Crispy Chicken Cobb Salad

 

This streamlined Cobb salad packs everything you love — juicy crispy chicken, creamy avocado, savory bacon, and fresh veggies — into a beautiful, colorful platter. Perfect for a filling lunch or a lighter dinner.

Ingredients:

For the Chicken:

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

• ½ cup all-purpose flour

• 1 egg, beaten

• ¾ cup seasoned breadcrumbs (or panko for extra crunch)

• ½ teaspoon garlic powder

• ½ teaspoon paprika

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ¼ teaspoon black pepper

• Oil for frying (or spray for air fryer)

For the Salad:

• 4 cups romaine lettuce, chopped

• 1 avocado, sliced

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

• 4 slices cooked bacon, crumbled

• 2 hard-boiled eggs, halved

• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

For the Dressing (optional):

• ½ cup ranch dressing OR

• ½ cup blue cheese dressing OR

• Lemon vinaigrette (3 tbsp olive oil + 1 tbsp lemon juice + ½ tsp Dijon + salt + pepper)

Equipment:

• Large skillet or air fryer

• Bowls for dredging

• Whisk

• Large salad bowl or platter

• Tongs

Instructions:

Step 1: Bread and Cook the Chicken

1. Set up three shallow bowls:

   • Bowl 1: flour

   • Bowl 2: beaten egg

   • Bowl 3: breadcrumbs mixed with garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper.

2. Coat each chicken breast:

   • Dredge in the flour.

   • Dip into the beaten egg.

   • Press into the breadcrumb mixture until fully coated.

3. To fry:
   Heat about ¼ inch oil in a skillet over medium heat.
   Fry the chicken 4–5 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through (internal temp 165°F/74°C).

4. To air fry:
   Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
   Lightly spray the breaded chicken with oil.
   Air fry 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway through.

5. Remove the chicken and let it rest for 5 minutes, then slice into strips.

Step 2: Prepare the Salad Components

• Wash and chop the romaine lettuce.

• Halve the cherry tomatoes.

• Slice the avocado.

• Hard boil the eggs (about 10 minutes in simmering water), peel, and halve them.

• Cook the bacon until crispy and crumble it.

Step 3: Assemble the Salad

On a large platter or wide bowl:

• Spread a bed of romaine lettuce.

• Neatly arrange the sliced chicken, avocado slices, cherry tomato halves, crumbled bacon, and halved eggs in rows or sections.

• Sprinkle freshly ground black pepper over everything.

Serve the dressing on the side, or drizzle lightly over the top right before serving.

Tips for Best Results:

• Avocado Tip: Slice the avocado last, just before serving, to prevent browning.

• Chicken Shortcut: Use ready-made crispy chicken tenders if you're short on time.

• Lighten It Up: Skip breading the chicken and simply grill or pan-sear it.

• Meal Prep Tip: Store each component separately if making ahead, then assemble just before eating for best texture.

Final Thoughts:

This Chicken Cobb Salad is hearty enough to satisfy, colorful enough to impress, and simple enough to pull together on a busy day. Crisp textures, rich flavors, and a customizable dressing make it a complete meal every time.

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