Cobb and Berry Salad Recipe

The number of times that I’ve had this salad this month is embarrassing. It’s so crisp, bright, and fresh that I have craved it almost daily! Here, I’ll walk you through not just the ingredients, but also how to prepare them so they come together perfectly every time you make this Cobb and Berry Salad recipe!

Why This Salad Works

I’m going to be honest, I typically wouldn’t have even tried a salad combination like this if I had seen it on a restaurant menu somewhere. Cobb salad with berries in it?! It didn’t seem to fit together.

But somehow, when I saw a photo of a Cobb salad with berries a couple of months ago, it looked like it might actually be good. So I’ve spent the last month or two making this salad on a regular basis, switching out ingredients, and perfecting it so that it comes out perfectly every time. Here’s why this exact recipe works together to make the most delicious Cobb and Berry Salad recipe that you’ll ever try! It’s my new spring and summer go-to.

The Textures

There’s something so beautiful about the textures of this salad. The crunch of the lettuce, the softness of the berries, the crisp of the bacon, the smoothness of the avocado, and the firmness of the chicken work so well together to deliver the perfect bite every time!

The Flavors

Just like the textures, the flavors work together cohesively. The tartness of the strawberries, the saltiness of the bacon, the sharpness of the cheese, the mild and creamy flavor of the avocado, the pepperiness of the chicken, and the sweetness of the dressing all meld into a distinct and refreshing flavor in your mouth.

It’s Filling, Yet Light

Though this salad is light and refreshing, it still keeps you full for long periods of time because of how nutritious it is. This is done even without the use of croutons or other carbs like bread that would normally be the more filling part of a salad!

The Ingredients

Here are the salad ingredients, as well as how to prepare them optimally for the best textures and flavors in your salad!

Romaine Lettuce

Though I typically prefer a living butter lettuce in my salads, for this specific recipe I have found that romaine lettuce is best. You’ll want to wash it and dry it thoroughly just before using it in your salad. Otherwise, you’ll end up with soggy lettuce instead of a crunch!

Cooked Chicken

Though you could use any chicken that you like, I prefer to use chicken that I’ve cooked in my cast iron skillet. I simply sprinkle sea salt and fresh-cracked pepper onto both sides of a boneless, skinless chicken breast, and then I cook it in butter over medium heat until cooked through. I like to do this in advance so that the chicken is cold when it’s put on the salad.

Strawberries

Of course, strawberries taste best when they are in season during the spring and summer months! You’ll want to thoroughly wash, dry, and slice the fresh strawberries for your salad.

Blueberries

Just like the strawberries, blueberries taste best when they are in season. You’ll want to thoroughly wash and dry the berries just before putting them in your salad.

Parmesan Cheese

Using shredded parmesan cheese (rather than grated) helps add to the texture and flavor of the overall salad! You can shred your own block of cheese with a cheese grater, or you can buy a cheese that is already shredded.

Avocado

This is another one that tastes best fresh! Finding a slightly squishy and slightly firm avocado is best. It’s firm enough to hold its shape, but soft enough to taste ripe and delicious.

Boiled Eggs

You can buy pre-boiled eggs at the store, or you can boil your own farm-fresh eggs. They taste best in my opinion when they are nice and cold! Cut them into slices using a knife or an egg slicer.

Bacon

This might be my favorite ingredient in this entire Cobb and Berry Salad recipe. Here’s the deal, don’t go buying pre-packaged bacon bits. Seriously, if you’re going to do that you might as well skip the bacon altogether! I have used pre-packaged bacon bits in the past, but with this recipe fresh bacon is a must! The texture and flavor of fresh-cooked bacon is unbeatable.

Simply cook the raw bacon in a cast iron skillet until crispy on both sides. I cut my bacon into 1 inch slices before frying, just to make it easier and faster to cook. Once cooked, remove from the pan, pat dry with a paper towel, and then crumble with your fingers. The texture and flavor that this adds to this salad is seriously to die for! Don’t forget to save the bacon grease for future use.

Salt and Pepper

I had never added salt and pepper to salads until the past year or so, and now I could never look back! Sprinkle sea salt and fresh-cracked pepper over the entire salad, or at minimum over the avocado and boiled eggs. Feel free to try this trick on other salads as well, and even sandwiches! Trust me on this one.

Strawberry Vinaigrette

For the dressing, you can either buy a pre-made dressing or make your own! This is one area where I take the easy way out and buy a clean-ingredient strawberry poppyseed vinaigrette, but you can make your own just the same.

The ingredients for a homemade strawberry vinaigrette are:

• Fresh strawberries
• Olive oil
• Balsamic vinegar
• Maple syrup or honey
• Poppyseeds
• Salt and pepper

Simply use an immersion blender in a mason jar. Combine fresh strawberries, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and maple syrup or honey in the mason jar, and use an immersion blender until smooth. Then, add poppyseeds, salt and pepper to taste!

You can use this dressing in other salads as well, not just in this Cobb and Berry Salad recipe.

To Assemble

Start with a shallow bed of crunchy romaine lettuce, torn into bite-sized pieces.

Top evenly with cooked and diced chicken, strawberries, blueberries, and shredded parmesan cheese.

Carefully place the sliced avocado and boiled eggs along the corners of the salad.

Add the bacon crumbles over the top of everything.

Sprinkle with sea salt and fresh-cracked pepper, specifically over the avocado and boiled eggs.

Top with your homemade or store-bought strawberry vinaigrette dressing. Enjoy!

Don’t forget to check out my other lunch and dinner recipes!