Salads don’t get more satisfying than this Chicken Cobb Salad. It combines juicy chicken breast, crispy bacon, hard‑boiled eggs, creamy avocado and tangy blue cheese, all dressed with a bright red wine vinaigrette. Naturally high in protein and gluten‑free, this Cobb salad is ideal for a hearty dinner or a make‑ahead meal prep lunch.
I love a loaded salad, and a classic Cobb is one of my favorites. It’s full of contrasting textures and flavors—crisp greens, tender chicken, salty bacon, creamy avocado and crumbly blue cheese—so every forkful feels like a complete meal.
This version is easy to assemble at home. You can use freshly cooked chicken, leftover roast or rotisserie chicken. The components keep well, so you can prep the proteins and dressing ahead to make weeknight assembly quick.
Even if you’re not usually a blue cheese fan, try it here—the sharp, salty bites complement the other ingredients wonderfully. If you prefer, swap blue cheese for feta or another crumbly cheese.
This Chicken Cobb Salad is one I always look forward to eating—simple to prepare, packed with flavor, and perfect for healthy meal prep.
Why you’ll love this recipe:
- Fresh, flavorful and protein‑rich—perfect for a filling lunch or dinner.
- Many elements can be prepared in advance to speed up assembly.
- Low carb and gluten‑free; dairy can be omitted for a dairy‑free option.
- Customizable—swap greens or cheese to suit your taste or what’s on hand.
Recipe ingredients
All the classic Cobb components come together in this salad. While it may look like a lot, the ingredients complement each other and create a balanced, satisfying dish.
- Chicken breast – Grilled or roasted and sliced. Leftover or rotisserie chicken works well.
- Hard‑boiled eggs – Peeled and halved for easy serving.
- Bacon – Cook until crisp, then chop. Pan‑fried, oven‑baked or air‑fried all work.
- Blue cheese – Crumbled. Sub feta or another crumbly cheese if desired.
- Greens and vegetables – I used spring mix, cherry tomatoes and cucumber, but feel free to use romaine, iceberg or mixed greens.
- Avocado – Diced for creamy texture and healthy fats.
- Dressing – A classic red wine vinaigrette pairs beautifully; ranch or balsamic vinaigrette are good alternatives.
Refer to the recipe card below for ingredient quantities and a complete ingredient list.
How to make Cobb salad with chicken
This salad has a few separate components, but many can be prepared ahead of time to make evening assembly fast and easy.
Pro tip: Cook the chicken, boil the eggs, crisp the bacon and whisk together the dressing in advance so you can assemble in minutes.
See the recipe card below for precise instructions.
- Prepare and slice the chicken, cook the bacon, hard‑boil the eggs and dice the vegetables.
- Arrange the greens on a platter or on individual plates. Top with sliced chicken, eggs, bacon, tomatoes, cucumber, avocado and blue cheese.
- Drizzle with red wine vinaigrette and serve immediately.
Recipe FAQs
A Cobb salad is a classic American salad created by Bob Cobb in the 1930s. It traditionally includes mixed greens, chicken, bacon, hard‑boiled eggs, avocado, tomato and blue cheese, finished with a vinaigrette.
Yes. A Chicken Cobb Salad can be a nutritious, high‑protein meal. It’s lower in carbs and contains heart‑healthy fats from avocado and a variety of vegetables. Choose a lighter dressing or control the amount to keep calories in check.
Red wine vinaigrette is traditional and adds a bright, tangy note. Ranch or blue cheese dressings are also common choices.
Recipe notes
- Make‑ahead: Cook the chicken, bacon and eggs ahead to cut assembly time to under 10 minutes.
- Nutrition values may vary based on ingredient brands and portion sizes; dressing is calculated separately.
- For meal prep, portion the salad into containers and keep dressing separate until ready to eat.
More high protein salads you’ll love:
- Italian chopped salad
- Salmon nicoise salad
- Santa Fe chicken salad with tangy lime dressing
- Shrimp louie salad
- Strawberry fields panzanella salad
- Thai chicken salad
Did you try this recipe? If so, leave a review below and tag @flavorthemoments on social media so I can see what you made!
Chicken Cobb Salad
Equipment
- Air fryer or grill (optional)
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts, cooked and sliced (or use leftover/rotisserie chicken)
- 4 slices bacon, cooked and chopped
- 4 hard‑boiled eggs, peeled and halved
- 5 ounces spring lettuce mix (or your favorite greens)
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 medium cucumber, chopped
- 1 large avocado, diced
- 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
- Red wine vinaigrette, to taste
Instructions
- Divide the greens among four plates. Top each plate with sliced chicken, bacon, halved eggs, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, avocado and blue cheese.
- Drizzle each salad with red wine vinaigrette and serve right away. Enjoy!
Notes
- Pro tip: Make the chicken, bacon and eggs ahead to speed up assembly.
- Nutrition facts exclude dressing and are estimates for guidance only.
- For meal prep, pack salads without dressing and add it just before eating.
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is intended as a guideline.