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colorful classic 7 layer salad in a clear glass trifle bowl

Classic 7-Layer Salad Recipe

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The classic 7 layer salad traces its roots to Southern church potluck culture of the 1950s, where it appeared regularly in community cookbooks under the name “seven-layer pea salad.” Crisp iceberg lettuce forms the base, topped with sweet frozen peas, sliced hard-boiled eggs, red bell pepper, red onion, sharp cheddar cheese, and a sealed mayonnaise dressing layer, finished with crumbled crispy bacon. Built entirely the night before, it’s a make-ahead layered salad designed for large gatherings, with a creamy dressing that seals the layers during overnight chilling so the whole salad arrives at the table vivid, cold, and completely undisturbed.

  • Total Time: 8 Hours, 40 Minutes
  • Yield: 12 Servings 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale
Salad Layers:
  • 1 large head iceberg lettuce, cored and roughly chopped
  • 1/2 medium red onion, sliced
  • 1 red pepper, chopped
  • 5-6 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and sliced
  • 1 1/2 cups frozen peas
  • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1/2-1 pound bacon, cooked crispy and crumbled
Dressing:
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1-2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1-2 teaspoons white vinegar
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Prep your station and cook your components
    Hard boil the eggs and cook the bacon before you do anything else. For the eggs, place them in a single layer in a saucepan, cover with cold water by one inch, and bring to a full boil. Remove from heat, cover, and let sit for 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer immediately to an ice bath to stop cooking, then peel and slice.
    For the bacon: cook in a skillet over medium heat until genuinely crispy, not just cooked through. Drain on a paper towel and let it cool completely before crumbling.
  2. Step 2: Dry your lettuce completely
    Rinse the iceberg lettuce, then spin it thoroughly in a salad spinner. Spread the leaves on paper towels for 5 minutes and blot to release any remaining surface moisture, then chop into bite-sized pieces. You want the lettuce fully dry before it goes into the bowl.
  3. Step 3: Mix the dressing
    Combine the mayonnaise, grated Parmesan, sugar, vinegar, and garlic powder in a small bowl. Whisk until smooth. Taste and adjust salt and black pepper to your preference. The dressing should be thick enough to hold its shape when you spread it; if it seems thin, refrigerate it for 15 minutes before using.
  4. Step 4: Build the layers in order
    Set your large clear glass bowl or trifle dish on a flat, stable surface. Add each layer in this order, using a light hand so you don’t pack the layers down too firmly:
    + Chopped iceberg lettuce, lightly salted
    + Chopped red bell pepper
    + Frozen peas, added straight from the bag
    + Sliced hard-boiled eggs
    + Thinly sliced red onion (or green onions)
    + Shredded sharp cheddar cheese
    Take a moment after the cheese layer to look at the bowl from the side. You want to see distinct, even stripes of color from the outside of the glass. If the layers are mixing together, you’re adding too much at once. Go slower on your next attempt and the visual payoff is significant.
  5. Step 5: Seal with the dressing, then add the bacon
    Spoon the creamy dressing over the top of the cheese layer and spread it evenly all the way to the edges of the bowl using the back of a large spoon or an offset spatula. Full edge-to-edge coverage is important; any exposed cheese or vegetable below will lose color and texture overnight. Once the dressing is spread, scatter the crumbled crispy bacon evenly across the top. Press the bacon gently into the dressing surface so it doesn’t shift during refrigeration.
  6. Step 6: Cover and refrigerate overnight
    If your trifle bowl has a lid, great! Otherwise, stretch plastic wrap tightly across the top of the bowl, pressing it directly against the surface of the bacon so there’s minimal air contact. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours; overnight gives you the best results.

Find it online: https://recipe-rewind.com/classic-7-layer-salad/

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