A fresh, hearty salad with lots of color and simple flavors.
introduction
This Cobb Salad is easy to make and fills a plate with protein and good fat. It mixes crisp lettuce, bacon, chicken, eggs, avocado, tomato, onion, and cheese. If you want a vegetarian idea with similar flavors, try a chickpea, feta, and avocado salad for a meat-free switch.
why make this recipe
Make this recipe when you want a main-dish salad that is fast and satisfying. It feeds a few people and looks nice on the table. You get protein from chicken and eggs, healthy fat from avocado and olive oil, and crunch from bacon and lettuce.
how to make Cobb Salad
- Cook bacon by baking, air frying, or sautéing until crisp. Chop and set aside.
- Cook 2 hard-boiled eggs, chill in ice water, peel, and quarter.
- Chop, rinse, and spin dry romaine lettuce. Spread 5 cups on a shallow platter.
- Slice cooked chicken breasts and arrange them in a row on the lettuce.
- Add rows of quartered eggs, sliced avocado, halved cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion, crumbled blue cheese, and chopped bacon.
- Sprinkle finely chopped parsley or chives over the top.
- To make the dressing, add balsamic vinegar, dijon mustard, pressed garlic, olive oil, salt, and pepper to a mason jar and shake well. Drizzle over salad just before serving or let guests dress their own servings.
If you prefer seafood instead of chicken, you can swap in shrimp like in a cilantro lime shrimp and avocado salad.
Ingredients :
- 6 oz bacon ((6 slices) chopped and browned)
- 1 medium head romaine lettuce (5 cups chopped, rinsed and dried)
- 2 cooked chicken breasts (*)
- 2 hard-boiled eggs
- 1 large avocado (sliced)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1/2 cup red onion (thinly sliced)
- 1/2 cup blue cheese (crumbled (or feta cheese or goat cheese))
- 2 Tbsp parsley (or chives, finely chopped, optional)
- 3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 Tbsp dijon mustard
- 1 garlic clove (pressed or finely minced)
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
Directions :
- Bake, Air Fry, or Sauté bacon on a skillet.*
- Cook 2 hard-boiled eggs, chill in ice water then peel and quarter the eggs.
- Chop, rinse and spin dry romaine lettuce and arrange on a shallow platter.
- Arrange the remaining salad ingredients (chicken, eggs, avocado, tomatoes, onion, blue cheese, and bacon) in rows over the salad, then sprinkle the finely chopped parsley over the salad.
- Transfer dressing ingredients to a mason jar and shake like crazy. Drizzle over salad just before serving or let guests add their own dressing to taste.
how to serve Cobb Salad
Serve this salad on a large platter so guests can pick their rows. Offer extra dressing on the side. For a bright contrast, serve with a sweet or fruity salad like Autumn Harvest Honeycrisp Apple and Feta Salad.
how to store Cobb Salad
- Store components separately for best results. Keep lettuce dry in a sealed container.
- Keep dressing in a jar in the fridge up to one week.
- Store cooked chicken and bacon in separate airtight containers for 3–4 days.
- Once dressed, eat the salad within a few hours to keep the lettuce and avocado fresh.
tips to make Cobb Salad
- Dry the lettuce well so the dressing does not make it soggy.
- Use warm chicken for a slightly different texture, or cold chicken if you prefer.
- Cut avocado last to keep it from browning.
- Crumble cheese small so every bite has flavor.
- Shake the dressing jar hard so it emulsifies well.
variation (if any)
- Swap blue cheese for feta or goat cheese.
- Replace chicken with turkey, steak strips, or shrimp.
- Use smoked bacon or turkey bacon for a different taste.
- Add corn, roasted peppers, or cucumber for more crunch.
FAQs
Q: Can I make this salad ahead?
A: Yes. Prep and store each component separately and assemble before serving.
Q: How long does the dressing last?
A: The vinaigrette will keep in the fridge for about one week.
Q: Can I use a different vinegar?
A: Yes. Red wine or apple cider vinegar works, but taste and adjust the mustard and oil.
Q: Is this salad gluten free?
A: Yes, if all ingredients are gluten-free. Check labels on bacon and mustard.
Q: Can I skip the bacon?
A: Yes. You can leave it out or use toasted nuts for crunch.
Conclusion
For a well-tested classic version and more tips on the Cobb Salad, see The mighty Cobb Salad – RecipeTin Eats.
Cobb Salad
Ingredients
Method
- Bake, Air Fry, or Sauté bacon on a skillet until crispy.
- Cook 2 hard-boiled eggs, chill in ice water, peel, and quarter.
- Chop, rinse, and spin dry the romaine lettuce, then spread it on a shallow platter.
- Arrange the remaining salad ingredients (chicken, eggs, avocado, tomatoes, onion, blue cheese, and bacon) in rows over the salad.
- Sprinkle finely chopped parsley over the salad.
- Transfer dressing ingredients to a mason jar and shake well.
- Drizzle the dressing over the salad just before serving or let guests add their own dressing to taste.