This overnight 7-layer salad is a vibrant make-ahead dish that’s fresh, crunchy, and delicious!
Layers of fresh lettuce, veggies, cheese, and bacon are topped with a creamy dressing to make this seven layer salad!
What is 7 Layer Salad?
A classic 7-layer salad recipe starts with a base of crisp iceberg lettuce followed by 6 additional layers. We add tomatoes, peas, green onions, hard-boiled eggs, cheese, and bacon with a mayonnaise-based dressing added in the middle.
- A little “chill” time (overnight) is recommended making this salad recipe potluck perfect.
- Prepare it the night before; a seven-layer salad recipe stays crispy until ready to serve even with the salad dressing on top!
- Serve it in a trifle or glass bowl so everyone can see the delicious layers!
What’s in Seven Layer Salad?
Mix and match the ingredients! I add 7 layers but you can add as many as you’d like to this overnight salad.
Lettuce: Iceberg will stay extra crunchy due to its high water content, so it’s great in an overnight salad. Wash it first and then dry it very well (I use a salad spinner).
Vegetables: Tomatoes, peas, and sliced green onions add texture, color, and visual interest to a 7 layer salad!
Bacon & Eggs: Bacon and hard-boiled eggs add texture, color, and a boost of healthy protein. I keep the bacon on the side and sprinkle it on just before serving.
Cheese: Cheddar cheese has a sharp flavor that tastes great with sweet peas and salty bacon. Blue cheese crumbles or parmesan cheese are other excellent options.
Variations: Chopped celery, sliced radishes, diced bell peppers, sliced mushrooms, shredded zucchini, corn, sundried tomatoes, and even shredded Brussels sprouts can be added to this salad. This is a great recipe for using up leftover bits of veggies in the fridge.
Dressing for Overnight Salad
This mayo-based sour cream dressing is super easy to make. It’s thicker than a traditional dressing, so it holds up well.
Add in your favorite herbs or ranch-style seasonings to change it up.
How to Make Overnight Salad
- Whisk mayonnaise, sour cream, sugar, and seasoned salt in a small bowl for the dressing. Set aside.
- Layer the ingredients in a bowl or trifle dish according to the recipe below.
- Top with the dressing and refrigerate overnight. Add cheese and bacon before serving.
Storing 7-Layer Salad
You can keep the 7-layer salad covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The flavors will blend and taste even better the next day!
More Prep Ahead Sides
Did you make this 7 Layer Salad? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below.
7 Layer Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 head iceberg lettuce chopped
- 2 cups diced fresh tomatoes or sliced cherry tomatoes
- 2 cups frozen peas thawed
- ½ cup sliced green onions or red onions
- 8 hard boiled eggs cooled, peeled and chopped
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese shredded
- 8 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ¾ cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
Instructions
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In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise, sour cream, sugar, and seasoned salt for the dressing. Set aside.
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Wash and dry the lettuce very well. Place lettuce in the bottom of a large trifle bowl (or 9×13 pan).
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In order, top with tomatoes, peas, green onions, and boiled eggs. Spread the dressing on top right to the edges.
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Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
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Top with cheese and bacon before serving.
Video
Notes
- Feel free to substitute other vegetables for the layers. Options include bell peppers, corn, sliced celery, mushrooms, or radishes, sundried tomatoes or shredded carrots, cabbage, zucchini, or brussels sprouts!
- To make ahead, assemble all the layers except cheese and bacon, cover, and chill. Just before serving, layer cheese and bacon on top.
1 cup mayonnaise
¾ cup sour cream
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
1 tablespoon fresh dill
1 tablespoon fresh parsley
salt & pepper to taste
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine American
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Wonderful!!
Great
Holly,
I made your seven layer salad and it turned out perfect, and tasted yummy I follow you on Pinterest and I just love your recipes.
Thank you
This 7 layer recipe looks delightful however I am allergic to mayo so what other dressing could I add?
Hi Linda, you could use any creamy dressing that you prefer for this recipe. It will change the flavor but would still be delicious!
Delicious….
Love this salad. I added sliced water chestnuts for some crunch. So many possibilities…
Can I possibly put this together tonight? The dinner I’m hosting will be 27 hours from tonight.
Yes, this salad is great prepared overnight.
My family has been making this recipe for years. We had been making it differently so I decided to try Holly’s version. I made it as a side to our family Easter meal. I’ve never made it with hard boiled eggs or made a dressing. We always used just mayonnaise. I will definitely be making this again, this way. It was delicious and the addition of the eggs, sugar and seasoned salt was perfect. I love Holly’s recipes and am so glad to have found these.
So glad you enjoyed it, Pam!
I accidentally layered the bacon and cheese then spread the mayo mixture over it. I could have sworn that is how I used to make it tears ago, and the flavor of the bacon seeped down and made it even more tasty. it is in the fridge. to late for me to remove the bacon and cheese. I hope it comes out ok…
I am sure it will still taste delicious, Donna. Enjoy!