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Protein Packed Cobb Salad - A Fresh, Satisfying Classic

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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • For the salad:
  • 8 cups chopped romaine or mixed greens
  • 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded
  • 4 large hard-boiled eggs, peeled and quartered
  • 6 slices turkey bacon, cooked until crisp and chopped
  • 1 large avocado, diced
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 small cucumber, diced
  • 1/3 cup red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese (or feta if preferred)
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives or parsley (optional)
  • For the dressing:
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
  • 1 small garlic clove, finely minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • Optional protein boosts: 1/2 cup chickpeas, 1/2 cup edamame, or 1/2 cup grilled shrimp

Method
 

  1. Cook the proteins: Season chicken with salt and pepper, then grill, roast, or sauté until cooked through. Let rest, then dice or shred. Hard-boil eggs, cool, peel, and quarter. Cook turkey bacon until crisp and chop.
  2. Prep the produce: Wash and dry greens well. Halve cherry tomatoes, dice cucumber, slice red onion, and cube avocado right before serving to keep it fresh.
  3. Make the dressing: Whisk olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon, honey, garlic, salt, and pepper until emulsified. Taste and adjust salt or vinegar to your liking.
  4. Assemble the base: Spread the greens on a large platter or in a wide salad bowl. Lightly season the greens with a pinch of salt so the base has flavor.
  5. Arrange the toppings: Create rows or clusters of chicken, eggs, turkey bacon, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, avocado, and blue cheese over the greens. Sprinkle with chives or parsley.
  6. Dress and toss (or not): For a classic Cobb look, drizzle the dressing just before serving and let everyone toss on their plate. For a fully mixed salad, pour half the dressing, toss gently, and add more as needed.
  7. Serve: Finish with a crack of black pepper and a small pinch of salt over the tomatoes and avocado. Enjoy right away for the best texture.