Avocado recipes | Chicken | Eggs | Main dishes | Parties and events | Picnics | Poultry | Salads | US/American
Chicken Cobb Salad
When you want a salad that’s as filling as it is fresh, a Chicken Cobb Salad is the way to go. With juicy chicken, crispy bacon, creamy avocado, and plenty of veggies, it’s a full meal in a bowl!
When I’m craving something fresh but still filling, this is one of my go-to recipes. A cobb salad brings together all the best things: grilled chicken, crispy bacon, creamy avocado, tangy blue cheese, and plenty of vegetables. It feels balanced without being boring, and it’s versatile enough to work with whatever you already have in the fridge.
I usually prepare the chicken from scratch with my simple seasoning mix, but you can make this with leftover grilled chicken or even rotisserie chicken in a pinch!
Ingredient Notes
- Chicken breasts: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are the base protein. Season them well before cooking. You can grill, pan-sear, or bake, just make sure the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Olive oil: Used for cooking the chicken and also in the vinaigrette. It adds flavor and helps keep the meat juicy.
- Chicken seasoning mix: A simple blend of garlic powder, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. It makes plain chicken more exciting and pairs beautifully with the salad!
- Boiled Eggs: Classic Cobb ingredient. You can quarter, slice, or dice them depending on how you prefer the presentation.
- Avocados: Creamy and rich, they balance the sharpness of the onion and vinaigrette. Slice or dice right before serving to prevent browning.
- Tomatoes: Adds freshness and juiciness. Cherry tomatoes work well if that’s what you have.
- Red onion: Sharp and crisp. If the bite feels too strong, soak slices in cold water for a few minutes. You can also swap for green onions or chives.
- Blue cheese: The classic choice. If you’re not a fan, feta or goat cheese makes a great substitute while still adding creaminess.
- Romaine lettuce: Crisp and refreshing. Mixed salad greens are another easy option.
- Bacon: Crispy bacon adds a smoky, salty crunch. Cook it fresh right before serving for best results.
- Vinaigrette: You will need fresh garlic, Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, olive oil, parsley, salt and pepper. It is bright and tangy, and really ties everything together! I always prefer making my own homemade vinaigrette, but you can also use your favorite store-bought version.
Tips for the Best Chicken Cobb Salad
- Cook the chicken ahead: The salad comes together quickly if the chicken is ready. You can make it earlier in the day and serve it chilled or gently reheat it.
- Use a large platter for serving: Instead of tossing everything together, arrange the toppings in neat rows over the lettuce. It looks impressive and allows people to pick their favorites.
- Don’t skip the bacon: Bacon is part of what makes a Cobb salad special. If you want a lighter version, use turkey bacon, but I don’t recommend leaving it out entirely.
- Toss the greens first: Mixing the lettuce with a little vinaigrette before adding toppings helps ensure every bite has flavor. But only do this if you aren’t storing it for later!
- Make the vinaigrette in advance: It stores well in the fridge for 3 to 4 days, so you can double the recipe and have dressing ready for other salads during the week.
- Customize it: Cobb salads are flexible! Swap blue cheese for feta, add grilled corn for sweetness, or top with leftover steak instead of chicken.
How to Serve It
This chicken cobb salad is a meal all on its own, but you can also serve it as a starter for a larger spread. For a main course, pair it with some crusty bread, pita chips, or even roasted potatoes if you want something heartier. It’s also a great dish to meal-prep, just keep the avocado and the vinaigrette separate until right before eating to keep everything fresh.
Cobb salad is also perfect for gatherings. Serve it on a big platter, drizzle with the vinaigrette, and let everyone dig in family-style. Leftovers hold up well in the fridge, though I recommend eating within a day for the best texture.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best way to store leftovers?
Store assembled salad in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Keep avocado, eggs, and dressing separate if you want to prep in advance to avoid sogginess.
What other dressings work with Cobb salad?
Ranch, blue cheese dressing, or even a simple lemon vinaigrette all pair beautifully with this grilled chicken cobb salad!
Is this chicken cobb salad recipe healthy?
Yes! It’s balanced with protein, healthy fats, and vegetables. Using a homemade vinaigrette also cuts back on the added fats of a heavy dressing like ranch. If you want to lighten it up, use less cheese and bacon, and add extra greens!
Chicken Cobb Salad
This Chicken Cobb Salad is made with grilled chicken breast, avocado, boiled eggs, bacon, blue cheese, tomato, red onion, romaine lettuce and mustard vinaigrette.
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Servings: 2 as main dish and 4 as starter or light lunch salad – adjust the quantities of eggs,avocado and lettuce as needed
Ingredients
- 500 gr a little over 1 lb chicken breasts, boneless and skinless*
- 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil
*Chicken seasoning mix:
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika powder not spicy and not smoked
- 1 teaspoon of dry oregano
- 1 teaspoon of salt adjust to taste
- 1 teaspoon of ground black pepper adjust to taste
For the Cobb salad:
- 2-4 hardboiled eggs cut into quarters, slices or diced
- 1-2 ripe avocados sliced or diced
- 2 ripe tomatoes sliced – can also use cherry tomatoes
- ½ red onion sliced – can also use green onions/chives instead of red onions
- 100 grams of blue cheese crumbled – can also use feta or goat cheese as a substitute
- 1-2 heads of romaine lettuce washed and chopped – or a large pack of mixed salad greens
- 100 grams of bacon you can also use lardons or turkey bacon
For the red wine vinegar and mustard vinaigrette:
- 1-2 garlic cloves crushed, adjust to taste
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 4 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 tablespoon of finely chopped parsley optional – can also use basil, oregano, cilantro, etc
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- To cook the chicken, mix the seasoning ingredients together and rub the chicken with the mix. You can cook the chicken ahead of time. You can grill the chicken or cook it in a pan (lightly oil) or you can also bake it. Cooking time will be between 20-30 minutes depending on the method and heat level. The internal temperature should be 165F.
- The cooked chicken can be cut into slices or bite size chunks.
- To prepare the salad dressing, combine all the ingredients into a small bowl and whisk using a fork. You can add all the chopped parsley or save half to sprinkle on top when serving the salad.
- To prepare the hardboiled eggs, bring plenty of water to boil and boil the eggs for 7-10 minutes (depending on how cooked you want the yolks to be), remove from the heat and cool under cold water before peeling the eggs).
- Prep the rest of the salad components: wash, dry and cut the romaine lettuce. Slice the red onions, you can let them rest in cold water to remove any bitterness if needed. Slice or dice the tomatoes.
- Prepare the avocado right before serving the salad to prevent it from darkening.
- Cook the bacon right before assembling the salad, the chicken can be cold or warm, but the bacon is best added right after cooking it. Cook the bacon or lardons in a hot pan until crispy, drain the excess grease and cut/break into smaller pieces.
- Cut the eggs and crumble the blue cheese.
- In a bowl toss the lettuce or salad greens mix with some of the red wine vinegar mustard vinaigrette.
- You can assemble the salad in individual salad bowls or on a large salad platter. Arrange the lettuce as the base layer and add the toppings (chicken, bacon, tomato, eggs, onions, avocado, crumbled blue cheese). Drizzle the rest of the vinaigrette on top and the rest of the chopped parsley. Serve immediately.
Notes
- *You can also use leftover grilled or roasted chicken.
- You can use the same seasoning mix for the chicken or adjust based on what you have available and your personal taste.
- You can also just season it with salt/pepper.
Step by step preparation for Chicken Cobb salad:
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Avocado recipes, Chicken, Eggs, Main dishes, Parties and events, Picnics, Poultry, Salads, US/American
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