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This Steak Cobb Salad has everything you love about a classic Cobb salad: crisp romaine, juicy tomatoes, creamy avocado, hard-boiled eggs, crispy bacon, and tangy pickled jalapeños, but it’s topped with perfectly cooked steak and finished with a bright, herb-packed cilantro Dijon vinaigrette that brings every bite together. This hearty steak salad is always at the top of my list when I’m craving something fresh and satisfying with plenty of protein.
Whether you’re grilling outside during the summer or looking for a healthy weeknight dinner any time of year, this Steak Cobb Salad is one you’ll find yourself making again and again.
Why You’ll Love This Steak Cobb Salad
It’s the kind of salad that truly eats like a meal. With plenty of protein, healthy fats, and fresh, crisp greens and vegetables, it’s filling enough for dinner but light enough to leave you feeling energized afterward.
This hearty salad is packed with fresh ingredients and bold flavors.
- A complete meal in one bowl. Protein, healthy fats, and fresh vegetables make this salad satisfying enough for lunch or dinner.
- High in protein. Steak, eggs, and bacon make every serving filling and nourishing.
- Naturally gluten-free. Made with wholesome, gluten-free ingredients.
- Perfect for meal prep. Prepare the ingredients ahead of time.
- Restaurant-quality at home. Fresh ingredients and a homemade vinaigrette make this salad feel extra special.
- Easy to customize. Swap the cheese, adjust the toppings, or use leftover steak to make it your own.
- Ready in about 30 minutes. A simple dinner that’s perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients For Steak Cobb
This salad is made with simple, fresh ingredients that come together for the perfect balance of flavor and texture. The dressing ingredients are clean and simple. *Scroll down to the recipe card for the complete list and amounts.
For the Salad
- Romaine Lettuce: Crisp romaine creates the perfect base for this hearty salad. It holds up well to the steak and vinaigrette while adding plenty of fresh crunch
- Cherry Tomatoes: Sweet, juicy cherry tomatoes add freshness and bright color to every bite.
- Hardboiled Eggs: A classic Cobb salad ingredient, eggs add extra protein and richness.
- Avocado: Creamy avocado balances the savory steak and tangy vinaigrette while adding heart-healthy fats.
- Red Onion: Thinly sliced red onion provides a sharp bite and a pop of color.
- Bacon: Crispy bacon adds smoky flavor and one of the signature elements of a traditional Cobb salad.
- Pickled Jalapeños: These add a tangy, slightly spicy kick that pairs beautifully with the steak and creamy avocado.
- Steak: Use your favorite cut of steak. Flank steak, New York strip, ribeye, sirloin, or flat iron all work beautifully. Thinly slicing the steak against the grain keeps every bite tender.
- Blue Cheese or Feta (Optional): Blue cheese gives the salad its classic Cobb flavor, while feta offers a slightly milder, tangy option.
For the Cilantro Vinaigrette
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Creates a smooth, rich base for the vinaigrette.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: Adds brightness and balances the richness of the steak and avocado.
- Dijon Mustard: Provides tang and helps emulsify the dressing.
- Fresh Cilantro: Adds vibrant herb flavor that makes this dressing unique.
- Lemon Juice: Brightens every bite.
- Honey: A small amount of honey balances the acidity without making the dressing overly sweet.
- Salt & Black Pepper: Simple seasonings that bring all of the flavors together; add to taste.
- Optional Blue Cheese: For an extra creamy dressing with classic Cobb salad flavor, blend in a tablespoon of blue cheese.
Lexi’s Pro Tips
Use a well-marbled steak. Cuts like ribeye, New York strip, or sirloin stay juicy and flavorful while pairing perfectly with the fresh vegetables.
Let the steak rest. Allow the steak to rest for at least 5–10 minutes before slicing to keep it juicy and tender.
Slice against the grain. This shortens the muscle fibers and makes every bite easier to chew.
Use ripe avocado. A perfectly ripe avocado should give slightly when gently pressed but still hold its shape when sliced.
Homemade dressing makes all the difference. The cilantro Dijon vinaigrette comes together in just a few minutes and adds fresh flavor that elevates the entire salad.
How to Make The Steak Cobb Salad
This salad comes together in just a few simple steps. While the steak cooks, you can prep the vegetables, make the dressing, and have everything ready to assemble. It’s a quick, satisfying meal that’s just as perfect for a weeknight dinner as it is for entertaining.
- Season the Steak: Season the steak generously with salt and black pepper.
- Cook the Steak: Heat a cast-iron skillet or grill to medium heat; once hot, cook the steak until it reaches your preferred level of doneness.
- Rest the Steak: Transfer the steak to a cutting board and let it rest for 5–10 minutes before slicing.
- Prepare the Cilantro Dijon Vinaigrette: In a small bowl or mason jar, combine: extra virgin olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, chopped cilantro, lemon juice, honey, salt, and black pepper.
- Prepare the Salad: While everything finishes cooking, prepare the salad ingredients. Chop the romaine lettuce and place it in a large serving bowl.
- Arrange the Toppings: Add the following that you desire over the lettuce: Cherry tomatoes, hard-boiled eggs, sliced avocado, red onion, crumbled bacon, pickled jalapeños, blue cheese or feta, if using.
- Add the Steak: Arrange the sliced steak over the top of the salad.
- Dress the Salad: Drizzle generously with the cilantro Dijon vinaigrette just before serving.
- Serve immediately with extra dressing on the side and enjoy!
Kitchen Tools You’ll Need
You don’t need much to make this recipe.
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Cast iron skillet or grill
- Chef’s knife
- Cutting board
- Large salad bowl or serving platter
- Salad dressing jar
- Whisk
Serving Suggestions
This hearty salad is satisfying enough to enjoy on its own, but it also pairs well with a few simple sides. Serve it with:
FAQ’s
This recipe works well with several different cuts of steak. Some of my favorites include: Sirloin, Flank steak, New York strip, ribeye, or Flat iron steak.
Absolutely! Grilling adds delicious smoky flavor and is especially great during the summer months. Simply grill the steak to your preferred doneness, let it rest, then slice it thinly against the grain before serving.
Yes! This is one of my favorite meal prep salads because most of the ingredients can be prepared ahead. For the freshest results, store everything separately and assemble just before serving.
Yes! All of the ingredients are naturally gluten-free. As always, double-check packaged ingredients like bacon, Dijon mustard, and pickled jalapeños if you have celiac disease or need to avoid cross-contamination.
More Fresh Dinner Salads
If you loved this Steak Cobb Salad, here are a few more hearty salads to try:
- Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
- Crispy Chickpea Salad with Green Yogurt Dressing
- Sweet Thai Chicken Slaw
- Classic Chicken Salad
- Summer Kale Slaw
- Dense Bean Salad
Steak Cobb Salad with Cilantro Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 2-4 cups romaine lettuce
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes diced
- 2 hard boiled eggs sliced
- 1 avocado sliced
- 1/3 cup sliced red onion
- 4 slices of cooked bacon
- 1/4 cup pickled jalapeños
- 1 pound steak of choice sliced
- Optional: 1/4 cup blue cheese or feta cheese
Cilantro- Dijon Vinaigrette:
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- Pinch of salt
- Pinch of pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
- 1 teaspoon lemon
- 1 teaspoon honey
- Optional: 1 tablespoon blue cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to broil. Pat the steak dry and season generously with salt and pepper.
- Heat an oven safe skillet with 1 tablespoon of oil and let the skillet get hot. Add the steak and sear on each side for 2 minutes. Transfer to the oven and let cook for 7-11 minutes, depending on the thickness of your steak, until it reaches your desired doneness.
- Add dressing ingredients into your high-speed blender and blend until smooth.
- Assemble: Place lettuce, tomatoes, hard-boiled egg, avocado, red onion, bacon and jalapeños in your salad bowls. Top with steak and optional cheese. Serve with dressing.
I made this last night and it was really yummy!! The dressing is the perfect flavor and not too heavy. I was a little confused because the recipe says pickled jalapenos but the picture shows no peppers and what looks like a blood orange (maybe grapefruit)? I went with the peppers and it worked perfect 🙂
This is amazing, i love it