The Cobb salad recipe has been around for decades. There are tons of different versions, but the collection of fundamental elements remains the same.
The salad is loaded with chicken, tomatoes, avocado, blue cheese, and a simple red wine vinegar dressing. It’s delicious, satisfying, and hits various flavors and textures.
Even better, this recipe is easy to make at home and can be customized based on what you have in the refrigerator.
What Is Cobb Salad?
The original Cobb salad was developed by Robert Cobb in the late 1930s for his restaurant in Los Angeles. Rumor has it the salad was created when he stumbled into the kitchen late one night and made a meal with all the ingredients he had on hand.
So what exactly did he combine to make this delicious salad? This salad features amazing flavor and texture: crunchy lettuce, juicy chicken, silky-smooth avocado, creamy boiled eggs, tangy blue cheese, and a pour of vinegar-based dressing on top.
Is Cobb Salad Healthy?
Yes, our Cobb salad is healthy.
The salad is protein-packed with baked chicken, hard-boiled eggs, cheese, and raw vegetables, resulting in a bowl full of essential nutrients.
Plus, due to the protein components included, this flavorful and colorful salad can help you stay fuller for longer. It can stand as both a light main meal and an appetizer.
We also carefully calculated the sodium and fat content in the dish to ensure a tasty yet healthy recipe. Only 2 tablespoons of olive oil and ⅛ teaspoon of salt are used in the dressing, providing the taste while keeping the nutritional value aligned with the current USDA’s Dietary Guidelines.
Cobb Salad Ingredients
So what are the ingredients in this famous salad? The classic components in an original Cobb salad recipe are as follows:
- Greens: Like most salads, Cobb salad uses leafy green lettuce like romaine, watercress, endive, or iceberg for a foundation. However, feel free to use your favorite mix of greens or any types available in your fridge.
- Chicken: You can go with either fried, roasted, or grilled chicken. Turkey is another popular option, especially when you have leftovers from a holiday meal. In this recipe, we used a combination of garlic, onion, and paprika for an extra burst of meaty flavor.
- Eggs: We would say hard-boiled eggs are standard for this Cobb salad recipe, but go with your gut for your salad plate. Check out our How to Boil Eggs recipe to choose your favorite types of egg yolks and cooking time.
- Avocados: Ripe avocados are full of fiber and healthy fat, and offer the dish just the right amount of creaminess. Pro tip: Avocados should only be sliced shortly before serving to prevent the discoloration caused by air exposure.
- Tomatoes: We love cherry and grape tomatoes since they hit a sweet spot and come with different vivid colors, making the salad even more visually appealing.
- Cheese: Blue cheese is in the original Cobb salad for its rich, tangy punch. There are a host of blue cheeses to opt for: Roquefort with a robust flavor or Gorgonzola — much milder in taste. If you aren’t a fan of sharp blue cheese, crumbled feta will also work beautifully in this recipe.
Cobb Salad Dressing
Traditionally, Cobb salad is served with red wine vinegar dressing which is still popular today. The list of ingredients is quite simple: olive oil, honey, pepper, mustard, red wine vinegar, and salt.
The Cobb salad dressing is a superstar in this recipe. This sweet-tangy blend is light and fresh and perfectly mingles all layers of flavor together.
How to Make Cobb Salad
The elegant Cobb salad is easy to make at home. All you have to do is prepare some ingredients and master the vinegar dressing. Here is how to make the dish:
Season the chicken.
Cook the chicken.
Make the dressing.
Slice the chicken.
Layer the vegetables and chicken on a plate. Drizzle the dressing.
Garnish with the parsley. Serve.
For the detailed instructions, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of this article.
Jump to RecipeHow Long Does This Salad Last?
Like other fresh homemade salads, Cobb salad is best to be consumed within 2 hours of making. If you struggle with keeping the salad for longer, we have some tips to save your greens.
Ensuring the salad stays fresh is a matter of keeping the components dry. It would be best to pack the dressing separately and only slice avocado when ready to have the dish. This way, refrigerated Cobb salad can last for up to 2 – 3 days without any significant degradation in quality and taste.
What to Eat With This Salad
Including proteins, vegetables, and fruits, this Cobb salad is satisfying and filling enough for a light meal. You can also serve it as a side dish at your cookout or with a weeknight dinner. It makes a refreshing contrast to grilled and roasted meats, building a great taste experience.
For more salad recipe ideas, have a look at our best salad recipes.
Cobb Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 oz boneless skin-on chicken thigh
- 1/2 tsp garlic chopped
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp salt divided
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp honey
- 1/4 tsp ground pepper
- 1 tsp traditional Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 4 oz romaine lettuce
- 1 oz red onion sliced
- 4 oz avocado sliced
- 4 oz cherry tomatoes halved
- 2 large boiled eggs sliced
- 0.5 oz blue cheese cubed
- 2 tbsp parsley chopped
Instructions
- Season the chicken with ½ tsp garlic, ½ tsp paprika, ¼ tsp garlic powder, ¼ tsp onion powder, and ⅛ tsp salt.
- Air fry chicken at 380 ℉ for 10 minutes.
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp honey, ¼ tsp ground pepper, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1 tbsp red wine vinegar, and the remaining ⅛ tsp salt until well combined.
- Cut the chicken into 0.5-inch slices.
- Layer 4 oz romaine lettuce, 1 oz red onion, 4 oz avocado, 4 oz cherry tomatoes, 2 large boiled eggs, and 0.5 oz blue cheese on a salad plate. Drizzle the vinegar dressing over the salad.
- Garnish with 2 tbsp chopped parsley. Serve.
Nutrition
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