7 Layer Salad Recipe

My crowd-pleasing 7-layer salad features a layer of crunchy veggies, crispy bacon, boiled eggs, and a creamy mayo dressing. It’s elegant and SO easy to prepare.

Key Ingredients

• Iceberg lettuce. Remove the wilted leaves and the top layer of the lettuce head and chop or tear it into bite-sized pieces. Rinse thoroughly and dry well before layering. Of course, any mixed greens or romaine lettuce can be used.
• Cherry tomatoes. Halved. They are easier to layer and I find them naturally sweeter than whole tomatoes.
• Green peas. I make this salad with frozen peas as they are readily available, but fresh peas also work. Avoid canned or jarred peas, as these are too soft and will seep into the other layers.
• Red onion. Milder than traditional onion and adds some crunch. Swap it out for green onion if you want it even more mild.
• Eggs. Hard boiled and chilled. For an easy hack, I often make my microwave hard boiled eggs or air fryer hard boiled eggs.
• Sharp cheddar cheese. My preferred shredded cheese as it has a very strong flavor. Other options include Gouda or Monterey Jack.
• Fried bacon. You NEED a crispy and meaty layer. Keep things lighter by making either my air fryer bacon or air fryer turkey bacon.
• Salt. To season.
• Garlic powder. For the nutty, bold, garlicky flavor. 
• 7 layer salad dressing. A combination of mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, sugar, and apple cider vinegar. You can swap out the yogurt for equal parts sour cream.

How to make a seven layer salad

I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Step 3- Add the toppings and serve. Finish the salad by topping it with bacon and cheese, and serve!

Arman’s recipe tips

• Make this in advance. If I’m serving this at a party or event, I sometimes prep this up to 2 days beforehand.
• Use chilled eggs. Hot eggs don’t sit well in this salad, so always use cold, hard-boiled eggs. 
• Adjust the layer sizes. Depending on the size of your bowl, use as much of each ingredient as you wish to make the layers.
• Only add the dressing at the end for maximum crispness throughout.
• Use your leftover veggies. If you have any leftover vegetables in the fridge, like red bell peppers, broccoli, spinach, cauliflower, or carrots.
• To make it healthier, instead of using mayonnaise and Greek yogurt, use only Greek yogurt and add 1/2 teaspoon of salt.

Frequently asked questions

Serving suggestions

Enjoy this salad as a hearty side dish and pair it with one of these BBQ favorites:

• Grilled pork tenderloin
• Grilled beef tenderloin
• Huli Huli chicken
• Grilled chicken drumsticks
• Picanha steak

Originally published June 2023, updated and republished February 2025.