Basic 7 Layer Salad Recipe
I’ve made this 7-layer salad recipe numerous occasions for potlucks, events, and barbecues! It’s a basic Midwestern facet dish made by stacking layers of crisp lettuce with pink onion, peas, cheese, crunchy celery, creamy dressing, and salty bacon.
7 Layers of Outdated-Normal Deliciousness
A basic 7-layer salad is precisely what it appears 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 normally discover crisp lettuce, pink 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 at all times 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 Aspect Dish
- It’s make-ahead-friendly. Layering retains the toppings and dressing separate. Not like a standard salad, which may turn out to be soggy with time, you possibly can assemble this 7-layer salad half-hour to 24 hours forward of serving.
- Eat along with your eyes. At any time when 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.
- Crowd-pleasing flavors. The dressing is creamy and delicate, 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 have a look at what you’ll must make this basic Midwestern facet dish. Scroll to the recipe card for the entire ingredient quantities for the salad and dressing.
- Iceberg Lettuce – Or your selection of sturdy greens. Romaine is nice; in any other case, attempt a darker inexperienced like Spinach or arugula.
- Crimson Onion – Subsequent up is delicate pink onion. Candy Vidalia onion or shallot additionally goes properly.
- Peas – Frozen peas work completely, simply remember to thaw them. Should you’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 at liberty to go half celery, half shredded or chopped carrot for those who’d like. You too can 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 constituted 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 favor, you should utilize Miracle Whip as an alternative 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 utilize your most popular cooking technique.
Seven Layer Salad Suggestions and Variations
- Spice it up. To offer the dressing somewhat kick, add a splash of pepperoncini juice or a touch of scorching sauce.
- Totally different dressing. This 7-layer salad would additionally style nice with creamy ranch dressing.
- Lighten it up. For a lighter dressing choice, attempt my home made Italian dressing or this maple French dressing.
- Add eggs. Some basic 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. Change the lettuce with cooked pasta, resembling penne, shells, or rigatoni.
- Make a 7-layer Southwestern salad. Change 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 rooster as an alternative of bacon. High it off with my creamy avocado dressing.
Make This Salad Forward
At any time when potential, I put together this layered salad no 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 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 pink onion, adopted by the peas, cheddar cheese, celery, ready dressing, and bacon on prime.
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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.
- Be sure that the sugar dissolves within the dressing.
- For some spiciness, you possibly can 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 offered as courtesy. Values might fluctuate based on the substances and instruments used. Please use your most popular dietary calculator for extra detailed information.
Storing Leftovers
Retailer any leftover salad coated within the fridge. As soon as the salad substances are combined with the dressing, it’s finest to take pleasure in leftovers inside a day or two.
