Name: California Cobb Salad with Bacon Croutons and Basil Vinaigrette
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 6 Servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 Romaine lettuce heads; 2 cups chicken breast; 6 strips bacon; 1 cup baby heirloom tomatoes; 4 eggs; 0.5 cup gorgonzola cheese; 1 avocado; 4 green onions; 2 cups day-old bread like baguette or ciabatta; 3 tablespoons rendered bacon fat or olive oil; 0.75 cup olive oil; 0.5 cup fresh lemon juice; 2 tablespoons honey; 1 tbsp spicy brown mustard; 1 cup fresh basil; 0.5 tsp salt; Cracked black pepper

California Cobb Salad with Bacon Croutons and Basil Vinaigrette

California Cobb Salad with Bacon Croutons and Basil Vinaigrette cover

From the Cook

1/4

California Cobb Salad with Bacon Croutons and Basil Vinaigrette

Cooking with Conks Verified

Ingredients

Warning0 allergens identified

Instructions

This recipe also lives on Cooking with Conks. Show them some love by checking it out! 😊

Check out original post! 😊

Original PostView

Instructions

Place the bacon in a cold frying pan and turn the heat on to medium. Cook for about 8 to 12 minutes for thick cut bacon (if using thin cut, it’ll take less time), flipping over every couple of minutes.

While the bacon cooks, preheat the oven to 400°F.

Remove the bacon from the frying pan and place onto a paper towel lined plate. Set aside the rendered bacon fat to use on the bacon croutons later. Once the bacon has cooled, roughly chop it.

Toss the cubed bread in the rendered bacon fat (or olive oil, if using instead), then arrange on a baking sheet. Bake the croutons for about 10 to 12 min or until desired crispness.

Add the olive oil, lemon juice, honey, mustard, basil, salt, and pepper to a blender and blend until smooth.

Assemble the salad with lettuce, cooked chicken, chopped bacon, tomatoes, eggs, gorgonzola cheese, avocado, green onions, and croutons. Toss with your desired amount of dressing.

Smart Nutrition

My Calorie Intake

0
Review & Earn

Be the first to review this recipe and earn a 20% Bonus

Level up & unlock free Premium by reviewing recipes!

My Notes

Your kitchen notebook is waiting.

Whether it's a recipe tweak or an inspiration burst — jot it down here.

Tips & Tricks (5)

Bacon Crouton Magic 🥓
Cut day-old bread into cubes and fry them in rendered bacon fat for maximum flavor, ensuring they're crispy on the outside and slightly chewy inside.
Egg Perfection Technique 🥚
For perfectly cooked hard-boiled eggs, start in cold water, bring to a boil, then immediately remove from heat and let sit covered for exactly 10 minutes before an ice bath.
Basil Vinaigrette Pro Tip 🌿
Blend basil leaves when they're fresh and slightly cool to preserve their vibrant green color and prevent oxidation in the vinaigrette.
Chicken Moisture Hack 🍗
Brine the chicken breast for 30 minutes in a saltwater solution before cooking to ensure maximum moisture and flavor absorption.
Avocado Preservation Trick 🥑
Dice avocados last and toss with a bit of lemon juice to prevent browning and maintain their bright green color in the salad.