Classic Homemade Cobb Salad with Grilled Chicken and Bacon – Easy, From-Scratch Recipe

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This easy Homemade Cobb Salad with grilled chicken, bacon, and hard-boiled eggs is a wholesome, from-scratch recipe made with real food ingredients. Perfect for a fresh summer dinner or a hearty lunch.

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Homemade Cobb Salad is hands-down one of my family’s favorite summer dinners. It’s hearty, packed with fresh, wholesome ingredients, and incredibly satisfying—even for a salad! With grilled chicken, crispy bacon, hard-boiled eggs, and plenty of garden-fresh veggies, this salad is a meal all on its own. I love to top it with my Homemade Honey Mustard Dressing or this Creamy Salad Dressing without Oil. and together it makes for a fresh, flavorful, from-scratch dinner we come back to again and again.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• 1 lb grilled chicken breast, diced
  • I like to grill the chicken ahead of time for easy assembly. You can also use leftover chicken if you have it on hand.
• 1 large head of green leaf lettuce (or romaine)
  • I usually go for a big head of green leaf lettuce—we love this salad, and I never seem to have enough! Romaine works great too if that’s what you have.
• 4 hard-boiled eggs, halved or quartered
  • Perfectly cooked eggs make all the difference. Check out my Deviled Eggs Recipe for tips on how to boil eggs that peel easily every time.
• 1½ to 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • Adjust the amount based on how much lettuce you’re using. I usually start with 1½ cups and add more if needed—cheese lovers, go for it!
• 1 package bacon, cooked and chopped
  • I like to bake mine in the oven until crispy, then chop once cooled.
• 1 red onion, diced
  • Use as much or as little as you like—full-flavored and fresh. I often use about half, depending on who’s at the table.
• ½ to 1 pint cherry tomatoes, diced
  • This one’s flexible too. My kiddos aren’t big tomato fans, so I stick with about ½ pint, but feel free to load them up if you love the burst of freshness they bring!

Dressing: This Homemade Cobb Salad pairs beautifully with my Homemade Honey Mustard Dressing or this Creamy Salad Dressing without Oil.

How to Make Homemade Cobb Salad (Step-by-Step)

1. Grill the Chicken
Start with about 1 pound of chicken breast. You can season it simply with salt, pepper, and a drizzle of olive oil—or use your favorite grilled chicken marinade.
Preheat your grill (or grill pan) to medium-high heat.
Grill the chicken for about 5–7 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Let the chicken rest for 5–10 minutes, then dice into bite-sized pieces.
Tip: Make extra grilled chicken for meal prep!

2. Cook the Bacon
A full package of bacon brings the classic salty crunch to this salad.
Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and let cool before chopping.
Pro tip: Save the bacon fat to cook eggs or sauté veggies later.

3. Hard Boil the Eggs
You’ll need 4 hard-boiled eggs. Check out my Deviled Eggs Recipe for tips on how to boil eggs that peel easily every time.

4. Prepare the Veggies and Cheese
While the protein cooks and cools, prep the fresh ingredients:
Wash and dry 1 head of green leaf lettuce. Chop or tear into bite-sized pieces.
Dice 1 red onion and 1 pint of cherry tomatoes.
Shred 1.5 – 2 cups of cheddar cheese.

5. Assemble the Cobb Salad
Add all ingredients in a large bowl and mix together. I like to use tongs or salad claws for this.

6. Serve and Enjoy
Serve with either this Homemade Honey Mustard Dressing or this Creamy Salad Dressing without Oil.

Serving Suggestions

• This homemade cobb salad is great as a main course or hearty lunch
• Perfect for entertaining or meal prep. if you are going to use it for meal prep I would suggest keeping all ingredients separate until ready to eat.
• Need it to stretch further? Pair it with some crusty sourdough bread or a light soup

Tips & Substitutions

• Swap cheddar for blue cheese or feta
• Use turkey bacon for a lighter twist
• Add avocado, cucumber, or olives for extra flavor

If you try this recipe and love it, I would love it if you could come back and give it 5 stars! Tag me on instagram @my.colorado.kitchen