Cobb Salad Recipe: The Classic American Dish Done Right 2026

The Cobb salad is one of those American classics that has traveled the world and picked up countless variations along the way. The original lineup is hard to beat: crisp lettuce, cooked chicken, smoky bacon, cherry tomatoes, hard-boiled eggs, creamy avocado and blue cheese, all brought together with a sharp vinaigrette.

Legend has it that Robert H. Cobb invented it one night by raiding the fridge to put together a light dinner from whatever he had on hand. That spirit is worth keeping: feel free to adapt the ingredients to your taste or to whatever you have in the refrigerator.

Ingredients for Cobb Salad

This makes 2 generous main-course servings.

• 3 slices bacon
• 2 medium eggs
• 100 g cooked chicken
• 8 cherry tomatoes
• 1 avocado
• 2 spring onions
• 100 g iceberg lettuce
• 50 g gorgonzola cheese
• 1 tablespoon mustard
• 60 ml extra virgin olive oil
• ½ tablespoon red wine vinegar
• Salt
• Ground black pepper

How to Make Cobb Salad Step by Step

1. Brown the bacon

Brown the 3 slices of bacon in a dry skillet over medium-high heat for 1 to 2 minutes. Set them aside, and once they are cool, cut them into pieces.

2. Boil the eggs

Cook the 2 medium eggs for 10 minutes in boiling water. Let them cool, peel them and cut them into quarters.

3. Cut the chicken

Cut the 100 g of cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces so it distributes evenly across the salad.

4. Cut the tomatoes

Halve the 8 cherry tomatoes and set them aside with the other prepared ingredients.

5. Cut the avocado

Peel the avocado, remove the pit and cut the flesh into slices or cubes.

6. Cut the spring onions

Trim the 2 spring onions and slice them into thin rings.

7. Emulsify the dressing

Make the dressing by putting 1 tablespoon of mustard, 60 ml of extra virgin olive oil, ½ tablespoon of red wine vinegar, salt and ground black pepper into a jar with a lid. Close the jar and shake to emulsify.

8. Arrange on a plate and dress

Spread the 100 g of iceberg lettuce over a wide plate and arrange the remaining ingredients in rows, including the 50 g of gorgonzola broken into pieces. Serve immediately with the emulsified dressing on the side.

Tips for the Best Cobb Salad

Adapt to what you have

This salad is built for flexibility, so swap in whatever is in your refrigerator. Keep the row-by-row presentation for the classic look, but let the ingredient list follow your taste.

Cook the bacon dry

Fry the bacon in a skillet without added oil over medium-high heat so it crisps in its own fat. Let it cool completely before chopping so the pieces stay neat.

Dress at the last moment

Shake the dressing in its closed jar until it emulsifies, then serve it alongside the salad. Add it right before eating so the lettuce stays crisp.

30 Top Dishes I Enjoy Cooking at Home

Much like me, you probably like having a rotation of fuss-free comfort dishes, well-known global plates, and desserts that please a crowd.

When a rich, indulgent treat is what I'm after, I tend to reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a luscious Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And any time a fruity, cozy dessert sounds good, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my go-to.

On mornings when I want something quick and on lighter days, I'll whip up these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And for a gluten-free staple to keep in the pantry, I'm fond of making this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe.

For tapas nights and Mediterranean flavors, I switch between this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, crunchy Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, silky Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This crisp Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is another one I love to serve when the occasion calls for something a bit fancier.

Come lunchtime cravings or a cozy evening meal, I'm quick to suggest this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, deeply savory Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and velvety Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. Should I be after something more substantial, I'll bake this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Any time street-food style or party-ready plates are calling, I'll usually fix this succulent Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crispy Salchipapas recipe, punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These simple Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe are another favorite of mine to set out as a light starter or snack.

And when drinks plus a whole spread are on the agenda for company, I'll typically serve dinner alongside this cooling Original Cuban Mojito recipe, this strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. Then to fill out the table, I like to add this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe on the side or finish things off with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Additional Tasty Recipes to Cook for Loved Ones

After years of trying and tweaking recipes in my own kitchen, I've come to see that the greatest dishes balance ease, dependable methods, and big flavor.

The recipes gathered here are the very ones I keep coming back to, time and again—whether I'm throwing together a fast meal just for me or putting on something memorable for friends and family.

For a sweet finish, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is one I turn to whenever I want something elegant yet effortless. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, inspired by the famous Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture comes in handy, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe shows exactly how I make it at home.

Whenever something light and uncomplicated is what I'm craving, I reach for the familiar Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For fuller comfort meals, I'm quick to point to the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the creamy Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the speedy weeknight winner One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm equally fond of passing along dishes rooted in tradition from across the globe, among them the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crisp Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the timeless Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another area I return to often, since it cuts down on time while still delivering excellent texture. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that baked pasta classics can still be indulgent, cheesy, and deeply satisfying minus the gluten.

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