This grilled chicken cobb salad is a hearty, healthy and delicious salad recipe loaded with grilled chicken, diced ham, bacon, hard-boiled eggs, avocado, tomatoes, cheese, and more.
When I make a salad, I don’t go halfway and have never been one to make the standard plain Jane salad. I mean, they’re okay, but if I’m going to eat a salad, it needs to be substantial, especially if I’m eating it for a meal. Iceberg lettuce and shredded carrots are not going to do it for me. That’s why I love this cobb salad. I make it all the time for myself and my family. It’s an entire meal in and of itself, and it’s so interesting. There are so many textures and flavors in it. It never gets boring, it never tastes bland, and it makes eating healthy fun. For foodies like my family and me, that’s a huge plus.
Grilled Chicken Cobb Salad
This salad has everything but the kitchen sink. It starts with chopped romaine lettuce. Then we add a variety of delicious vegetables, ham, bacon, eggs, and grilled chicken breast that’s been freshly made and seasoned to perfection. Finally, we top it with ranch dressing, and it’s ready to be devoured. It all comes together to create a salad that explodes with flavor in each and every bite. It’s so good that even my relatives who don’t like salad will eat it. That’s a BIG recommendation in my book.
Easy Cobb Salad with Grilled Chicken
The great thing about this cobb salad is how easy it is to make. It’s so delicious, but it doesn’t involve anything like wilting or the like. It’s made like any other salad, we just add more delicious ingredients to it. The thing that really sets it apart is the grilled chicken. It’s perfectly seasoned, grilled to juicy, tender perfection, and makes the perfect hearty addition to the salad.
Grilled Chicken Cobb Salad FAQ
If you have questions about this grilled chicken cobb salad, then I have answers. The following FAQ answers all the most common questions about the cobb salad. It’s definitely worth a read before jumping into the recipe.
What is a Cobb Salad?
Cobb salad is a variation of garden salad. It’s usually made with chopped salad greens like lettuce, endive, romaine, watercress, and the like, along with bacon, chicken breast, boiled eggs, avocado, chives, and blue cheese. Of course, every cobb salad is different because people make them to match their taste.
Why do They Call it Cobb Salad?
The salad was named after its creator, Robert Cobb. The owner of Brown Derby in Hollywood, California, Robert was tired and hungry after a long night at the restaurant, so he simply threw together a bunch of leftover ingredients into a bowl with lettuce and tossed them together with French dressing. Thus, the cobb salad was born.
What is the Difference Between a Cobb Salad and a Chef’s Salad?
Both the cobb and chef salad are very similar, but there are a few distinct differences that set them apart. Chef salads usually use iceberg lettuce, but the cobb salad uses a mixture of greens. In addition, it also contains avocado, a departure from the chef salad.
What is the Best Dressing for Cobb Salad?
If you’re a traditionalist, the dressing of choice is a red wine vinaigrette. If you don’t care about sticking to tradition, ranch is incredibly good on it. Of course, the best dressing is the one you love the most.
Grilled Chicken Cobb Salad Tips
As easy as this salad is, there are some tips to make it even easier. These tips are very simple, but they’ll save you time and ensure that your salad is as tasty as it can possibly be.
Prep Ingredients Ahead of Time
Like all salads, you can prep your ingredients ahead of time. Prepare everything the night before or the morning before dinner and then simply throw it all together before serving.
Slice Avocado Just Before Serving
The only ingredient you can’t prepare ahead of time is the avocado. Avocado will turn brown and ugly when exposed to air, so prep your salad and then slice the avocado right before serving.
What to Serve with Grilled Chicken Cobb Salad
Cobb salad is an entire meal in and of itself, so unless you’re having a lot of people over, I don’t recommend serving anything with it outside of some bread. You could also serve soup with it, as well. Anything else is overkill.
How to Store
You can store this salad in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Store it without dressing to keep the greens crisp, and only slice the avocado when you’re ready to serve the leftovers. The best way to store your salad is in a large container lined with paper towels to absorb excess moisture, further helping to keep the greens crisp.
Grilled Chicken Cobb Salad Ingredients
It only takes a few simple ingredients to make this delicious salad. There’s nothing fancy here. You’ll find everything you need easily at your local grocery store.
For the Grilled Chicken
- Olive oil
- Chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
- Garlic salt
- Black pepper
- Slap Ya Mama®
- Paprika
For the Salad
- Romaine lettuce, chopped
- Diced ham
- Bacon, cooked and crumbled
- Hard-boiled eggs, sliced
- Avocado, sliced
- Cherry/grape tomatoes, halved
- Cheddar cheese, shredded
- Croutons
- Red onion, sliced
- Ranch dressing
How to Make Grilled Chicken Cobb Salad
Making this salad couldn’t be easier. With so many ingredients, you might think it’s difficult, but it’s all simply a matter of prep. The only actual cooking that goes into the recipe is making the chicken.
Step 1: Prep
Mix the chicken seasonings together, hard-boil the eggs, and prep the vegetables.
Step 2: Make the Chicken
Heat oil in a large grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts to the pan and sprinkle both sides with seasoning. Cook the chicken until it’s completely cooked through – about 8-9 minutes. Then, remove the chicken from the pan and cut it into bite-sized pieces.
Step 3: Make the Salad
In a large bowl, add the lettuce and top with the chicken, diced ham, crumbled bacon, egg slices, avocado, tomato halves, onion slices, shredded cheese and croutons. Drizzle with ranch dressing (or your favorite dressing) and serve.
Try This Delicious Chicken Cobb Salad Recipe Today
This recipe is so simple, it’s ready in no time, and it’s so hearty, it satisfies even the biggest eaters. It’s also just plain good! With a combination like that, there’s no reason not to give it a try. Whip up this salad, and I know you’ll find yourself making it again and again. You’ll have to just to get your family to stop asking for it!
More Favorite Salad Recipes
Crispy Chicken Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing – A hearty and delicious chicken salad recipe with crispy chicken, bacon, avocado, tomatoes, cheese and more. Definitely a family favorite salad.
Chicken Curry Pasta Salad – All I can say about this salad is that it is FABULOUS! It’s has so much flavor and is absolutely delicious. Don’t let the curry scare you off. One of my all time favorite salad recipes EVER.
BBQ Bacon Broccoli Avocado Salad – A great side dish broccoli salad that is hearty, flavorful and filling. Loaded with broccoli florets, bacon, red onion, avocado, and cheddar cheese with a delicious sauce mixed throughout.
And, here is a delicious Bow Tie Pasta Salad from Deliciously Seasoned that you might enjoy too!
Grilled Chicken Cobb Salad
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon Slap Ya Mama®
- ½ teaspoon paprika
For the Salad
- 10 ounces romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1½ cups diced cooked ham
- 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 3 hard boiled eggs, sliced
- 1 avocado sliced
- 1 cup cherry/grape tomatoes, cut in half
- ½ cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup croutons
- ½ red onion, sliced
- ½ cup Ranch dressing
Instructions
- In a large pan or skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts to the pan and sprinkle both sides with seasonings.
- Cook until chicken is completely cooked through and there is no longer any pink. (About 8-9 minutes.)
- Remove chicken from the pan and cut into bite-sized pieces.
- In a large bowl or platter, add in Romaine lettuce and top with chicken pieces, diced ham, crumbled bacon, egg slices, avocado, tomatoes, onion slices, croutons, and shredded cheese.
- Drizzle with ranch dressing and serve.
Nutrition
Here are a couple photos that are perfect to save to your favorite Pinterest Boards.
I love the presentation. Great for. Luncheon,
Thank you so much Linda! :)
Hi ! Looking at the sodium count on this cobb salad it very high.
What would you recommend to lower sodium.?
Hi Mary, I would adjust the seasonings and remove the bacon to lower the sodium content. I hope you enjoy this salad. :)