Just as delicious as it is easy, this Cobb Salad will be your new favorite lunch or dinner salad recipe!
Cobb Salad 101
I did a little research (after the fact) on what exactly makes a Cobb Salad and I’m here to say this recipe is moderately compliant- hah! So if you’re wondering what are common ingredients in a Cobb salad, I’ll list below and a majority of them you’ll find in this delicious, easy and filling salad.
What ingredients are in a Cobb salad?
Typical Cobb salad ingredients are romaine and watercress lettuce, tomato, avocado, cucumber, shallots, hard boiled egg, bacon, cheese and chicken. It’s often served with a red wine vinaigrette. This combo of ingredients is classic and delicious, but not always kid-friendly.
What ingredients are in this Cobb salad?
In the interest of kid-friendliness and ease, several ingredients are eliminated (e.g. shallots) and several fun swaps are in the mix! Instead of romaine, I used a butter lettuce blend which is such a delicious and yummy lettuce leaf. I used a shredded Colby Jack instead of a bleu cheese, ranch dressing instead of red wine vinaigrette and lastly, I used a…. *drum roll* please, gluten-free chicken nugget as the star of the salad. That’s right, chicken nuggets. More on this below!
I am a firm believer that chicken nuggets are a hidden gem for family-friendly meals. That’s right, you read that right. Now all chicken nuggets aren’t created equal and finding a yummy gluten-free one can be tricky, but if you’re in Texas, I’m a huge fan of H-E-B’s gluten free chicken chunks. They are perfect for salads, pasta and of course solo for the picky toddler that might be in your life. Keep reading for a few more KISS Tips (easy kitchen/nutrition tips/hacks)
If you’re looking for other salad recipes, this Pregnancy Power Salad (pregnant or not) with Maple Cider Vinaigrette is incredible!
KISS Tip: Keep hard-boiled eggs on hand for a quick snack and one less step in this Cobb salad recipe! I use a very old Cuisinart egg cooker to make ours every week, but this guide from the Kitchn is super helpful if you don’t have a favorite go-to method!
KISS Tip: Add dried cranberries, blueberries or medjool dates if you like a hint of sweetness in your salads. Consider adding some pecans, almonds or pistachios for some added healthy fats and crunch!
One final note about your new favorite salad ;), avocado would be delicious in here. Yours truly managed to create and shoot the recipe before realizing I forgot the intended avocado. It’s still delicious without it and has plenty of fat sources if you use cheese and egg, but felt the need to point out omitting avocado wasn’t actually intentional. Hope you enjoy making this easy-peasy salad for you and your family!
Easy Cobb Salad
Ingredients
- 4 cups butter lettuce, shredded
- 2 hard-boiled eggs
- 2/3 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 12 chicken nuggets, chopped
- 2 mini cucumbers, diced
- 1/2 cup shredded cheese of choice (optional)
- 4 Tbsp ranch dressing, or to taste (dairy-free if desired)
Instructions
- Cook the chicken nuggets according to package instructions.*
- If you don't have hard-boiled eggs on hand, cook them using your method of choice.**
- While the oven preheats, shred the butter lettuce, halve the cherry tomatoes, and dice the cucumbers.
- One the chicken nuggets are done, chop them into bite-sized pieces and add to the salads.
- Drizzle your favorite ranch dressing overtop and enjoy!
Notes
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