Healthy Cobb Salad Recipe (with Meal Prep Tips!)
Looking for a fresh, satisfying salad that’s packed with flavor and nutrients? My Healthy Cobb Salad is just what you need! This easy recipe combines a variety of delicious yet simple ingredients into a meal that’s not only healthy but also super quick to prepare. Perfect for lunch or dinner, this salad will leave you feeling full and energized.
Why You'll Love This Salad
This Healthy Cobb Salad is a great way to mix up your routine with a dish that's as tasty as it is nutritious. With a variety of textures and flavors, from the crisp bacon to the juicy tomatoes, there’s tons of healthy goodness in each and every bite of this protein-packed salad. Plus, it's completely customizable and made with just a handful of simple ingredients, like any good Cobb salad should be! Whether you're a fan of chicken or turkey, you can use either (or both) to suit your preferences. It’s also packed with fiber and essential vitamins, making it a well-rounded choice for any meal of the day.
What You’ll Need to Make This Healthy Cobb Salad Recipe
Mixed greens: A healthy base.
Romaine lettuce: Adds freshness and crunch.
Hard-boiled egg: Adds protein and richness.
Turkey bacon: Adds a salty, savory crunch.
Chicken breast: For a lean source of protein.
Cherry or grape tomatoes: Add a sweet, juicy burst of flavor.
Shredded cheese: Who can resist a little cheese?
Mini peppers: For a pop of color and flavor.
Persian cucumber: Adds refreshing crispness.
Red onion: Adds a bit of a sharp bite.
Pickles: For tangy brininess.
Ranch dressing: Adds a bit of creamy richness.
Ingredients:
2 cups (42g) mixed salad greens or spring mix
1/2 romaine heart or a bit of iceberg lettuce
1 hard-boiled egg, quartered
1 slice of cooked turkey bacon
4 oz (56g) cooked chicken breast (grocery store rotisserie chicken works well)
1 handful cherry or grape tomatoes
1 oz low-fat shredded cheese
1 handful of chopped mini peppers
1 Persian cucumber
1/8 small red onion
1 pickle
4 tablespoons Bolthouse Ranch Dressing
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
Chop Your Veggies and Toppings: Chop the romaine hearts and mini peppers, slice the chicken and red onion, halve the tomatoes, and dice the cucumber and pickle. Last, crumble the crispy bacon into small pieces. Now you’re ready to make your salad.
Mix Everything Together: In a large bowl, combine the mixed greens and chopped romaine heart. Arrange the quartered egg, crispy bacon, sliced chicken or turkey breast, cherry tomatoes, shredded cheese, chopped mini peppers, Persian cucumber, sliced red onion, and chopped pickle on top of the bed of lettuce in rows or piles. Cobb salad is traditionally served this way, but if you prefer to just toss everything together, that’s fine too!
Dress and Season: Pour the Bolthouse Ranch Dressing over the salad, mix well, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Enjoy: Serve immediately and enjoy a fresh, flavorful salad that’s sure to satisfy!
Meal Prep Tips for a Classic Cobb Salad
If you’re looking to streamline your week and enjoy this delicious traditional Cobb salad even on your busiest days, here are some handy meal prep tips to make it even easier:
Prepare Ingredients in Advance
Cook Protein Ahead of Time: Grill or bake extra chicken breasts or turkey slices at the beginning of the week. Store them in the fridge or freeze them in individual portions for quick use.
Hard-Boil Eggs: Make a batch of hard-boiled eggs and keep them in the fridge. They’re great for salads, snacks, or even breakfast. See my tips for how to hard-boil eggs below.
How to Hard-Boil Eggs (Pot)
Place your eggs in a single layer at the bottom of a saucepan or pot. Avoid stacking them to prevent cracking. Fill the pot with enough cold water to cover the eggs by about an inch. Place the pot on the stove and bring the water to a low boil over medium-high heat. Let the eggs cook in the water for about 9 minutes. After the cooking time is up, remove the eggs from the pot and gently place them in an ice bath made from cold water and ice cubes to stop the cooking process. Let them cool for at least 5 minutes. Gently tap the eggs on a hard surface to crack the shell, then peel it off. For easier peeling, you can roll the egg gently between your hands to loosen the shell.
How to Hard-Boil Eggs (Airfryer)
To make things easier, you can also make hard boiled eggs in the airfryer! Simply place your eggs in the basket and air fry at 250F for 13 minutes for soft boiled eggs and 16 minutes for hard boiled eggs. Once the eggs are done air frying, gently place them in an ice bath for 5 minutes so they stop cooking. Gently tap the eggs on a hard surface to crack the shell, then peel it off. For easier peeling, you can roll the egg gently between your hands to loosen the shell.
Chop and Store Veggies
Pre-Chop Veggies: Dice your cucumbers, mini peppers, onions, and pickles in advance. Store them in airtight containers in the fridge to keep them fresh.
Keep Greens Fresh: Store mixed greens and romaine hearts separately in airtight containers or produce bags. This prevents them from wilting and keeps them crisp.
Assemble for Convenience
Layer in Jars: For an easy grab-and-go meal, layer your salad ingredients in a mason jar. Start with the dressing at the bottom, followed by heavier ingredients like protein and veggies, and top with greens. When you’re ready to eat, just shake the jar to mix everything together.
Use Portion Containers: If you prefer pre-portioned meals, divide your salad ingredients into individual containers. This makes it easy to grab a container and go, and helps with portion control.
Store Dressing Separately
Avoid Sogginess: Keep your ranch dressing in a separate container or small jar. Add it to your salad just before eating to prevent the greens from becoming soggy.
Refresh and Reuse
Revive Leftovers: If you have leftover salad, keep the dressing separate and store the ingredients in airtight containers. The salad should stay fresh for a couple of days. Give it a quick toss and add the dressing before eating to redistribute flavors.
FAQs
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Absolutely! Feel free to swap out the ranch for your favorite salad dressing. Just keep in mind that it might alter the flavor a bit. Caesar, green goddess, or blue cheese dressing would be great options, but so would a mustardy red wine vinaigrette or balsamic vinaigrette if you’re looking for something a little lighter. You could even use a honey mustard vinaigrette!
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Yes, you can prep the ingredients and store them separately in the fridge. Just add the dressing right before serving to keep everything fresh and crisp.
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Definitely! This salad is versatile, so feel free to toss in extra veggies or a different protein to suit your taste. Creamy avocado slices (which would add healthy fats), blue cheese crumbles, feta cheese, fresh chives or basil, and more would all be fantastic in this salad.
Enjoy this Healthy Cobb Salad any time of day. It's one of my favorite salads and, with its vibrant mix of flavors and textures, it’s a salad that I know you’ll love making over and over again!
Healthy Cobb Salad Recipe (with Meal Prep Tips!)
Ingredients
- 2 cups (42g) mixed salad greens or spring mix
- 1/2 romaine heart or a bit of iceberg lettuce
- 1 hard-boiled egg, quartered
- 1 slice of cooked turkey bacon
- 4 oz (56g) cooked chicken breast (grocery store rotisserie chicken works well)
- 1 handful cherry or grape tomatoes
- 1 oz low-fat shredded cheese
- 1 handful of chopped mini peppers
- 1 Persian cucumber
- 1/8 small red onion
- 1 pickle
- 4 tablespoons Bolthouse Ranch Dressing
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Chop Your Veggies and Toppings: Chop the romaine hearts and mini peppers, slice the chicken and red onion, halve the tomatoes, and dice the cucumber and pickle. Last, crumble the crispy bacon into small pieces. Now you’re ready to make your salad.
- Mix Everything: Combine the mixed greens and chopped romaine heart in a large bowl. Arrange the quartered egg, crispy bacon, sliced chicken or turkey breast, cherry tomatoes, shredded cheese, chopped mini peppers, Persian cucumber, sliced red onion, and chopped pickle on top of the bed of lettuce in rows or piles. Cobb salad is traditionally served this way, but if you prefer to toss everything together, that’s fine too!
- Dress and Season: Pour the Bolthouse Ranch Dressing over the salad, mix well, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Enjoy: Serve immediately and enjoy a fresh, flavorful salad that’s sure to satisfy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories
400Fat
20 gCarbs
15 gProtein
40 g