I’ve made this 7-layer salad recipe numerous occasions for potlucks, events, and barbecues! It’s a traditional Midwestern facet dish made by stacking layers of crisp lettuce with crimson onion, peas, cheese, crunchy celery, creamy dressing, and salty bacon.
7 Layers of Outdated-Common Deliciousness
A traditional 7-layer salad is strictly what it feels like. It’s a layered salad, just like 7-layer dip. What goes into these layers might be absolutely anything, however right here within the Midwest, you’ll often discover crisp lettuce, crimson onion, peas, sharp cheddar, recent 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 facet 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 means. 😉
Why This Salad Is a Favourite Facet Dish
- It’s make-ahead-friendly. Layering retains the toppings and dressing separate. Not like a conventional salad, which might grow to be soggy with time, you may assemble this 7-layer salad half-hour to 24 hours forward of serving.
- Eat together with your eyes. Every time I would like 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 seems to be.
- Crowd-pleasing flavors. The dressing is creamy and gentle, so the true 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 traditional Midwestern facet 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.
- Purple Onion – Subsequent up is gentle crimson onion. Candy Vidalia onion or shallot additionally goes properly.
- Peas – Frozen peas work completely, simply you’ll want to thaw them. If you happen to’re not a fan of inexperienced peas, use one other veggie, like cooked (or frozen and thawed) inexperienced beans.
- Shredded Cheese – I take advantage of sharp cheddar, however Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack (for those who prefer it spicy), Gouda, and Havarti are all nice choices. Freshly shredded cheese tastes so a lot better (and fewer chalky, IMO) than pre-shredded cheese, although each will work.
- Celery – Chopped. Be happy to go half celery, half shredded or chopped carrot for those who’d like. You can too add diced tomatoes, chopped cucumber, and different recent veggies to this layer.
- Dressing – Conventional 7-layer salad recipes use Miracle Whip. I costume my salad in a lighter home made dressing comprised of Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, grated Parmesan, a little bit of sugar, and salt and pepper to style. You possibly can swap Greek yogurt with bitter cream if wanted. And, for those who’d choose, you need to 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 need to use your most well-liked cooking technique.
Seven Layer Salad Ideas and Variations
- Spice it up. To present the dressing a little bit 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 possibility, strive my home made Italian dressing or this maple French dressing.
- Add eggs. Some traditional variations of this salad embody 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, corresponding 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. Prime it off with my creamy avocado dressing.
Make This Salad Forward
Every time potential, I put together this layered salad a minimum of 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 substances 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 substances 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 crimson 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 might be added, like tomatoes or cucumbers.
- Ensure the sugar dissolves within the dressing.
- For some spiciness, you may 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 data is an estimate and offered as courtesy. Values might differ in keeping with the substances and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed data.
Storing Leftovers
Retailer any leftover salad coated within the fridge. As soon as the salad substances are blended with the dressing, it’s finest to take pleasure in leftovers inside a day or two.
