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A Cobb Salad is a classic on so many American restaurant menus and an easy salad to make at home. It is the perfect way to use up leftovers.
What is a Cobb Salad?
A Cobb Salad is a classic American salad made with chopped salad lettuce, tomatoes, hard boiled eggs, bacon and chicken. Tradition says that it originated in 1937 at The Brown Derby in Hollywood, California by it’s owner Mr. Cobb. They story goes that Mr. Cobb had not eaten until near midnight, and so he mixed together leftovers he found in the kitchen, along with some bacon cooked by the line cook, and tossed it with their French dressing. And the Cobb Salad was born!
It is the perfect salad to make to clean out the refrigerator. Although it traditionally has chicken on it, you could use whatever leftover meat you have in the fridge.
What’s in a Cobb Salad?
- Lettuce. I use romaine but you could use any combination of iceberg, kale, spinach or whatever greens you have on hand.
- Bacon. Fried crisp
- Hard boiled eggs. I like to make mine in the Instant Pot.
- Tomatoes. Used diced tomatoes or cherry tomatoes sliced in half.
- Avocado. Sliced or diced
- Cheese. Traditionally it is served with Blue Cheese but I don’t care for it so I usually add some grated Cheddar or Monterey Jack.
- Chicken. I had some leftover Lemon Mustard Chicken and I diced it up for the salad. You can use plain shredded chicken or any leftover meat you might have on hand.
How to Make Cobb Salad
- Fill your serving dish with lettuce and other greens.
- Layer on fried bacon, sliced hard boiled eggs, tomatoes, avocado and chicken.
- Line all the ingredients up on top of the lettuce for a pretty presentation.
- Add salad dressing
Cobb Salad Dressing Recipe
The original Cobb Salad was made with a French dressing and I have a copycat recipe for the original dressing here.
Can I Use Another Kind of Dressing?
A lot of people like to put ranch dressing on it but feel free to use your favorite dressing. I have a great go to balsamic vinaigrette recipe here.
- Mix up all that goodness and enjoy. It is a complete meal!
Frequently Asked Questions
Leave off the chicken and it is a delicious side salad.
You could add any leftover protein you have on hand such as steak, pork, salmon or shrimp.
I don’t care for it either so I use grated Cheddar Cheese or Monterey Jack cheese. You can always serve the salad without cheese too.
Can I Make Cobb Salad Ahead of Time?
You can prepare most of the ingredients several hours to a few days before serving.
- Lettuce. Wash and dry ahead of time and keep refrigerated until ready to use.
- Tomatoes. Chop ahead of time
- Avocado. Wait to chop it up until right before serving as it turns brown.
- Cheese. Grate and keep refrigerated until ready to add.
- Dressing. This can be made several days ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator.
- Bacon. Can be cooked a day ahead of time.
- Chicken. This too can be precooked and kept refrigerated until ready to use. The salad is a great way to use any leftover cooked chicken you have.
- Eggs. Can be made several days ahead of time and kept in the fridge.
Helpful Tips and Tricks
- Don’t add the salad dressing until right before you are ready to serve the salad.
- Chill the salad dressing before using.
For more delicious salad recipes try these:
Cobb Salad
Ingredients
- 2 heads romaine lettuce or combination of greens chopped
- 3 hardboiled eggs
- 1 lb. cooked chicken diced, or other leftover meat
- 2 avocados diced
- 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes cut in half
- Cobb dressing or favorite salad dressing
- 6 slices bacon fried crisp
Instructions
- Place chopped lettuce into serving dish.
- Add chicken, eggs, avocado, tomatoes onto top of lettuce.
- Add dressing and toss.
Tips & Notes:
- Don’t add the salad dressing until right before you are ready to serve the salad.
- Don’t chop the avocado ahead of time as it will turn brown.
- Chill the salad dressing before using.
Nutrition Facts:
Teresa Turner says
I love Cobb salads. All of the ones I have had use ham which I love too. Wonder why they don’t use chicken since the original uses chicken.
Just find that interesting, and wonder if it is because of the part of the country you live in. Iam in the midwest. Love your recipes!