Seven Layer Salad with Sugared Mayo Dressing
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Make it the night before in a clear glass dish, so everyone can see the layers and your grandfather can count them out loud. Peas, celery, cheese and crisp bacon sit under a sweet dressing, and you toss it at the table.
The short version
Layer lettuce, peas, onion and celery in a clear dish, spread a sugared mayo dressing edge to edge, top with cheese and crisp bacon, and chill 4 hours or overnight. Toss at the table.
What makes ours better
small changes, very loud compliments
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Spread the dressing to the edges. A full seal of dressing keeps air off the lettuce so it stays crisp overnight. Gaps let it wilt.
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Sweeten the dressing with sugar. A little sugar whisked into the mayo balances the salty bacon and sharp onion. Without it the dressing tastes flat.
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Keep the peas frozen. Frozen peas thawed in a sieve under cool water are sweeter and crisper than canned. Pat them dry so they don't water down the layers.
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Bake the bacon. A sheet pan in a 400°F oven gives flat, evenly crisp bacon with no splatter. Add it just before serving so it stays crunchy.
What you need
check the pantry before you promise anyone
- Mayonnaise1½ cups
- Sour cream½ cup
- Granulated sugar2 tablespoons
- Bacon12 ounces
- Frozen peas2 cups
- Red onion½ cup
- Celery1 cup
- Sharp cheddar1½ cups
Dressing
Salad
tap each one as it goes in. no double-salting.
Steps
go slow. the good part can’t be rushed.
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Bake the bacon
Heat the oven to 400°F. Lay the bacon in a single layer on a rimmed sheet pan and bake 18 to 22 minutes, until deep brown and crisp. Drain on paper towels, cool, then crumble.
About 20 min. Cook mode has a timer for this step.
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Mix the dressing
Whisk the mayonnaise, sour cream, sugar, vinegar, salt and pepper in a bowl until smooth and the sugar has dissolved. Taste; it should be creamy and slightly sweet.
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Layer the base
In a clear 9×13-inch dish or a large trifle bowl, spread the lettuce in an even layer and press it down lightly. Scatter the peas over it, then the red onion, then the celery.
Dry lettuce is the secret. Wet leaves will water down the dressing by morning.
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Seal with dressing
Spoon the dressing over the top in dollops, then spread it gently with a spatula all the way to the edges of the dish, so no vegetable shows.
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Top with cheese
Sprinkle the cheddar evenly over the dressing. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or up to 24.
About 240 min. Cook mode has a timer for this step.
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Add the bacon and serve
Just before serving, scatter the crumbled bacon on top. Bring the dish to the table to show the layers, then toss the salad or scoop down through all of them.
Add the bacon at the last minute. Left under plastic, it turns chewy.
Good to know
things I learned the hard way, so you can skip that part
- Shred the cheese yourself. Bagged shreds are coated in starch and make the layer pasty.
- Chop the lettuce rather than shredding it. Large pieces stay crisp longer.
- Skip the bacon and add 1 cup of roasted salted sunflower seeds for a meatless version.
- Storage. Covered in the fridge, 3 days; the lettuce softens after the first night. Don't freeze.
Questions, answered
asked and answered at the kitchen counter
How far ahead can I make seven layer salad?
Assemble it through the cheese up to 24 hours ahead, covered. Add the bacon just before serving.
What are the seven layers?
Lettuce, peas, red onion, celery, dressing, cheese and bacon. The dressing counts as a layer because it seals the others in.
Do I have to toss it?
No. Many people scoop down through all the layers so each plate gets a bit of everything. Tossing is also fine.
Can I use something besides iceberg?
Romaine works and has more flavor, but it wilts faster. Iceberg gives the best crunch after a night in the fridge.
Can I use fresh peas?
Yes, if they're sweet and tender. Blanch them for 1 minute, chill in ice water and dry well.
From the table
Made it? I want the full report: first bite, best compliment, and who tried to take the leftovers home.
Made it?
tell me the truth, then tell me who had thirds
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Published October 29, 2026.