Seven Layer Salad

Seven Layer Salad makes a beautiful, delicious, old fashioned 7-layer salad with mayonnaise, hickory smoked bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, and other raw vegetables. 

Vary the other vegetables that you like and omit or substitute any in the recipe that you do not like.

The original recipe was called The Seven Layer Pea Salad and contained a lot of green peas.

Make it your way!


If you prefer to eliminate a few extra calories, reduce the amount of sugar and or the mayonnaise in the dressing to suit your taste palette and or lifestyle.

Seven Layer Salad Recipe

• 1 head iceberg lettuce, cored and shredded
  
  
• 1 stalk celery, diced
  
  
• 1 large green bell pepper, diced
  
  
• 8 oz. frozen green peas, thawed and drained
  
  
• 2 cups mayonnaise (Homemade Mayonnaise) is great mixed with 1 tablespoon sugar*
  
  
• 4 slices hickory smoked bacon, cooked crisp, drained, and crumbled
  
  
• 3 large fresh tomatoes, thinly sliced
  
  
• 8 oz. mild cheddar cheese, grated
  
  

Layer first 4 ingredients in a casserole dish or glass bowl, in order listed.

Then spread on mayonnaise mixture, sealing around edges.

Next, sprinkle on a layer of bacon.

Add a layer of tomatoes and sprinkle cheese over all.

Cover with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator overnight, for flavors to permeate.

Do not toss before serving.

Makes a very beautiful and tasty salad... perfect for potluck and church dinners.

*Only mayonnaise was used as the salad dressing for this traditional Seven Layer Salad from the South, to cover and keep ingredients fresh and crisp.


However, some folks now mix 1 cup mayonnaise and 1 cup sour cream with only 1 tablespoon of sugar for the dressing.

Salad Variations

This recipe makes a colorful salad arranged in the oblong dish suggested above or a trifle bowl.

You may substitute the lettuce in the recipe with other greens such as spinach or use 2 or 3 types of greens mixed together.

You can also substitute other vegetables as mentioned above or add more layers of different vegetables.

I have added as many as 13 layers when making this for a crowd.

Some ingredients that go well in this dish are sliced boiled eggs, sliced mushrooms, raw or canned (well drained), red bell peppers or any other color bell peppers for taste and bright colors, sliced cucumbers and shredded red or white onions, to name a few.

The list of raw salad vegetables for this popular dish is endless. 

Seven Layer Salad Tips

When transporting this salad to a potluck dinner meal or some other gathering, use a flat oblong dish or container with a tight fitting lid.


That works best in transport.

It is best not to toss a Seven Layer Salad in order to keep it crispy as possible, until served.

Seven Layer Salad History

The amazing and delicious Seven Layer Salad originated in the southern region of the United States according to my research. 

The recipe for the salad appeared in a few popular magazines in 1950.

I am happy I acquired this salad recipe.

It makes a fantastic, delicious go to salad for social gatherings. 


I think you will feel the same way after you try it.

Related Pages

Cobb Salad Recipe

Cold Pasta Salad Recipe


Pea Salad Recipe

Return to Salad Recipes

Home