Classic Cobb Salad Bowl with Grilled Chicken & Soft-Boiled Eggs

The Classic Cobb Salad Bowl with Grilled Chicken and Soft-Boiled Eggs is a vibrant, hearty, and satisfying meal perfect for lunch or dinner. This recipe takes the beloved Cobb salad and gives it a delightful twist by incorporating tender grilled chicken and perfectly soft-boiled eggs, creating a balanced bowl full of fresh ingredients, creamy avocado, and a touch of feta cheese. Whether youโ€™re looking for a quick and easy weeknight meal or a healthy option to impress your guests, this salad delivers on both flavor and nutritional value. Itโ€™s a dish that combines the crunch of fresh vegetables, the richness of eggs, and the smoky warmth of grilled chicken, all topped off with a customizable dressing that adds a final burst of flavor. This salad is both filling and refreshing, making it ideal for any occasion where you want something nutritious yet indulgent.

๐ˆ๐ง๐ ๐ซ๐ž๐๐ข๐ž๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ

โ€ข 2 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
โ€ข 1 grilled chicken breast, diced
โ€ข 2 eggs, soft-boiled or hard-boiled
โ€ข 1/2 avocado, diced
โ€ข 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
โ€ข 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
โ€ข 1/2 cup feta cheese (cubed or crumbled)
โ€ข Salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Optional Dressing Ideas:
โ€ข Balsamic vinaigrette
โ€ข Greek yogurt ranch
โ€ข Olive oil + lemon juice + Dijon + honey

๐ƒ๐ข๐ซ๐ž๐œ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ

Step 1: ๐‚๐จ๐จ๐ค ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐‚๐ก๐ข๐œ๐ค๐ž๐ง

  1. Begin by seasoning the chicken breast with olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. The seasoning should be generous enough to infuse the chicken with flavor while enhancing its natural juices.

  2. Grill or pan-sear the chicken over medium-high heat until it achieves a golden-brown crust and is cooked through, about 5โ€“7 minutes per side depending on the thickness.

  3. Once cooked, let the chicken rest for a few minutes to allow the juices to redistribute, ensuring it remains tender. After resting, dice the chicken into bite-sized cubes.

Step 2: ๐’๐จ๐Ÿ๐ญ-๐๐จ๐ข๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐„๐ ๐ ๐ฌ

  1. Bring a pot of water to a boil over high heat. Carefully lower the eggs into the water using a spoon to prevent cracking.

  2. For soft-boiled eggs, cook them for 7โ€“8 minutes. The longer you cook the eggs, the firmer the yolks will be, so adjust the time based on your preference.

  3. Once the eggs are cooked, transfer them immediately to an ice bath to stop the cooking process and preserve the tender texture.

  4. After the eggs are cooled, peel them gently and slice them in half. The yolks should have a creamy, slightly runny consistency, making them a perfect addition to the salad.

Step 3: ๐€๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ž๐ฆ๐›๐ฅ๐ž ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐’๐š๐ฅ๐š๐

  1. In a large bowl, start by laying down a bed of chopped romaine lettuce. The crisp texture of romaine provides the perfect base for the other ingredients.

  2. Neatly arrange the grilled chicken, soft-boiled eggs, diced avocado, halved cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion, and crumbled or cubed feta cheese in rows over the lettuce.

  3. The key to a visually appealing Cobb salad is the careful arrangement of each ingredient in sections, ensuring that each bite includes a combination of flavors and textures.

  4. Lightly season the salad with salt and freshly ground black pepper to enhance the natural flavors of the vegetables and proteins.

Step 4: ๐ƒ๐ซ๐ž๐ฌ๐ฌ & ๐’๐ž๐ซ๐ฏ๐ž

  1. Drizzle your preferred dressing over the top just before serving. The dressing can elevate the salad with added richness or tang.

  2. Toss the salad gently to combine, ensuring that all the ingredients are coated with the dressing, or serve it as-is for a classic Cobb salad look with neatly arranged ingredients.

๐•๐š๐ซ๐ข๐š๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ

โ€ข For a dairy-free version, omit the feta cheese or substitute it with dairy-free feta or a similar cheese alternative.
โ€ข If you prefer a lighter dressing, consider using a yogurt-based ranch or balsamic vinaigrette to add a tangy kick without the heaviness.
โ€ข For a more vibrant flavor, add a sprinkle of chopped fresh herbs such as parsley or basil to complement the freshness of the vegetables.
โ€ข You can substitute grilled chicken with grilled shrimp or steak for a different twist on the protein, adding an extra layer of richness.

๐‚๐จ๐จ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐  ๐๐จ๐ญ๐ž

โ€ข To ensure that the chicken remains juicy, be careful not to overcook it. Use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature reaches 165ยฐF (75ยฐC).
โ€ข If youโ€™re not a fan of soft-boiled eggs, you can also make hard-boiled eggs or scramble the eggs for a different texture.
โ€ข The beauty of the Cobb salad lies in its flexibility. You can add extra veggies such as cucumber, bell peppers, or carrots if you prefer a more substantial salad.

๐’๐ž๐ซ๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐’๐ฎ๐ ๐ ๐ž๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ

โ€ข Serve the salad as a main dish for lunch or dinner. It pairs wonderfully with a refreshing iced tea or a light white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc.
โ€ข For an added crunch, you can top the salad with crispy bacon or toasted nuts such as walnuts or almonds.
โ€ข This salad also makes a great meal prep optionโ€”prepare all the ingredients in advance and store them separately to keep the salad fresh throughout the week.

๐‡๐ž๐ฅ๐ฉ๐Ÿ๐ฎ๐ฅ ๐“๐ข๐ฉ๐ฌ

โ€ข For the best texture, use ripe avocado that is creamy and slightly firm. Avoid overripe avocados that may become mushy.
โ€ข When grilling the chicken, make sure the grill or pan is preheated to achieve that golden-brown, crispy crust.
โ€ข If you have leftovers, store the dressing separately to avoid wilting the salad ingredients.
โ€ข For a more filling option, add quinoa or brown rice as a base under the romaine lettuce.

๐๐ซ๐ž๐ฉ ๐“๐ข๐ฆ๐ž:ย  15 minutes

๐‚๐จ๐จ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐  ๐“๐ข๐ฆ๐ž: 10 minutes

๐“๐จ๐ญ๐š๐ฅ ๐“๐ข๐ฆ๐ž: 25 minutes

๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐š๐ฅ ๐ˆ๐ง๐Ÿ๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐š๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง (๐๐ž๐ซ ๐’๐ž๐ซ๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ ):

โ€ข Calories:ย  ~550 kcal
โ€ข Protein:ย  ~40g
โ€ข Sodium: ~650mg

๐‚๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐จ๐ง ๐Œ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐š๐ค๐ž๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐€๐ฏ๐จ๐ข๐

โ€ข Overcooking the chicken can lead to a dry texture. Be sure to cook it just enough to reach the proper temperature.
โ€ข Not cooling the soft-boiled eggs properly before peeling them can cause the whites to stick to the shell, making them harder to peel.
โ€ข Using an overly tangy dressing can overpower the delicate flavors of the other ingredients, so choose a dressing that complements the saladโ€™s flavors.
โ€ข Cutting the avocado too early can cause it to brown. Prepare it just before serving to ensure it remains fresh and vibrant.

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Classic Cobb Salad Bowl with Grilled Chicken & Soft-Boiled Eggs


  • Author: Caroline Jones
  • Total Time: 25

Ingredients

๐ˆ๐ง๐ ๐ซ๐ž๐๐ข๐ž๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ

โ€ข 2 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
โ€ข 1 grilled chicken breast, diced
โ€ข 2 eggs, soft-boiled or hard-boiled
โ€ข 1/2 avocado, diced
โ€ข 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
โ€ข 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
โ€ข 1/2 cup feta cheese (cubed or crumbled)
โ€ข Salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Optional Dressing Ideas:
โ€ข Balsamic vinaigrette
โ€ข Greek yogurt ranch
โ€ข Olive oil + lemon juice + Dijon + honey


Instructions

๐ƒ๐ข๐ซ๐ž๐œ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ

Step 1:ย ๐‚๐จ๐จ๐ค ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐‚๐ก๐ข๐œ๐ค๐ž๐ง

  1. Begin by seasoning the chicken breast with olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. The seasoning should be generous enough to infuse the chicken with flavor while enhancing its natural juices.

  2. Grill or pan-sear the chicken over medium-high heat until it achieves a golden-brown crust and is cooked through, about 5โ€“7 minutes per side depending on the thickness.

  3. Once cooked, let the chicken rest for a few minutes to allow the juices to redistribute, ensuring it remains tender. After resting, dice the chicken into bite-sized cubes.

Step 2:ย ๐’๐จ๐Ÿ๐ญ-๐๐จ๐ข๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐„๐ ๐ ๐ฌ

  1. Bring a pot of water to a boil over high heat. Carefully lower the eggs into the water using a spoon to prevent cracking.

  2. For soft-boiled eggs, cook them for 7โ€“8 minutes. The longer you cook the eggs, the firmer the yolks will be, so adjust the time based on your preference.

  3. Once the eggs are cooked, transfer them immediately to an ice bath to stop the cooking process and preserve the tender texture.

  4. After the eggs are cooled, peel them gently and slice them in half. The yolks should have a creamy, slightly runny consistency, making them a perfect addition to the salad.

Step 3:ย ๐€๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ž๐ฆ๐›๐ฅ๐ž ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐’๐š๐ฅ๐š๐

  1. In a large bowl, start by laying down a bed of chopped romaine lettuce. The crisp texture of romaine provides the perfect base for the other ingredients.

  2. Neatly arrange the grilled chicken, soft-boiled eggs, diced avocado, halved cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion, and crumbled or cubed feta cheese in rows over the lettuce.

  3. The key to a visually appealing Cobb salad is the careful arrangement of each ingredient in sections, ensuring that each bite includes a combination of flavors and textures.

  4. Lightly season the salad with salt and freshly ground black pepper to enhance the natural flavors of the vegetables and proteins.

Step 4:ย ๐ƒ๐ซ๐ž๐ฌ๐ฌ & ๐’๐ž๐ซ๐ฏ๐ž

  1. Drizzle your preferred dressing over the top just before serving. The dressing can elevate the salad with added richness or tang.

  2. Toss the salad gently to combine, ensuring that all the ingredients are coated with the dressing, or serve it as-is for a classic Cobb salad look with neatly arranged ingredients.

Notes

๐‚๐จ๐จ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐  ๐๐จ๐ญ๐ž

โ€ข To ensure that the chicken remains juicy, be careful not to overcook it. Use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature reaches 165ยฐF (75ยฐC).
โ€ข If youโ€™re not a fan of soft-boiled eggs, you can also make hard-boiled eggs or scramble the eggs for a different texture.
โ€ข The beauty of the Cobb salad lies in its flexibility. You can add extra veggies such as cucumber, bell peppers, or carrots if you prefer a more substantial salad.

  • Prep Time: 10
  • Cook Time: 15

Nutrition

  • Calories: 550
  • Sodium: 650mg
  • Protein: 40