Chicken Cobb salad

Rows of seared chicken, hard-boiled egg, avocado, tomato and cheddar on lettuce with a mustard vinaigrette.

  • Have some energy
  • Gluten-free
  • American
  • Lunch
  • Chicken
  • Keto
  • Low carb
  • High protein
  • Superfood
Hands-on
18 min
Total time
30 min, show breakdown
  • Prep 10 min
  • Cook 14 min
  • Clean up 6 min
Pans
2
Ingredients
11
Cost/serving
$4.26

Per serving

Calories
584
Protein
41 g
Fiber
7.9 g
Net carbs
5.6 g
Fat
42 g

High in (% Daily Value per serving): Vitamin K 132%, Selenium 90%, Niacin (B3) 84%, Vitamin B6 81%, Vitamin A 64%, Folate 59%, Riboflavin (B2) 53%, Vitamin E 37%, Vitamin B12 36%, Potassium 27%, Zinc 26%, Vitamin C 24%, Thiamin (B1) 24%, Magnesium 21%

Full nutrition facts, vitamins and minerals. All nutrition is estimated; check your own labels.

Already gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free.

Ingredients for 1

Tap an ingredient for other units and forms.

  • 120 g chicken breast, boneless skinless

    Same amount as: 4¼ oz, about ½ breast.

  • 1 large egg (50 g)

    Same amount as: about 1 medium, about 1 jumbo.

  • 1 tsp vegetable oil (canola) (4.7 g)

    Same amount as: 5 mL.

  • 2 cups lettuce leaves (94 g), romaine, chopped

    Same amount as: 480 mL, about 9 large.

  • ½ medium avocado (68 g)
  • ½ medium tomato (62 g)
  • 15 g cheddar, grated

    Same amount as: 0.5 oz, about ¼ cup.

  • 1 medium green onion (15 g)
  • 1 tbsp olive oil (14 g)

    Same amount as: 15 mL.

  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar (15 g)

    Same amount as: 15 mL.

  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard (5 g)

    Same amount as: 5 mL.

  • salt, to taste
  • black pepper, to taste

Find alternative ingredients

Quantities are for 1 serving. Boil all the eggs in one pot. Two breasts fit a 26 cm pan.

Nutrition Facts

1 serving per recipe

Serving size 1 plate (462 g raw)

NutrientPer serving% DV*Whole recipe
Calories584
Total fat42 g53%
Saturated fat8.8 g44%
Cholesterol288 mg96%
Sodium453 mg20%
Total carbohydrate13 g5%
Dietary fiber7.9 g28%
Total sugars3.9 g
Net carbs†5.6 g
Protein41 g81%
Vitamin D1.2 mcg6%
Calcium202 mg16%
Iron3.2 mg18%
Potassium1,252 mg27%
Vitamin A579 mcg64%
Vitamin C22 mg24%
Vitamin E5.6 mg37%
Vitamin K159 mcg132%
Thiamin (B1)0.29 mg24%
Riboflavin (B2)0.68 mg53%
Niacin (B3)14 mg84%
Vitamin B61.4 mg81%
Folate234 mcg59%
Vitamin B120.86 mcg36%
Magnesium90 mg21%
Zinc2.9 mg26%
Selenium49 mcg90%

Estimated, not verified. These numbers are calculated from typical ingredient data and haven't been checked against a lab or your brands. Check the labels of what you buy and confirm anything that matters to you, especially sodium, sugar and allergens.

* % Daily Value shows how much one serving adds to a 2,000-calorie day. † Net carbs is not on US labels; it is total carbs minus fiber, allulose, erythritol and half of other sugar alcohols. "To taste" amounts are counted as written. Counted items (eggs, cloves, spoons) use the rounded amount shown in the ingredient list. Vitamins and minerals are from raw ingredients; cooking lowers some, especially vitamin C and folate. How this is calculated.

Steps

  1. Lower the egg into a pot of boiling water. Boil gently 10 minutes, then move it to a bowl of cold water.

    Done looks like: Yolk firm all the way through when you cut it.
  2. Meanwhile, pat the chicken dry and season with salt and pepper. If it is thicker than 2 cm (¾ in), slice it in half horizontally.

  3. Heat the vegetable oil in the pan on medium-high for 2 minutes. Lay the chicken in and leave it for 5 minutes. Flip and cook 4–5 minutes more.

    Done looks like: Golden on both sides. Thermometer in the thickest part reads 74 °C / 165 °F or higher.
  4. Rest the chicken 3 minutes, then dice it. Peel and chop the egg. Dice the avocado and tomato. Grate the cheddar. Slice the green onion.

  5. Whisk the olive oil, vinegar, mustard and a pinch of salt and pepper in a cup.

    Done looks like: Thick and creamy, not separated.
  6. Put the lettuce in a wide bowl. Lay the chicken, egg, avocado, tomato and cheddar in rows on top. Scatter the green onion and pour over the dressing.

Equipment

Medium pot with lid, about 2 L (2 qt) $15–35

What to look for

  • Lid that fits snugly
  • Thick base so it does not scorch

Skip: Glass lids that fog up are fine; copper is not needed.

Non-stick frying pan, 26 cm (10 in) $20–45

What to look for

  • Flat, heavy base that does not wobble on the stove
  • Oven-safe handle is a bonus, not required
  • Works on your stove type (induction needs a magnetic base)

Skip: Sets of 10 pieces. You will use two of them.

Instant-read digital thermometer $10–30

What to look for

  • Reads in 5 seconds or less
  • Thin probe tip
  • Shows °C and °F

Skip: Dial thermometers that take 20+ seconds.

Silicone spatula $5–12

What to look for

  • One-piece (no seam where the head meets the handle)
  • Stiff enough to scrape, safe on non-stick

Skip: Wooden spatulas for non-stick pans; they work but do not scrape as cleanly.

Chef's knife, 20 cm (8 in) $15–50

What to look for

  • Comfortable handle that does not slip when wet
  • Blade you can sharpen, or a cheap one you replace every few years

Skip: Knife blocks with 12 knives. A chef's knife and a small paring knife cover almost everything.

Cutting board $10–30

What to look for

  • At least 30 × 40 cm (12 × 16 in), so food stays on it
  • Wood or plastic; plastic goes in the dishwasher

Skip: Glass or stone boards. They dull knives fast.

What goes wrong

WhatCauseFix
Egg hard to peelVery fresh eggs, or not cooled.Cool in cold water for 5 minutes, crack all over and peel under running water.
Grey ring around the yolkBoiled too long or too hard.Keep a gentle boil and move to cold water at 10 minutes.
Brown avocadoCut too early.Cut it last, right before serving.

Versions

VersionChangesPer serving
OriginalAs written. Hands-on 18 min, total 30 min.584 kcal
41 g protein
7.9 g fiber
5.6 g net carbs
42 g fat
Dairy-freeNo cheddar. Hands-on 18 min, total 30 min.524 kcal
37 g protein
7.9 g fiber
5.4 g net carbs
37 g fat

Notes

Allergies: removing an allergen from the recipe does not remove it from your kitchen or from other products. Check labels for "may contain" warnings.

Pregnancy: Cook the chicken to at least 74 °C / 165 °F and the egg until the yolk is firm.