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

Cooking with Conks Verified

February 4, 2026

Everyone thinks that Southern Californians eat a lot of salads, and honestly, that’s fair. We do eat a lot of salads around here, so we’re always thinking of new ways to make them fun and exciting. This giant California Cobb Salad is our take on a classic and regional favorite. It has all the ingredients you’re used to eating in a Cobb Salad (chicken, bacon, hardboiled eggs, tomatoes, gorgonzola, avocados, and green onions), and a few new ones as well (basil dressing and bacon croutons).

California Cobb Salad with Bacon Croutons and Basil Vinaigrette

California Cobb Salad with Bacon Croutons and Basil Vinaigrette cover

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California Cobb Salad with Bacon Croutons and Basil Vinaigrette

Cooking with Conks Verified

Ingredients

WarningMilk and 7 other allergens identified

Instructions

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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.

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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.

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About the Cook

Cooking with Conks

We’re Rachel & Emily Conklin (“Conks” for short), sisters, lifelong foodies, and the voices behind Cooking with Conks. We grew up in Southern California, surrounded by bold flavors, big family meals, and the kind of kitchen chaos that turns into inside jokes