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The key to making a salad you actually want to eat is combining convenience with flavor and texture. This crispy chicken nugget salad recipe does exactly that, with crispy chicken tenders, fresh veggies, and a creamy dressing.
It’s delicious, satisfying, and easy to throw together with plenty of lower-effort options.
My husband almost licked his bowl clean!
If you’re new here, welcome! My name is Becca. I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist specializing in ADHD nutrition and I also have ADHD myself. I combine evidence-based nutrition knowledge with my own lived experience to help you optimize your health and time in the kitchen.
Why You’ll Love This Chicken Nugget Salad
- Easy dinner. Using pre-cooked chicken nuggets keeps prep simple. You can also use pre-washed lettuce, as well as pre-cooked bacon and hard-boiled eggs to make this recipe even lower effort.
- Balanced and satisfying. Includes protein, healthy fats, and fiber to help keep you full until your next meal.
- Customizable. Swap toppings or adjust ingredients based on what you have at home.
- Great for meal prep. Prep components ahead of time and assemble them when you’re ready to eat.
Ingredients & Substitutions
What You’ll Need
Chicken Nugget Cobb Salad
- Chicken nuggets: Bake or air fry until golden, then chop into bite-size pieces. You can also use chicken breast or chicken thighs for this recipe.
- Romaine lettuce: A crisp base for the salad. You can also use pre-washed mixed greens for this.
- Cherry or grape tomatoes, red onion, and avocado: Feel free to swap these out for what you have on hand at home.
- Hard-boiled eggs: A classic cobb salad ingredient and a great source of protein.
- Bacon: Adds crunch and flavor. You can also use pre-cooked bacon bits.
- Blue cheese: Optional, but adds that signature cobb salad flavor.
- Dressing: Feel free to top your salad off with my Creamy Mayonnaise Vinaigrette or any other favorite salad dressing. This also tastes great topped with hot sauce.
Keep scrolling for the full recipe card with ingredient amounts and detailed instructions!
Equipment Needed
- Air fryer or oven
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife
- Small bowl or jar for dressing
- Measuring cups & spoons
- Individual or large bowl for serving
Dietary Variations
- Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free chicken nuggets, chicken breasts or thighs.
- Dairy-Free: Omit the blue cheese or use a dairy-free alternative.
- Vegetarian: Omit the bacon and swap the chicken nuggets for plant-based nuggets or cooked tofu.
How to Make Crispy Chicken Nugget Cobb Salad
Step 1: Preheat your oven or air fryer and cook the chicken nuggets according to the package instructions, until golden.
Step 2: While the nuggets cook, make the vinaigrette. Whisk together the white balsamic vinegar, avocado oil, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, sugar, salt, and pepper.
Step 3: In individual serving bowls, layer the romaine, tomatoes, red onion, avocado, hard-boiled eggs, bacon, and blue cheese. Chop the cooked chicken nuggets into bite-size pieces and add them on top of the salad.
Step 4: Drizzle the dressing over each salad just before serving.
Lower Effort Tips
- Use pre-cooked chicken nuggets.
- Use pre-washed and chopped lettuce instead of romaine.
- Use pre-cooked hard-boiled eggs.
- Use pre-cooked bacon.
- Use store-bought dressing instead of homemade.
Storage Instructions
- Refrigerate: Store salad components separately in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Reheat: Reheat the chicken nuggets separately in the air fryer, oven or microwave before adding them to the salad.
- To maintain freshness, assemble just before serving.
More Healthy Recipes You’ll Love
Did you try this recipe? Leave a star rating & review in the comment section below!
Crispy Chicken Nugget Cobb Salad
Equipment
- Air fryer or oven
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife
- Small bowl or jar for dressing
- Measuring cups / spoons
- Individual or large bowl for serving
Ingredients
Chicken Nugget Cobb Salad
- 280 g Chicken nuggets
- 2 Romaine hearts, chopped (about 300-400g)
- ½ pint Cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- ½ Small red onion, diced
- 1 Avocado, sliced
- 4 Hard-boiled eggs, chopped
- 4 slices Bacon, cooked and chopped
- ¼ cup Blue cheese
Creamy Mayonnaise Vinaigrette
- 2 tbsp White balsamic vinegar, not white wine vinegar!
- 1 ½ tbsp Avocado oil, or other neutral oil
- 2 tbsp Mayonnaise
- 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tsp Sugar
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven or air fryer and cook 280g of chicken nuggets according to the package instructions until golden and crispy. The internal temperature should reach at least 74°C / 165°F. Set aside to cool slightly.
- While the nuggets cook, make the vinaigrette: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together 2 tbsp white balsamic vinegar, 1 ½ tbsp avocado oil, 2 tbsp mayonnaise, ½ tsp Dijon mustard, and 2 tsp sugar until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- In individual serving bowls, layer the salad ingredients evenly: 2 chopped romaine hearts, ½ pint halved tomatoes, ½ diced red onion, 1 sliced avocado, 4 chopped eggs, 4 slices of chopped bacon, and sprinkle with ¼ cup of blue cheese (if using).
- Just before serving, drizzle the vinaigrette dressing over each salad and top with chopped chicken nuggets.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- To make this recipe lower effort, use pre-cooked chicken nuggets, pre-washed and chopped lettuce, pre-cooked hard-boiled eggs, pre-cooked bacon, and store-bought dressing.
- Storage & reheating: Store salad components separately in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat the chicken nuggets separately in the air fryer, oven or microwave before adding them to the salad.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
You’ll love how easy this one is to throw together!
You can make it even lower effort by using pre-cooked nuggets, bacon, and eggs…And honestly any dressing works here too.
If you try it, tell me what toppings you used 🙂