Classic Seven-Layer Salad makes a stunning presentation in a trifle dish. Layer after layer of crunchy vegetables topped with a creamy dressing, bacon, and cheddar cheese.
This Seven-Layer Salad makes a delicious offering for summer potlucks and picnics. The whole thing can easily be made a day in advance.
Make it in a trifle bowl or large glass bowl for a stunning presentation.
Layers of chopped Romaine lettuce, grape tomatoes, cucumber, cauliflower, peas, red onion, and hard boiled egg are topped with a creamy homemade Parmesan dressing, shredded cheddar cheese, and crumbled bacon.
To me it is the peas that really make it a Seven Layer Salad. They are my favorite part.
But feel free to change up the layers to suit your tastes and put them in any order you like. Red bell pepper, sliced mushrooms, and shredded carrots also work well.
The dressing is a mixture of mayonnaise, sour cream, and Parmesan cheese with a little sugar. It is super creamy and thick, but once mixed into the salad, it will be just the right consistency.
I love that Seven-Layer Salad has lots of good healthy stuff, but it also has lots of really yummy stuff- the cheese, bacon, and a creamy dressing- that make it taste like a comfort food. I always want to go back for seconds.
And since everything is in separate layers, you can scoop out more of the healthy stuff underneath and just a little of the not so healthy stuff on top if you want.
Seven Layer Salads have been a big popular since the 70s and they’re still a big hit wherever you take them!
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Try These Other Layer Salads:
- Italian Layer Salad
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Layer Salad
- Layered Taco Salad
- Barbecue-Ranch Cornbread Salad
Watch the video below to see how easy this recipe is to make.
Seven-Layer Salad
Ingredients
- 5 cups chopped Romaine lettuce
- 1 container grape tomatoes, quartered
- 1 large cucumber, chopped
- 2 cups cauliflower florets, in small pieces
- 1 (12-ounce) package frozen peas, thawed
- 1 small red onion, chopped
- 4 hard-boiled eggs, sliced
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese
- 2 green onions. sliced
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 12 ounces bacon, chopped and cooked until crispy
Instructions
- In a trifle bowl or large glass bowl, layer the lettuce followed by the grape tomatoes, cucumber, cauliflower, peas, red onion, and hard-boiled egg.
- Mix together mayonnaise, sour cream, Parmesan cheese, green onion, sugar, and black pepper in a bowl and spread on top of salad.
- Sprinkle cheddar cheese and crumbled bacon on top. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 8 hours before serving.
Nutrition
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Originally published August 8, 2016.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
Don’t worry about price of veggies. Put whatever you have. I have put garbanzo beans, pickled and regular beets, pintos, olives, just whatever I have on hand, and every bit is eaten! I make I even clean out my fridge and make and it is eaten!
The ingredients all look great! But I never understood seven layer salads in trifle bowls? Do you ever get all the way down to the bottom ingredients? I think I will mix this up and serve it like a regular salad. IMO trifle salads are more for show.
I’ve made this 2-year’s running for our Thanksgiving pitchin. Using mostly organic vegetables and homemade mayonnaise, it is a hit with virtually everyone. Enjoy!
I took the salad to book club and everyone seemed to enjoy it. It really looked pretty in my trifle bowl, but I am wondering if my bowl might be a little smaller than some. I was not able to fit in the cheddar cheese, and had to cut back on the bacon. I will adjust the amounts next time. I would also add that be sure and set aside quite a bit of time to make this salad. By the time you boil the eggs, fry the bacon, and cut up all the veggies, it is pretty time consuming.
I agree, also very expensive. I spent thirty dollars on all the ingredients. Would have been just as good with less ingredients.
Everyone loved this, will do this again!!
Love the addition of cauliflower!
Not really. I put dressing on each layer I do and it works well. Only I do layers will all ingredients makes a nice salad for sure
Does the dressing make it to the bottom veggies?
No. That is why there is no reason, other than appearance, to make a salad in a trifle bowl. Plus you never get to the stuff at the bottom. I was instructed to make this for a friend’s party, but I will never do this again for myself. Also very expensive salad.
My extended family requests that I make this any time we get together. It’s always a favorite. I make some tweaks. Instead of cauliflower, I use carrots. I also add some red wine vinegar and Tony Sachere’s to the dressing. Just about a teaspoon but I taste it to be sure it’s right. My favorite for potlucks and parties!
I tried it for a party. It was the first dish gone. Even the kids wanted seconds. Doing again for my next party!
LOVE everything about this…
This looks wonderful , light and fresh!
This was a hit on Easter! I doubled the recipe, and still ran out. I will be making this seven layer salad, from now on.
Southern style. Good but not my favorite. Grandma’s was the best.
Would you share her recipe?
gerry_z72469gmail.com
Salads are relatively easy to make and are healthy as well. The colorful layer in this recipe caught my eye. Can’t wait to try it.
Those layers. That bacon. Creamy dressing. Ahhhhhh…
I have a feeling everyone would gravitate toward this at a party, especially with all that wonderful bacon on top. Yum!
This is such a gorgeous salad. Not only is it impressive to look at with the colors and layers, it’s totally delicious with everything you’d want to eat all in that gorgeous trifle bowl. PS – I’m happy you didn’t skimp on the bacon! ; )
I’ve never made a seven layer salad before, though I’ve always wanted to. This looks absolutely perfect, Christin! What a showstopper dish for parties!
Everyone needs a good 7 layer salad recipe! I love that you put yours in a trifle dish, it is so pretty!
Oh, all those layers! This salad looks delicious, Christin, all the way from the bottom to that creamy dressing and bacon on top! I love adding peas in my salad when I’m at a salad bar too — there’s just something about them!