Cobb Salad

This Cobb salad is a true American classic that’s graced our tables for decades. 

I love how it has a little bit of everything. The crisp romaine lettuce is the perfect base for tender chicken, salty bacon, creamy avocado, juicy tomatoes, tangy blue cheese, and those cute little chives on top. It’s like a party on a platter!

I love serving this salad family-style. It looks impressive and lets everyone dig in and customize their perfect bite.

If you’re looking for a true crowd-pleaser, you can’t go wrong with a Cobb!

Why You’ll Love This Cobb Salad

Pretty Presentation: With its artfully arranged rows of vibrant ingredients, it’s a feast for the eyes.

Versatile Crowd-Pleaser: From casual family dinners to elegant dinner parties, this salad has universal appeal.

Effortless Meal Prep: With its make-ahead components, it’s an excellent choice for meal prepping.

Full of Flavor: The combination of savory bacon, creamy avocado, tangy blue cheese, and zesty vinaigrette creates an explosion of flavors.

Ingredients

• Chicken Breasts: Tender, juicy bites of chicken are the foundation of a hearty Cobb.
  
• Romaine Lettuce: Crisp, refreshing greens provide the perfect crunchy bed for the toppings.
  
• Bacon: Salty, smoky, crispy strips add irresistible flavor and texture.
  
• Hard-Boiled Eggs: They’re a classic Cobb component.
  
• Avocado: Silky, buttery slices are loaded with healthy fats. 
  
• Cherry Tomatoes: Juicy little bursts of sweetness brighten up the salad.
  
• Crumbled Blue Cheese: It adds a punch of pungent flavor.
  
• Chopped Chives: They provide the perfect finishing touch.
  
• Red Wine Vinaigrette: A simple blend of olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and pepper ties all the flavors together. Shake it up and drizzle generously.

How to Make a Cobb Salad

Putting this salad together is so easy!

1. Arrange the lettuce base. Arrange the chopped romaine lettuce on a large platter or shallow bowl.

2. Add the salad toppings. Place the diced chicken breast, crumbled bacon, quartered eggs, diced avocado, halved cherry tomatoes, and crumbled blue cheese in neat rows on top of the lettuce. Sprinkle with the chopped chives.

3. Make the vinaigrette dressing. In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Shake vigorously until the dressing is well blended.

4. Dress the salad. Drizzle the red wine vinaigrette over the salad just before serving. You can also serve the dressing on the side and let people add their own.

5. Toss and serve. Toss the salad at the table to combine all the ingredients. Serve immediately and enjoy your classic Cobb salad!

Tips for the Best Cobb Salad

Make your Cobb the star of the show with these tips.

• Dry out that lettuce! Ensure the lettuce is thoroughly dry to prevent the dressing from being diluted. Use a salad spinner or pat dry with a clean kitchen towel.
  
• Choose your chicken. You can use home-cooked chicken breast, rotisserie chicken, grilled chicken, or even leftover chicken. Slice or cube it into bite-sized pieces.
  
• Strive for egg perfection. For neat quarters, use jammy eggs that are boiled for around 7-8 minutes. The yolks will be softly set but not chalky.
  
• Change up the cheese. Traditionally, Roquefort or a sharp blue cheese is used. But you can substitute feta, goat cheese, or even shaved Parmesan if you prefer.
  
• Have fun and experiment. Try adding other veggies like cucumbers, radishes, or corn. Swap the chicken for steak, shrimp, or salmon. Or use your favorite dressing like ranch or honey mustard.
  
• Pick your presentation. Arrange the ingredients in rows for a classic composed Cobb salad look, or simply toss everything together in a big bowl.
  
• Select your serving style. For a crowd, serve with crusty bread, soup, or a cheese plate. For a fun handheld option, turn it into a wrap or sandwich.

How to Store

Be sure to keep the salad components and the red wine vinaigrette dressing in separate air-tight containers. This will help maintain freshness and prevent sogginess.

To Store: Store the salad ingredients in a glass container lined with a paper towel to absorb excess moisture, and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Store the dressing in a sealed jar in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Add the dressing to the salad just before serving.

Cobb Salad

Course: Main CourseCuisine: American

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

15

minutes

Calories

625

kcal

This classic Cobb salad with chicken is a guaranteed winner! With tomatoes, bacon, avocado, eggs, and blue cheese, it’s a true flavor explosion.

Ingredients

• 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce

• 2 cooked chicken breasts, diced

• 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

• 4 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and quartered

• 1 avocado, diced

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

• 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese

• 2 tablespoons chopped chives

• For the Red Wine Vinaigrette:

• 1/2 cup olive oil

• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar

• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

• 1 clove garlic, minced

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

• Arrange the chopped romaine lettuce on a large platter or shallow bowl.
• Place the diced chicken breast, crumbled bacon, quartered eggs, diced avocado, halved cherry tomatoes, and crumbled blue cheese in neat rows on top of the lettuce. Sprinkle with chopped chives.
• In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Shake vigorously until the dressing is well blended.
• Drizzle the red wine vinaigrette over the salad just before serving. You can also serve the dressing on the side and let people add their own.
• Toss the salad at the table to combine all the ingredients. Serve immediately and enjoy your classic Cobb salad!