Seven Layer Salad

This seven layer salad is an old family recipe that you can make ahead and share with a large group at a picnic or family gathering.

I was going through my recipe box for inspiration, and I found my Aunt Agnes' seven layer salad. I haven't made it for years. In fact, I remember seeing something similar at picnics and potlucks all the time when I was young, but it has all but disappeared.

However, if you search for it online, you will find many recipes with differing ingredients. It makes me wonder why I haven't seen it in my circle for a long time.

I followed my aunt's recipe almost exactly. However, as you may imagine, this is a great recipe for making your own and adapting it to meet your family's preferences.

For example, this recipe has bacon in it. Many people are going vegetarian these days, so leaving the bacon out or substituting it with a vegetable like broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, or zucchini would be a great option.

Some people add a layer of shredded cheddar cheese or use sour cream instead of Miracle Whip. However, everyone uses a clear bowl like a trifle dish so that you can see all the beauty of the layers.

To me, the interesting part of this salad is the dressing. It is a mix of Miracle Whip and regular mayonnaise. Normally, I am not a fan of Miracle Whip. However, it works great in this salad as part of the dressing.

I reserved a few bits of bacon to sprinkle on top as a pretty garnish, but it's not necessary. You could use a bit of parsley instead or leave it as is.

Covering the salad and refrigerating it for 24 hours helps all the flavors meld together.

One last note: When you serve this salad, you need to use a long-handled spoon to dig to the bottom of the bowl and scoop out a little bit of every layer.

Somehow, it all works together in the individual salad bowl, and the taste is amazingly fresh and flavorful.

Seven Layer Salad

This classic 7 layer salad is an old family recipe that you can make ahead and share with a large group at a picnic, potluck, backyard barbecue, or family gathering.

4 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 25 minutes mins

Additional Time 1 day d

Total Time 1 day d 25 minutes mins

Course Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 12

Calories 391 kcal

Equipment

• 1 Large glass serving bowl

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 bag 12 oz fresh baby spinach
• 1 pound crispy bacon crumbled
• 7 hard boiled eggs sliced
• 1 box sliced mushrooms approx. 10 oz
• 1 head of iceberg lettuce cut up into pieces
• 1 package of fresh or frozen peas approx. 3/4 pound
• 1 large red onion sliced
• 1 cup miracle whip dressing
• 1 cup Hellman's mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

 

• Cook the peas in the microwave for 1 minute
• Mix the Miracle whip and Mayo together in a separate bowl
• In a large glass bowl (you want to see the layers), start layering the salad.
• Start with spinach, followed by bacon, eggs, mushrooms, iceberg lettuce, cooked peas, and onions in that order.
• Top with the creamy dressing.
• Sprinkle Parmesan on the top along with some more crumbled bacon or other garish as you wish.
• Cover with plastic wrap (my aunt's recipe actually says foil) and refrigerate for 24 hours.
• Remove and serve with a large, long handled spoon that can reach to the bottom and serve a bit of every layer in each serving.

Notes

This is the classic recipe; however, feel free to make it your own. Substitute a meal substitute for the bacon, add a layer of cheese, change the iceberg to romaine lettuce. You get the idea.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 391kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 11gFat: 33gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 11gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 134mgSodium: 697mgPotassium: 223mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 442IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 68mgIron: 1mg

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although attempts have been made to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.

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