Seven Layer Salad

Name: Seven Layer Salad
Prep time: 20 min
Ingredients: 4 cups iceberg salad, chopped; 1 ½ cups red onions, diced; 2 cups frozen peas, thawed; 6 large hard-boiled eggs, cooled, peeled and chopped; 1 ½ cups red peppers, diced; ½ cup Miracle Whip; ½ cup mayonnaise (see Recipe); ½ cup sour cream; 2 tbsp. powdered sugar; 1 tbsp. hot sauce such as Cholula; ½ tsp. ground Himalayan pink salt; ½ tsp. freshly ground mixed peppercorns; 2 cups shard Cheddar cheese, grated; 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled; ½ cup green onions, sliced

Author: Francine Lizotte

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Posted on Jul 28th, 2026

by Francine Lizotte

Summer is when people entertain and gather the most. There are backyard parties where everyone brings potluck dishes, family and friends coming together for picnics, boating 🚤 for a day or a weekend, etc. It’s a fun time!

One of the most popular items found on tables is salad 🥗! It can be potato salad, pasta salad, vegetable salad, fruit salad, and others. There’s a specific recipe that is often requested by our family and friends, and it’s my Seven Layer Salad!

This is totally an OMG 🤯! Super quick and easy to make, this salad is loaded with deliciousness! With seven distinctive layers, it can be served as a side dish or as a light meal. It also pairs very well with many grilled foods. This is perfect for a big crowd and can be made ahead without getting soggy!

Originating in the Midwest and Southern part of the States during the ‘50s, this Seven Layer Salad was a staple for many events such as church dinners, summer barbecues 🔥, and holidays. Its visual presentation is simply gorgeous, with many layers of yumminess.

The best dish to serve it in is a glass trifle bowl to display the colorful layers. Mine is 8 inches in diameter by 5 inches tall (4 quarts/16 cups). If you’re using a bigger one, I suggest adjusting the ingredient amounts 🧮 accordingly.

Assembling the salad is pretty straightforward. The chopped 🔪 iceberg lettuce goes first, followed by red onions, green peas, hard-boiled eggs, and bell peppers. The dressing is poured on top before finishing with the toppings.

Iceberg lettuce is the chosen one, as it stays crisp, holds up under toppings, and gives a nice, neutral crunch. It also lasts longer without wilting, which makes it ideal to prepare 👩‍🍳👨‍🍳 the salad ahead of time for potlucks and parties.

Raw red onions 🧅 provide a sharp bite to the dish, cutting through the richness from the dressing and cheese. They also bring a vibrant pop of color! On the other hand, they can be harsh in taste, and here’s a cool tip to tame their bitterness… How to Remove Bitterness from Onions

The green peas come right after, with their natural sweetness, which helps balance the flavor from the raw onions and the saltiness 🧂 from the Cheddar cheese and the bacon. I use the frozen ones, not the canned, because they stay firm, giving that burst of freshness!

There are a few ways to thaw them out…
– The one I prefer is to let them sit in a bowl of cold water for 15 to 20 minutes ⏳. Next, drain them very well and pat them dry otherwise, they can ruin the salad.
– Another method is to place them in a colander and let the cold water 💦 run over them, tossing until they’re no longer frozen. Drain thoroughly before patting them dry.
– The last method my aunts used is to put the frozen peas in a bowl, cover them, and allow them to sit in the fridge overnight 🌛. When ready to assemble, drain and pat them dry.

These three methods are the proper way to do it, although I’ve never used the refrigerator one. Do not 🚫 boil them or use the microwave, as they will get mushy, which is exactly the opposite of the desired results you want to achieve.

Hard-boiled eggs 🥚 are added on top of the peas. They provide that lovely creamy texture as well as hearty, good protein. I like chopping mine, but slicing is another option. If you’re not certain how to boil them properly, here’s the link… Hard-Boiled Eggs • Perfect Every Time!

The last layer before the dressing is bell peppers. Using red (or a mix of red-yellow-orange) gives that bright color. My aunts were using tomatoes 🍅, which had a shorter shelf life compared to bell peppers. Because of their high-water content, they made the salad soggy.

The dressing is also pretty easy to whip together. I use a mix of Miracle Whip (here come the eyes rolling) and mayonnaise. In September, I’ll be posting a great article comparing these two, so you might want to check it out 👀.

There’s powdered sugar that goes in the mixture instead of granulated sugar for two simple reasons: it dissolves 🥄 right away without leaving a grainy texture in the dressing. Hot sauce also goes in, as it cuts through the richness while giving a mild kick in the background.

Last but not least are the final three ingredients: sharp Cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon, and green onions. Yellow cheese 🧀 gives that vibrant, bright color as opposed to white. Bacon is a no-brainer; everything tastes better with bacon. With its mild taste, the green onions give that nice finishing touch.

Extremely delicious and visually appealing, this Seven Layer Salad is perfect for you gathering! It makes a beautiful centerpiece for any event. This classic recipe is so tasty and refreshing! With all its fresh ingredients this is summer 🌞🌴 in a bowl!
Bon Appétit! 🍽

Check out these other incredible salad recipes… 😀
– Mexican Chicken Salad
– Salade Niçoise
– Best Panzanella Salad
– Cantaloupe Cucumber Salad
– Pittsburgh Steak Salad
– Moroccan Potato Salad
– Salade Lyonnaise ~ Lyonnaise Salad
– Greek Tuna Pasta Salad
– Grilled Shrimp Summer Salad
and for even more salad recipes 🥗, click on this link… Recipe Category • Salads & Dressings

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