This overnight 7-layer salad recipe is everyday easy in addition to being party perfect!

Layers of fresh lettuce, veggies, cheese, and bacon are topped with a creamy dressing to make this seven layer salad!

It’s fresh, crunchy, and delicious, a welcome addition to any meal!

finished 7 Layer Salad

What is 7 Layer Salad?

  • A traditional 7-layer salad recipe starts with a base of crisp iceberg lettuce followed by 6 additional layers. We add tomatoes, peas, green onions, hard-boiled eggs, cheese, and bacon with a mayonnaise-based dressing is added in the middle.
  • A little “chill” time (overnight) is recommended making this salad recipe potluck perfect.
  • Prepare it the night before; a seven-layer salad recipe stays crispy until ready to serve even with the dressing on top!
  • Serve it in a pretty trifle bowl or a clear 9×13 dish so everyone can see the delicious layers!
lettuce, mayonnaise, sour cream, bacon, cheese, peas, tomatoes, sugar, hard-boiled eggs, onions, and seasonings with labels to make 7 Layer Salad

What’s in Seven Layer Salad? 

Mix and match the ingredients, I add 7 layers but you can add as many as you’d like to this overnight salad.

Lettuce – Iceberg lettuce will stay extra crunchy due to its high water content, so it’s great in an overnight salad. Wash it first and then dry it very well (I use a salad spinner).

Vegetables – Tomatoes, peas, and sliced green onions add visual interest to a 7 layer salad, but so can chopped celery, sliced radishes, diced bell peppers, sliced mushrooms, shredded zucchini, corn, sundried tomatoes, and even shredded brussels sprouts. This is a great recipe for using up leftover bits of veggies in the fridge.

Bacon & Eggs – Bacon and hard-boiled eggs add texture, color, and a boost of healthy protein. I keep the bacon on the side and sprinkle it on just before serving.

Cheese – Cheddar cheese has a sharp flavor that tastes great with sweet peas and salty bacon. Blue cheese crumbles or parmesan cheese are other excellent options.

adding ingredients together to make dressing for 7 Layer Salad

Dressing for Overnight Salad

This mayo-based sour cream dressing is traditional and it is super easy to make. It’s thicker than a traditional dressing, so it holds up well.

Add in your favorite herbs or ranch-style seasonings to change it up.

adding lettuce to bowl to make 7 Layer Salad
adding tomatoes to bowls to make 7 Layer Salad
adding peas to bowls to make 7 Layer Salad
adding green onions to bowl to make 7 Layer Salad
adding dressing over ingredients to make 7 Layer Salad
adding cheese on top of 7 Layer Salad
adding bacon and green onions to the top of a 7 Layer Salad

How to Make Overnight Salad

  1. Layer lettuce in a casserole dish and top with tomatoes, peas, green onions, and boiled eggs (as per the recipe below).
  2. Spread dressing over the top. Cover and chill. Top with cheese and bacon before serving.

PRO TIP: To make ahead, assemble the salad without the cheese and bacon, then chill. Add the cheese and bacon just before serving.

Storing 7-Layer Salad

Keep leftover 7-layer salad covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The flavors will blend and taste even better the next day!

More Side Salads We Love

Did you make this 7 Layer Salad for a crowd? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!

finished 7 Layer Salad
5 from 36 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
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7 Layer Salad

A delicious medley of layers topped with a creamy homemade dressing and bacon crumbles makes for a colorful and hearty salad!
Pin Review Print
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 12 servings
Author Holly Nilsson

Equipment

1 Trifle Bowl to show layers
Salad Spinner on white background
Salad Spinner

Ingredients  

  • 1 head iceberg lettuce chopped
  • 2 cups tomatoes diced, or sliced cherry tomatoes
  • 2 cups frozen peas defrosted (uncooked)
  • ½ cup green onions or red onions, sliced
  • 8 hard boiled eggs cooled, peeled and chopped
  • 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded
  • 8 slices bacon cooked crisp and crumbled

DRESSING

Instructions 

  • In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise, sour cream, sugar, and seasoned salt for the dressing. Set aside.
  • Wash and dry the lettuce very well. Place lettuce in the bottom of a large trifle bowl (or 9×13 pan).
  • In order, top with tomatoes, peas, green onions, and boiled eggs. Spread the dressing on top right to the edges.
  • Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
  • Top with cheese and bacon before serving.

Video

Notes

  • Feel free to substitute other vegetables for the layers. Options include bell peppers, corn, sliced celery, mushrooms, or radishes, sundried tomatoes or shredded carrots, cabbage, zucchini, or brussels sprouts!
  • To make ahead, assemble all the layers except cheese and bacon, cover, and chill. Just before serving, layer cheese and bacon on top.
Optional Ranch Style Dressing
1 cup mayonnaise
¾ cup sour cream
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
1 tablespoon fresh dill
1 tablespoon fresh parsley
salt & pepper to taste
5 from 36 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 348 | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 165mg | Sodium: 579mg | Potassium: 298mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1124IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 186mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Side Dish
Cuisine American

© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.

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About the author

Holly is a wine and cheese lover, recipe creator, shopping enthusiast and self appointed foodie. Her greatest passion is creating in the kitchen and making deliciously comforting recipes for the everyday home cook!
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Comments

  1. Question: Would having the recipe be suitable for 2 people?

    I grew up having 7 Layer Salad whenever we’d go to any gathering my “aunt” would have. It was 1 of the things she always made and was my sisters favorite. I was pickier then but I love it now. My fiance and I are salad lovers and we adore the sadly & unjustly maligned iceberg salads. They’re not only delicious they are an amazing vehicle for a wide array of healthy veggies and of course pairs perfectly with bacon or cheese! Not to mention it holds up longer than any other lettuce. But I digress…
    He has never had 7 Layer Salad and I’ve always thought it makes a great Easter addition. Unfortunately, most if not all 7 Layer Salad recipes are to feed a large crowd for parties or potlucks (it will only be 2 of us). Mind you we would love leftovers (if they will hold up and not get too soggy) but I just don’t need more than maybe 4 servings.

    Reply

    1. Hi Suzanne! This makes 12 servings so you would really have to scale it back for 2. It does make excellent leftovers though! So maybe I suggest trying to half the recipe. If you try it I would love to hear how it turns out!

      Reply

  5. THIS SALAD IS AWESOME! We love it We also loved your Dorito Taco Salad. My husband adored it. Thanks so much and I lovve your blog!5 stars

    Reply

  7. I’ve always seen (& made) this salad with the dressing on top, and the cheese under the dressing. It’s a terrific salad, and best presented in a Trifle dish.

    Reply

      1. I made it using the same ingredients, but added a layer of sliced mushrooms and a layer of yellow bell pepper and it was great.

  9. We’re having a busy weekend, full of family and fun. I offered to bring salads to two events. I made this one, yesterday, and it was such a hit, that my husband asked me to make it, again, today! This is going into my regular rotation!

    Reply

  11. Congratulations!
    Your recipe is featured on Full Plate Thursday this week. Hope you enjoy your New Red Plate and have a great weekend!
    Miz Helen

    Reply

  12. Your salad is delicious looking. I can see it at a big get-together or for our next barbecue.

    Madonna

    Reply