Classic American Cobb Salad Bowl (Printer-Friendly)

Hearty American salad with grilled chicken, bacon, avocado, blue cheese, and eggs over fresh greens.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Protein

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 4 slices bacon

→ Vegetables & Greens

03 - 6 cups mixed salad greens (romaine, iceberg, arugula)
04 - 1 large avocado, diced
05 - 2 medium tomatoes, diced
06 - 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced

→ Dairy & Eggs

07 - 4 large eggs
08 - 3 ounces blue cheese, crumbled

→ Dressing

09 - 1/2 cup ranch dressing

→ Other

10 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
11 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Brush chicken breasts with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill for 6 to 7 minutes per side until fully cooked. Let rest for 2 minutes, then slice thinly.
02 - While chicken cooks, place bacon in a skillet over medium heat and cook until crisp, approximately 8 to 10 minutes. Drain on paper towels and chop into bite-sized pieces.
03 - Place eggs in a saucepan, cover with cold water, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat and simmer for 8 to 9 minutes. Transfer to cold running water, peel, and quarter.
04 - Arrange salad greens in a large serving bowl or divide equally among 4 individual bowls.
05 - Neatly arrange grilled chicken, bacon, avocado, tomatoes, red onion, blue cheese, and egg quarters in rows or sections over the greens for visual appeal.
06 - Drizzle with ranch dressing immediately before serving, or offer dressing on the side to allow individual preference.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks restaurant-worthy but comes together faster than takeout delivery.
  • Every bite has texture and flavor because you're actually tasting each ingredient instead of dressing-soaked mush.
  • You can prep everything ahead and assemble right before eating, which means less stress when feeding people.
02 -
  • Avocado oxidizes quickly and turns brown, so slice it literally minutes before assembly, or toss it lightly with lemon juice to buy yourself a little time.
  • The secret that actually changed everything for me was roasting the chicken instead of boiling it, hot grill marks make people believe you're a better cook than you are.
03 -
  • Toast your blue cheese lightly in a skillet with a bit of butter before serving and it becomes something almost creamy and complex, sounds weird but changes the entire flavor profile.
  • Buy pre-cooked rotisserie chicken if you're short on time and shred it instead of slicing, nobody will judge you and it tastes good with everything else here.
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