This Cobb Salad Recipe with Green Goddess Dressing is everything we love in a salad—layers of color, tons of texture, and a dressing that makes you want to lick the spoon. It’s fresh, creamy, tangy, and packed with all your favorite toppings, making every bite the perfect one!
Table of Contents
What is Cobb Salad with Green Goddess Dressing?
Cobb salad is a classic American dish that’s all about big flavor and bold textures. It typically features rows of ingredients like crispy bacon, juicy tomatoes, creamy avocado, hard-boiled eggs, chicken, and blue cheese all arranged on a bed of greens. What makes it extra special is that every forkful offers a mix of rich, savory, crunchy, and creamy—there’s no boring bite in sight.
This version levels up the usual Cobb by drizzling everything with a homemade Green Goddess dressing. This dressing is vibrant, herby, and so velvety smooth thanks to ingredients like olive oil, parmesan, and fresh basil. It adds a bright, zesty contrast to the heartier toppings and pulls the whole salad together in the most flavorful way.
Ingredients You Need
For the Green Goddess Dressing.
For the Salad
- Pine Nuts – These add a subtle buttery crunch and a slightly sweet, nutty flavor that balances out the herbs in the dressing.
- Fresh Basil – We love using basil for its fresh, earthy aroma and vibrant green color that brightens the dressing.
- Shallot and Garlic – Together, these two create a deep, savory base with just enough bite and the perfect hint of natural sweetness.
- Jalapeño – This pepper adds a pop of heat and gives the dressing a kick without overpowering the rest of the flavors.
- Seasoned Rice Wine Vinegar – This vinegar brings a sweet-tangy acidity that cuts through the richness of the cheese and oil.
- Limes – Fresh lime juice adds a zing of citrus flavor that wakes everything up and makes the dressing pop.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil – We use this to emulsify the dressing, adding richness and a silky-smooth texture.
- Salt – A small amount helps to highlight and balance all the flavors without making the dressing too salty.
- Parmesan Cheese – Savory, salty, and slightly nutty, parmesan adds a creamy umami flavor that makes the dressing irresistible.
How to Make Cobb Salad with Green Goddess Dressing
- Make the dressing. Add everything to a food processor or blender, and let it all come together until smooth and velvety.
- Prep the salad ingredients. Wash and dry your greens, cook and chop your bacon, and get your toppings like eggs, tomatoes, and avocado ready to go.
- Assemble the salad. Arrange your greens on a large serving platter or bowl, then layer on all your toppings in colorful rows for that signature Cobb salad look.
- Drizzle and serve. Spoon or pour the Green Goddess dressing over the salad right before serving, or serve it on the side so everyone can add as much as they like.
Variations
- Protein – Try grilled shrimp, crispy tofu, or leftover steak instead of chicken for a fun twist.
- Vegetarian – Leave out the bacon and chicken and add chickpeas or roasted veggies for a meat-free option that still fills you up.
- More Greens – Mix in arugula, spinach, or kale with your romaine for extra nutrients and a slightly peppery bite.
- Cheese – Not a fan of blue cheese? Crumbled goat cheese or sharp white cheddar works beautifully, too.
- Different Dressing – If you’re out of ingredients for Green Goddess, a tangy vinaigrette or creamy ranch can stand in.
- Pickled Jalapeños – For a tangy heat that’s less sharp, swap in pickled jalapeños instead of fresh.
- Make It a Wrap – Skip the bowl and wrap everything in a tortilla for an easy grab-and-go meal.
Can I Store Leftovers?
Cobb salad is best enjoyed fresh since the avocado and dressing can make the greens a little soggy if they sit too long. But you can prep everything and then just assemble it when you’re ready to serve!
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
We don’t recommend freezing this salad—it just doesn’t hold up well after thawing.
Common Questions about Cobb Salad with Green Goddess Dressing
Always cold! The ingredients are pre-cooked or raw, so it’s meant to be a chilled salad that’s refreshing and filling.
While both are hearty and protein-packed, a chef salad usually includes ham, turkey, and Swiss or cheddar cheese, while a Cobb has chicken, bacon, avocado, and blue cheese.
Absolutely. Just skip the parmesan in the dressing and use a dairy-free cheese or leave it out altogether.
Toss the avocado in a little lime juice before adding it to the salad to help slow down browning.
More Easy Salad Recipes
We love a refreshing salad for meal prep, an easy lunch, or a quick dinner. Take a peek at more of our favorites that are anything but your standard green salad!
Cobb Salad With Green Goddess Dressing
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup pine nuts
- 1/2 cup fresh basil
- 1 small shallot
- 1/2 jalapeño seeded for less spice
- 2 garlic cloves
- 2 Tablespoons chopped green onion
- 2 squeezed limes
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sea salt more or less to taste
- 4 ounces freshly shredded parmesan cheese
- 1 head leafy lettuce or your favorite greens
- 1 cup sliced cherry tomatoes
- 4 strips cooked organic turkey bacon
- 4 hard boiled eggs
- 2 ripe avocado chopped
- 1/2 cup chopped green onions
- 4 ounces bleu cheese crumbles
Instructions
Make your salad dressing:
- Place pine nuts, fresh basil, a small shallot, jalapeño, garlic, and chopped green onions into a food processor.1/4 cup pine nuts, 1/2 cup fresh basil, 1 small shallot, 1/2 jalapeño, 2 garlic cloves
- Use a citrus juicer or hand reamer to squeeze the juice from two limes into the food processor.2 squeezed limes
- Pour in olive oil and your choice of vinegar.1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil, 2 Tablespoons white wine vinegar
- Sprinkle on salt and add the shredded parmesan cheese.1 teaspoon sea salt, 4 ounces freshly shredded parmesan cheese
- Blend the ingredients together in your food processor until the ingredients are combined.
Assembly:
- Slice the leafy greens into thin ribbons and add in a large salad bowl1 head leafy lettuce or your favorite greens
- Dice up tomatoes.1 cup sliced cherry tomatoes
- Chop the crispy turkey bacon.4 strips cooked organic turkey bacon
- Slice the eggs.4 hard boiled eggs
- Slice the avocados and green onions.1/2 cup chopped green onions, 2 ripe avocado
- Crumble up your bleu cheese.4 ounces bleu cheese crumbles
- Add everything on top then greens.
- Pour the dressing over and toss together or serve with the dressing on the side.
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Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
