This isn’t your grandma’s Chicken Cobb Salad—it’s packed full of flavor with juicy baked BBQ chicken, sweet corn succotash, and a creamy Cobb salad dressing. But don’t worry, it still has all the other classic components we all know and love, like avocado, tomato, and hard-boiled eggs. This salad will convert any salad naysayer into a raving fan!
Best BBQ Chicken Cobb Salad Recipe
The end of the weekend always has me craving a good, nutritious meal.
Without even knowing it, I have made some variation of a salad for the past few weeks EVERY Sunday night.
So instead of Sunday Supper, it’s now become known around here as Salad Sunday.
My go-to is this Harvest Bowl complete with an apple cider vinaigrette or balsamic vinaigrette.
But, I wanted to try something new. So I took the traditional Cobb salad, added some juicy and tender baked BBQ chicken, a corn succotash, and the creamiest Cobb salad dressing.
It created the BEST BBQ chicken Cobb salad! (Yes, WAY better than Chick-fil-A’s, Wendy’s or Zaxby’s!)
What is a Cobb Salad?
Cobb salads almost always have a lettuce base with grilled chicken, hard-boiled eggs, crispy bacon, cheese, tomatoes, avocado, and a vinaigrette dressing.
A classic Cobb salad is something you’ll see on menus everywhere, and many restaurants put their own spin on it. They’ll change up the type of cheese, use a creamier or more vinegary dressing, or add different spices to the chicken.
Ingredients
To make this BBQ chicken cobb salad recipe you need:
- Chicken. Boneless and skinless chicken breasts are marinated and baked for this salad. You can choose a different cut of chicken, but you’ll need to adjust the cooking time. In a pinch, you could use a rotisserie chicken, but you’ll miss out on that BBQ flavor. (Leftovers of this Baked BBQ Chicken work super well, too.)
- Barbecue sauce. Grab one you love because the flavor will come through in the baked chicken.
- Honey. Choose a local honey for added health benefits.
- Garlic. Freshly minced garlic adds so much flavor to the marinade.
- Salad dressing. It’s easy to make your own salad dressing with simple ingredients like olive oil, red wine vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, and mayonnaise.
- Corn mix. A flavorful mix of sweet corn, onion, bell pepper, jalapeño, and butter combine for the perfect topping for this salad.
- Greens. You can choose your salad base: mixed greens, spinach, or romaine lettuce all work excellent.
- Bacon. A few ounces of cooked and crumbled bacon add a savoriness to the salad. You can use turkey bacon if you’d like.
- Eggs. Check out how to boil eggs perfectly or make Instant Pot hard boiled eggs for an easy addition to the salad.
- Salad toppings. In addition to everything listed, peeled and diced avocado, cherry tomatoes, roasted almonds, and chopped chives really round the dish out.
How to Make Chicken Cobb Salad
Below are the steps to make this chicken salad recipe at home:
Cook the BBQ Chicken
Skip the outdoor grill and get a sweet and smoky baked BBQ chicken from your oven.
To start, preheat the oven to 350℉.
Mix up the barbecue sauce, honey, lime juice, garlic, and salt in a large bowl. Separate ¼ cup and reserve it to brush on the chicken towards the end of cooking.
Add the chicken to the rest of the marinade and toss to combine. Let the chicken marinate for 30 minutes or up to overnight if you’d like.
Place chicken in a 9×13-inch baking dish. Bake in the preheated oven for 24 to 26 minutes. Be sure to brush on the saved marinade when there is about 5 minutes of cooking time left. The chicken is done when a meat thermometer reaches an internal temperature of 165℉ and the flesh is no longer pink. (Here’s more info on the internal temperature of chicken.)
Cut the cooked chicken into smaller pieces for the salad.
Make the Dressing
It’s surprisingly quick and simple to make your own Cobb salad dressing.
Combine the oil, vinegar, mustard, honey, and mayonnaise to a mason jar. Shake well to combine the creamy dressing.
Make the Sweet Corn Mix
Dice the onion, jalapeño, and bell pepper into small pieces.
Add the butter, onion, pepper, jalapeño, and garlic to a large pan or skillet. Saute over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes.
Rinse and drain canned corn in a strainer, then pour into the pan with the veggies. Cook for another 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally. You want to see a slight char to the corn.
Make the Hard-Boil the Eggs
You can make hard-boiled eggs in a couple of ways. Learn how to boil eggs perfectly, or make Air Fryer Eggs and Instant Pot hard-boiled eggs quickly.
For the stovetop, add the eggs to a large saucepan or pot and cover with water by about 1 inch. Bring the water to a full, rolling boil. Then, remove it from the heat and cover the pot with a lid. Let the eggs sit for 10 to 12 minutes.
For the air fryer, place eggs in the air fryer basket and cook for 15 to 16 minutes at 270℉.
As soon as the eggs are done cooking, add them to an ice-cold water bath to stop the cooking process. Allow them to cool to room temperature before peeling and dicing.
Make the Bacon
Once you know how to cook bacon, you can use the skillet, air fryer, or oven.
For the skillet, line bacon up in a cast-iron or stainless steel skillet. Over medium-high heat, cook the bacon for 3 to 4 minutes per side.
To make air fryer bacon, place bacon in the air fryer basket in a single later. Cook at 350℉ for 9 to 11 minutes.
To bake bacon in the oven, line a rimmed baking sheet with foil or parchment paper, then place a wire rack on top. Set bacon in a single layer on the rack, and bake in a preheated 400℉ oven for 15 to 20 minutes for regular-cut bacon and 20 to 25 minutes for thick-cut bacon.
Whichever method you choose, remove the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. If you prefer, pat the pieces dry to remove any excess grease.
Assemble the Salad
When you’re ready to make the salad, pile some crispy lettuce in the bottom of a bowl or on a large platter. Then, top with chicken, corn mix, fresh tomatoes, creamy avocado, eggs, and bacon.
Drizzle some dressing over the top of the salad and sprinkle with crushed almonds.
Meal Prep and Storage
- How to prep ahead of time: You can make the components of this salad (the chicken, corn mixture, hard-boiled eggs, and dressing) a day or two early. But don’t assemble the salad until you’re ready to enjoy it.
- How to store: You can store the chicken in an airtight container for up to 3 to 4 days, the hard-boiled eggs for up to one week, and the bacon for up to 3 to 4 days in the fridge. Once assembled, the salad should be enjoyed immediately or it will wilt.
- How to freeze: Freezing is not recommended.
Why is it called a Cobb salad?
Legend has it that the Cobb salad was named after Robert Cobb, owner of the Brown Derby Restaurant. Late one night, he was hungry and threw together what he had in the kitchen. The rest, they say, is history.
What dressing goes on Cobb salad?
Traditionally, a red wine vinaigrette is served with a cobb salad. However, there is no wrong choice! Depending on your preference, you can go creamier with a mayonnaise- or dairy-based dressing or opt for more acidic with a vinaigrette.
Is Cobb salad healthy?
When served with healthy toppings and lean dressing, a Cobb salad is a nutritious option. Be wary of sugar-filled dressings and toppings in any salad, as these can counteract the health benefits of greens and proteins.
Expert Tips and Tricks
- DIY. Whip up a batch of your own dressing for this salad! It’s quick and easy.
- Add some flavor. While there is already so much in this salad, take things up a notch with some extra spices on the chicken.
- Go fresh. Be sure to get the best veggies available.
- Be picky. Grab ingredients you love, like a good barbecue sauce, honey, and red wine vinegar.
- Prep first. This salad is perfect to make ahead of time, just don’t assemble it until you’re ready to dig in.
What to Serve with Cobb Salad
While this is a perfect main dish salad, there are a few things you can serve with it to make it even better.
You can’t go wrong with soup and salad, so try Zuppa Toscana Soup, Cauliflower Soup, Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup, or Roasted Tomato Basil Soup.
Don’t forget some Sweet Mini Cornbread Muffins or Gluten-free Cornbread on the side.
You can also change up the dressing! Try a Balsamic Vinaigrette, Honey Mustard Dressing, or Ranch Dressing. Or check out these other Healthy Salad Dressings.
More Salad Recipes
A big bowl of fresh, delicious salad leaves you feeling so good. Whip up any of these favorites next.
Peach Salad with Avocado, Lemon Arugula Salad, and Strawberry Spinach Salad are crisp and refreshing.
Try a Cranberry Kale Salad or Roasted Cauliflower Kale Salad.
Or, go with a classic like a Fall Harvest Salad or a Chopped Kale Salad.
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BBQ Chicken Cobb Salad
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Ingredients
BBQ Chicken
- 1 lb. chicken breasts cut into 4-ounce portions
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 1 lime juice
- 2 Tbsp. honey
- 2 cloves garlic finely minced
- ½ tsp. salt to taste
Creamy Cobb Salad Dressing
- ½ cup oil avocado or olive oil
- 3 Tbsp. red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 2 Tbsp. honey
- 1 Tbsp. mustard yellow or Dijon
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- Salt to taste
Sweet Corn Mix
- 1 Tbsp. oil or butter
- 1 bell pepper red, finely diced
- ½ sweet onion finely diced
- 1 jalapeno pepper finely diced
- 15 oz. can sweet kernel corn rinsed and drained
- ¾ tsp. salt to taste
- ¼ tsp. black pepper to taste
Cobb Salad
- 16 oz. mixed greens spinach, or romaine
- 4 eggs hard-boiled
- 4 oz. bacon cooked and crumbled
- 1 avocado pitted, peeled and diced
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes cut in half
- 4 oz. almonds roasted and salted, crushed
- Chives finely chopped, optional
Instructions
To Cook the BBQ Chicken:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Make the sauce. Mix together the barbecue sauce, honey, lime juice, garlic, and salt in a large bowl. Reserve ¼ cup of it. Add the chicken and toss until well combined. Optional: Marinade for at least 30 minutes, or up to overnight.1 cup barbecue sauce, 1 lime, 2 Tbsp. honey, 2 cloves garlic, ½ tsp. salt
- Cook the chicken. Add the chicken to a 9×13-inch baking dish and bake in the preheated oven for 24-26 minutes, brushing with the remaining marinade during the last 5 minutes of cooking. You’ll know the chicken is done when the middle is no longer pink and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Cut into bite-sized pieces for serving in the salad.1 lb. chicken breasts
To Make the Dressing:
- Combine ingredients. Add the oil, vinegar, mustard, honey, and mayonnaise to a mason jar. Shake until well combined.½ cup oil, 3 Tbsp. red wine vinegar, 2 Tbsp. honey, 1 Tbsp. mustard, ¼ cup mayonnaise, Salt
To Cook the Sweet Corn Mix:
- Saute the veggies. Saute the butter, onion, pepper, jalapeno, and garlic in a large pan over medium heat for 2-3 minutes.1 Tbsp. oil, 1 bell pepper, ½ sweet onion, 1 jalapeno pepper
- Mix in corn. Add the rinsed and drained corn to the skillet and increase the heat to medium-high. Cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the corn is slightly charred.15 oz. can sweet kernel corn, ¾ tsp. salt, ¼ tsp. black pepper
To Hard-Boil the Eggs:
- STOVETOP: Add the eggs to a large saucepan or pot and cover with water by 1 inch. Bring the water to a boil. Once boiling, remove the pot from the heat and cover with a lid. Let eggs sit for 10-12 minutes.4 eggs
- AIR FRYER: Add the eggs to an air fryer basket and cook at 270 degrees for 15-16 minutes.
- Chill in ice bath. Immediately immerse the hard-boiled eggs in an ice water bath and let sit for at least 5-10 minutes before peeling.
To Cook the Bacon:
- SKILLET: Place bacon in a single layer in a cast iron or stainless steel skillet over medium-high heat. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side, or until crispy.4 oz. bacon
- AIR FRYER: Place bacon in a single layer and cook at 350 for 9-11 minutes. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate and then cut into small pieces for serving.
- OVEN: Place bacon in a single layer on a large sheet pan either lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil and a wire rack. Lift up pieces of the bacon to give it a wavy appearance, if you’d prefer. Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 15-25 minutes. Regular-cut bacon will take 15-20 minutes while thick-cut bacon will take closer to 20-25 minutes.
- Drain on plate. Remove bacon from the oven and place strips on a paper towel-lined plate. Pat dry with additional paper towels to remove excess grease.
Assemble the Salad:
- Combine everything. Layer the greens on the bottom of the bowl or platter you're serving the salad on and then place the chicken, corn mix, tomatoes, avocado, hard-boiled eggs, and bacon in rows across. Drizzle with the salad dressing and top with crushed almonds. Enjoy!16 oz. mixed greens, 1 avocado, 1 pint cherry tomatoes, 4 oz. almonds, Chives
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Notes
Meal Prep and Storage
- How to prep ahead of time: You can make the pieces of this salad (the chicken, corn mixture, hard-boiled eggs, and dressing) a day or two early. But don’t assemble the salad until you’re ready to enjoy it.
- How to store: You can store the chicken in an airtight container for up to 3 to 4 days, the hard-boiled eggs for up to one week, and the bacon for up to 3 to 4 days in the fridge. Once assembled, the salad should be enjoyed immediately or it will wilt.
- How to freeze: Freezing is not recommended.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
What approach did you take that was able to prep all these steps in 30 minutes?
Cook bacon, marinade chicken, cook chicken, hard boil eggs, sauté vegetables, chop and dice all the things and mix. While I enjoyed the flavor and freshness, I was left a bit annoyed at how long it took to cook and prepare.
Hi Liz! This time estimate is based on the idea that you can be prepping things while cooking others, so hard boiling eggs while cooking chicken, etc. I also used my Air Fryer to cook both the eggs and the bacon which speeds things up a ton!