This Chick-fil-A Cobb Salad is my take on the Chick-fil-A classic. With crisp romaine, juicy grilled chicken, hard-boiled eggs, bacon, corn, tomatoes, and creamy avocado lime dressing.
My husband is a big Chick-fil-A fan, and I always order this salad with grilled chicken when we go. Recently, I was craving it so much that I decided to make my own copycat Chick-fil-A salad using only fresh, gluten-free, wholesome ingredients!
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Recipe Difficulty: Easy
- Cooking Method: Grilling, Boiling
- Main Ingredients: Romaine lettuce, grilled chicken, bacon, avocado
- Dietary Info: Gluten-free, High-protein, Keto with slight modifications
- Serves: 4
- Calories: 373 per serving
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Thank you for sharing this! I love the Chick-fil-A Cobb recipe, but I always want a healthier version. This recipe was even better than the original, & the avo lime dressing made it!
- halle
Homemade wins with this Copycat Chick-fil-A Cobb Salad! You control the ingredient quality and can customize every topping to your taste!
I specialize in creating copycat recipes that nail the flavors of restaurants I love! From my Homemade Copycat CAVA Bowl to Sweetgreen Crispy Rice Bowls and Copycat PF Chang's Chicken Lettuce Wraps, I test and perfect each recipe so you can enjoy your favorite copycat recipes anytime!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Better & Healthier: Make this CFA salad at home with fresher ingredients, bigger portions, and 373 calories per serving.
- Quick & Customizable: Ready in 25 minutes, customizable toppings.
- Protein-Packed: 40+ grams per serving.
- Meal Prep Friendly: Store ingredients separately for easy lunches & dinners.
Chick-fil-A Cobb Salad Key Ingredients
- Romaine Lettuce: Crisp leaves that hold up and add a refreshing crunch to this Chick-fil-A Cobb salad recipe!
- Grilled Chicken Thighs: Tender, flavorful protein with smoky char marks that enhance the salad.
- Avocado: Creates a creamy texture in the dressing and adds richness.
- Greek Yogurt: Adds tangy creaminess to the dressing.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: Brings brightness and a touch of acidity.
Substitutions & Variations
- Faster Meal Prep: Use rotisserie chicken if you're in a hurry!
- Vegetarian Options: Replace chicken with black beans or roasted chickpeas, skip the bacon, and swap the dressing for a dairy-free or nut-based version, like my spicy cashew dressing.
- Lower-Fat Choices: Try turkey bacon instead of regular bacon or swap non-fat Greek yogurt; my favorite brand is Fage.
- Spicy Twist: Add diced jalapeños to the salad or blend them into the dressing for some heat.
- Low-Carb Salad: Skip the corn and add extra eggs & sliced cucumber.
How To Make the Chick-fil-A Cobb Salad Recipe
- Step 1: Marinade 8 chicken thighs in pickle juice, honey, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper for 15 minutes. Preheat your grill or grill pan to high heat (about 500°F). Brush the grates with olive oil. Grill chicken for 6-8 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Let rest 5 minutes, then slice into thin strips.
- Step 2: Place 4 large eggs in a pot and cover with cold water by 1 inch. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Remove from heat, cover, and let sit for 12 minutes. Transfer eggs to an ice bath to stop cooking. Peel and chop into quarters.
- Step 3: Cook 4 bacon strips in a skillet on medium heat until crispy and golden, about 6-8 minutes, flipping halfway. Transfer to paper towels to drain excess grease. Chop into small pieces once cooled.
- Step 4: Wash 8 cups of romaine lettuce & pat completely dry. Place in a large serving bowl. Halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the red onion. If using frozen corn, thaw 1 cup of corn kernels. For fresh corn, cut kernels off 2 cobs.
- Step 5: Make the avocado lime ranch dressing. In a food processor or blender, combine ripe avocado (pitted and peeled), Greek yogurt, honey, fresh cilantro, apple cider vinegar, fresh lime juice, garlic cloves, and salt. Blend until completely smooth and creamy, about 30-45 seconds.
- Step 6: Layer the grilled chicken strips, hard-boiled eggs, bacon pieces, corn, red onion, and halved cherry tomatoes over the romaine lettuce. Drizzle the avocado lime dressing over the assembled salad. Toss gently to coat all ingredients. Serve immediately for freshness and enjoy!
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Expert Tips
- Dry the Lettuce: Wet leaves will make your salad watery and prevent dressing from sticking.
- Cook Chicken Perfectly: Remove from heat at 165°F; it will rest and finish cooking without drying out.
- Shock the Eggs: Transfer boiled eggs to ice water to stop cooking and make peeling easier.
- Adjust Dressing: Thin with water or thicken with extra yogurt to reach your preferred consistency.
- Grill Extra Chicken: Cook extra chicken to meal prep and use in other meals throughout the week.
My Other Favorite Salad Recipes
This Chick-fil-A Cobb salad with grilled chicken is insanely good. If you love fresh, healthy salads, be sure to check out more of my favorite easy salad recipes!
Some of my favorites include a copycat Erewhon White Bean Salad with creamy tahini dressing, my arugula and steak salad, a grilled chicken Caesar salad, and a fresh arugula and spinach salad!
Frequently Asked Questions
The best dressing for a Cobb salad balances creaminess with brightness to complement the chicken, bacon, and eggs. Popular choices include avocado lime ranch, classic ranch, balsamic vinaigrette, or blue cheese. For this Chick-fil-A cobb salad recipe, avocado lime dressing is my favorite!
With modifications, yes. Remove the corn (which adds 15g carbs) and ensure your dressing has no added sugar (omit the honey). The remaining ingredients are keto-compliant.
A Chick-fil-A Cobb Salad recipe includes a base of fresh mixed greens topped with sliced grilled chicken, chopped bacon, hard-boiled eggs, grape tomatoes, corn kernels, and optional shredded cheddar & Monterey Jack cheeses. It's typically served with a creamy dressing, like avocado lime ranch dressing.
Romaine lettuce is traditional because its sturdy leaves hold up to heavy toppings. Mixed greens, butter lettuce, or baby spinach also work well.
Did you make this recipe?
Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment and rating below. Also, share it on socials to let others know what you think! Be sure to tag @entirelyemmy so I can share your masterpiece with my followers! ✨
📖 Recipe
Chick-fil-A Cobb Salad Recipe
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 8 Cups Romaine Lettuce or greens of choice
- 8 Chicken Thighs or 2 pounds
- 4 Hard Boiled Eggs
- 4 Strips Bacon chopped
- 1 Cup Corn Kernels
- ½ Red Onion chopped
- 1 Cup Cherry Tomatoes halved
Chick-fil-A Avocado Lime Ranch
- 1 Avocado
- ½ Cup Greek Yogurt
- 1 Cup Cilantro
- ¼ Cup Apple Cider Vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons Lime Juice
- 2 Cloves Garlic
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
Chick-fil-A Grilled Chicken Marinade
- ¼ Cup Pickle Juice
- 1 Tablespoon Honey
- ½ Tablespoon Garlic Powder
- ½ Tablespoon Paprika
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- 1 Teaspoon Pepper
Instructions
- Marinate chicken thighs in pickle juice, honey, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper for 15 minutes. Preheat a grill or grill pan to high heat (about 500°F) and brush the grates with olive oil. Grill chicken for 6-8 minutes per side until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Let rest for 5 minutes, then slice into thin strips.
- Place eggs in a pot and cover with cold water by about 1 inch. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat, then remove from the heat, cover, and let sit for 12 minutes. Transfer eggs to an ice bath to stop cooking, then peel and chop into quarters.
- In a skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until crispy and golden, about 6-8 minutes, flipping halfway through. Transfer to paper towels to drain excess grease, then chop into small pieces once cooled.
- Wash romaine lettuce and pat it completely dry. Place in a large serving bowl. Halve cherry tomatoes and dice the red onion. If using frozen corn, thaw; if using fresh, cut kernels off the cobs.
- In a food processor or high-speed blender, combine avocado, Greek yogurt, honey, fresh cilantro, apple cider vinegar, lime juice, garlic, and salt. Blend until smooth and creamy, about 30-45 seconds.
- Layer the grilled chicken strips, hard-boiled eggs, bacon, corn, red onion, and halved cherry tomatoes over the romaine lettuce. Drizzle with the avocado lime ranch dressing and toss gently to coat all ingredients. Serve immediately for maximum freshness and crunch.
Notes
- Dry the Lettuce: Wet leaves make the salad watery and prevent dressing from sticking.
- Cook Chicken Perfectly: Remove from heat at 165°F; it will rest and finish cooking without drying out.
- Shock the Eggs: Transfer boiled eggs to ice water to stop cooking and make peeling easier.
- Adjust Dressing: Thin with water or thicken with extra yogurt to reach your preferred consistency.
- Grill Extra Chicken: Cook extra to meal prep and use in other meals throughout the week.
Nutrition
Save This Recipe!
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Halle says
Thank you for sharing this! I love the chick fil a Cobb but always want a healthier version. This recipe was even better than the original, & the avo lime dressing made it!
Emmy Clinton says
Halle! I'm so happy you loved it!