Meals for Friends

Best Summer Cobb Salad to Share With Friends

August 26, 2022 26 Comments

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This delicious Cobb summer salad is a family favorite. It tastes fresh and light and is perfect for a hot summer day. I also cheat when I make it (But you don’t have to), so it is quick and easy! We serve it as a salad bar, perfect for inviting the neighbors over to enjoy.

Image of the Best Summer Cobb Salad in the salad bar serving container.

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Since my goal in life is to get to know more people and help others do the same, and food is something that brings people together, this Summer Cobb Salad is a perfect fit… This is especially true since I found my favorite salad bar container. There is space for ice on the bottom, so toppings stay cool. I purchased two of them a year ago, and I am obsessed! Seriously, these things have changed my life. People ask where I got them every time I use them, so I thought I would share this information before I get hundreds of emails asking about them!

Of course, I use these salad bar containers at home, but I have also been known to transport them filled with goodness to a friend’s house to enjoy a meal together. They make for an impressive presentation by this domestically challenged woman. I love things that make me look put together when I’m a hot mess in reality!

Click on the image, and it will take you right to Amazon. You won’t be sorry.

How to Make the Best Summer Cobb Salad to Share With Friends

Since my purpose for this website is to help people practice hospitality, each recipe I publish is to share a meal with others or take them to bless them. With that in mind, there are a few things to start with.

First, I always start by putting on a cute apron. It’s like dressing for the job you want. I have not always been great at cooking, but I have always LOOKED like I know what I am doing. I feel way more domestic that way. It’s part of the fun for me… and this was especially true when I was a stay-at-home mom living it up in my comfy clothes (usually covered in spit-up). I am convinced my food tastes better when I cook with a cute apron.

Next, I tie back my hair. Since I’m cooking for someone else, the last thing I want is to leave a piece of my hair in their food accidentally. Gross!

Finally, I wash my hands. I know this is obvious, but seriously WASH YOUR HANDS! I double or triple the number of times I wash my hands when cooking for people other than my family.

What Do I Need to Make a Summer Cobb Salad

The great thing about a salad is that you just throw some stuff on lettuce.

What makes this salad different is its more original ingredients than my everyday salad. You can also do some things to make it easier to prepare.

Chicken– While you can take the time to grill up some chicken, I have found that the easiest way to make this Summer Cob Salad is with a cooked rotisserie chicken. As of writing this, it is cheaper to buy a cooked chicken from Costco than to cook my own.

Bacon– In my opinion, bacon makes every salad better. I don’t always have time to make bacon, but I usually set off the smoke alarm when I do. I have learned to turn on the vent fan and open a window before I start. I also discovered the grease splatter screen for my frying pan, making cooking bacon less terrifying.

But if you don’t have time to cook bacon, I use my Kirkland brand bacon crumbles from Costco (You can also order them on Amazon) and put them in the microwave on a paper towel for about 25 seconds to crisp them up a bit. It’s not as good as frying up some bacon slices, but it works in a pinch.

Corn– I guess you could use canned sweet corn if you had to, but I will say there is nothing more satisfying than cutting the raw kernels off an ear of corn. I love it. They are crispy, sweet, and delicious. I can eat them on their own as a treat.

Hard Boiled Eggs– My favorite way to make hard-boiled eggs is in my Instapot. They come out perfect and are easy to peel. I like the 5-5-5 method. But since some days I am too busy for that, I buy already hard-boiled and peeled eggs at the store. I just use my egg slicer, and wa la! All ready to dress up a salad!

Avocado– I love avocado on just about everything. I prefer it in bite-size chunks, but you can slice them up for a nice presentation.

Cherry Tomatoes– I just love these cute little delicious tomatoes in my Summer Cobb Salad; I eat them like candy. It is a good idea to cut them in half, so you don’t squirt your friends with tomato guts on your first bite. Also, feel free to use any tomatoes you have lying around. Just make sure to cut them into bite-sized pieces.
Feta Cheese Crumbles– I think this is what makes this Summer Cobb Salad extra fancy. I didn’t know I liked Feta until I had it on this salad.

Can I Add More Stuff to My Salad?

This is such a great meal to share with friends because you can add or omit whatever you’d like. The dressing has a lemony tang that pairs well with almost everything. Some toppings we have added in the past are:

Red, yellow, and green bell peppers
Peperonchinis
Black Olives
Green Olives
Red Onions

How Do I Make the Dressing?

This shows the ingredients for the Best Summer Cobb Salad dressing. It includes text that reads: Greek Yogurt, Lemon Juice, Minced Garlic, Salt and Pepper, and Extra Virgin Olive Oil

This part of the salad impresses my friends and is super easy to make. I put all the ingredients together and whisk them up. Easy Peasy!

In a medium/large bowl, add plain Greek yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Whisk them together. Store the finished dressing in a 16 oz mason jar in the fridge for up to a week. I usually make extra so that we have some left over. I like to dip bell peppers and carrots in it. Yum!