Hamdi Saidani This Pioneer Woman Cobb Salad is a classic and loaded recipe, which is made with grilled chicken and crispy bacon. It’s the perfect lunch, ready in about 30 minutes, plus chilling time for the dressing.
Pioneer Woman Cobb Salad Ingredients
For the Blue Cheese Dressing:
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 3 dashes Worcestershire sauce
- 2 Tbsp. chopped chives
- 4 oz. blue cheese crumbles
- 1 dash salt
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
For the Chicken:
- Olive oil, for drizzling
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced in half horizontally to make 4 thin pieces
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
For the Salad:
- 1 head Bibb lettuce, leaves separated
- 2 heads romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 head iceberg lettuce, cut into chunks
- 1 lb. bacon, fried until crisp and chopped
- 8 oz. red grape tomatoes, halved
- 6 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and sliced
- 2 avocados, diced
- 1/3 cup blue cheese crumbles
- 3 scallions, chopped
- Black pepper, to taste
How To Make Pioneer Woman Cobb Salad
- Make the Blue Cheese Dressing: In a bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, and Worcestershire sauce until smooth. Stir in the chives, blue cheese crumbles, salt, and pepper. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld.
- Grill the Chicken: Heat a grill pan or heavy skillet over medium-high heat and drizzle with olive oil. Season the thin chicken cutlets with salt and pepper, then grill for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until fully cooked. Set aside to cool slightly before slicing.
- Assemble the Salad: On a large platter or in a large shallow bowl, arrange the Bibb, romaine, and iceberg lettuce. Arrange the chopped bacon, halved tomatoes, sliced eggs, and diced avocados in distinct rows or piles over the lettuce. Pile the extra blue cheese crumbles in the center.
- Garnish and Serve: Scatter the chopped scallions over the entire salad and sprinkle with a little black pepper. Drizzle the chilled blue cheese dressing all over the salad just before serving.
Recipe Tips
- How to make the best blue cheese dressing? The secret is time. Letting the dressing chill for at least two hours, as the recipe directs, is crucial. This allows the flavors of the chives and blue cheese to fully infuse into the creamy base.
- Can I use a different kind of chicken? Absolutely. For a super quick and easy shortcut, you can use shredded rotisserie chicken instead of grilling your own.
- How to make perfect hard-boiled eggs? Place eggs in a saucepan and cover with cold water by one inch. Bring to a rolling boil, then immediately turn off the heat, cover the pan, and let it stand for 10-12 minutes. Transfer the eggs to an ice bath to stop the cooking process, which also makes them easier to peel.
- Can I prepare this salad ahead of time? Cobb salad is best assembled right before serving. However, you can prepare all the components ahead of time: make the dressing, cook and chop the bacon and chicken, and hard-boil the eggs. Store them in separate containers in the refrigerator, and then assemble the salad when you’re ready to eat. Wait to slice the avocado until the last minute to prevent browning.
What To Serve With Cobb Salad
This salad is a hearty and complete meal on its own, but it also pairs nicely with:
- A warm, crusty bread roll or garlic bread
- A cup of a simple soup, like tomato or potato leek
- Cornbread muffins
How To Store Cobb Salad
- Best Eaten Fresh: A dressed Cobb salad is best enjoyed immediately.
- Storing Components: If you have leftovers, it’s best to store the individual components in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator. They will stay fresh for up to 3 days, allowing you to assemble a fresh salad quickly.
Pioneer Woman Cobb Salad Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 650 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Protein: 40g
- Fat: 48g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Sodium: 1300mg
- Sugar: 8g
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
What makes a Cobb salad a Cobb salad?
A traditional Cobb salad is a main-dish garden salad that consists of chopped salad greens, tomato, crisp bacon, grilled or roasted chicken breast, hard-boiled eggs, avocado, and blue cheese, typically arranged in neat rows.
Can I use a different dressing?
While blue cheese dressing is classic, this salad is also delicious with a creamy Ranch dressing or a simple red wine vinaigrette if you’re not a fan of blue cheese.
Why is it called a Cobb Salad?
The salad was named after Robert Cobb, the owner of the Brown Derby restaurant in Hollywood, California, who is said to have invented it as a late-night snack for himself in 1937, using up ingredients he had on hand.
Try More Pioneer Woman Recipes:
- Pioneer Woman Citrus Salad Recipe
- Pioneer Woman Carrot Salad Recipe
- Pioneer Woman Cabbage Salad Recipe
Pioneer Woman Cobb Salad Recipe
Description
A classic American salad loaded with rows of grilled chicken, crispy bacon, hard-boiled eggs, avocado, and tomatoes over a bed of crisp lettuces with a homemade blue cheese dressing.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Whisk together all dressing ingredients and chill for at least 2 hours.
- Season and grill thin chicken cutlets until cooked through; let cool and slice.
- Fry and chop the bacon; hard-boil and slice the eggs; dice the avocados.
- On a large platter, arrange the lettuces.
- Arrange the chicken, bacon, tomatoes, eggs, and avocado in neat rows over the greens.
- Top with extra blue cheese crumbles and scallions, then drizzle with the dressing.
Notes
- u003cliu003eThe homemade blue cheese dressing is a key component and its flavor is much better after chilling for a couple of hours.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eFor the best presentation, arrange all the toppings in distinct, colorful rows over the bed of lettuce.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eWait until just before serving to dice and add the avocado to prevent it from browning.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eSlicing the chicken breasts in half horizontally ensures they cook quickly and evenly on the grill pan.u003c/liu003e
