Overnight Salad

Overnight salad is a terrific recipe for any occasion when you need to feed a lot of people. Even more helpful is the fact that you’re supposed to make this salad the night before you want to serve it (hence “overnight” in the name), leaving you more time to prepare other dishes and get ready for the gathering. Layers of vegetables are topped with a mayonnaise dressing and then layers of cheese, bacon and dried cranberries. This is a crunchy-creamy dream.

This salad is part of a group of recipes often referred to as pea salads because of the large amount of peas that form one of the layers. It’s a wonderful way to include vegetables in your meal. The mayonnaise, cheese and bacon topping is something fans of these salads look forward to. Give this recipe a try the next time you have a group of people coming over.

Overnight Salad Ingredients

• Vegetables: Iceberg lettuce, green pepper, sweet red pepper, onion and frozen peas form the base of the salad. The onion should be sliced into rings.
• Mayonnaise: Mayonnaise forms the bulk of the dressing
• Sugar: Making the dressing slightly sweet makes it more tasty.
• Cheddar cheese: You can use either mild or sharp cheddar according to your preference.
• Bacon: Cook and crumble the strips into small bits.
• Dried cranberries: These add a little extra tangy flavor.

Directions

Step 1: Assemble the layers

Place the lettuce, green pepper, red pepper, onion and peas in layers in a 13×9-inch or 4-quart glass dish. Mix the mayonnaise and sugar in another bowl and spoon it over the top of the vegetables. Spread the mayo around to ensure the top layer is covered.

Step 2: Add the toppings and refrigerate

Sprinkle the cheese, bacon and cranberries over the top of the mayonnaise, in that order. Cover the dish and place it in the refrigerator. Let it sit overnight.

Overnight Salad Variations

• Substitute yogurt for the mayo: If mayonnaise isn’t something you like, you can use plain Greek yogurt or sour cream instead.
• Add in another protein: Hard-boiled eggs go very well with this salad, as does chopped or shredded chicken. This is a fairly easy recipe to customize and you can add vegetables or change the type of cheese. Cucumbers would be a good addition and you can change the type of onion used.

How to Store Overnight Salad

Leftover salad can sit covered in the refrigerator for two to three days. Note that the ingredients may become softer as time goes on as they absorb moisture.

Can you make this overnight salad ahead of time?

Yes, you can. In a way, you already are as you’re making it the night before you’re supposed to serve it. But you can make it two or three days ahead of time, too. Just be sure to cover the salad and remember that the make-ahead storage time will cut into storage time for leftovers. In other words, if you make this a couple of days ahead instead of the night before, you’ll be able to store leftovers for only one to two days. Here are some additional make-ahead salads if you’d like more recipes.

Overnight Salad Tips

Why do you have to let this sit overnight before serving?

You could eat the salad right after making it but letting it sit in the refrigerator for a few hours (overnight tends to be the most convenient way to ensure that it sits for long enough) helps all the flavors blend together. The vegetables soak up more of the dressing and the dressing has more time to sink to the bottom and mix with each layer.

Where did layered salads originate?

Overnight salads are also called 7-layer salads or pea salads because of the layer of peas that’s usually included. They’re likely a Southern invention, although they’re very common in Midwestern cuisine now, too. These are great salads for when you need to serve a large group, such as at a backyard family gathering. The cool, crisp vegetables along with the bacon, cheese and mayo are a hit with many people. Take a look at these pea salads if you have a lot of peas to use up and want more recipes. And if you can’t stop thinking about having bacon with vegetables, try this Instant Pot bacon and cranberry Brussels sprouts recipe.

How do you make the layers look even?

If you want the exterior of the salad to look even and tidy (especially if you’re serving this in a clear bowl), then push a little bit of each vegetable up and against the inside of the bowl. Arrange the pieces (lightly patting them down, if needed) to create level layers.