Seven Layer Salad is a delicious layered pea salad. This classic recipe has been around for generations. It’s delicious, fresh and best of all cold—perfect for summer! This salad is colorful, crunchy and creamy. It’s the perfect recipe for any warm weather gathering. The 7 Layer Salad is my favorite summer side dish.
More Summer recipes: Tomato Burrata, The Best Fruit Salad, Chicken Salad, Deviled Eggs, Healthy Grain Bowls, Tom Collins, Mojito, Agua Fresca
Ingredients in 7 Layer Salad
- Iceberg Lettuce – This is the base layer of the salad and adds a nice crunchy texture.
- Frozen Peas – You can add your peas to the salad when they are half thawed.
- Hard Boiled Eggs – I love hard boiled eggs as an addition to this salad—they add so much!
- Cheddar Cheese – Shredded sharp cheddar cheese is so delicious in this salad. Alternatively, you can add cubed cheese, but make sure you chop it small.
- Red Onions – To me, no salad is complete without some onion.
- Crispy Bacon – This makes the salad a grand slam. Feel free to substitute for turkey bacon or vegan bacon if you like.
- Homemade Dressing – You will whip up a quick dressing made of mayonnaise, sour cream, sugar, apple cider vinegar, salt and pepper.
There is some debate about which seven ingredients create the seven layers, so customize it to your personal tastes! Other optional layers are halved cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, green onions, celery, romaine lettuce, cucumbers or red bell peppers. I also think chopped up chicken is a very good idea. Feel free to customize the layers to your personal taste.
How to assemble 7 Layer Salad
The 7 Layer Salad must be served in a glass bowl so you can see all the layers. It’s a very visually pleasing salad. I chose this glass bowl because it shows the layers really well. A trifle bowl is a great option as well. The salad is meant to be served without mixing the layers, so people can scoop straight down and get a scoop of all the layers.
Prep your ingredients by mixing up the dressing (instructions below), cooking the bacon and eggs and chopping all the ingredients.
To assemble your salad, begin by adding one layer at a time to your glass bowl. I went in this order: lettuce, onion, peas, hard boiled eggs, dressing, shredded cheese and bacon.
7 Layer Salad Dressing
In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, sugar, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper until well combined. The dressing should be smooth and creamy. If you want to add a bit of texture to your dressing, you can add half a cup of parmesan cheese.
Cover the bowl and refrigerate the dressing while you prepare the rest of the salad. Chilling the dressing helps the flavors meld together.
How far ahead can I make this salad?
The ideal time to make this salad is 1-2 hours before serving, but you can do as much as the night before. Seal it until you are ready to serve.
Tips for Making
- Choose a glass bowl, so you can see the seven layers.
- Customize the dressing according to your taste. If you prefer a tangier flavor, increase the amount of apple cider vinegar. You can also add a dash of hot sauce for some heat.
- If you’re serving the salad at a party or potluck, consider providing a small label or note next to the bowl, listing the layers. This way, guests can see and appreciate each ingredient that goes into the salad.
- Grab your picnic blanket, this is a perfect recipe for a meal outdoors!
- Miracle Whip can be subbed for mayo if you are a fan. I personally will stay loyal to the mayo version.
- Leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for up to two days. However, the salad is best enjoyed on the day it’s made.
Serving Suggestions/Goes Great With
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the history of a 7 Layer Salad?
The 7 Layer Salad is a southern recipe from the 1950s. Although the recipe has had many variations, the basic concept has remained the same.
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Ingredients
- 1 head iceberg lettuce (chopped )
- 10 ounces frozen peas (1 bag )
- 10 ounces cheddar cheese (shredded )
- 1 red onion (chopped )
- 6 hard boiled eggs (chopped )
- ½ pound bacon (cooked and crumbled )
- 1 cup mayonaise
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- The 7 Layer Salad must be served in a glass bowl so you can see all the layers. It’s a very visually pleasing salad. I chose this glass bowl because it shows the layers really well. The salad is meant to be served without mixing the layers, so people can scoop straight down and get a scoop of all the layers.
- Prep your ingredients by mixing up the dressing (instructions below), cooking the bacon and eggs and chopping all the ingredients.
- To assemble your salad, begin by adding one layer at a time to your glass bowl. I went in this order: lettuce, onion, peas, hard boiled eggs, dressing, shredded cheese and bacon.
- Dressing – In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, sugar, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper until well combined. The dressing should be smooth and creamy. Cover the bowl and refrigerate the dressing while you prepare the rest of the salad. Chilling the dressing helps the flavors meld together.
Notes
- Choose a glass bowl, so you can see the seven layers.
- Customize the dressing according to your taste. If you prefer a tangier flavor, increase the amount of apple cider vinegar. You can also add a dash of hot sauce for some heat.
- If you’re serving the salad at a party or potluck, consider providing a small label or note next to the bowl, listing the layers. This way, guests can see and appreciate each ingredient that goes into the salad.
- Grab your picnic blanket, this is a perfect recipe for a meal outdoors!
- Leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for up to two days. However, the salad is best enjoyed on the day it’s made.
Nutrition
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
YES! I’ve made many a 7 layer salad, but this one was well received by the party goers..I will def make this one again.
Thanks for the post!
Can you use fresh raw peas?
Yes
I made this for our 4th of July celebration today. This is the 4th time in the past year that I have put this salad together for family and friends. It gets rave reviews every time and now, it’s expected that I will make it! Just a note: I put the dressing on the side because 1. I put in extra lettuce (and probably extra bacon and cheese!!) so I don’t have room for the dressing and 2. People want different amounts of dressing, especially the dieters. I make the dressing ahead of time, so it still has time to do “its thing.” I also use reduced fat mayo and Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. No complaints from anyone here!
I watched my grandmother make this retro dish in early 1970’s. I climbed up onto a dining room chair and strained to see what she was doing. The adults sent me to fetch a couple phonebooks to stack up so I could sit, properly perched, at the top of that teetering tower. Grandmother rinsed her paper thin slices of onion in water and shook them out a bit before placing in a glass refrigerator ware dish and covered those onion slices in 7-Up. I wanted to drink some 7Up. I was a baby with few words. The soda was for the onions so they wouldn’t bite us. I was shocked. Onions bite? Not if soaked in 7Up in the fridge for a while. And such memories brought me to search out this actual recipe. And it was all that. Thxx.
This got rave reviews. Absolutely perfect!
When do i put on the dressin?
I recommend after hardboiled eggs, before cheese. But you could add the dressing layer in a number of places.
Recipe says it is the 5th layer.
Looks like a great recipe I been looking for. I’m making for New Years Eve. Happy new year 2026
This is exactly what I was looking for. Can’t wait to make it.
Peas in salad is such a good idea.
I made this recipe last night for a family gathering. It was quick and easy to put together and a huge hit!
Thanks for posting this. I love this salad. The recipe I’ve used for years also has a layer of sliced water chestnuts. I’m going to make this recipe, the dressing sounds delicious!
Love it!
This is my first time making this salad, although I do remember it as a kid. It looks fantastic. I’m making it for a group, so hopefully it will go over big. Thank you
I remember having this as a kid at Christmas and Thanksgiving, but it was always missing something. THIS recipe however is not. I have loved serving this the past two years along with your tater tot casserole, my Grandma Outlaw’s Christmas punch and the ambrosia salad! So nostalgic!
I’m gonna need more info on that Grandma Outlaw’s Christmas Punch. If you please.
This looks yummy and fun to make!! I’m thinking about an 8th layer…of slightly crumbled tortilla chips on top..am I crazy? Don’t really care 🤣
I am excited to try this showstopper at our next gathering.
Made this last weekend. We’re a vegetarian family so I swapped bacon for pinto beans. Delicious!
OoO MUSICAL FRUIT !! there’s something to try asap!
Tried this yesterday and it is delicious!
How did I forget about 7 layer salad? Such a perfect, easy, showstopper to bring to a gathering!