Classic Cobb Salad

Classic Cobb Salad

The quintessential American steakhouse salad — a hearty, satisfying bowl of crisp romaine, smoky bacon, creamy avocado, hard-boiled eggs, juicy chicken, crumbled blue cheese, and ripe tomatoes, all arranged in beautiful rows and drizzled with a tangy red wine vinaigrette. This home-friendly version is straightforward, reliable, and endlessly customizable.

4 servings · Prep 25 min · Cook 20 min · Total 45 min

Salad

Main

  • 2 large romaine lettuce hearts chopped into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts cooked and diced (see steps)
  • 6 slices thick-cut bacon cooked and crumbled
  • 4 large eggs hard-boiled and quartered
  • 2 ripe avocados pitted, peeled, and diced
  • 2 Roma tomatoes seeded and diced
  • 4 oz blue cheese crumbled
  • 3 stalks green onions thinly sliced
  • 0.5 tsp kosher salt for seasoning chicken
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper freshly ground, for seasoning chicken
  • 1 tbsp olive oil for cooking chicken

Vinaigrette

  • 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp honey
  • 1 clove garlic finely minced or grated
  • 0.5 tsp kosher salt
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper freshly ground
  • 0.5 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Equipment

  • Stovetop
  • Saucepan
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Skillet
  • Pot
  • Paper Towel
  • Platter
  • Whisk
  • Plates
  • Knife
  • Serving Platters (Large)
  • Tongs
  • Cutting Board
  • Saucepan (1 Quart)
  • Mixing Bowl (4 Quarts)
  • Meat Thermometer

Instructions

  1. Cook the @[Bacon]: Lay the @[Bacon] slices in a cold large #[Skillet]. Turn the heat to ^[medium] and cook, flipping occasionally, until crispy, about ~[8–10 minutes]. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Once cool, crumble into bite-sized pieces.
  2. Hard-boil the @[Eggs]: Place @[Eggs] in a medium #[Saucepan] and cover with cold water by 1 inch. Bring to a full boil over ^[medium-high] heat, then immediately cover, remove from heat, and let sit for ~[12 minutes]. Transfer @[Eggs] to a bowl of ice water for ~[5 minutes], then peel and quarter.
  3. Cook the @[Chicken]: Pat the @[Chicken] dry and season both sides with @[Kosher Salt] and @[Black Pepper]. Heat 1 tablespoon of @[Olive Oil] in the same #[Skillet] over ^[medium-high] heat. Cook the @[Chicken] for ~[6–7 minutes] per side, until golden and cooked through to an internal temperature of %[165°F]. Let rest ~[5 minutes], then dice into ½-inch cubes.
  4. Prep the remaining toppings: Dice the @[Ripe Avocados] and @[Roma Tomatoes]. Slice the @[Green Onions]. Chop the @[Romaine Lettuce] and spread it in an even layer across a large salad bowl or platter.
  5. In a small #[Mixing Bowl], combine the @[Red Wine Vinegar], @[Dijon Mustard], @[Honey], @[Garlic], @[Kosher Salt], and @[Black Pepper]. Whisk together until smooth. Slowly drizzle in the @[Olive Oil] while whisking constantly until the dressing is emulsified and slightly thickened. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
  6. Arrange the toppings in neat rows over the @[Romaine Lettuce]: @[Chicken], @[Bacon], hard-boiled @[Eggs], @[Ripe Avocados], @[Roma Tomatoes], @[Blue Cheese], and @[Green Onions]. This is the classic Cobb presentation — each ingredient in its own stripe across the salad.
  7. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad just before serving, or serve it on the side so guests can dress their own portions. Toss gently at the table to combine, or serve as-is for the full visual effect.