Cafe Zupas California Protein Cobb Salad

Craving a healthy, protein-packed meal? This Copycat California Protein Cobb Salad has everything you need – fresh veggies, tender chicken, and a tangy herb vinaigrette. It's a satisfying and flavorful dish that’s easy to make at home with simple ingredients. Perfect for a hearty lunch or dinner, this salad will quickly become your go-to for a delicious and nutritious meal!

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Below you will find tips, tricks and helpful hints for making this recipe including step by step instructions with pictures. If you would like to go directly to the recipe, scroll down to the recipe card or tap "Jump to Recipe" at the top of the page.

Why You'll Love this Chicken Cobb Salad Recipe

My husband discovered this little gem at Cafe Zupas a couple of years ago and introduced it to me. I LOVE this salad because it is so filling, healthy and delicious. It is totally packed with protein and the Herb Vinaigrette is the perfect blend of sweet and tangy.  This salad is HEAVEN in a bowl and will quickly become one of your favorite salads as well!

To avoid going broke from going out to lunch and dinner at Cafe Zupas every day to consume this classic cobb salad, I decided that I needed to come up with a recipe to make it at home.

This Chicken Cobb Salad recipe is a copycat of Cafe Zupas' California Protein Cobb Salad, with a few minor tweaks and substitutions to make it even more delicious. You can easily customize this salad to your liking by adding or omitting any of the ingredients.

About Herb Vinaigrette Dressing

The key is the simple vinaigrette dressing. Although you have a choice between Ranch dressing and Herb Vinaigrette dressing at the restaurant, I definitely recommend the herb vinaigrette because it is so wonderfully addicting and is one of my favorite dressings. You can definitely make your own homemade ranch dressing instead.

After a little trial and error with the dressing, I believe that this homemade dressing is an almost exact replica of Cafe Zupas California Protein Cobb Salad. 

The only thing this salad is lacking, is someone to whip it up for you and do the dishes when you’re finished. But that’s what husbands and kids are for, right?

Herb Vinaigrette Ingredients

*Ingredient amounts are located in the recipe card at the end of this post.

• Apple Cider Vinegar: The tangy and slightly sweet flavor of apple cider vinegar is essential for the dressing.
• Olive Oil: Olive oil adds a smooth and rich texture to the dressing while balancing out the sharpness of the vinegar.
• Dijon Mustard: This ingredient acts as an emulsifier, helping to combine and thicken the other ingredients in the dressing.
• Garlic: Just a small amount of minced garlic adds a nice bite to the dressing.
• Fresh Herbs: A combination of parsley and basil or cilantro give the dressing an herby freshness that pairs perfectly with the salad ingredients.
• Salt and Pepper: These simple seasonings bring out the flavors in the other ingredients.
• Sugar: A touch of sugar helps to balance out the tanginess of the vinegar and adds a touch of sweetness.

Ingredients for California Protein Cobb Salad with Chicken

• Romaine Lettuce: The base for the salad, providing a fresh and crisp texture. Cut the crunchy lettuce into smaller pieces for best results.
• Hard-Boiled Eggs: A classic ingredient in Cobb salads, adding protein and richness to the dish.
• Bacon Pieces: Crisp bacon adds a smoky and salty bacon flavor to the salad. You can use store-bought bacon bits or cook your own bacon until crispy. You can even add extra bacon if you want!
• Edamame: These little green beans pack a protein punch and add an interesting texture to the salad.
• Grape Tomatoes: Sweet and juicy tomatoes are perfect for this salad, but you can also use cherry tomatoes or diced fresh tomatoes.
• Black Olives: Sliced black olives add a briny flavor to the salad. You can also use Kalamata olives if you prefer.
• Feta Cheese: The tangy and salty flavor of feta cheese (goat cheese) pairs perfectly with the other ingredients in this salad. If your'e a fan of blue cheese, feel free to substitute blue cheese crumbles.
• Avocado: Mashed creamy avocado adds a creamy and rich texture to the dish while also providing healthy fats.
• Cooked Chicken: This is where the protein in this salad comes from. Feel free to use your preferred type of cooked chicken breast, whether it's grilled, baked, or rotisserie chicken. I like to marinate chicken in some of the herb vinaigrette, then bake or grill for the salad.

How to Make California Protein Cobb Salad

[Step 1] Herb Vinaigrette: Adding all of the herb vinaigrette salad dressing ingredients to your blender and blend. Refrigerate until ready to use.

[Step 2] Chicken: Grill, bake, or use an Instant Pot to cook the chicken. Or used leftover rotisserie or cooked chicken.

[Step 3] Prepare the Salad Ingredients: Chop the lettuce into bite-sized pieces, like a chopped salad. Slice the hard boiled eggs, grape tomatoes and black olives. Slice open an avocado and remove the pit. Scoop out the flesh and smash it to guacamole consistency.

[Step 4] Assemble the Salad: Place the lettuce and your desired amount of vinaigrette in a large bowl with a lid. Shake to toss the salad and coat the lettuce with the dressing. Divide the lettuce between four bowls. Add all of the toppings on top of the salad and enjoy!

Helpful Kitchen Tools

• Salad Spinner
• Cutting Board
• Sharp Knife
• Food Processor or Blender

What to Serve with Easy Chicken Cobb Salad

Serve this salad with these delicious Honey Buttermilk Biscuits , Sweet Moist Cornbread, Lion House Rolls, Texas Roadhouse Rolls, or Rosemary Bread and your meal will be complete!

This salad is definitely a hearty main dish salad on it's own, but you could also serve this salad along side a warm bowl of soup. Here are some of my favorites: Tortellini Tomato Soup, Mexican Corn Chowder, Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Soup, or Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup.

Final Thoughts

Don't be intimidated by all of the ingredients and steps in this recipe. It may seem like a lot, but it is actually quite simple to make and well worth the effort. Plus, making this salad at home means you can enjoy it anytime without breaking the bank! So go ahead and give this California Protein Cobb Salad with Herb Vinaigrette a try and let the deliciousness speak for itself!

Other Salad Recipes:

• Honeycrisp Harvest Salad
• Big Mac Chopped Salad
• The Best BBQ Chicken Salad
• Chopped Italian Salad

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