Description
A nostalgic, creamy, and crunchy seven layer salad perfect for potlucks, summer barbecues, and family gatherings. Layers of crisp lettuce, peas, celery, cheese, bacon, pineapple, and a tangy creamy dressing come together for a crowd-pleasing dish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 cups iceberg lettuce, shredded
- 1 cup frozen green peas, thawed
- 1 cup celery, finely chopped
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup red onion, finely diced (optional)
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 cup canned pineapple chunks, drained
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy, about 8-10 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain and crumble once cool.
- Shred iceberg lettuce and place evenly in the bottom of a glass bowl. Chop celery finely, dice red onion, shred cheddar cheese, and thaw peas by rinsing under cold water and draining well.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, sugar, and vinegar until smooth and creamy. Adjust vinegar or sugar to taste.
- Layer the salad starting with shredded lettuce, then peas, celery, red onion (if using), shredded cheddar cheese, and pour the creamy dressing evenly over the cheese layer.
- Sprinkle crumbled bacon evenly over the dressing, then add pineapple chunks and nuts if using.
- Cover the salad with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight before serving to let flavors meld.
Notes
Use iceberg lettuce to keep the salad crisp. Whisk dressing thoroughly to dissolve sugar. Chill salad at least 2 hours before serving. For a lighter dressing, substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream. Vegan and low-carb adaptations are possible. Avoid stirring before serving to preserve layers.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 250
- Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 10
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 8
Keywords: seven layer salad, creamy salad, potluck salad, bacon salad, layered salad, summer salad, easy salad recipe