• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
A Fork's Tale
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Reviews
  • Projects
  • About Me
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • Reviews
  • About Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Subscribe
    • Reviews
    • About Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Salad

    Seven Layer Salad-Traditional Recipe

    February 8, 2022 Updated: May 26, 2023 By Katie Crenshaw 15 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
    This seven layer salad combines lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, green peas, boiled eggs, homemade dressing, cheddar cheese, and bacon for a delicious side dish. It is a favorite make-ahead dish for potlucks and cookouts. #sevenlayersalad #salad #layersalad
    This seven layer salad combines lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, green peas, boiled eggs, homemade dressing, cheddar cheese, and bacon for a delicious side dish. It is a favorite make-ahead dish for potlucks and cookouts. #sevenlayersalad #salad #layersalad
    This seven layer salad combines lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, green peas, boiled eggs, homemade dressing, cheddar cheese, and bacon for a delicious side dish. It is a favorite make-ahead dish for potlucks and cookouts. #sevenlayersalad #salad #layersalad
    This seven layer salad combines lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, green peas, boiled eggs, homemade dressing, cheddar cheese, and bacon for a delicious side dish. It is a favorite make-ahead dish for potlucks and cookouts. #sevenlayersalad #salad #layersalad
    This seven layer salad combines lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, green peas, boiled eggs, homemade dressing, cheddar cheese, and bacon for a delicious side dish. It is a favorite make-ahead dish for potlucks and cookouts. #sevenlayersalad #salad #layersalad

    This traditional seven layer salad combines lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, green peas, boiled eggs, homemade dressing, cheddar cheese, and bacon for a delicious side dish.

    It is a favorite make-ahead dish for potlucks and cookouts.

    layer salad in a clear glass bowl on a checkered napkin with wooden spoon to the side

    When I had my first Seven Layer Salad I couldn't believe how much I loved it.

    It was one of those things I never had as a child and wondered, "Where the heck has this salad been all my life?"

    It had bacon, cheese, tomatoes, and PEAS!?!

    The thought of peas in a seven layered salad threw me for a loop.

    However, the sweetness of the peas really compliment the seven layered salad mixture and I was surprised that I liked them in the salad.

    So if you are not a big pea person yourself, don't knock it until you try it.

    Peas are a key ingredient that balances the flavors of the layers.

    Watch how to make

    Layered salad is one of my favorite salads for parties.

    I also will make a batch to go with dinner and eat the leftovers for lunch the next day.

    The salad really is delicious.

    ingredients for seven layer salad-lettuce, onion, peas, tomatoes, cheese, bacon, eggs, mayonnaise, sugar

    Ingredients

    You will need the following ingredients to make seven layer salad.

    • Lettuce- Traditionally Iceberg lettuce is used. You can mix in spinach or Romain for a little extra flavor.
    • Red Onion- I like red onion for this recipe, but you can substitute with green onion.
    • Tomatoes- Tomatoes taste beautiful with bacon and mayonnaise. For this reason, I like tomatoes best in this salad. However other recipes have substituted tomatoes with chopped bell pepper, cauliflower, or celery. You can use what you like best. They are all delicious in this.
    • Frozen Peas-Please, please, please do not use canned peas in this salad. It will not be the same. The canned peas will be too mushy. Use thawed frozen peas.
    • Boiled Eggs
    • Bacon- I prefer fresh cooked bacon. If you substitute with precooked bacon, do not use imitation bacon bits. You must use real bacon.
    • Mayonnaise- Do not substitute with fat free mayonnaise or Miracle Whip. You will ruin the salad if you do.
    • Sugar- Sugar makes the dressing. If you are watching your carbs, you can use a sugar-free substitute such as Swerve.

    Note: Mayonnaise and sugar is the traditional dressing recipe. However, it is also delicious if you mix in ½ cup parmesan.

    steps to make seven layer salad

    Steps

    Follow these steps to make the perfect layer salad.

    1. Mix mayonnaise and sugar to make the dressing.
    2. Layer in order lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, and peas.
    3. Cut your hard boiled eggs in half, then slice. Place the sliced eggs to stand against the bowl until they wrap around the entire salad. Chop remaining sliced eggs and layer in the center of the salad.
    4. Layer with dressing, cheese, and bacon.
    Layered Salad

    This post contains affiliate links.You can read my full disclosure here.

    Can you use a 9 x 13 dish?

    You can use a 9 x 13 serving dish for this layer salad.

    You would layer the salad the same way, except you would not need to worry about slicing the eggs. Just chop the eggs and layer them in the salad.

    If you looking for a punch bowl that will hold the entire salad, this 4 quart punch bowl is a great one that will work perfectly.

    Can you make this overnight?

    This salad is sometimes called, "Overnight Salad" because it can be made the night before.

    While you can serve it an hour after making it, is is better to wait at least 4 hours before serving.

    The longer it sits in the refrigerator, the better it is.

    That is why many people make it at night and serve it the next day.

    Do you mix layer salad before serving?

    You do not mix the salad before serving.

    Just use a large, long spoon for serving and carefully scoop out a big helpful with all the tasty layers.

    You are welcome to mix it up on your plate after.

    If you like this Southern recipe, check out these tasty Southern salad recipes:

    • Creamy Southern Potato Salad
    • Corn Pudding Recipe
    • Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad
    • Black Eyed Pea Greek Salad
    • Southern Hoppin' John Recipe
    • Bacon Ranch Potato Salad
    • Tomato Pie
    • Southern Cauliflower Potato Salad
    • Summer Corn Salad
    • Shrimp Salad with Pickled Okra
    • Frito Corn Salad

    Did you like this salad? Please leave me a comment below if you make this and tell me what you thought about it. I would love to hear back, and so would my readers.

    Also post your picture of your salad on Instagram or Facebook, and tag @aforkstale with #aforkstale hashtags! I will share with my followers! xoxo!

    Recipe

    seven layer salad in clear glass punch bowl

    Seven Layer Salad-Traditional Recipe

    This seven layer salad combines lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, green peas, boiled eggs, homemade dressing, cheddar cheese, and bacon for a delicious side dish. It is a favorite make-ahead dish for potlucks and cookouts.
    5 from 28 votes
    Print Pin Save Recipe Saved! Rate
    Course: Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 315kcal
    Author: Katie Crenshaw

    Ingredients

    • 1 head of lettuce chopped
    • 2 tomatoes diced
    • ¾ cup red onion diced
    • ½ package of frozen peas thawed
    • 5 eggs boiled
    • 1 ½ cup mayonnaise
    • 1 pound bacon cooked and crumbled
    • 8 ounces sharp cheddar shredded
    • 1 ½ tablespoon sugar
    • salt and pepper to taste

    Instructions

    • Mix 1 ½ cup mayonnaise and 1 ½ tablespoon sugar to make the dressing.
    • Layer 1 head chopped lettuce, 2 diced tomatoes, ¾ cup diced red onion, and ½ package of thawed frozen green peas.
    • Cut 5 hard boiled eggs in half, then slice. Place the sliced eggs to stand against the bowl until they wrap around the entire salad. Chop remaining sliced eggs and layer in the center of the salad.
    • Evenly spread dressing over the top of the eggs.
    • Layer 8 ounces of shredded cheddar cheese.
    • Layer 1 pound chopped cooked bacon.
    • Cover and place in refrigerator 4 or more hours or overnight.

    Video

    Notes

    Note: Tomatoes taste beautiful with bacon and mayonnaise. For this reason, I like tomatoes best in this salad. However other recipes have substituted tomatoes with chopped bell pepper, cauliflower, or celery. You can use what you like best. They are all delicious in this.
    Note: Mayonnaise and sugar is the traditional dressing recipe. However, it is also delicious if you mix in ½ cup parmesan in the dressing.

    Nutrition- Nutrition info is based on estimation only.

    Calories: 315kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 39mg | Sodium: 458mg | Potassium: 198mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 685IU | Vitamin C: 15.3mg | Calcium: 135mg | Iron: 0.6mg
    Tried this recipe? I want to see it!Mention @aForksTale or tag #aForksTale!

    More Salad

    • Frito Corn Salad in a bowl.
      Frito Corn Salad
    • Italian pasta salad in a brown bowl with spoon out to the side
      Italian Pasta Salad Recipe
    • mediterranean quinoa salad in white bowl
      Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
    • tomato cucumber onion salad in a white bowl
      Tomato Cucumber Onion Salad

    Primary Sidebar

    Katie Crenshaw-A Fork's Tale

    Hi, I'm Katie!

    Thanks for stopping in!! I am a foodie and I LOVE to eat. I am so excited to share my recipes and adventures with you! My recipes are simple and easy for the modern cook.

    More about me →

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure Policy

    Subscribe

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    Katie Crenshaw is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to A Fork's Tale at www.aforkstale.com to Amazon.com.

    creator expertise banner  for a fork's tale

    Copyright © 2020 A Fork's Tale