Fort Polk Layered Overnight Salad
A colorful and flavorful layered salad featuring crisp vegetables, savory cheeses, and a tangy dressing, perfect for potlucks or family gatherings. Its vibrant layers and combination of textures make it a crowd-pleaser, offering a satisfying mix of freshness, creaminess, and seasoned goodness.
Ingredients
- 1 head chopped lettuce ⓘ
- 1 (8 oz.) can drained and sliced water chestnuts ⓘ
- 1 (10 oz.) pkg. raw frozen peas ⓘ
- 1 large diced onion ⓘ
- 3 green onions
- 1/2 bell pepper, diced ⓘ
- 1 (8 oz.) pkg. grated Swiss cheese ⓘ
- 1 tsp. salt ⓘ
- 1/4 tsp. garlic powder ⓘ
- 3 sticks diced celery ⓘ
- 2 tsp. sugar ⓘ
- 1 pt. jar salad dressing ⓘ
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese ⓘ
Instructions
- In a large salad bowl, layer the chopped lettuce, sliced water chestnuts, peas, diced onion, bell pepper, and diced celery in the order listed.
- Spread the salad dressing evenly over the top of the layered vegetables.
- Sprinkle the sugar over the salad dressing.
- Spread the grated Swiss cheese over the sugar layer.
- Add the salt, garlic powder, and pepper on top of the cheese.
- Finally, sprinkle the Parmesan cheese and any additional seasonings as desired.
- When serving, scoop from the bottom up to ensure each serving includes all layers.
Tips & Substitutions
For added flavor, consider mixing in diced avocado or substituting the Swiss cheese with a smoked variety. If you're short on time, you can use pre-washed salad greens instead of chopping lettuce. To enhance crunch, try adding sunflower seeds or sliced almonds. For a lighter dressing, opt for Greek yogurt mixed with herbs instead of traditional salad dressing.
Serving Suggestions
This layered salad is perfect for potlucks and picnics, and pairs beautifully with Honey-Pecan Pork Cutlets for a balanced meal. Serve it alongside grilled chicken or as a refreshing side to Pork Tenderloin With Peppercorns. Consider adding a crusty bread or a light soup like Grandma's Navy Bean Soup to round out the meal.
Storage & Reheating
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To keep the layers intact and prevent sogginess, try to separate the dressing from the salad until ready to serve. When reheating, it's best to avoid microwaving; instead, enjoy it cold or let it sit at room temperature for a bit before serving.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Fort Polk Layered Overnight Salad contains roughly 338 calories, with 13g protein, 41g carbohydrates, and 15g fat. It is an excellent source of vitamin C (77% of the Daily Value) and protein (25% of the Daily Value), and a good source of dietary fiber and iron. Note that it is relatively high in sodium, at 1544mg per serving (67% of the Daily Value).
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this salad suitable for a vegetarian diet?
Absolutely! This Fort Polk Layered Overnight Salad is entirely vegetarian. Just ensure that the salad dressing you use is free from any animal products to keep it vegetarian-friendly.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).