7 Layer Salad Recipe – A Classic Summer Side Dish Recipe

If it is too hot to cook or if you are looking for a classic side dish to serve at your next picnic, potluck or barbecue then this 7 Layer Salad is your answer! A cool and crispy salad stacked with layers of your favorite ingredients and then topped with a sweet and tangy dressing.

It has become a crowd favorite recipe that is requested over and over again, especially in the summer months. Best of all the only cooking required is to make hard boiled eggs and crisp up some bacon.

And fortunately, you can do that ahead of time or buy them already cooked at the grocery store.

So next time you are looking for an easy to prepare picnic side dish recipe that everyone will love, be sure to turn to this classic summertime side dish recipe!

Seven Layer Salad Recipe

*Specific measurements and complete recipe instructions are located in a printable recipe card at the bottom of this article. However, be sure to continue to read the tips and tricks to making this recipe below.

Ingredients

• 3/4 head iceberg lettuce, outer leaves and core removed
• 2 medium tomatoes, diced into bite size pieces
• 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
• 4 hard boiled eggs, chopped
• 3/4 cup thinly sliced onions
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 6 slices bacon cooked crisp and crumbled, divided
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• salt and pepper, to taste
• cayenne pepper, optional

Instructions

Before you begin making your 7 layer salad you must first find a bowl that is big enough to hold all of the ingredients. This salad is rather large so you must have at least a 3.5 quart bowl or larger.

Although you could use a plastic or stainless steel mixing bowl, ideally you will want to use a glass bowl. (See product affiliate link: Glass Salad Bowl). The reason behind the glass bowl is solely because you want to see the beautiful layers of the salad from the outside of the dish.

Lettuce

Once you have determined which bowl to use begin to prepare the salad by washing and chopping the lettuce in bite size pieces. Then add it to the bottom of the bowl in an even layer.

Tomatoes

Next core and slice the tomatoes into bite size strips. Place the cut tomatoes on top of the tomatoes, being sure to line the edge of bowl first. Then put the remaining tomatoes in the center of the bowl.

Peas

The third ingredient in a 7 layer salad consists of frozen peas that have been thawed. Carefully arrange the peas on top of the tomatoes, filling the outer edge first.

Hard Boiled Eggs

Next comes the hard boiled eggs. If you have difficulty making hard boiled eggs that peel perfectly, be sure to read The Perfect Way To Boil An Egg, which also includes how long to boil farm fresh eggs.

However, if you have an Instant Pot, you can also make your hard boiled eggs with these instructions: Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs. They peel perfectly every time!

After your eggs are hard boiled, peel and then dice them into small pieces. To make easy work of this process, I pull out my egg slicer to do the job.

First I slice the egg in one direction. Then I rotate the egg and slice it in the other direction. In just a few seconds your egg is diced perfectly!

Once the eggs are diced, arrange them on top of the pea layer. Again, be sure to stack the outer layer first before filling in the center of the bowl.

Red Onions

The next layer consists of sliced red onions. Although you could use a white or yellow onion, the red onions provide a beautiful splash of color in your 7 layer salad.

Simply peel the outer layers of the onion and cut it in half. Then place the onion cut side down and use a sharp knife to make thin slices that are in the shape of a half moon.

Place the slices of onions on top of diced hard boiled eggs.

Bacon

Next add 75% of the cooked and diced bacon on top of the onions. The remaining bacon will be used for garnish on top of the salad.

You can use real bacon bits instead of cooking and crumbling bacon. Just be sure to not use the imitation bacon bits (the ones that are red in color).

Cheese

Now it is time to add the final layer, shredded cheddar cheese! Sprinkle the cheese around the top edge of the bowl and then add the remaining cheese in the center.

Now that you have assembled your 7 layer salad it is time to make the dressing. In a medium bowl, add the mayonnaise, sour cream, sugar and a pinch of cayenne pepper (if using) and then stir well.

Spread the mixture over the top of the salad “sealing” it all the way to the edge of the bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours and for up to two days. 

Before serving sprinkle the reserved crumbled bacon on top.

Other Delicious Summer Time Side Dish Recipes

In addition to this 7 Layer Salad, here are some of my favorite side dish recipes to make for backyard barbecues, picnics and pot lucks:

• Zesty Italian Pasta Salad
• Amish Potato Salad
• Dill Pickle Potato Salad
• Instant Pot Potato Salad
• BLT Potato Salad
• BLT Pasta Salad
• Creamy Broccoli Salad
• Cold Ramen Noodle Salad
• Wild Rice Salad 
• Easy Caprese Salad (with cherry tomatoes)
• Cucumber, Onion & Tomato Salad
• Leftover Hamburger Taco Salad
• Doritos Taco Salad
• Southwestern Potato Salad

Enjoy! Mary

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