to make Instant Pot Boiled Eggs), cook the bacon, and soak/chop the red onion. You can also chop the tomatoes and romaine and shred the cheddar cheese. Refrigerate each ingredient until you’re ready to finish the recipe.
7 Layer Salad
Video
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Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 8 ounces center-cut bacon
- 4 large eggs
- ⅔ cup chopped red onion
- 8 cups chopped romaine lettuce from about 2 romaine hearts (12 ounces chopped romaine)
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 (10-ounce) package frozen peas thawed
- ⅔ cup freshly shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese use yellow cheddar for the most color contrast
For the Dressing:
- 1 ¼ cups nonfat plain Greek yogurt use low fat or whole for a more decadent salad
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Cook and crumble or chop the bacon (see Baked Bacon in the Oven and Air Fryer Bacon for easy methods). Place the red onion in a small bowl and cover with cold water. Let sit 5 to 10 minutes, then drain and pat dry.
- Hard boil the eggs: Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. With a slotted spoon, gently lower the eggs into the boiling water. Adjust the heat to maintain a gentle, steady simmer. Let the eggs simmer at this low, gentle boil for 8 minutes for slightly jammy yolks (or cook up to 9 minutes for fully set yolks). In the meantime, prepare a large ice bath. Use the slotted spoon to carefully transfer the eggs to the ice bath. Gently crack the shells with the back of the spoon, then return them to the water (this makes them easier to peel). Peel and chop.
- Prepare the dressing: in a medium bowl, stir together the Greek yogurt, Parmesan, honey, vinegar, salt, and garlic powder. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.
- Place the romaine in the bottom of a LARGE, flat, clear serving bowl—you want to be able to see the layers and spread them evenly; a trifle bowl works well if you have one.
- Next, build the salad layers, spreading each evenly. Start with the tomatoes and red onions.
- Add the peas and eggs.
- Spread the dressing evenly over the top. Layer on the cheese, then the bacon. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or overnight).
- To serve, use long salad tongs or a similar long spoon that will allow you to reach down through the layers. Make sure each serving has a little of everything.
Notes
- TIP: Depending upon the size of your serving bowl, you may need to adjust the quantities of each layer. Use your judgment and have fun with it.
- TO STORE: Cover and refrigerate leftover 7 layer salad for up to 2 days. Any unused dressing may be stored for 2-3 days in the fridge in an airtight container or mason jar.
Nutrition
What to Serve with 7 Layer Salad
- Burgers. Turkey Burgers or Salmon Burgers taste delish alongside this crisp, creamy salad.
- Grilled Chicken. The char of Grilled Chicken Breast or Grilled Chicken Thighs are a delightful pairing.
- Fried Chicken. Baked Fried Chicken or Air Fryer Fried Chicken Breast give this meal a Southern feel.
- More Sides. Round out your potluck with Chicken Pasta Salad and Fruit Salad.
I like to put the 7 layer salad in a 9 x 13″ baking pan. Easier to get to the lettuce along with everything evenly layered on top of it. So delicious and is gobbled quickly!
Hi! I stopped including sodium info because it can vary so much depending upon what products you used, and I found a lot of conflicting info online, so ultimately I didn’t feel comfortable publishing it because sometimes it wasn’t even in the ballpark. If you’d like to calculate it yourself, there are lots of free tools online (myfitnesspal.com is popular). I hope that helps!