Overnight Layered Lettuce Salad

Make-ahead recipes, such as overnight salads, are ideal for when you have a busy day ahead of you. Overnight salads also work well as a colorful, nutrient-packed treat to take to a potluck or party. An overnight layered lettuce salad makes enough for approximately 10 nutritious servings with very little work. Allow for five minutes of preparation time the following morning to toss the salad and prepare it to serve.

Things You'll Need

  • 1 head of iceberg lettuce
  • 1/2 cup chopped celery
  • 1/2 cup chopped green pepper
  • 1 cup thawed frozen peas
  • 1 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • Plastic wrap
  • 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup crumbled bacon

Instructions

  1. Break up a head of iceberg lettuce into small, bite-sized pieces. Discard the innermost portion.

  2. Add 1 cup of the lettuce into the bottom of a large glass salad bowl. Proceed to layer 1/2 cup of chopped celery, 1/2 cup of chopped green pepper and 1 cup of thawed frozen peas on top of the lettuce. Layer the remaining lettuce over the top of the peas.

  3. Use a butter knife to spread 1 1/2 cup of mayonnaise over the top layer of lettuce, covering the salad completely.

  4. Cover the salad with a sheet of plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

  5. Remove the plastic wrap from the bowl. Sprinkle 3/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese and 1/2 cup of crumbled bacon over the top of the mayonnaise.

  6. Toss the salad with a large spoon until all of the ingredients are coated in the mayonnaise evenly. Serve chilled.