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Easy Vibrant Seven Layer Salad Recipe Perfect for Potlucks and Parties

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A colorful and crunchy seven layer salad that’s quick to prepare, perfect for potlucks and parties, featuring fresh veggies, creamy dressing, and optional smoky bacon bits.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 5 cups iceberg lettuce, shredded (about 150 g)
  • 1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes, halved (about 225 g)
  • 1 medium cucumber, diced (about 200 g)
  • 1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
  • 4 large hard-boiled eggs, chopped
  • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (about 100 g)
  • 1 cup small-curd cottage cheese, blended until smooth
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon honey or sugar
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • ½ cup crispy bacon bits (about 50 g) – optional
  • 3 green onions, thinly sliced

Instructions

  1. Prepare the dressing: In a medium bowl, blend 1 cup small-curd cottage cheese until smooth using a food processor or blender. Add ½ cup mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon honey, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Mix well and adjust seasoning if needed.
  2. Prep the veggies and eggs: Shred iceberg lettuce finely. Halve cherry tomatoes. Dice cucumber. Chop red bell pepper finely. Hard-boil eggs, peel, and chop. Shred sharp cheddar cheese. Thinly slice green onions.
  3. Layer the salad: In a large clear glass bowl, start with a base layer of shredded lettuce (about 2 cups). Add a layer of halved cherry tomatoes evenly over the lettuce. Follow with a layer of diced cucumber, then red bell pepper. Spread the chopped hard-boiled eggs on top of the veggies in an even layer. Then add the shredded cheddar cheese.
  4. Add the dressing: Spoon the prepared dressing evenly over the cheese layer, spreading gently with a spatula to cover completely without mixing.
  5. Top it off: Sprinkle crispy bacon bits and sliced green onions over the dressing. Skip bacon for a vegetarian version.
  6. Chill: Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to let flavors meld and salad set.

Notes

Dry veggies well after washing to keep salad crisp. Blend cottage cheese smooth for best dressing texture. Add bacon bits just before serving to keep them crunchy. Dressing can be loosened with a splash of milk or buttermilk if too thick. Salad can be prepped a day ahead without dressing and toppings to maintain freshness.

Nutrition

Keywords: seven layer salad, potluck salad, layered salad, easy salad recipe, party salad, creamy dressing, crunchy salad, gluten-free salad, vegetarian option

Find it online: https://chloeplate.com/easy-vibrant-seven-layer-salad-recipe-perfect-for-potlucks-and-parties/