Grandma's 7 Layer Salad (2024)

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By Lynette Rice | Published | 8 Comments

Traditional seven layer salad that can be made the night before! This layered salad is bursting with texture and flavor with the onion, green peppers and peas. Topped with a miracle whip dressing that’s easy to make!

Grandma's 7 Layer Salad (1)

Bacon! Okay, now that I have your attention, I’m sharing a traditional seven layer salad recipe that I found in my grandma’s recipe box. It had been awhile since I had enjoyed this salad and to be honest, forgot how good it was!

Let’s also talk about the fact that this salad is easy, it can be made ahead and it feeds a crowd! All winners in my book.

Grandma's 7 Layer Salad (2)

How Do You Make A Seven Layer Salad?

Layer the following in order using a 9×13 pan.

  • lettuce
  • onion
  • green pepper
  • celery
  • green peas
  • dressing
  • cheddar cheeese
  • bacon

This seven layer salad recipe actually has eight layers. It might be because it was titled vegetable salad in my grandma’s recipe box, but who’s counting!?

Grandma's 7 Layer Salad (3)

The layered pea salad is my go to now when I want to make something fresh to go along side burgers or bratwurst when we’re cooking out, but I don’t want to make it in the moment and want to make it ahead. In fact, I made it the day before and think it’s better if you let it set! Not to mention you don’t have to thaw the peas.

Grandma's 7 Layer Salad (4)

This is a classic midwestern salad that brings back memories of Easter brunch and cook outs at my grandma’s house. You won’t be disappointed by this 7 layer salad! Enjoy!

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Grandma's 7 Layer Salad (5)

Created by: Lynette Rice

7 Layer Salad


Course Salad

Cuisine North American

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 12

12

Traditional 7 layer salad topped with a two ingredient dressing and bacon!

Ingredients

  • 1 head of lettuce chopped
  • 1 small onion diced
  • 1 small green pepper diced
  • 1 cup celery diced
  • 10 oz green peas uncooked
  • 2 cups miracle whip
  • 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
  • 4 oz cheddar cheese shredded
  • 8 slices bacon fully cooked and crumbled

Instructions

  • Layer the following in order using a "9×13" pan.

    lettuce

    onion

    green pepper

    celery

    green peas

  • Combine miracle whip and sugar to create the salad dressing. Add to the top of the layers.

  • Sprinkle the cheese then the bacon on top.

Notes

This salad is best if made the day before so that the flavors can party! Make sure to keep refrigerated.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Cup | Calories: 134kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 499mg | Potassium: 228mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 607IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 90mg | Iron: 1mg

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    Comments & Reviews

  1. Grandma's 7 Layer Salad (6)Bonnie says

    Grandma's 7 Layer Salad (7)
    Do you think I could half the recipe?? And can I use Mayo instead of miracle whip ?? Thank you

    Reply

  2. Grandma's 7 Layer Salad (8)Juanita says

    Grandma's 7 Layer Salad (9)
    This is a wonderfully flexible salad! I love the crunch of frozen peas but have learned from experience that they can make the salad watery if not thawed and patted dry before adding. Easy enough to dump a bag out onto paper towel and let them thaw while assembling the rest of the ingredients. I use a bag of Romaine salad since those I make it for don’t like most of the other ingredients, but I have added chopped baby carrots and yellow, red, and orange chopped peppers for lovely color. Once tossed together, I layer the peas on top, spread on mayonnaise until covered, and sprinkle with sugar. A good coating of shredded cheddar and pre-cooked bacon bits rounds out this easy peasy delicious salad. I was always under the impression that the salad HAD to be made ahead for the sugar to melt down through the mayo and coat everything else. I never thought about just combining them for a quicker result. Thanks for the great idea!

    Reply

    • Grandma's 7 Layer Salad (10)Lynette Rice says

      So glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

  3. Grandma's 7 Layer Salad (11)Lee Klepser says

    I make my original 7 layer salad without green peppers. But that does add a good veggie. Also the original recipe I have used Bacos. But I do use regular bacon now.

    Reply

  4. Grandma's 7 Layer Salad (12)Carolyn says

    I have this same recipe pretty much. Mine has a large can peas. (Think I will use frozen).
    The bacon says to buy a jar of bacon bits. ( Will use framed cooked bacon).
    Instead of adding the sugar to the mayo it says sprinkle on top of peas then put mayo. I think either way should work.
    Thanks for your recipe! It’s so much like mine.
    Going to make this week.

    Reply

    • Grandma's 7 Layer Salad (13)Lynette says

      Enjoy!

      Reply

  5. Grandma's 7 Layer Salad (14)Beverley Abraham says

    A wonderful idea for 7 layer salad. I never knew you could add cheese and bacon.
    Wow! Very clever addition Great Grandma. Thanks.

    Reply

    • Grandma's 7 Layer Salad (15)Lynette says

      It really ups the flavor! Enjoy!

      Reply

Grandma's 7 Layer Salad (2024)

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