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Classic Make-Ahead 7 Layer Salad

A tall, layered 7 layer salad in a clear glass bowl topped with bacon, cheese, celery, and peas.
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Prepare this classic 7 layer salad ahead of time for your next gathering. It features crisp lettuce, sweet peas, hard-boiled eggs, sharp cheddar cheese, bacon, and a creamy dressing, layered beautifully in a glass bowl.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 head iceberg lettuce, chopped
  • 1 cup frozen green peas, thawed
  • 4 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
  • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • 1 cup chopped celery
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons white vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  1. Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, white vinegar, sugar, salt, and black pepper until smooth. Set aside.
  2. Prepare the layers: Ensure the peas are thawed and drained well. Chop the eggs and shred the cheese. Cook the bacon until crisp, drain the grease, and crumble it.
  3. Assemble the salad in a large, clear glass bowl to show the layers. Start with the lettuce as the base layer.
  4. Add the next layer of thawed peas evenly over the lettuce.
  5. Place the chopped hard-boiled eggs over the peas.
  6. Add the shredded cheddar cheese as the fourth layer.
  7. Sprinkle the crumbled bacon evenly over the cheese layer.
  8. Add the chopped celery as the sixth layer.
  9. Arrange the halved cherry tomatoes on top as the final layer.
  10. Spread the prepared creamy dressing evenly over the top tomato layer, sealing all the ingredients.
  11. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight, to allow the flavors to meld.
  12. When ready to serve, remove the plastic wrap. You do not need to toss the salad before serving; guests can scoop down through the layers.

Notes

  • Making this salad ahead of time is key; chilling for several hours lets the dressing slightly soften the top layers, improving the texture.
  • If you are making this for a potluck or BBQ, keep the salad chilled until you arrive at the event.
  • For a variation, you can add toasted pecans as an extra layer or sprinkle them on top just before serving.
  • This recipe is a perfect side dish for a crowd at any family gathering.

Nutrition

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