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Home » Recipes » Seafood

Salmon Cobb Salad

Modified: Apr 3, 2025 · Published: Mar 24, 2022 by Heather · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 879 words. · About 5 minutes to read this article.

Jump to Recipe
Salmon cobb salad recipe.
Salmon cobb salad recipe.

Salmon cobb salad makes the perfect warm weather meal - made with flaked salmon, crispy bacon, avocado, onion, tomato, hard boiled egg, and fresh greens. Complete with a creamy homemade dressing!

White bowl filled with salad ingredients.

Recipe summary

Flavor: Bright, salty, savory

Key ingredients: Salmon, tomatoes, hard boiled eggs, red onion, bacon, and avocado on a bed of lettuce.

Don't skip the homemade dressing. This dill buttermilk dressing is packed with fresh, bright flavor and made with just six ingredients.

Great for: Lunch or dinner. Filling enough to be served on its own or with a side of Cheesy Garlic Bread

Similar to: Italian Chopped Salad and Chopped Kale Avocado Salad

Jump to:
  • Recipe summary
  • Ingredients and substitutions
  • Dill buttermilk dressing
  • How to make salad dressing
  • Tips and tricks
  • Make ahead
  • Frequently asked questions
  • Recommended
  • 📖 Recipe
  • Comments

Ingredients and substitutions

Ingredients on a counter top.
  • Lettuce - The original cobb salad was made with a variety of four different greens, but I used two large romaine lettuce hearts for simplicity. Iceberg or mixed greens also work well.
  • Tomatoes - Cherry or grape tomatoes work best.
  • Red onion - Adds flavor, brightness, and a splash of color to the salad.
  • Avocado - Adds creaminess to the salad.
  • Hard boiled eggs - You'll need two large, hard boiled eggs for this recipe.
  • Bacon - Fresh cooked and crumbled bacon adds the best flavor, but can be substituted with crumbled bacon bits if needed.
  • Salmon - Fresh salmon fillets can be substituted with canned salmon if needed - but fresh salmon will have the best flavor. Substitute with cooked, shredded chicken for a traditional cobb salad!

Dill buttermilk dressing

Ingredients on a counter top.
  • Buttermilk - Adds thickness and tangy flavor to your dressing. I do not recommend substituting it with anything else.
  • Mayonnaise - Can be substituted with plain yogurt.
  • Fresh dill - 2 tablespoons of fresh dill equals about 2 teaspoons of dried. As always, fresh will add the best flavor, but dried dill will work in a pinch.
  • Lemon zest - The perfect complement to salmon. Adds more lemon flavor than lemon juice (which made the dressing too thin).
  • Salt & pepper

How to make salad dressing

Mixing dill buttermilk dressing in a glass container.
  1. Add buttermilk, mayonnaise, dill, and salt to a bowl. Zest lemon into the bowl.
  2. Whisk until ingredients are incorporated.

Tips and tricks

Chop into small pieces - Cobb salad ingredients are generally chopped to a similar size and placed on top of a bed of lettuce. When mixed together, you get every ingredient in each bite. Keep this in mind when preparing your ingredients.

Use a meat thermometer - Test your salmon for doneness by using a meat thermometer instead of relying on time alone. This ensures your salmon is perfectly cooked and doesn't turn out dry.

Make ahead

Salmon cobb salad can be made a few hours ahead of time if needed.

Omit the avocado and dressing from your salads and refrigerate until ready to serve. Slice the avocado and add to the salad just before serving to prevent browning. Dressing can be served on the side or tossed into the salad just before serving.

Salmon cobb salad in a white bowl on a counter top with a fork and cutting board.

Frequently asked questions

What is a cobb salad?

The original cobb salad (made with chicken rather than salmon) is named after Robert Cobb, owner of the Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant. The cobb salad is known for its chopped toppings arranged in neat rows over a bed of lettuce.

Can I use my own dressing?

Yes, feel free to use your own dressing. The original cobb salad was topped with red wine vinaigrette. However, I found that salmon and vinaigrette together felt too oily. Instead, this creamy dill dressing adds a bright, fresh flavor without feeling heavy. Ranch dressing would make a great substitute!

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📖 Recipe

White bowl filled with salad ingredients.
Pin Print Rate
5 from 3 reviews

Salmon Cobb Salad

Salmon cobb salad makes the perfect warm weather meal - made with flaked salmon, crispy bacon, avocado, onion, tomato, hard boiled egg, and fresh greens. Complete with a creamy homemade dressing!
Prep Time10 minutes minutes
Cook Time12 minutes minutes
Total Time22 minutes minutes
Servings: 4 big salads
Calories: 511kcal
Author: Heather

Ingredients

Salmon

  • 16 ounces salmon fillets
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper

Salad

  • 2 heads romaine lettuce, chopped
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 6 slices cooked bacon, chopped
  • 2 large hard boiled eggs, chopped
  • 1 avocado, cubed
  • 1 small red onion, diced

Dill Buttermilk Dressing

  • ⅓ cup buttermilk
  • ⅓ cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
  • ½ teaspoon lemon zest
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
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Instructions

  • Preheat an oven to 425℉ and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Place salmon fillets, skin side down, onto baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper and bake for about 10-12 minutes, or until salmon flakes apart easily in the center with a fork. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly before flaking salmon apart with a fork. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, or in four small bowls, add chopped lettuce. Arrange flaked salmon, tomatoes, bacon, egg, avocado, and onion in neat rows over the salad(s).
  • In a bowl, add buttermilk, mayonnaise, dill, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Whisk until smooth.
  • When ready to serve, drizzle over salad(s) and toss to coat.

Equipment Recommendations

  • Nordic Ware Half Baking Sheet
  • Reynolds Parchment Paper
  • Zwilling Pro Chef's Knife
  • OXO Metal Balloon Whisk

Notes

  • Serves: Recipe makes 4 large salads or 6+ side salads.
  • Protein variation: Salmon can be substituted with cooked, shredded chicken for a traditional cobb salad.
  • Can I use bottled dressing?: Dressing can be substituted with about ⅔ cup of your favorite bottled dressing (like ranch dressing) if desired.
  • Make ahead: Salads can be made several hours ahead of time if needed - refrigerate until ready to serve. Slice avocado just before serving, and keep dressing separate until just before serving.

Nutrition Estimate

Serving: 1salad | Calories: 511kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 178mg | Sodium: 1022mg | Potassium: 1259mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 2114IU | Vitamin C: 35mg | Calcium: 84mg | Iron: 3mg
Course: Main Course, Salad
Cuisine: American

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Comments

    5 from 3 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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  1. Jan

    August 04, 2022 at 8:13 pm

    OMG…My husband went crazy over this salad. I did not vary from the written recipe. I will definitely be making this salad again!!

    Reply
  2. Darren

    April 14, 2022 at 7:27 pm

    Can I substitute 10% fat yogurt for the mayonnaise?

    Reply
    • Heather

      April 14, 2022 at 7:41 pm

      Yes, yogurt would make a great substitute! I'll make note of this in the post as well.

      Reply

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Heather of The Toasty Kitchen

Hi, I'm Heather!

I love cooking with simple, everyday ingredients and want to help you make homemade meals with ease.

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