Seven Layer Salad

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Seven layer salad, also known as overnight salad, is a creamy and delicious make ahead salad that is hard to beat. It is perfect for potlucks, parties and more. Plus you can customize it with your favorite salad ingredients.

This layered salad is not only ok to make ahead, it is better if you do. It has all of the good stuff plus a slightly sweet, creamy dressing.

This classic salad has withstood the test of time for good reason, it is delicious! It is great as a side dish, but it is good enough that sometimes I make a whole meal of it.

Seven layer salad has been one of my favorites for as long as I can remember. It is one of those dishes that I make a beeline for if I see it at a potluck.

So, I thought I should share our recipe with you. Just layer up your favorite greens with some tasty salad toppings.

Then spread a sweetened mayonnaise mixture over the top and finish with cheese. Wrap it with plastic wrap and let it sit in the fridge for 4-24 hours and magic will be made!

Tips and Tricks

You can use either a trifle bowl or a similarly sized glass bowl or a 9×13-inch dish for this recipe. They all work great. It is just easier to see the layers in a trifle bowl.

This salad is traditionally made with iceberg lettuce, but you can use your favorite kind. Chopped romaine would also work.

For the salad in these pictures, I used fresh leaf lettuce from the garden. Use whatever lettuce you like best for salads.

You can eat the salad right away, but if you let it chill in the refrigerator for a while the sugar gets absorbed into the dressing more. So it has a smoother mouthfeel.

Once you toss the salad, the lettuce will start to wilt. So, if you don’t think you will eat it all in one sitting, serve it without tossing it.

However, if it is tossed and you have leftover, just cover it and put it in the fridge. It will still be tasty for the next day or two, just add a little more fresh lettuce to perk it up a bit.

Substitution Ideas

As with most recipes, the way it is written in the card is our favorite way to enjoy it. But, there are so many fabulous ways to make it your own.

Mix and match what is in the recipe card with some of these ideas to make your perfect salad. Maybe you just change a few things out and keep it seven layers, or add more and make it a 10 or 12 layer salad. It’s up to you!

• chopped celery
• cucumber
• carrots
• Parmesan cheese
• cubed ham
• broccoli
• tomatoes
• bell pepper
• spinach

More Great Salad Recipes

If you like layered salads, you can try making a layered fruit salad. It has lots of fresh fruit with a pudding and pineapple layer on top that acts as a dressing.

Frito salad is another potluck favorite. It is another recipe that was a hit when I was a kid and is still fabulous today.

Check out my full collection of salad recipes for more tasty inspiration. There are plenty of green salads like this one and fun potato and pasta salads too.

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