7 Layer Salad – WellPlated.com

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

Why You’ll Love This Traditional Salad Recipe

• Stunner. On the subject of presentation, conventional 7 layer salad is a show-stealer. Each lovely layer stands out.
• Enjoyable and Completely different. Layer salad will not be tossed; company use lengthy tongs to succeed in down by way of the salad from the highest and seize a few of each layer. It’s surprising and pleasant.
• Make-Forward Pleasant. 7 layer salad might be made the night time earlier than, so it’s very best for entertaining.
• Retro (in a Good Approach). When you grew up within the Midwest, seeing a “salad” that comprises extra bacon, eggs, cheese, and mayo than precise greens in all probability received’t shock you (proper this technique to Wholesome Potato Salad, Ramen Salad, and Shrimp Pasta Salad for those who please). It’s a nostalgic throwback that hits the spot!

About This 7 Layer Salad Recipe

Seven-layer salad is a well-liked potluck and picnic dish, however what constitutes every of the seven layers varies. In reality, even “conventional” sources for a layered salad recipe (Kraft, Betty Crocker, Pioneer Girl) don’t fully agree.

Right here’s my tackle this recipe:

• I swapped the iceberg lettuce for extra flavorful and nutritious romaine.
• I added further veggies for colour and crunch.
• The normally bland dressing is amped up with Parmesan and garlic.
• As a substitute of mayo (or Miracle Whip) and sugar within the dressing, I used Greek yogurt and honey.
• I lower down on the bacon just a little. The unique requires a full pound, which (belief me, I by no means thought I’d say this) actually was an excessive amount of. It disrupted the concord of the opposite substances.
• For cheese, this recipe opts for an additional sharp cheddar. You will get away with much less however nonetheless have the full-on style impact.

Easy methods to Make 7 Layer Salad

The Elements

• Romaine. Crisp, cool, and durable, romaine is the perfect alternative for this salad. Its texture can stand as much as the hefty load of different substances and received’t turn out to be soggy as shortly.
• Bacon. Crispy, smoky bacon is a must have part of this salad. Bacon additionally helps make this salad extra filling. You can also swap the bacon for diced ham for the same impact.
• Onerous Boiled Eggs. A creamy complement to the crispy bacon. The eggs add wealthy taste, protein, and wholesome fat.
• Pink Onion. Soaking the crimson onion in water first removes its harshness, leaving only a trace of chunk. You too can swap inexperienced onions, no have to soak.
• Tomatoes. Juicy cherry tomatoes add a beautiful sweetness to the salad and style incredible with the eggs and bacon.
• Frozen Peas. A straightforward approach so as to add extra veggies. Whereas not everybody loves inexperienced peas in salad, right here they work.
• Further Sharp Cheddar Cheese. The daring, tacky taste of additional sharp cheddar doesn’t get misplaced amongst the opposite substances.
• Greek Yogurt Dressing. A easy mixture of Greek yogurt, Parmesan, honey (my swap for white sugar), apple cider vinegar, salt, and garlic powder. It’s creamy, tacky, tangy, salty, and just a little candy.

The Instructions

1. Get Prepared. Cook dinner the bacon, hard-boil the eggs, and soak the crimson onion.

2. Make the Dressing. It is going to be thick and creamy.

3. Layer the Greens. They make the recent base.

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

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

6. Smear the Dressing Over the High. It is going to be a thick layer.
7. Add the Good Stuff. Bacon and shredded cheese.

7. Chill. For no less than 1 hour. Then ENJOY!

Make It in Advance

As much as 1 day upfront, exhausting boil the eggs (I prefer to make Immediate Pot Boiled Eggs), cook dinner the bacon, and soak/chop the crimson onion. You too can chop the tomatoes and romaine and shred the cheddar cheese. Refrigerate every ingredient till you’re prepared to complete the recipe.

What to Serve with 7 Layer Salad

Recipe Ideas and Tips

• Play Round. Use this recipe as a place to begin and be at liberty to swap in different greens (or do greater than 7 layers!). For instance, you are 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 need it so as to add some good crunch. See Baked Bacon within the Oven and Air Fryer Bacon for straightforward strategies to cook dinner good, crispy bacon.
• Don’t Skip the Eggs and Bacon. Sadly, I wouldn’t advocate making this a vegan or vegetarian 7 layer salad, because the bacon and exhausting boiled eggs are actually what make the salad style its finest.
• Make It With Ranch. I believe ranch dressing by itself could be too skinny for a seven layer salad, which wants a dressing thick sufficient to face as its personal layer with out dripping into the leaves. When you’d like a ranch model, 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 because the dressing.