July 21, 2021

Layered Green Salad

If you were born in the 1970’s then you’ve probably had layered green salad. A crunchy cool green lettuce salad layered with veggies, cheese, bacon, and creamy ranch dressing. This common potluck favorite is an easy side dish everyone always loves.

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My mom made a green salad with just about every meal when I was growing up so naturally I love all kinds of salads. This Layered Green Salad is fresh and crisp and even if you don’t like salad, I’m going to bet you will love this one.

This salad is great for sharing at potlucks or family dinners. Everyone always loves it and I never have leftovers. I say this with humility, but it’s usually the most talked about side dish whenever I bring it to share. It’s that good!

There are many versions of a Layered Green Salad and there are no rules when it comes to the ingredients. As long as you start with the lettuce and end with the dressing you’re good to go!

What ingredients are in Layered Green Salad?

Salad Ingredients-

Iceberg lettuce
Carrots
Cucumbers
Red onion
Tomatoes
Cheddar cheese
Frozen Peas
Bacon
Green onions

Dressing-

Light sour cream
Mayo
Fresh parsley
Dried dill
Ranch seasoning mix
Vinegar
Low fat milk
Black pepper

How To Make Layered Salad:

Whisk all the dressing ingredients together until creamy and place in refrigerator until ready to use.
In a wide, deep glass bowl (this way you can see the layers) layer the first 7 salad ingredients. Pour dressing evenly over the top of the peas and top with crumbled bacon and green onion.

Can I make this in advance?

Yes! This can be made 1 day in advance. I usually set the bacon aside and add it just before serving so it’s nice and crisp.

Can I use prepped store-bought veggies?

Fresh vegetables are better. The veggies do take some time to prep, but trust me when I say, store-bought prepped vegetables just aren’t the same in this salad. The fresher the veggies, the crunchier the salad, and aside from the delicious dressing, the cool crunchy factor is what makes this so good.

Use What You Love.

Use any kind of veggie or ingredient you love to customize your Layered Green Salad.

Red, green or bell peppers
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Mushrooms
Artichokes
Dried cranberries
Sliced almonds or sunflower seeds
Corn
Garbanzo beans (rinsed and drained)
Hard boiled eggs
Shredded chicken

Other Salad Recipes You Might Enjoy:

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Let’s eat!🤍

Layered Green Salad

If you were born in the 1970's then you've probably had layered green salad. A crunchy cool green lettuce salad layered with veggies, cheese, bacon, and creamy ranch dressing. This common potluck favorite is an easy side dish everyone always loves.

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Prep Time 25

Cook Time 10

Total Time 35

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 8 servings

Calories 253 kcal

Ingredients

6 cups iceberg lettuce, chopped, about 1/2 large head
1 1/2 cups shredded carrots, about 3 large carrots
1 1/2 cups english cucumber, diced small, about 1/2 cucumber
1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
2 medium size tomatoes, diced small cherry tomatoes halved work well
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cups frozen peas, thawed and well drained
5 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
2 green onions, sliced thin

Creamy dressing

3/4 cup light sour cream
1/4 cup mayo
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped fine
1 tsp dried dill
1 tbsp ranch seasoning mix
1 tsp white vinegar
1/4 cup low-fat milk
1/2 tsp ground black pepper

Instructions

In a medium bowl whisk all the dressing ingredients well. Cover and place in refrigerator until ready to use.

Layering salad

In a wide, deep glass bowl (this way you can see the layers) layer the first 7 salad ingredients.
Pour dressing evenly over the top of the peas and top with crumbled bacon and green onion.
Note: If making ahead, set aside the bacon and green onion until just before serving. Cover the bowl with lid or plastic wrap and place in fridge up to one day.
Additional notes below.

Notes

Tips:

Use your favorite veggies and ingredients- Just make sure to start with the lettuce on the bottom and end with the dressing on the top.

Here are additional ideas.

Red, green or yellow bell peppers
Spinach
Chopped artichoke hearts
Finley chopped broccoli or cauliflower
Frozen or fresh corn
Sunflower seeds (add to the top)
Dried Cranberries
Shredded chicken
Blue cheese (add to the top)

Use large salad tongs- This allows you to scoop all the way down to the bottom to get all the layers.

This recipe serves 8 people generously but could easily feed 10. Nutritional facts include 8 people.

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be understood as an estimate rather than a guarantee. The Menu Maid makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

Keyword Bacon, Cheese, Creamy dressing, Green peas, Green salad, Lettuce, Onions, tomatoes

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