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This Classic Cobb Salad is loaded with all the best toppings: chicken, crispy bacon, hard-boiled eggs, avocado, tomatoes, and blue cheese over crisp greens. It comes together fast and eats like a full meal, perfect for an easy lunch or a lighter dinner. Add the dressing of your choice and dig in.
More hearty meal salads: Wedge Salad with Thousand Island | BBQ Chicken Salad | Grilled Steak Salad
Before You Get Started
A Cobb salad is simple to throw together, but a few small things make the difference between fresh and soggy.
- Dress it right before serving. Dressing wilts the greens within a couple of hours, so keep it on the side until you are ready to eat.
- Keep everything bite-sized. Chop the toppings to a similar size so every forkful gets a little of each.
- Pat the greens fully dry. Wet lettuce turns soggy fast and keeps the dressing from sticking.
- Arrange in neat rows, then toss. Lining up the toppings is the classic Cobb look and lets everyone grab their favorites first.
RECIPE WALK-THROUGH
How to Make a Cobb Salad
See the recipe card below for full, detailed instructions
A Cobb is really about prepping a handful of toppings, then arranging them over greens. Here is how I put it together.
Step 1: Cook the Chicken
Cook a boneless chicken breast using your favorite method. I love my Citrus Grilled Chicken for smoky flavor, or keep it simple with my Baked Chicken Breasts.
Let it rest before slicing or dicing so it stays juicy.
Short on time? Shredded rotisserie chicken skips this step entirely. Shrimp, turkey, or ham work too, though swapping in deli meat nudges it closer to a chef salad.
Step 2: Crisp the Bacon
Cook the bacon until the fat renders and it turns crispy, then drain on paper towels and chop.
Bacon cooked in the oven keeps it hands-off and mess-free.
Step 3: Hard-Boil the Eggs
Boil the eggs until the yolks are set, then peel and slice.
My guide to hard-boiled eggs gets perfect yolks every time, and the air fryer works great for a hands-off batch.
Step 4: Prep the Greens and Veggies
Wash and dry the lettuce well, then chop it into bite-sized pieces. Halve the tomatoes, slice the avocado, and crumble the blue cheese.
Not a blue cheese fan? Feta or shredded cheddar work nicely, or skip the cheese and let the avocado carry the creaminess.
Make it your own: A handful of corn and black beans turns it Southwestern, and red onion or fresh chives add a little bite.
Step 5: Pick Your Dressing
The original Cobb was tossed in French dressing, and a simple red wine vinaigrette is still the most classic choice. Ranch and blue cheese are popular too, so use whatever you love.
My homemade vinaigrette comes together in minutes, and my garden salad ranch is a creamy favorite.
Step 6: Arrange and Serve
Spread the greens on a large platter or in a shallow bowl. Line up the chicken, bacon, eggs, tomatoes, avocado, and blue cheese in neat rows.
Drizzle the dressing or serve it on the side, then toss right before eating.
Storage Tips
Storage and Make Ahead
Make ahead. Prep all of the toppings and store them separately in the fridge so you can assemble in minutes. Keep the avocado whole until serving so it does not brown, and leave off the dressing until you are ready to eat.
Storing leftovers. Keep any undressed salad in an airtight container for up to 2 days. A dressed salad wilts within a few hours, so only dress what you plan to eat right away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make a Cobb salad without blue cheese?
Absolutely. Blue cheese is traditional, but feta or shredded cheddar both work well, and plenty of people skip the cheese altogether and let the avocado add the richness.
Can I use rotisserie chicken?
Yes, and it is a great shortcut. Shred or dice a store-bought rotisserie chicken and skip the cooking step. Leftover grilled or baked chicken works too.
What is the best lettuce for a Cobb salad?
The classic version uses a mix of greens like romaine, iceberg, and watercress. Romaine or a crisp greens blend is the easiest everyday option and holds up well under the hearty toppings.
More Meal Salads to Try
If you love this Cobb, try a few of my other favorite meal salads:
- Greek Chicken Salad
- Bibb Lettuce Salad (Bibb & Blue)
- Bacon Avocado Chicken Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
- Panera Green Goddess Salad with Chicken
- Lemon Kale Caesar Salad
Classic Cobb Salad
Ingredients
- 3 strips bacon
- 1 boneless, skinless chicken breast
- 3/4 head iceberg lettuce (or salad greens blend)
- 8 grape tomatoes
- 1/2 avocado
- 2 hard-boiled eggs
- 1 1/2 ounces blue cheese crumbled
- 3 ounces ranch or blue cheese dressing
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Lay the bacon on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake 10 to 12 minutes, until crispy. Drain on paper towels, then chop.
- Meanwhile, heat a grill or skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken, flipping once, about 3 to 4 minutes per side, until it reaches 165 degrees F and is no longer pink. Let rest, then slice or dice.
- Rinse and dry the lettuce, remove the core and outer leaves, and chop into bite-sized pieces. Spread it over a large platter or shallow bowl.
- Halve the tomatoes, slice the eggs, and slice or chop the avocado. Arrange them in neat rows over the lettuce, then add the sliced chicken.
- Crumble the bacon and blue cheese over the top.
- Serve with dressing on the side, tossing just before eating.
Notes
- Prep ahead. Cook the chicken, bacon, and eggs ahead of time and store everything separately so you can assemble in minutes.
- Keep avocado fresh. Leave it whole until serving so it does not brown.
- Storage. Store undressed salad in an airtight container for up to 2 days. A dressed salad wilts within a few hours, so only dress what you plan to eat.
- Easy swaps. Use rotisserie chicken for a shortcut, and swap the blue cheese for feta or cheddar (or skip it and add extra avocado).
- Do not skip the seasoning. A little salt and pepper on the toppings is easy to forget but makes a real difference.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer Kristin Maxwell of “Yellow Bliss Road” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. For accurate calorie counts and other nutritional values, we recommend running the ingredients through your preferred online nutritional calculator. Calories and other nutritional values can vary depending on which brands were used.
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