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The classic Cobb Salad is a culinary gem in its own right! Featuring an array of colorful ingredients neatly arranged atop a bed of crisp mixed greens and drizzled with a delicious vinaigrette, this salad packs a flavorful punch.
Best Cobb Salad Recipe
This isn’t your average salad! We’re talking about a main-course Hollywood legend that was first crafted at the famous Brown Derby restaurant. Picture fresh greens topped with juicy chicken, creamy avocado, crispy bacon, rich hard-boiled egg, vibrant tomatoes, and crumbled blue cheese drizzled with a homemade vinaigrette! Perfect for lunch or a light dinner, cobb salad never disappoints!
Why You’ll Love This Cobb Salad
- Delicious Classic! The combination of tender chicken, creamy avocado, smoky bacon, hard-boiled eggs, and the bold kick of crumbled blue cheese creates a hearty salad layered with taste and texture.
- Quick and Easy! Made with basic ingredients in a few simple steps, this salad comes together in just 20 minutes. It’s perfect for busy days when you’re looking for an easy meal that’s filling and homemade.
- Versatile Dish! Cobb Salad can be served as a hearty lunch or a light dinner, making it suitable for any time of day. You can also customize it to your liking, adding or omitting ingredients to suit your taste.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Salad
- Mixed Greens: I used a combination of watercress, iceberg, and romaine lettuce to form the fresh base of my salad.
- Cooked Chicken Breast: Adds lean protein and flavor. You can use grilled chicken, shredded chicken, or even leftover baked chicken.
- Avocado: Provides delicious rich flavor and a creamy texture.
- Cherry Tomatoes: Add a burst of juicy sweetness. You can use diced regular tomatoes as an alternative.
- Blue Cheese: Provides the salad with a layer of bold and tangy flavor.
- Hard Boiled Eggs: Sliced hard boiled eggs contribute more protein and richness.
- Cooked Bacon: Provides a smoky crunch that complements the overall taste.
- Green Onions: Add a fresh mild onion flavor that brings the dish together.
- Black Olives: I used kalamata olives to add some briny goodness.
Dressing
- Olive Oil: Creates the foundation of the vinaigrette and provides velvety richness. Use extra-virgin olive oil for the most flavor.
- Red Wine Vinegar: Adds the perfect touch of zesty acid.
- Dijon Mustard: Gives the dressing a hint of refined flavor and binds it together.
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic contributes a punch of pungent flavor that makes the dressing.
- Seasonings: Salt and black pepper season the dressing and the overall dish.
This salad recipe is your ticket to a filling and delicious meal in just minutes! There’s no need to slave over a hot stove; simply layer, whisk, and savor!
Arrange The Salad
Start by spreading the mixed greens in a large serving bowl or large platter. Next, arrange the cooked chicken, diced avocado, cherry tomatoes, crumbled blue cheese, sliced hard-boiled eggs, crumbled bacon, sliced green onions, and black olives in neat rows over the greens.
Make The Dressing
First, whisk the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and minced garlic together in a small bowl. Then season with salt and black pepper to your desired taste.
Dress And Serve
When ready, drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine, or leave the salad as is and let everyone serve themselves. Then serve the salad immediately with some fresh homemade focaccia bread if you like!
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I add?
Consider using other proteins, such as shrimp, salmon, turkey, or tofu. Incorporate different cheeses, like goat, Parmesan, or cheddar. Nuts like almonds or seeds, such as pumpkin seeds, provide a satisfying crunch. You can also add additional vegetables like cucumbers or bell peppers, and add fresh herbs like basil or chives for an aromatic touch. Also, feel free to switch up the dressing with options like balsamic vinaigrette or creamy ranch.
What makes it a cobb salad?
A cobb salad is characterized by its specific combination of ingredients arranged in neat rows. These ingredients typically include chicken, bacon, hard-boiled eggs, avocado, blue cheese, and tomatoes.
What is the difference between a cobb salad and a chef salad?
Both are hearty, meal-sized salads, but they differ mainly in their ingredients. A cobb salad traditionally has chicken, bacon, hard-boiled eggs, cheese, avocado, and tomatoes. A chef salad typically includes ham or turkey, cheese, hard-boiled eggs, and a variety of vegetables. The dressings may also differ, with cobb salads often using a vinaigrette and chef salads frequently opting for creamier dressings.
Expert Tips
- Use fresh ingredients. Crisp mixed greens and ripe, flavorful cherry tomatoes and avocado make a huge difference in taste and texture.
- Dice the avocado fresh. Chop the avocado right before serving to prevent browning. A splash of fresh lemon juice can also help maintain its vibrant color.
- Experiment with cheeses. If blue cheese is too strong for you, try milder cheeses like gorgonzola, goat cheese, feta, or shaved parmesan.
- Swap out the protein. Besides bite-sized pieces of chicken, consider other proteins like turkey, ham, or even shrimp. For a vegetarian version, grilled halloumi or marinated tofu are excellent substitutes.
Storage
The key to enjoying cobb salad is its freshness, so aim to prepare and consume it immediately for the best taste and texture. However, it’s possible to prep the ingredients, make the dressing ahead of time, and then assemble the salad right before serving. Just keep in mind that avocado may brown and lose its appealing texture, so it’s advisable to dice it fresh.
Discover More Delicious Salads
- Apple Walnut Salad
- Spring Pea Salad
- Kale Salad
- Tabbouleh
- Mushroom Arugula Warm Salad
- Buddha Bowls
- Chinese Chicken Salad
Cobb Salad
Ingredients
- 6 cups mixed greens such as romaine, iceberg and watercress
- 1 cup cooked chicken breast diced
- 1 avocado diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- ½ cup blue cheese crumbled
- 4 hard boiled eggs peeled and sliced
- 4 strips cooked bacon crumbled
- ½ cup green onions sliced
- ½ cup black olives such as Kalamata, halved
For The Dressing
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic minced
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large serving bowl or platter, arrange the mixed greens as the base. Arrange the chicken, avocado, cherry tomatoes, blue cheese, hard-boiled eggs, bacon, green onions, and black olives (if using) in rows over the greens.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and minced garlic until well combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Drizzle the dressing over the salad just before serving. Toss the salad gently to combine all the ingredients, or leave it as is and let everyone serve themselves.
- Serve the salad immediately with some crusty bread on the side, if desired.
Tips & Notes:
- Greens Variety: Feel free to mix and match your greens to suit your taste. Romaine gives a nice crunch, while watercress adds a peppery kick.
- Chicken: Leftover rotisserie chicken works great for this recipe and cuts down on prep time.
- Make-Ahead: You can boil the eggs and cook the bacon ahead of time. Just store them in the fridge until you’re ready to assemble the salad.
- Dressing: The dressing can be whisked up to 3 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Give it a good shake or stir before drizzling over the salad.
- Customize Your Cobb: This salad is flexible. No blue cheese? Try feta or goat cheese. Not a fan of olives? Leave them out or swap in some sliced cucumbers for an extra crunch.
- Serving Tip: To keep the salad fresh, add the dressing just before serving or let your guests add their own amount to taste.
