Classic Cobb Salad
The Cobb is the original main-course salad — loaded, filling, and absolutely worth making.
Ingredients
Serves 4
- 2 cooked chicken breasts, sliced or shredded (rotisserie chicken works perfectly)
- 6 strips bacon
- 4 large eggs
- 2 heads romaine lettuce, chopped
- 2 ripe avocados, diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese (or gorgonzola)
- 1/4 cup red onion, very thinly sliced
- For the dressing: 3 tbsp red wine vinegar, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1/2 tsp honey, 1/3 cup olive oil, salt and pepper
Instructions
- 1Hard-boil the eggs: place in a saucepan, cover with cold water, bring to a boil, then turn off the heat and cover for 10 minutes. Transfer to ice water for 5 minutes, then peel and halve.
- 2Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy. Transfer to a paper towel, cool, then roughly chop.
- 3Make the dressing: whisk red wine vinegar, Dijon, and honey together. Slowly drizzle in olive oil while whisking until emulsified. Season generously with salt and pepper.
- 4Arrange the romaine in a large, wide bowl or platter — the Cobb is traditionally presented as a composed salad with each ingredient in its own row.
- 5Arrange the toppings in neat rows: chicken, bacon, egg halves, avocado, cherry tomatoes, blue cheese, and red onion.
- 6Drizzle dressing over everything, or serve on the side for guests to add themselves.
- 7Toss at the table just before eating, or serve composed for a more dramatic presentation.
Pro Tips
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The Cobb is all about contrast: creamy avocado and blue cheese against crispy bacon and croutons, tangy dressing against rich egg yolk. Set up each row thoughtfully — color contrast makes the salad visually impressive.
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Make the dressing in a jar — add all ingredients, seal, and shake. It keeps for a week in the fridge, and shaking takes 10 seconds versus 3 minutes of whisking.
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For the easiest version, buy a rotisserie chicken — use the breast meat here and save the rest for another recipe. It shaves 20 minutes off the prep time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I substitute the blue cheese in a Cobb salad?
Yes — feta is the most common substitute and gives a similar crumble and saltiness with less sharpness. Goat cheese, aged cheddar, or even Parmesan all work. If you don't like strongly flavored cheese, start with a mild feta and see if you enjoy the concept before committing to gorgonzola.
Can I make Cobb salad ahead of time?
You can prep all components up to a day ahead: hard-boil and peel eggs, cook bacon, prep the chicken, and make the dressing. Store everything separately in the fridge. Assemble just before serving — avocado should be cut last or rubbed with lemon juice to prevent browning.
What dressing is traditional for Cobb salad?
The original Brown Derby restaurant used a red wine vinaigrette very similar to what's in this recipe. Ranch dressing and blue cheese dressing are both popular modern choices. The key is using something bold enough to stand up to the strong flavors of bacon, blue cheese, and avocado — a mild dressing gets lost.
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