I love salads that have a lot of “stuff” in them, and the classic Cobb salad certainly fits the bill. It has everything you could want—lettuce, chicken, bacon, avocados, tomatoes, hard-boiled eggs, and blue cheese, all tossed in tangy red wine vinaigrette. The origin of the salad has different accounts, but the most popular story dates back to 1937 when Robert Cobb, the owner of the Brown Derby restaurant in Hollywood, CA, found himself hungry after closing time. He scavenged the fridge and stumbled upon a mix of leftovers—lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, cheese, and hard-boiled eggs. Adding some bacon, he tossed it all together with dressing, creating the iconic Cobb salad, which quickly became a signature dish of the restaurant.
What You’ll Need To Make Cobb Salad
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Make the Dressing
Combine the shallot, vinegar, oil, mustard, salt, pepper, and sugar in a medium jar with a tight-fitting lid.
Screw on the lid and shake vigorously to emulsify. (Alternatively, whisk the ingredients together in a bowl.)
Step 2: Cook the Bacon & Chicken
In a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon.
Stir occasionally until crisp, 6 to 8 minutes.
Use a slotted spoon to transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain, leaving the fat in the pan.
Season the chicken with the salt and add to the bacon fat in a single layer.
Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes. Using the slotted spoon, remove the chicken to a plate and set aside to cool.
Step 3: Assemble the Salad
Put the romaine, chicken, and the tomatoes in a large mixing bowl. Give the dressing a shake to re-emulsify, then add three-quarters of it to the bowl; toss gently to combine. Add more dressing, little by little, until the greens are dressed to your liking. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary.
Arrange the salad mixture on a serving platter or plates. Sprinkle the hard-boiled eggs, avocado, blue cheese (if using), and reserved bacon over the salad. Pass the pepper mill at the table.
You May Also Like
- Caesar Salad
- BLT Salad with Chicken
- Roasted Beet Salad
- Wedge Salad
- Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing
- Kale and Brussels Sprouts Salad with Apples, Walnuts and Parmesan
Classic Cobb
By Jennifer Segal Servings: 6 to 8 Prep Time: 25 Minutes Cook Time: 15 Minutes Total Time: 40 Minutes- 2 tablespoons finely chopped shallots (from 1 medium shallot)
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¾ teaspoon sugar
- 6 slices thick-cut bacon, cut into ½-inch pieces
- 1 pound chicken tenders, cut into ¾-inch pieces
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 romaine hearts, (from one 22-ounce bag), roughly chopped
- 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved if desired
- 4 hard-boiled eggs, diced
- 2 avocados, pitted and diced
- ½ cup crumbled blue cheese (optional)
Make the Vinaigrette: Combine the shallot, vinegar, oil, mustard, salt, pepper, and sugar in a medium jar with a tight-fitting lid; screw on the lid and shake vigorously to emulsify. (Alternatively, whisk the ingredients together in a bowl.)
Make the salad: In a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain, leaving the fat in the pan. Season the chicken with the salt and add to the bacon fat in a single layer; cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes. Using the slotted spoon, remove the chicken to a plate and set aside to cool.
Put the romaine, chicken, and the tomatoes in a large mixing bowl. Give the dressing a shake to re-emulsify, then add three-quarters of it to the bowl; toss gently to combine. Add more dressing, little by little, until the greens are dressed to your liking. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary. Arrange the salad mixture on a serving platter or plates.
Sprinkle the hard-boiled eggs, avocado, blue cheese (if using), and reserved bacon over the salad. Pass the pepper mill at the table.
Make-Ahead Instructions: The vinaigrette can be made 2 days ahead and refrigerated.
Note: You can save yourself a step by purchasing packaged hard-boiled eggs at the grocery store (usually found near the fresh eggs). If you’d like to cook the eggs at home, use this proven method.
