This crispy chicken cobb salad is one of my favorite salads for lunch and here’s why. It is loaded with cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, eggs, and crispy chicken strips. For the dressing, I like to use either Catalina or Ranch dressing.
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Why You Will Like This Recipe
I use my air fryer to make the air fryer hard boiled eggs and to cook the chicken strips. I posted this recipe back in 2015 and back then air fryers weren’t really popular at the time and now it seems like everyone is using them! I get Tyson Crispy Chicken strips and place 3 ounces of that in my air fryer basket and cook them for 12 minutes.
If you do not have an air fryer just follow the back of the bag for the instructions on how to cook the chicken strips. I listed other ideas for toppings below and sometimes I'll leave out the eggs or add in avoacdos.
How to make Crispy Chicken Cobb Salad
Step 1 Place about 6 eggs in the air fryer basket and cook them at 250 for 16 minutes. Take the eggs out and place them in an ice water bath to stop the cooking. Do this step first before you cook the chicken because the eggs take longer to cook. If you don’t have an air fryer just use whatever method you use to make hard boiled eggs. Peel the eggs and dice them. Set aside.
Step 2 Place 3 oz of frozen chicken breasts in the air fryer basket and cook the chicken breast for 12 minutes at 350.
Step 3 While the chicken is cooking slice the cucumbers and cherry tomatoes
Step 4 To make the salad place 2 cups of lettuce, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, eggs, cheese, and chopped chicken on top of the lettuce.
How to Serve
I like to serve my salad with Catalina or Ranch dressing on top. I typically don’t count dressings for points and that is just what works for me.
Pro Tips for Cobb Salad in Air Fryer
- Cook the eggs in the air fryer: Air frying the eggs makes this Cobb salad especially convenient because you can prepare them right alongside the chicken. Let the eggs cool completely before peeling and slicing.
- Don't overcrowd the chicken: Arrange the chicken strips in a single layer so the hot air can circulate around them and give you evenly cooked, golden-brown pieces.
- Let the chicken rest: Give the air-fried chicken a few minutes to rest before slicing. This helps keep the chicken juicy.
- Prep the ingredients ahead: Cook the eggs and chicken in advance, then assemble the salad when you're ready to eat.
- Keep the toppings separate: If you're not eating the entire salad right away, keep the dressing, avocado, and other toppings separate so the lettuce stays crisp.
- Use your favorite dressing: Ranch, blue cheese, or a simple vinaigrette all work well with a classic Cobb salad.
Serving Suggestions
Serve your Air Fryer Cobb Salad as a hearty lunch or light dinner. The combination of crispy chicken, air-fried eggs, fresh vegetables, avocado, bacon, and cheese makes it filling enough to enjoy as a complete meal.
For extra crunch, add croutons, toasted nuts, or crispy tortilla strips. You can also serve it with a side of crusty bread or a bowl of soup for a more substantial meal.
Storage and Freezing
Store leftover Cobb salad ingredients in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days. Keep the lettuce and vegetables separate from the chicken, eggs, bacon, cheese, and dressing whenever possible.
For the best texture, add the dressing just before serving. If the salad has already been dressed, the lettuce will soften more quickly.
This salad is not recommended for freezing. The lettuce, avocado, and other fresh vegetables will become watery and lose their crisp texture after thawing. The cooked chicken and eggs can be refrigerated separately, but the assembled salad should be enjoyed fresh.
Meal Prepping
Air Fryer Cobb Salad is perfect for meal prep because the chicken and eggs can be cooked ahead of time. Prepare several portions of chicken and air-fried eggs, then divide the salad ingredients into individual containers.
Other options for salad ingredients
- Bacon
- Avocado
- Chickpeas
- Corn
- Black Beans
- Feta Cheese
Recommended Tools
I have two air fryers. The Cosori 4 Qt Air Fryer and Ninja Woodfire Grill which is an outdoor air fryer. It’s pretty awesome! It has 5 different functions on it.
More Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Breakfast Sausage
- Air Fryer Arby Curly Fries
- Crispy Air Fryer Walleye
- Air Fryer Calzones
If you tried this Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Cobb Sald or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you! Follow along on Tiktok @jennarecipediaries
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Crispy Chicken Cobb Salad
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 12 min
- Total Time: 15
- Yield: 1 to 2 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Air Fry
- Cuisine: American
Description
This crispy chicken cobb salad is one of my favorite salads for lunch and here’s why. It is loaded with cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, eggs, and crispy chicken strips. For the dressing, I like to use either Catalina or Ranch dressing.
Ingredients
- 3 oz of cooked chicken strips (I like Tyson)
- 1 hard boiled
- 10 cherry tomatoes, cut in half
- 2 to 3 green onions
- ½ cup of cucumbers
- 2 cups of lettuce
- 2 tablespoons of reduced fat cheese
- Ranch Dressing or Catalina Dressing
Instructions
- Place 3 oz of frozen chicken breast strips in the air fryer basket and cook the chicken breast for 12 minutes at 350.
- While the chicken is cooking slice the cucumbers and cherry tomatoes.
- To make the salad place 2 cups of lettuce, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, hard boild eggs, (optional) cheese, and chopped chicken on top of the lettuce.
- The the salad with Catalina or Ranch dressing on top. I typically don’t count dressings for points and that is just what works for me.
Notes
myWW points: Blue 8; Green10; Purple 8
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 536
- Sugar: 6
- Fat: 36
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Unsaturated Fat: 15
- Trans Fat: o
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Fiber: 13
- Protein: 29
Jenna says
Oh I completely forgot about the bacon! I haven't been buying it lately cause it's been so expensive. 🙂
Laura @MotherWouldKnow says
I love a simple salad like this one. I do have to admit though that my favorite part of traditional cobb salad is the bacon, so if you don't mind, I'll add that into mine when I make it:)
nancyabc says
I can't go through FeedBurner because I have a school account with Google--school tech can't figure out why this is happening
I'm using my personal device a Kindle.
So I just ask the bloggers to open an email account for me-- some do and some don't.
If you do --thank you.