RecipesLettuce › Classic Cobb Salad

Classic Cobb Salad

The definitive American composed salad, invented at the Brown Derby in Hollywood and still irresistible today. Crisp romaine and iceberg lettuce are topped with rows of chicken, bacon, hard-boiled eggs, avocado, tomatoes, and blue cheese, then drizzled with a tangy red wine vinaigrette.

45 min (25 min prep, 20 min cook)Serves 4mediumSalads

Ingredients

  • 1 head romaine lettuce, finely chopped
  • ½ head iceberg lettuce, finely chopped
  • 12 oz chicken breast, cooked and dicedRotisserie chicken
  • 6 slices bacon strips, cooked crispy and crumbled
  • 3 large hard-boiled eggs, peeled and diced
  • 1 large avocado, pitted and diced
  • 2 medium roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
  • 3 oz blue cheese, crumbledFeta for a milder option
  • 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 pinch salt and pepper, to taste

Contains: eggs, fish, milk, mustard, sulphites.

Method

  1. Cook chicken: season breast with salt and pepper and sear in a hot skillet with a little oil over medium-high heat, 6-7 minutes per side until cooked through. Rest 5 minutes, then dice. Alternatively, use rotisserie chicken.About 20 min
  2. Make the vinaigrette: whisk red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper together. Slowly whisk in olive oil until emulsified.About 3 min
  3. Combine the chopped romaine and iceberg in a large wide bowl or on a serving platter. Drizzle lightly with about a third of the dressing and toss to coat the base.About 3 min
  4. Arrange the toppings in neat rows across the salad: chicken, bacon, eggs, avocado, tomatoes, and blue cheese. Drizzle extra dressing over the top and serve at the table, letting guests toss their own portions.About 7 min

Tips

  • Chopping the lettuce finely — rather than tearing — is traditional for a Cobb salad and makes each bite more cohesive.
  • Arrange the toppings in separate rows for a beautiful, restaurant-style presentation.
  • Toss the diced avocado with a little lemon juice to prevent browning.

Ring the changes

  • Replace chicken and bacon with grilled shrimp and avocado for a lighter seafood Cobb.

Keeping it

Store each component separately in the refrigerator. Assembled but undressed salad keeps for 1 day. Once dressed, serve immediately. Vinaigrette keeps for 1 week.

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Tony C Smith
Tony C Smith

Allotment keeper in the North East of England, the voice behind the Tony C Smith YouTube channel, and the gardener who built GrowMore CookMore. Club numbers on this page update as members log their plots. Last updated 6 April 2026.