Healthy Cobb Salad with The Best Vinaigrette (Gluten-Free and Nut-Free)

Easy Healthier Chicken Cobb Salad with the best homemade Vinaigrette is not just your classic Cobb salad. Loaded with protein, crispy mixed greens, cooked chicken, crispy bacon, boiled eggs, creamy ripe avocado, juicy tomatoes, and crumbled feta cheese. It’s a meal in itself.

What is a Cobb Salad?

The first Cobb Salad came about by Robert Howard Cobb back in 1938 for his Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant. It is unclear whether Robert invented the signature dish himself or his chef Paul J Posti.

A Cobb salad is typically made with chopped salad greens, crisp bacon, cooked or fried chicken breast, hard-boiled eggs, avocado, blue cheese crumbles, and a red wine vinaigrette.

So, what makes this a Healthier Cobb Salad?

This Healthier Cobb Salad takes your regular Cobb salad and includes ingredients that will benefit your body more and more. When in doubt, go for a well-rounded Healthy Cobb Salad!

The fact that it’s full of protein, vitamins, fiber, and nutrition! Cobb salads are great as a complete one-bowl meal. This is a healthier Cobb salad with fewer calories than a traditional Cobb salad, but with great taste.

If you haven’t tried turkey bacon before, you’re in for an excellent substitute for traditional bacon! Make sure not to skip out on any of the healthy toppings because tomatoes, for example, promote healthy skin. They purify the blood and are filled with vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium, magnesium, and many more nutrients.

Eggs add protein to this salad (6 whole grams!). Full of healthy fat, eggs are a cheap and easy food to cook. As for feta cheese, it’s a good source of calcium and vitamin B2 and makes a healthier substitute for blue cheese.

Eggs add protein to this salad (6 whole grams!). Full of healthy fat, eggs are a cheap and easy food to cook. As for feta cheese, it’s a good source of calcium and vitamin B2 and makes a healthier substitute for blue cheese. 

Cobb Salad Ingredients

Turkey bacon replaces regular bacon, reducing calories and saturated fat.

Chicken breast, especially organic chicken, contains heart-healthy omega-3.

Mixed greens are always a great and beneficial base for salads. They contain vitamins A & C, as well as fiber.

Hard-boiled eggs are filled with high-quality protein and calcium.

Plum tomatoes have potassium and vitamin K, but you can also use grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes.

Feta cheese also contains protein. It adds phosphorus to the benefits list, keeping your bones strong. You could also use goat cheese.

Avocado also contains potassium and adds heart-healthy fats to this fantastic list!

Best Cobb Salad Vinaigrette 

A Red Wine Vinaigrette is the classic dressing for Cobb Salad. Vinaigrette is made with garlic cloves, red wine vinegar, salt and pepper, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, and extra-virgin olive oil. My Homemade Ranch Dressing would work well if you wanted to substitute the dressing. 

Can I Make Cobb Salad Ahead?

The Vinaigrette can be made 1-2 days before serving. Make sure to place it in a covered container in the refrigerator. As for the salad, you can make it 2-3 hours before serving. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Tips for make-ahead healthy Cobb Salad: 

It’s easy to meal prep this salad.

• Don’t mix the salad until ready to serve.
• Make the dressing in a mason jar to shake it well before serving.
• Salad greens can be rinsed and dried ahead of time.
• Chicken can be pre-cooked and chilled ahead of time.
• Bacon can be cooked and chopped ahead. Keep in the refrigerator until ready to use.
• Eggs can be made days in advance and kept in the fridge until ready to use.
• Cheese can also be crumbled ahead of time, or purchase the already crumbled feta cheese.
• Keep salad in airtight containers to take to work for lunch the next day.

Chicken Cobb salad is one of my favorite salad options to order for lunch at a restaurant. It’s an easy recipe to achieve at home with fresh ingredients and your own homemade dressing.

How to Make a Healthy Cobb Salad