Spring Cobb Salad with Avocado (Printable version)
Fresh spring vegetables, proteins, and tangy herb vinaigrette create this colorful main dish salad.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Proteins
01 - 2 large eggs
02 - 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 10.5 ounces)
03 - 4 slices bacon
→ Vegetables
04 - 3.5 ounces snap peas, trimmed and halved
05 - 3.5 ounces radishes, thinly sliced
06 - 1 small cucumber, sliced
07 - 3.5 ounces cherry tomatoes, halved
08 - 4 cups mixed spring greens (about 4.25 ounces)
09 - 1 ripe avocado, sliced
→ Cheese
10 - 2.8 ounces blue cheese, crumbled (about 3/4 cup)
→ Herb Vinaigrette
11 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
12 - 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
13 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
14 - 1 tablespoon fresh chives, finely chopped
15 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
16 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
17 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
# How to Make It:
01 - Place eggs in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 8–9 minutes. Transfer to cold water to cool, peel, and cut into quarters.
02 - Season chicken breasts generously with salt and pepper. Grill or pan-sear over medium heat for 5–6 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Let rest for 5 minutes, then slice.
03 - Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp and browned, about 5–7 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain, then chop into pieces.
04 - Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add snap peas and blanch for 1 minute. Immediately transfer to ice water to stop cooking, then drain well.
05 - Spread mixed spring greens evenly over a large platter or individual serving plates.
06 - Create neat rows of sliced chicken, egg quarters, bacon, snap peas, radishes, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, avocado, and crumbled blue cheese over the greens.
07 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, chives, parsley, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
08 - Drizzle vinaigrette over the salad immediately before serving. Serve with additional dressing on the side if desired.
# Expert tips:
01 -
- That perfect moment when crisp vegetables meet creamy avocado and tangy blue cheese
- A complete meal that comes together faster than deciding what to order for takeout
- The dressing is a revelation that youll want to put on everything
02 -
- The blanching step for snap peas might seem fussy but it transforms their texture from raw to perfect
- Letting the chicken rest before slicing keeps all the juices inside instead of on your cutting board
- The salad looks best assembled right before serving, but you can prep all components hours ahead
03 -
- A sharp knife makes all the difference in creating those clean, professional looking rows
- Pat the chicken completely dry before seasoning so it gets a golden crust instead of steaming