The Best Chicken Cobb Salad Recipe! This Grilled Chicken Cobb Salad is easy to make & loaded with tons of toppings and balsamic dressing.
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We’ve all had those boring, tasteless salads that we eat just because we’re “supposed to.” But let’s not do that anymore… Especially when salads can be as flavorful as this Chicken Cobb Salad with Creamy Balsamic Dressing!
It’s bursting with exciting flavors and is super easy to make. The dressing has a little kick from the dijon mustard, and you can switch up the toppings to fit your taste or what you have in your kitchen!
You can put it together in about 30 minutes, or even less if you prepare the chicken, toppings, and bacon ahead of time. Trust us, you’re going to love it!
Why this Grilled Chicken Cobb Salad is THE salad to make!
There is a lot to love about this Cobb Salad recipe. It’s one of our favorites because it’s:
- Simple, yet Delicious: This recipe offers a delicious mix of fresh ingredients and a creamy balsamic dressing, creating a mouthwatering yet easy to make meal!
- Nutrient-Rich Meal: Packed with protein from the chicken, healthy fats from avocado, and an array of vitamins and minerals from the variety of vegetables, it’s a nutrient-rich meal that fuels your body while also being delicious.
- Easy to Customize: Whether you have specific dietary restrictions or simply prefer certain ingredients over others, this Cobb salad is highly customizable, allowing you to tailor it to your individual taste preferences and nutritional needs.
- Quick and Convenient: Ideal for busy days, this salad comes together so fast! It’s perfect for those needing a healthy, yet convenient meal without compromising on flavor.
Chicken Cobb Salad ingredients
For this Cobb Salad you’ll need:
- romaine lettuce
- bacon
- hard boiled eggs
- avocado
- cherry tomatoes
- red onion
- cooked chicken breasts
- fresh parsley
- green onions
For the dressing:
- balsamic vinegar
- dijon mustard
- garlic
- olive oil
- lime juice
- salt, pepper
You can find substitutions for all of these ingredients below in the green shaded box.
Pro Tip:
The dressing, chicken, bacon, and hard-boiled eggs can all be made a few days in advance and stored in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve. I don’t recommend slicing the avocado until you’re ready to eat.
Best way to prepare Chicken for Cobb Salad
You can prepare your chicken in so many ways for this Cobb Salad. Here are some of our favorite ideas:
- BBQ Chicken Breast
- Boneless Baked Chicken Breast
- Maple Mustard Chicken Breast
- Balsamic Chicken Breast
- Grilled Boneless Chicken Thighs
You can also use a rotisserie chicken or Oven Roasted Chicken.
How to make Cobb Salad with Chicken
- Whisk together the dressing ingredients until smooth.
- In a large bowl, layer romaine lettuce, bacon, hard-boiled eggs, avocado slices, cherry tomatoes, and red onion slices. Top with chopped chicken.
- Drizzle the creamy balsamic dressing over the salad and garnish with parsley and green onions if you like! Serve immediately.
How do you cut romaine for Cobb salad?
Stack the washed and dried romaine leaves together and roll them into a tight cylinder. Using a sharp knife, slice the romaine crosswise into thin strips. You can chop further if desired to achieve bite-sized pieces.
SUBSTITUTIONS FOR COBB SALAD
Chicken Breasts: You can substitute with boneless chicken thighs or chicken tenders. Rotisserie chicken also works!
Romaine: I like the crunch of romaine lettuce on this salad but you could use spinach, Spring mix, kale, or butter lettuce.
Other toppings: Try adding crumbled blue cheese, garbanzo beans, cucumbers, bell peppers, nuts/seeds, or shredded carrots.
Dressing: Any store-bought dressing will work. Ranch, blue cheese, and Italian to name a few.
Bacon: We use no sugar added bacon from Butcherbox.
How to serve this Chicken Cobb Salad Recipe
This Chicken Cobb Salad can be enjoyed on its own, but would also be delicious with:
- Tomato Basil Soup or Veggie Soup
- Easy Cheese and Bacon Quiche for a delicious brunch
- Crusty Bread
Best dressing for Chicken Cobb Salad
While we love the Balsamic Dressing included below, it would also be delicious with:
- Homemade Ranch Dressing
- Healthy Blue Cheese Dressing
- Creamy Balsamic Dressing
- or any of these 11 Healthy Salad Dressings
Cobb Salad Chicken FAQs
A Cobb salad contains a signature combination of ingredients, typically including romaine lettuce, grilled or roasted chicken, bacon, hard-boiled eggs, avocado, diced tomatoes, and a choice of dressing, such as a vinaigrette or creamy balsamic. The toppings are typically arranged in neat rows or sections, which is the Cobb salad’s classic presentation.
The Cobb salad is named after its creator, Robert H. Cobb. He was the owner of the famous Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant in Los Angeles, where he first prepared this popular salad in 1937.
A Cobb salad typically features romaine lettuce, chicken, and bacon, with a vinaigrette or balsamic dressing, while a chef’s salad combines mixed greens with various deli meats, and is often served with a creamy dressing like this Homemade Ranch.
Cobb Salad Recipe with Chicken storage
This salad will last in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
To keep it fresh, add a paper towel to the container and change it every day – this helps absorb moisture and keep the greens fresh!
Leftover dressing will store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week, making it perfect for meal prepping.
Other healthy salad recipes:
Looking for more delicious salad ideas? Check out these other recipes:
Chicken Cobb Salad Recipe
Ingredients
Chicken Club Salad:
- 5 cups romaine lettuce chopped, rinsed and dried
- 6 slices bacon cooked and chopped – no sugar added
- 3 hard-boiled eggs sliced in half
- 1/2 cup sliced avocado (1/2 an avocado)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1/4 cup sliced red onion 1/2 of a small onion
- 4 cups cooked chicken breasts chopped (3 chicken breasts)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped for garnish (optional)
- 2 tablespoons green onions chopped for garnish (optional)
Creamy Balsamic Salad Dressing:
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 garlic clove pressed or finely minced
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
- Juice of ½ a lime
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare and chop all salad ingredients. (Here’s a link to our favorite grilled chicken recipe) Set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic, olive oil, lime juice, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- In a large bowl, layer romaine lettuce, bacon, hard-boiled eggs, avocado slices, cherry tomatoes, and red onion slices. Top with chopped chicken.
- Drizzle the creamy balsamic dressing over the salad and garnish with parsley and green onions if you like! Serve immediately.
Nancy says
I love hard boiled eggs but shelling them is a pain. What’s the secret to making perfect hard boiled eggs?