7 Layer Salad – WellPlated.com

We’re kicking it old-fashioned at current with a Southern favorite that was a staple at our gatherings rising up: 7 Layer Salad. Made with lettuce, peas, tomatoes, bacon, a sweet mayo-based dressing, cheddar cheese, and hard-boiled eggs all layered collectively, it stars at any potluck or trip.

Why You’ll Love This Conventional Salad Recipe

• Stunner. Referring to presentation, standard 7 layer salad is a show-stealer. Every pretty layer stands out.
• Gratifying and Utterly totally different. Layer salad is simply not tossed; associates use prolonged tongs to reach down by the use of the salad from the best and seize a number of of every layer. It’s sudden and nice.
• Make-Ahead Nice. 7 layer salad is perhaps made the night time time sooner than, so it’s best for entertaining.
• Retro (in a Good Strategy). If you grew up throughout the Midwest, seeing a “salad” that includes additional bacon, eggs, cheese, and mayo than exact greens almost certainly acquired’t shock you (correct this strategy to Healthful Potato Salad, Ramen Salad, and Shrimp Pasta Salad for individuals who please). It’s a nostalgic throwback that hits the spot!

About This 7 Layer Salad Recipe

Seven-layer salad is a popular potluck and picnic dish, nonetheless what constitutes each of the seven layers varies. In actuality, even “standard” sources for a layered salad recipe (Kraft, Betty Crocker, Pioneer Lady) don’t totally agree.

Proper right here’s my sort out this recipe:

• I swapped the iceberg lettuce for additional flavorful and nutritious romaine.
• I added additional veggies for shade and crunch.
• The usually bland dressing is amped up with Parmesan and garlic.
• As a substitute of mayo (or Miracle Whip) and sugar throughout the dressing, I used Greek yogurt and honey.
• I reduce down on the bacon barely. The distinctive requires a full pound, which (perception me, I under no circumstances thought I’d say this) truly was an extreme quantity of. It disrupted the harmony of the alternative substances.
• For cheese, this recipe opts for a further sharp cheddar. It’s possible you’ll get away with a lot much less nonetheless nonetheless have the full-on type influence.

How one can Make 7 Layer Salad

The Substances

• Romaine. Crisp, cool, and sturdy, romaine is the right various for this salad. Its texture can stand as a lot because the hefty load of various substances and acquired’t grow to be soggy as quickly.
• Bacon. Crispy, smoky bacon is a will need to have component of this salad. Bacon moreover helps make this salad additional filling. It’s also possible to swap the bacon for diced ham for a similar influence.
• Exhausting Boiled Eggs. A creamy complement to the crispy bacon. The eggs add rich style, protein, and healthful fats.
• Crimson Onion. Soaking the crimson onion in water first removes its harshness, leaving solely a hint of chew. It’s possible you’ll as effectively swap inexperienced onions, no should soak.
• Tomatoes. Juicy cherry tomatoes add a wonderful sweetness to the salad and elegance implausible with the eggs and bacon.
• Frozen Peas. A simple strategy in order so as to add additional veggies. Whereas not all people loves inexperienced peas in salad, proper right here they work.
• Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese. The daring, cheesy style of extra sharp cheddar doesn’t get misplaced amongst the alternative substances.
• Greek Yogurt Dressing. A simple combination of Greek yogurt, Parmesan, honey (my swap for white sugar), apple cider vinegar, salt, and garlic powder. It’s creamy, cheesy, tangy, salty, and barely sweet.

The Directions

1. Get Ready. Prepare dinner dinner the bacon, hard-boil the eggs, and soak the crimson onion.

2. Make the Dressing. It’ll be thick and creamy.

3. Layer the Greens. They make the up to date base.

4. Add Some Shade. Tomatoes and crimson onions add a fairly stripe.

5. Layer the Peas and Eggs. It’s lookin’ purty!

6. Smear the Dressing Over the Excessive. It’ll be a thick layer.
7. Add the Good Stuff. Bacon and shredded cheese.

7. Chill. For in any case 1 hour. Then ENJOY!

Make It in Advance

As a lot as 1 day prematurely, arduous boil the eggs (I desire to make Quick Pot Boiled Eggs), cook dinner dinner the bacon, and soak/chop the crimson onion. It’s possible you’ll as effectively chop the tomatoes and romaine and shred the cheddar cheese. Refrigerate each ingredient until you’re ready to finish the recipe.

What to Serve with 7 Layer Salad

Recipe Concepts and Ideas

• Play Spherical. Use this recipe as a starting point and be at liberty to swap in numerous greens (or do larger than 7 layers!). For example, you’ll be able to do a 7 layer salad with cauliflower florets, broccoli, celery, cucumber, corn, crimson bell peppers, and even avocado!
• Get that Bacon Crispy. You want it in order so as to add some good crunch. See Baked Bacon throughout the Oven and Air Fryer Bacon for easy methods to cook dinner dinner good, crispy bacon.
• Don’t Skip the Eggs and Bacon. Sadly, I wouldn’t recommend making this a vegan or vegetarian 7 layer salad, as a result of the bacon and arduous boiled eggs are literally what make the salad type its best.
• Make It With Ranch. I really feel ranch dressing by itself could possibly be too skinny for a seven layer salad, which needs a dressing thick ample to face as its private layer with out dripping into the leaves. If you’d like a ranch mannequin, use this Greek Yogurt Ranch Dip for the dressing, or stir a tablespoon or two from a packet of ranch seasoning into Greek yogurt or bitter cream and use it as a result of the dressing.

Additional Crowd-Pleasing Salads