Easy Chicken Cobb Salad with the best homemade Cobb Salad Dressing! This protein-packed salad is a meal in itself loaded with crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, chicken, bacon, boiled eggs, creamy avocado and crumbled blue cheese.

You will want the easy Balsamic Vinaigrette on all of your salads. Watch the video tutorial below and you will be craving it.

Cobb salad on a platter with chicken, bacon, lettuce, avocado, tomatoes, blue cheese and dressing in a mason jar

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What is a Cobb Salad?

The original Cobb Salad was developed by Bob Cobb in 1937 for his Brown Derby Restaurant in Los Angeles. It has become a famous American dish and is similar to a Chef’s Salad. It starts with a bed of green lettuce with rows of ingredients arranged over the top just like we did in our Salmon Cobb Salad, and it is served with a vinaigrette.

Cobb Salad Ingredients:

We love using cooked Chicken Breast from our Juicy Instant Pot Whole Chicken but a store-bought rotisserie chicken works great to save time and the only thing you have to cook is the bacon and hard-boiled eggs. This is one super satisfying salad. Since it has so much protein, you can eat it as a main course or as a side salad.

Cobb salad ingredients with chicken, lettuce, bacon, avocado, cheese and dressing

Can I Substitute the Blue Cheese?

The cheese of choice for the original Cobb Salad is blue cheese. We used a gorgonzola blue cheese but a Roquefort or other blue cheese would work as well. If you aren’t a fan of blue cheese, a crumbled feta would work here also.

What is the Best Cobb Salad Dressing?

A vinaigrette is the classic dressing for Cobb Salad. We use a homemade balsamic vinaigrette here. If you wanted to substitute the dressing, our Avocado Ranch or Jalapeno Ranch would work well. If using a creamy ranch-based dressing, I would recommend using feta cheese instead of blue cheese.

Cobb salad served on a plate with chicken and cobb salad dressing drizzled over the top

Can I Make Cobb Salad Ahead?

You can make the salad and the dressing 2-3 hours ahead of your dinner. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Keep the salad and dressing separate until ready to serve. Here are some make-ahead tips:

  • Dressing – make this in a mason jar so you can shake it well just before serving in case it separates. Serve it right out of the mason jar.
  • Lettuce can be rinsed and dried ahead (a salad Spinner works best), then refrigerate until ready to use.
  • Avocado should be sliced shortly before serving since avocado tends to discolor when it comes in contact with air.
  • Chicken Breast can be pre-cooked and chilled (or use meat from a store-bought rotisserie chicken to save time).
  • Bacon can be browned ahead. Drain on paper towels and refrigerate until ready to use.
  • Eggs can be made several days in advance. Cook hard-boiled eggs and refrigerate until ready to use.

Cobb Salad and dressing made ahead and arranged on a platter

This Chicken Cobb Salad is easy to assemble but sure looks stunning when served. Everything about this salad is good! This homemade version blows the Chick Fil a Cobb Salad and Cheesecake Factory’s salad out of the water.

More Top-Rated Salad Recipes:

Watch the Cobb Salad Video Tutorial:

I hope this Chicken Cobb Salad recipe becomes a new favorite salad for you. If you enjoyed this video, please subscribe to our Youtube Channel and make sure to click the bell icon so you can be the first to know when we post a new video.

Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

Cobb Salad with the Best Cobb Salad Dressing

5 from 179 votes
Chicken Cobb Salad on a platter with salad dressing in a mason jar
Easy Chicken Cobb Salad with the Best Homemade Cobb Salad Dressing! This protein-packed salad is a meal in itself loaded with crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, chicken, bacon, boiled eggs, creamy avocado and crumbled blue cheese.
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 4 people as a side salad

Chicken Cobb Salad Ingredients:

  • 6 oz bacon, (6 slices) chopped and browned
  • 1 medium head romaine lettuce, 5 cups chopped, rinsed and dried
  • 2 cooked chicken breasts, from a cooked chicken
  • 2 hard-boiled eggs
  • 1 large avocado, sliced
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup blue cheese, crumbled (or feta cheese)
  • 2 Tbsp parsley, finely chopped

Cobb Salad Dressing:

Instructions

  • Sautee chopped bacon on a skillet until browned and crisp (5 min), then transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate to cool. Cook 2 hard-boiled eggs then peel and quarter.
  • Chop, rinse and spin dry romaine lettuce and arrange on a platter. Arrange remaining salad ingredients (chicken, eggs, avocado, tomatoes, onion, blue cheese, and bacon) in rows over salad then sprinkle the finely chopped parsley over the salad.
  • Transfer dressing ingredients to a mason jar and shake like crazy. Drizzle over salad just before serving or let guests add their own dressing to taste.

Nutrition Per Serving

711kcal Calories12g Carbs50g Protein51g Fat14g Saturated Fat221mg Cholesterol1261mg Sodium905mg Potassium4g Fiber4g Sugar1326IU Vitamin A18mg Vitamin C140mg Calcium3mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Cobb Salad with the Best Cobb Salad Dressing
Amount per Serving
Calories
711
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
51
g
78
%
Saturated Fat
 
14
g
88
%
Cholesterol
 
221
mg
74
%
Sodium
 
1261
mg
55
%
Potassium
 
905
mg
26
%
Carbohydrates
 
12
g
4
%
Fiber
 
4
g
17
%
Sugar
 
4
g
4
%
Protein
 
50
g
100
%
Vitamin A
 
1326
IU
27
%
Vitamin C
 
18
mg
22
%
Calcium
 
140
mg
14
%
Iron
 
3
mg
17
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Cobb Salad
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $$
Calories: 711

If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen

Natasha Kravchuk

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.

Read more posts by Natasha

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Fatima Lubrino
    March 22, 2024

    Thank you so much for all your easy to make recipes. Breathtaking yummy recipes.

    Reply

  • Diane Davidson
    March 7, 2024

    Hi Natasha, I have made several of your recipes and love them all! I plan to make this salad and the dressing for company. One question about the salad dressing – is there anything I can substitute instead of the Dijon mustard to give it the right consistency? Thank you!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 7, 2024

      Hi Diane, we prefer it with dijon but you can try regular or honey mustard. Honey mustard will make it a tad sweeter. Mustard has a milder flavor, but either will work and you can add or adjust the seasoning to your liking. I hope this helps.

      Reply

  • Kimberly A Koval
    October 16, 2023

    Love this salad and dressing! Have been making consistently since I learned about it. Everyone raves about the salad dressing! So tasty and without the “bad stuff” that’s found in store bought.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      October 16, 2023

      So glad to hear that!

      Reply

  • Denise
    October 13, 2023

    Hi, I was just wondering if I could possibly reuse ranch and is there another type of cheese I could use I don’t care for blue cheese or feta. Would you be so kind as to maybe suggest another type of cheese thank you you are so bubbly in your videos such a sweet disposition that’s always great.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      October 13, 2023

      Hi Denise. Yes, you can use ranch if you’d like. Any cheese can be substituted. We prefer to use crumbly cheeses but you can use whatever cheese you like.

      Reply

  • Angelina Shishko
    August 15, 2023

    Such a delicious salad. Hubby who doesnt really like to eat salads for dinner said he loved this one several times! Thank you for sharing awesome recipes!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      August 15, 2023

      That’s wonderful! We sure do love loaded salads like this one!

      Reply

  • Robert Riddell
    July 28, 2023

    This looks delicious. How many adults will this feed as a main course?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 28, 2023

      Hi Robert. This likely would serve 2 as a main dish.

      Reply

  • Russell
    June 2, 2023

    Thank you for such refreshing salads !! Always tasty goodies.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      June 3, 2023

      You’re welcome, Russell. I’m glad you’re enjoying them.

      Reply

  • jennifer ward
    March 13, 2023

    I’ve been looking for your recipe for a homemade salad dressing that has honey in it I thought this was it for the cobb salad but its not it seems like it had apple cyder vinegar in it but I’m not sure. Do you know which one I’m talking about we ate it all summer a couple years ago

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 13, 2023

      Hi Jennifer, Have you tried our Homemade Italian Dressing? We have a note in the recipe that says: “If you are looking for a natural alternative, you can substitute the sugar for 1 tsp honey.” I hope this helps!

      Reply

  • Cynthia Dehn
    February 27, 2023

    I made the egg roll recipe it was out of this world …thank u again for sharing the recipe

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 27, 2023

      You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Cynthia!

      Reply

  • Christine
    February 9, 2023

    I would personally add alil heavy cream to the balsamic to make it a creamy version. I just might do that.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 9, 2023

      Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Christine! I hope you love this recipe!

      Reply

  • Jan
    January 9, 2023

    Really like the Cobb salad and dressing. I make individual sized salads to bring for lunch at work.
    I made a larger batch of the dressing so I can just use a little each day.
    Does the dressing require refrigeration? I refrigerated it as I was only using a little each day and the consistency was like mud. Once it sits out for a while it becomes more liquified so I was wondering if it needed to be refrigerated at all?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 9, 2023

      That’s a great idea to make lunch portions to-go! The dressing will do fine in the fridge for a few days.

      Reply

    • Rhspan
      February 10, 2023

      It’s the olive oil.. once refrigerated it solidifies.. try canola oil if you want to make a larger batch.

      Reply

  • Pam
    November 12, 2022

    I made this salad today for a girls getaway tomorrow. Poor thing. 😥😉 It never stood a chance. I must admit I ate pretty much the entire salad minus a lot of the chicken and bacon. My husband only likes the meats and dressing. I’m okay with that. Thanks for this delicious work of art.

    Reply

  • Susan
    November 10, 2022

    I have just seen this picture of your salad on a facebook group called Cooking and Baking with the claim that a 16yr old boy made it. It’s the second time that I have seen one of your pictures on there with claims that a young person made it. A couple of posters have commented that it is on your site. I don’t know why people do this. Keep up the good work, your recipes and videos are superb.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      November 10, 2022

      Oh no, thank you for the heads up. Would you be able to email us the details of this post?

      Reply

      • Josephine B
        October 14, 2023

        Hi Natasha, I see that the comment from Susan above was posted 10th November 2022 also your reply on the same date. Now, today I’ve also seen it on Facebook, so thought I’d give you another heads-up. Actually, because I saw it on FB and thought it such a beautiful looking salad that’s what drew me to check you out, so the FB posting was a blessing in disguise for me, but not so mush for you. Anyway, I’m definitely going to check out MORE on your site, thank you for sharing all your beautiful recipes and I’ll keep my eyes open for you.

        Reply

  • Dana
    October 22, 2022

    Damn, mighty delicious and super easy! Tip for the eggs: 4 mins in the Instant Pot yields delish hard boiled eggs and SUPREMELY easy to peel!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      October 22, 2022

      Thank you for sharing, Dana! 🙂

      Reply

  • Deb
    October 7, 2022

    Thank you for this fabulous recipe and especially the picture. I studied and did my best to copy it for a beautiful presentation.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      October 8, 2022

      You’re welcome, Deb! Thank you for trying my recipe. I’m glad you loved it.

      Reply

  • Joan
    July 14, 2022

    I can’t wait to make this salad. Where do you get your salad serving bowls? I love this oval one and also the round one. What size are they? Thanks so much for all the yummy recipes!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      July 14, 2022

      Hi Joan! Thank you for that compliment! I hope you make the recipe soon, I look forward to your feedback! You can find our favorite kitchen tools in our Amazon Affiliate Shop HERE.

      Reply

  • Annette
    June 20, 2022

    Delicious! Made this for a ladies lunch and it was a big hit. The salad dressing is very tasty. Thanks for sharing it.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      June 20, 2022

      I’m so happy it was a hit, Annette! Thank you so much for sharing that with me!

      Reply

  • Patricia
    June 20, 2022

    I had this salad at a friend’s home last week. It was delicious and I fully intend to make it myself soon. So good!

    Reply

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