This Chicken Cobb Salad is a protein-packed, flavor-loaded meal perfect for lunch or dinner! Crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, tender chicken, crispy bacon, boiled eggs, creamy avocado, and crumbled blue cheese come together with the best homemade Cobb Salad Dressing for a stunning and satisfying dish.
Why You’ll Love This Salad
- Meal-Worthy: Packed with protein and fresh veggies, it’s filling enough to serve as a main course.
- Versatile: Swap proteins, cheeses, or dressings to fit your taste.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: Prep ingredients in advance for quick assembly.
- Classic American Favorite: Inspired by Bob Cobb’s original 1937 creation at the Brown Derby Restaurant.
Ingredients
Chicken Cobb Salad (serves 6 as a side salad):
- 6 slices (6 oz) bacon, chopped and cooked
- 1 medium head romaine lettuce (5 cups), chopped, rinsed, and dried
- 2 cooked chicken breasts*
- 2 hard-boiled eggs
- 1 large avocado, sliced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup blue cheese, crumbled (or feta)
- 2 Tbsp parsley, finely chopped
Cobb Salad Dressing:
- 3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 garlic clove, pressed or minced
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Cook Protein:
- Bake, air fry, or sauté bacon until crisp. Drain on paper towels.
- Cook chicken as desired (bake, grill, or use rotisserie) and slice.
- Hard-boil eggs, cool in ice water, peel, and quarter.
- Prepare Lettuce:
- Chop, rinse, and spin dry romaine lettuce. Arrange it on a shallow platter.
- Assemble Salad:
- Arrange chicken, eggs, avocado, tomatoes, onion, blue cheese, and bacon in rows over the lettuce.
- Sprinkle with finely chopped parsley.
- Make Dressing:
- Combine balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic, olive oil, salt, and pepper in a mason jar. Shake well.
- Drizzle over salad just before serving or let guests add their own.
Tips & Variations
- Chicken Options: Use baked chicken breasts, rotisserie chicken, or shredded meat from an Instant Pot whole chicken.
- Cheese Swap: Substitute blue cheese with feta if preferred.
- Make Ahead: Cook bacon, chicken, eggs, and prep lettuce in advance. Store separately and assemble before serving.
- Serving Suggestion: This salad is perfect as a main dish, side salad, or for potlucks.