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A delicious cobb salad that’s fresh, flavorful, and full of your favorite toppings! Makes the perfect lunch or dinner any day of the week. This recipe is a staple at our house.

Cobb salad with dressing on top.
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Best Cobb Salad

I love to make easy salad recipes during the week for lunch or dinner. This cobb salad is at the top of my list, as well as my Mediterranean salad, mandarin orange salad, and BBQ chicken salad. All are so delicious!

I love a good classic Cobb salad! It’s one of my favorite lunches and I make one at least once a week! Whenever I have leftover chicken in the fridge, I typically will make this recipe or chicken Caesar wraps. It is so good and easy!

Since the weather is warmer I added some grilled corn into mine, but you definitely could leave that out if you prefer. I love the added crunch it gives though. You could also add croutons for a small crunch like I do in my Caesar salad recipe. The more fix in’s in a salad like this or my favorite 7-layer salad recipe, the better in my opinion!

Easy Cobb Salad Ingredients

Make this quick and easy cobb salad in minutes with simple ingredients that are fresh and delicious! It is the best combination of salad with protein, crunchy vegetables, soft cheeses, and flavorful tomatoes. Toss together to create the perfect lunch or dinner!

Ingredients in separate bowls for cobb salad.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • Mixed greens: Any mixed greens will work, like romaine, spinach, or a spring mix. Iceberg lettuce will work too! Clean your mixed greens in cold water, pat dry with paper towels, and chop them up if needed.
  • Chicken: Shredded chicken, grilled chicken, rotisserie or baked chicken are all delicious.
  • Bacon: I love the addition of bacon. You can substitute turkey bacon for a lighter option if desired.
  • Tomatoes: I used sliced cherry tomatoes, but any kind would work. Grape tomatoes work great too!
  • Corn: Corn adds a great crunch. I like to grill my corn for added flavor, but you can also microwave it as well.
  • Avocados: My favorite way to cut an avocado is into slices. You can also dice it as well.
  • Egg: Not only are hard-boiled eggs yummy, but I also like the addition of the added protein. Boil your eggs ahead of time, peel, and slice them into thin sections.
  • Additional add-ins: You can also add in watercress, a chopped red onion, baby corn, or bell peppers for more of a crunch.
  • Garnishes: Cheddar, feta, blue or roquefort cheese, croutons.

How to Make the Perfect Cobb Salad

Make this salad super simple in a pretty bowl or create a fancy side or use it as a main dish salads for dinner with a beautiful platter. Either way, this cobb salad will win all your friends and family over! Add your favorite Cobb salad dressing combination and you have an easy meal in no time.

Cobb salad in a white bowl.
  1. Prepare. Place the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat to medium-high heat. Season the chicken with Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. 
  2. Cook chicken. Place the chicken into the saucepan. Cook for 5-6 minutes per side, or until cooked through the center. 
  3. Slice. Once cooked, remove from the heat and slice into thin strips once slightly cooled.
  4. Asseble. Layer the lettuce in one large bowl, or 4 individual bowls. Top with chicken, tomatoes, avocado, eggs, bacon, corn, and onion. Drizzle the dressing over the top of the salad and toss until combined. S&P, to taste. 

5 star review

“This salad is perfect. So easy and the addition of avocado is just what I need!”

-Allie

Recipe FAQs

What makes a cobb salad?

A cobb salad is an American garden salad that is made with chopped greens, tomatoes, bacon, chicken or turkey, hard-boiled eggs, avocado, and chives, and garnished with blue cheese.

What is the history of the cobb salad?

The cobb salad was born or created in the wee hours of a Hollywood, California morning. Back in 1937 at the Brown Derby restaurant, the owner Bob or Robert Cobb started pulling ingredients from his fridge and making a variation of cobb salad that early morning.

How do you assemble cobb salad?

Start with 1 large bowl or 4 individual-sized bowls. Place the chopped lettuce in the bottom of the bowl, then add sliced chicken, tomatoes, avocado, hard-boiled eggs, bacon, and onion. Drizzle your preferred dressing on top (ranch or blue cheese dressing are my favorites). Then toss the salad to combine.

What types of dressing go on cobb salad?

We love to use classic ranch dressing or bleu cheese, but you could use even a Caesar salad dressing if that is what you like!

Use a lighter dressing like vinaigrette, red wine vinegar, or try a savory dressing like thousand islands. All of these dressings bring out all the flavors from the ingredients.

Favorite Ranch Dressing

I love making a homemade buttermilk ranch dressing for this salad, but you’re welcome to use your favorite store-bought as well. Whisk together all the ingredients in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper and refrigerate 30 minutes before serving.

  • 1 cup mayo
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Cobb salad in a white bowl drizzled with dressing.

Storing the Best Cobb Salad

In separate containers place each of the ingredients in a tight-fitting lid stored in the refrigerator. You can even layer the cobb salad in a jar from the lettuce with each layer until filled to the top. Make this ahead of time and enjoy it all week!

More easy salad recipes I love to make for light meals include this tuna salad, chicken salad, or buffalo chicken salad!

More Delicious Salad Recipes

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cobb salad

Cobb Salad Recipe

5 from 19 votes
↑ Click stars to rate now!
Author: Jamielyn Nye
A delicious cobb salad that's fresh, flavorful and full of your favorite toppings! Makes the perfect lunch or dinner any day of the week. This recipe is a staple at our house.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4

Video

Ingredients 

  • 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts (cut in half horizontally)
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 8 cups romaine lettuce (spinach or spring mix)
  • 1 cup corn
  • 2 tomatoes (sliced or diced)
  • 1 avocado (sliced or diced)
  • 2 hard boiled eggs (sliced or diced)
  • 4 strips of bacon (cooked and crumbled)
  • ¼ cup green onion (sliced thin)

For serving: Ranch dressing (or your favorite dressing)

    Instructions

    • Place the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with the Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. 
    • Place the chicken into the pan. Cook for 5-6 minutes per side, or until cooked through the center. 
    • Once cooked, remove from the heat and slice into thin strips once slightly cooled.
    • Layer the lettuce in one large bowl, or 4 individual bowls. Top with chicken, tomatoes, avocado, eggs, bacon, corn and onion. Drizzle the dressing over the top of the salad and toss until combined. S&P, to taste. 

    Notes

    For homemade ranch dressing: Whisk together 1 cup mayo, 1/2 cup buttermilk, 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon onion powder and 1 teaspoon lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper and refrigerate 30 minutes before serving.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 314kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 129mg | Sodium: 112mg | Potassium: 975mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 9100IU | Vitamin C: 21.2mg | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 2.5mg

    Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

    Course: Salad
    Cuisine: American

    Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!

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