Flavorful Buffalo Chicken Cobb Salad
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Flavorful Buffalo Chicken Cobb Salad
Get ready for a flavor explosion with our Buffalo Chicken Cobb Salad! Picture this: tender hard-boiled eggs, juicy buffalo chicken, crispy candied bacon, romaine lettuce, crunchy croutons, tangy blue cheese + roasted chickpeas, all coming together in one vibrant dish. Each bite is a journey through layers of texture and taste, making it an irresistible favorite for any occasion. Gluten-free + Vegetarian Option.
Y'all---- I've been on a bit of a mission lately—to make salads way more exciting. Haha. And let me tell you, this Flavorful Buffalo Chicken Cobb Salad? It's a game-changer. Think all the classic Cobb ingredients like hard-boiled eggs, Homemade Croutons, blue cheese, lettuce, and avocado, but with a fun twist inspired by the Buffalo wing flavor we all love and some downright delicious candied bacon!
It's super simple to whip up, perfect for meal prep + packs a serious punch of flavor. Plus, it's got that perfect balance of protein, healthy fats + veggies to keep you feeling satisfied. If you are a salad + chicken lover try out my, Best Lemon Pepper Chicken Chopped Salad or Chicken Caesar Salad with Cornbread Croutons next!
Jump to:
- What Is Cobb Salad?
- How To Make Flavorful Buffalo Chicken Cobb Salad
- Ingredients
- Why You Will LOVE This Flavorful Buffalo Chicken Cobb Salad
- 5 Tips for Making The BEST Buffalo Chicken Cobb Salad
- Why Add Roasted Chickpeas?
- Meatless Options for This Buffalo Chicken Cobb Salad
- Can I Use Another Dressing For Buffalo Chicken Cobb Salad?
- Common Q + A's For Buffalo Chicken Cobb Salad
- More Healthy Salad Recipes
- MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
- Flavorful Buffalo Chicken Cobb Salad
What Is Cobb Salad?
Cobb Salad is a classic American salad that typically includes a variety of ingredients such as chopped lettuce, tomatoes, bacon, hard-boiled eggs, avocado, roasted chicken breast, blue cheese + a vinaigrette dressing. It's named after its creator, Robert Cobb, who is said to have invented the salad at his Hollywood restaurant, the Brown Derby, in the 1930s. The salad is known for its colorful presentation and combination of savory flavors and textures!
How To Make Flavorful Buffalo Chicken Cobb Salad
It's simply about preparing your ingredients ahead of time, then assembling everything when you're ready to eat. This makes it an ideal choice for meal prep, whether you're serving it as a side or a main dish—it's completely up to you!
Ingredients
BUFFALO CHICKEN:
- Shredded cooked chicken. See my shredded chicken recipe!
- Buffalo sauce. I recommend using hot buffalo sauce, but if you prefer less heat, you can use medium or mild. I like organic sauce from The New Primal.
SALAD:
- Romaine lettuce. Make sure it's fresh so it's nice and crispy!
- Hard-boiled eggs. I like to buy organic + pasture-raised for the best flavor.
- Candied bacon. Roughly-chopped so it makes a nice bite.
- Hass avocado. Sliced (You can also use Guacamole as a substitute)
- Cherry or grape tomatoes. Halved (You can also use my Herb Roasted Tomatoes for extra flavor/texture)
- Red onions. Chopped.
- Blue cheese crumble. You can also use Feta cheese.
- Croutons. Homemade or store-bought.
- Roasted chickpeas. This is optional but adds a nice extra hit of protein + Flavor.
DRESSING:
- Blue cheese dressing. Either store-bought or homemade.
SHOP MY FAVORITE TOOLS FOR BAKING, ESPECIALLY FOR THIS SALAD!
Here, I’ve curated a list of baking + cooking essentials that I use to achieve my favorite dishes, especially with this Flavorful Buffalo Chicken Cobb Salad. Everything from my fave loaf pan, wooden spoons, parchment paper, and more. SEE THEM HERE!
Why You Will LOVE This Flavorful Buffalo Chicken Cobb Salad
- Exciting twist with bold Buffalo flavors.
- Quick and simple to make, no-fuss preparation.
- The perfect combo of savory + crunchy textures.
- An epic explosion of taste with every forkful!
- Works as a main meal OR side + vegetarian options.
5 Tips for Making The BEST Buffalo Chicken Cobb Salad
- Opt for fresh, high-quality ingredients to elevate the overall taste and texture of your salad.
- When cooking the chicken, aim for a tender and juicy texture to ensure it's the star of the dish.
- Don't be shy with the Buffalo sauce—add just enough to infuse the salad with its signature tangy flavor without overwhelming the other ingredients.
- While I've included the classic Cobb salad ingredients in this recipe, feel free to personalize it by mixing and matching your favorite veggies. Similarly, if you're not a fan of hard-boiled eggs or blue cheese crumbles, you can easily omit them.
- If you think there will be leftovers, it's a good idea to only pour the blue cheese dressing over the parts you're going to eat right away --- This keeps the veggies and lettuce from getting soggy in the fridge.
Why Add Roasted Chickpeas?
In case you're thinking of making this Buffalo Chicken Cobb Salad and would love to add a bit of a crunch or extra texture, then I recommend adding roasted chickpeas. It's super easy to do and only requires one (15 oz.) can of chickpeas, a bit of olive oil, and herbs + seasonings and you let the oven work it's magic. Check out my recipe here for easy steps!
Meatless Options for This Buffalo Chicken Cobb Salad
While this Buffalo Chicken Cobb Salad is perfect as is---I definitely wanted to give options for those of you who don't eat meat or just might make this salad more than once and want to switch things up with a meatless option from time to time! Here are a few great ingredients that you can substitute with the chicken + bacon in this delicious salad.
Other ingredient ideas include:
- Roasted chickpeas
- Beans (like White beans, Kidney beans, etc.)
- Mushrooms
- Tofu or Tempeh
- Cauliflower
- Roasted veggies (like Broccoli, Asparagus, Cabbage, etc.)
- Vegan meatballs
- Jackfruit
- Other plant-based meat alternatives (store-bought)
Can I Use Another Dressing For Buffalo Chicken Cobb Salad?
Absolutely! If blue cheese isn't your thing or if you're looking to change things up, you can opt for a classic vinaigrette dressing. Alternatively, if you're feeling adventurous, here are some of my other go-to dressings you might enjoy:
- Vegan Ranch Dressing
- Creamy Honey Mustard Dressing
- Creamy Chipotle Dressing
- Homemade Green Goddess Dressing
- Homemade Pesto
- Creamy Carrot Ginger Dressing
Common Q + A's For Buffalo Chicken Cobb Salad
Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days, depending on the ingredients. Always determine the ingredients in your salad and keep it no longer than the shelf life of your fastest-spoiling ingredient.
Yes, grilled chicken can be used as a substitute for Buffalo chicken if you prefer a milder flavor.
You can substitute blue cheese with feta cheese, goat cheese, or shredded cheddar cheese if you're not a fan of blue cheese.
Absolutely! You can prepare all the ingredients ahead of time and store them separately in the fridge. When ready to eat, simply assemble the salad and enjoy!
If preferred, you can always add greens like Kale, Arugula, Mustard Greens, Microgreens, Spinach or Collard Greens to this salad for added flavor + texture.
More Healthy Salad Recipes
Now that you've fallen in love with this Flavorful Buffalo Chicken Cobb Salad recipe, put to good use your remaining produce with these great salad recipes:
- Best Lemon Pepper Chicken Chopped Salad
- Ultimate Summer BBQ Chopped Kale Salad
- Roasted Cauliflower Green Goddess Salad
- Baked Jamaican Jerk Chicken Salad
- Healthy Loaded Kale Salad with Spicy Chickpeas
- Quick + Easy Blood Orange Kale Salad
MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
If you tried this Flavorful Buffalo Chicken Cobb Salad recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. And don't forget to tag @orchidsnsweettea_ on Instagram and hashtag it #orchidsandsweettea! I love hearing from you!
Flavorful Buffalo Chicken Cobb Salad
Ingredients
BUFFALO CHICKEN:
- 2 cups shredded cooked chicken
- 1 cup buffalo sauce, premium
SALAD:
- 2 heads romaine lettuce, organic
- 2 hard-boiled eggs
- 2 cups roughly-chopped candied bacon
- 1 Hass avocado, sliced (You can also use Guacamole as a substitute)
- 2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes, halved (You can also use my Herb Roasted Tomatoes for extra flavor/texture)
- ½ red onions, chopped
- 1 cup blue cheese crumble (You can also use Feta cheese)
- handfuls Croutons, homemade or store-bought
- 1 cup Roasted chickpeas, optional
DRESSING:
- 1-2 cups Blue cheese dressing
Instructions
PREP THE LETTUCE + EGGS:
- Chop, rinse, and pat dry thoroughly the lettuce leaves, then transfer to a cutting board or baking sheet lined with paper towel to further dry for a few minutes.
- Cook the hard-boiled eggs and once cooled, remove the shells and quarter the eggs.
TO MAKE THE BUFFALO CHICKEN:
- In a bowl, add the chicken and buffalo sauce together, stirring until combined.
TO MAKE THE DRESSING:
- To make the dressing, be sure to follow my Blue Cheese Dressing recipe.
ASSEMBLE THE SALAD:
- On your favorite serving platter, arrange the lettuce followed by the remaining ingredients: onions, buffalo chicken, roasted chickpeas (if using), chopped bacon, halved tomatoes, sliced avocado (or guacamole), eggs, blue cheese crumble, croutons, and drizzle with blue cheese dressing. NOTE: You can serve the dressing on the side or atop salad if desired.
- Bon Appetit!
Tips & Tricks
- STORAGE: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days, depending on the ingredients. Always determine the ingredients in your salad and keep it no longer than the shelf life of your fastest-spoiling ingredient.
- HERB ROASTED TOMATOES: To see the recipe, tap this link.
- GREENS: If preferred, you can always add greens like Kale, Arugula, Mustard Greens, Microgreens, Spinach or Collard Greens to this salad for added flavor + texture.
Nutrition
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