Description
A flavorful and hearty Chicken Cobb Salad featuring blackened seasoned chicken breasts, fresh romaine lettuce, hard-boiled eggs, avocado, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, shallots, blue cheese, and a tangy red wine vinaigrette. Perfect for a quick, nutritious meal or meal prep.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 2 chicken breasts
- 1 1/2 teaspoons blackened seasoning
- 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil
Salad
- 1 large head of romaine, washed and chopped
- 2 hard-boiled eggs, sliced into rounds or wedges
- 1 avocado, sliced
- 1 small cucumber, thinly sliced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 shallot, sliced (or 1/4 cup red onions)
- 1/3 cup blue cheese crumbles
Dressing
- 1/3 cup red wine vinaigrette
Instructions
- Prepare the dressing: If making from scratch, combine all vinaigrette ingredients in a jar and refrigerate for up to one week until ready to use.
- Season the chicken: Pat dry the chicken breasts on a flat surface and evenly coat both sides with blackened seasoning.
- Cook the chicken: Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, melt the butter or heat olive oil. Place the chicken breasts in the skillet and cook the first side for 7 minutes. Flip and cook the other side for about 7 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Adjust cooking time based on chicken thickness.
- Rest and slice chicken: Remove the chicken from the pan and let rest on a cutting board for 5 minutes to retain juices. Slice into strips.
- Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, layer the chopped romaine lettuce. Top with hard-boiled eggs, cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, avocado, shallots, blue cheese crumbles, and sliced chicken.
- Add dressing and toss: Drizzle 1/2 cup of red wine vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently to combine. Add more dressing if desired.
- Meal prep option: Layer all salad ingredients except avocado in four meal prep containers. Portion about 2 tablespoons of dressing into small lidded containers. On the day of eating, add 1/4 sliced avocado to each container and drizzle dressing just before serving.
Notes
- Ensure chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F for food safety.
- Avocado is best added fresh to prevent browning.
- Use a cast iron skillet for optimal searing and flavor, but substitute with other heavy pans if needed.
- Adjust the amount of red wine vinaigrette to suit your taste preference.
- Meal prep instructions help keep ingredients fresh and crisp throughout the week.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
