13 Superior Cobb Salads That Will Turn You Into a Salad Freak
Survey the most hardcore salad haters and even they may agree: a Cobb salad is just too good to pass up. Bacon, cheese, avocado, creamy dressing...is there anything better in salad form? Not really. Then you add grilled chicken into the mix and a hearty helping of greens, plus tomatoes, and you have a meal that feels (and tastes) decadent, but still qualifies as a salad. Pure genius.
If you've never had a Cobb salad before, then you're really in for a tasty surprise with these 13 best Cobb salad recipes. Yet before we delve into the all-star Cobb salads in this list, let's begin with the Cobb basics.
What Is a Cobb Salad?
The base of a Cobb salad involves a mixture of lettuce, any favorite chopped, crunchy vegetables you have on hand, as well as crisp bacon, tomatoes, avocado and chicken, all drizzled with your favorite salad dressing. It's a delicious salad that's versatile and easy to make because you can simply use the ingredients you have on hand to create it.
Related: Gwyneth Paltrow and Beyoncé Love This Lobster Cobb Salad
What's the Difference Between a Cobb and Chef Salad?
The Cobb salad is very similar to a Chef salad because they both start with a big bed of lettuce with a mixture of healthy vegetables. A Chef salad starts with lettuce, but its greens aren't mixed and it typically contains ham along with other ingredients not usually found in a Cobb salad.
Who Invented the Cobb Salad?
Cobb salad received its name from a restaurant owner named Robert Cobb. After a long night of service, Chef Cobb was tired and hungry at the Brown Derby in Hollywood, CA. He threw together a bunch of leftover ingredients into a bowl with lettuce and tossed them together with French dressing.
Related: How Much Salad Do You Need Per Guest for Dinner?
How to Make a Cobb Salad
If you enjoy spring mix lettuce, use it as your base for the salad. Otherwise, any combination of iceberg, romaine, kale and spring mix works great. The main protein in a Cobb salad is chicken, which can be grilled, pulled from a rotisserie chicken or baked and shredded chicken breasts. From there, it's as simple as chopping some crispy bacon to add a complementary salty touch to the sweet red peppers and Roma tomatoes. Sliced avocados, hard boiled eggs and red onions also make great additions. Finish it off by topping it with your favorite dressing—anything from red wine vinegar to creamy avocado ranch dressing or balsamic vinaigrette.
Best Cobb Salad Recipes
We have a well-rounded selection of 13 best Cobb salad recipes inside this roundup. Now that you know how easy it is to make, you can easily throw one together for lunch or dinner! Whether you're preparing a classic Cobb salad, or you want to experiment with a Cobb salad twist, there are many tasty options to choose from.
Check out the Cobb Salad Pizza in this list, or Stacked Cobb Salad for an aesthetically pleasing presentation of the salad. Cobb salad can also be transformed into a dip, or dive into a Copycat Chick-fil-A Cobb salad! Another fun twist on the classic is to switch up the meat you use—instead of chicken, try lobster, turkey or ham.
More salad recipes you'll love:
A Reinvented Mom
You can feed a crowd with this salad but you can also pack a punch with protein and flavor + a wonderful dressing to complete the meal. It presents beautifully so have fun picking out your colorful ingredients.
Get the recipe here: Chicken Cobb Salad With Homemade Vinaigrette
Jocelyn Ruggiero
I bet you haven't had a Cobb salad pizza, but you won't be sad to bite into this unique pizza flavor that comes together quick.
Get the recipe here: Cobb Salad Pizza
Duryea's
Lobster and Cobb salad may not be synonymous but they are if you visit Duryea's. Their signature dish spins a new style of Cobb salad that is recommended for those both new to the restaurant and those who came back.
Get the recipe here: Duryea's Lobster Cobb Salad
North Carolina Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes don't just have to be served at a holiday meal or as a side dish. They make a great addition to a Cobb salad and you will be surprised at yet another way to enjoy these orange potatoes.
Get the recipe here: Farmers Market Cobb Salad
Nutmeg Nanny
You can use up leftover ham to make this Cobb salad recipe. Toss in a mixture of greens and uniformly chopped veggies, then enjoy!
Get the recipe here: Ham Cobb Salad
Sheila Lukins
It's ok to change up the ingredients in a Cobb salad so if you prefer turkey to chicken or ham, dice it up and throw it in your salad. Enjoy your meal!
Get the recipe here: Turkey Cobb Salad
The Bojon Gourmet
You can enjoy a Cobb salad with lots of protein like smoky coconut bacon and healthy fats with a ripe avocado and a delicious creamy mustard vinaigrette to marry the textures and flavors.
Get the recipe here: Vegetarian Cobb Salad with Grilled Tofu and Coconut Bacon
Savor the Flavour
You might be craving a cobb salad from Chick-Fil-A but you don't have to run out to get one. The mother-daughter duo have recreated this delicious healthy recipe for you to make at home.
Get the recipe here: Copycat Chick-Fil-A Cobb Salad
I Am Homesteader
If you have trouble eating a salad because it's *eh hem, healthy, you can rest easy knowing you are getting all the good stuff in a dip, because everyone loves dip, that's inspired by the Cobb salad.
Get the recipe here: Southwest Cobb Salad Dip
Cobb Salad with Pears
If you have some canned pears to use up, they are an unexpected way to change up your traditional Cobb salad recipe.
Get the recipe here: Cobb Salad with Pears
Glitter and Graze
Have fun changing up how you deliver your Cobb salad with this aesthetically pleasing stacked version!
Get the recipe here: Stacked Cobb Salad
Mission-Food Adventure
Giving a nod to the place where Cobb salad originated from, this salad recipe is popular at Walt Disney World and now you can create it at home.
Get the recipe here: Hollywood Brown Derby Cobb Salad
Damn Delicious
Try an epic Cobb salad and a drool worthy poppyseed dressing. Try adding some almonds and strawberries to your salad but still keep the traditional avocado and cheese.
Get the recipe here: Kale Cobb Salad
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