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Nut Free
Mexican Cobb Salad with Chicken and BBQ Ranch Dressing
Mexican Cobb Salad with chicken is not just for Cinco De Mayo, it can be enjoyed all year long, and under 20 minutes. It’s the perfect way to start the warm spring weather.
Make a Mexican Cobb salad! It is packed with protein from chicken breast and black beans, crunchy red onions, yellow corn, cherry fresh tomatoes, and shredded Montreal jack cheese all on a bed of crispy romaine lettuce. All tossed together with a simple bbq ranch dressing. The perfect main dish for summer!
This delicious Mexican Cobb salad came to be after a lovely family hosted my husband and I for a delicious lunch. They made a salad. And it combined ranch and BBQ.
I was confused. I had no idea how ranch and BBQ could come together and be… tasty. But boy was it tasty. It was absolutely delicious! And since that short visit, I’ve been wanting to recreate this recipe. So I did. And now, I’m so excited I get to share it with all of you! If you’re stuck at home during the coronavirus pandemic, this is a great salad that keeps you full and is loaded with many different flavors that combine amazingly in your mouth while providing you with so much necessary nutrition.
This salad is loaded with nutritional benefits. So grab your forks and get ready to dig in. Because not only are you getting a healthy dose of vitamins and minerals, you’re getting so many delicious flavors.
Table of Contents
Key Ingredients
Chicken helps to build muscles and supports heart health.
Romaine Lettuce contains vitamins C and K, supporting cell function.
Tomatoes supply you with potassium, which helps to regulate fluid balance.
Corn gives you B vitamins, which help to reduce fatigue.
Black beans support a healthy digestive system.
Red onion contains quercetin, which protects against cancer.
Along with those ingredients, you will need:
Oil: I prefer to use olive oil, it’s to cook the chicken breast.
Salt and black pepper to bring out flavors.
Cheese: Monterey pepper jack cheese, cheddar cheese is also a great option (you can easily substitute for your favorite)
Bbq Ranch Dressing: bbq sauce and ranch
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
How to make Mexican Cobb Salad
Steps 1 & 2: Prep the chicken and cook
Heat extra-virgin olive oil in a large skillet on medium heat.
Season the chicken breast, both sides with salt and pepper. Add to the heated skillet and cook through for 4 minutes on each side and get the golden brown color. Set aside to cool.
Step 3: Assemble the salad
Place chopped romaine lettuce in a large bowl. Add sliced cherry tomatoes. Add diced red onion.
Step 4: Add corn and beans
Drain the can of corn and black beans and add to the salad bowl.
Step 5: Dice and add chicken
Dice the chicken breast into bite-size pieces and also add to the salad.
Step 6: Add cheese
Add grated cheese to the salad.
Step 7: Make the dressing and serve
In a small bowl, whisk ranch and bbq sauce together.Drizzle over the salad. Enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Make grilled chicken breast in the summer for a classic and fun way to cook the protein in this salad!
- Marinating the chicken in a blend of lime juice, garlic, cumin, and smoked paprika for at least 30 minutes will infuse it with additional flavor.
- For added texture, top the salad with crispy tortilla strips or crushed tortilla chips just before serving. This adds a satisfying crunch that contrasts with the creamy dressing and tender chicken.
- Diced avocado not only adds a creamy texture but also provides healthy fats, making the salad more satiating. Ensure the avocado is ripe but firm to maintain its shape in the salad.
- To prevent the salad from becoming soggy, toss it with the dressing just before serving. If preparing in advance, keep the dressing separate and combine when ready to eat.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Roma tomatoes or grape tomatoes are great options.
For sure! If you have some leftover chicken or you just don’t want to cook your own, feel free to use a rotisserie chicken from the grocery stores.
If the salad is mixed with the dressing, it’s better not to store it. It will get soggy and not good. But if you would like to make it ahead of time, keep it in an airtight container with the dressing separate, until ready to serve.
Substitutes
Cobb salads are my favorite. Whether it’s combined with Mexican flavors or just a traditional cobb salad, or a chicken classic cobb salad. They can be enjoyed all year long. My favorite part about cobb salads is you can add on more fresh ingredients or what’s in season and there’s not a bunch of leftover ingredients. It’s best to eat all organic foods.
My favorite add-ons:
- Fresh avocado
- A hint of lemon juice
- Herbs, like cilantro or parsley
- Persian cucumbers
- Hard boiled-egg
- Fresh from the garden green onions
- During the summer months, substitute canned corn for cooked or grilled fresh corn
Enjoy more delicious chicken recipes:
- An Easy Marinated Montreal Baked Chicken Recipe makes perfectly crispy chicken with the tastiest spice mix!
- Enjoy this protein-filled Layered Chicken Salad with Pomegranate!
More salad recipes
If you tried this Mexican Cobb Salad or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you enjoyed it in the📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!
Mexican Cobb Salad with Chicken and BBQ Ranch Dressing
Equipment
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tongs
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salad bowl
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Can opener
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bowl
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grater
Ingredients
- ½ Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 chicken breast, boneless & skinless
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch ground black pepper
- 1 cup romaine lettuce, chopped
- 7 cherry tomatoes, sliced
- 8 oz corn, canned
- 8 oz black beans, canned, unsalted
- ¼ red onion, diced
- ¼ cup Monterey jack cheese, shredded
BBQ Ranch Dressing
- 2 Tbsp ranch
- 1 Tbsp BBQ sauce
Instructions
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Heat extra-virgin olive oil in a large skillet on medium heat.½ Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
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Season the chicken breast, both sides with salt and pepper. Add to the heated skillet and cook through for 4 minutes on each side and get the golden brown color. et aside to cool.1 chicken breast,, 1 pinch salt, 1 pinch ground black pepper
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Place chopped romaine lettuce in a large bowl. Add sliced cherry tomatoes. Add diced red onion.1 cup romaine lettuce,, 7 cherry tomatoes,, ¼ red onion,
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Drain the can of corn and black beans and add to the salad bowl.8 oz corn,, 8 oz black beans,
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Dice the chicken breast into bite-size pieces and also add to the salad.1 chicken breast,
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Add grated cheese to the salad.¼ cup Monterey jack cheese,
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Dressing: In a small bowl whisk ranch and bbq sauce together. Drizzle over the salad.2 Tbsp ranch, 1 Tbsp BBQ sauce
My family LOVES this salad. I substituted Crema for the Monterey Jack a d threw in a couple of jalapeños for a nice kick of heat.
So glad you enjoyed, a little kick of heat in a salad is so good.
I topped this salad with tortilla strips. Also added jalapeño like someone mentioned and it was really great.