The Ultimate Vegan Chick-fil-A Cobb Salad: A Healthy & Delicious Plant-Based Copycat Recipe
Craving that iconic fast-food favorite without the meat and dairy? This incredible vegan copycat Chick-fil-A Cobb salad allows you to indulge in all the beloved classic flavors, but with entirely plant-based ingredients! We’ve meticulously crafted this recipe to feature savory vegan chicken strips, crispy plant-based bacon, and creamy dairy-free cheese, ensuring every bite is just as satisfying and flavorful as the original.
The Cobb salad is a true staple of American cuisine, with a history spanning nearly a century. While numerous variations exist, the version served by Chick-fil-A has undeniably captured the hearts (and taste buds) of many. Interestingly, Chick-fil-A’s interpretation isn’t a strict adherence to the traditional Cobb recipe.
A classic Cobb salad typically features roasted turkey, hard-boiled eggs, crisp lettuce, tomatoes, bacon, and a red wine vinaigrette. Chick-fil-A, however, adapted it by incorporating their famous fried chicken nuggets instead of turkey. Our vegan rendition beautifully bridges the gap, offering a similar flavor profile and satisfying texture, making it remarkably easy to enjoy your fast-food cravings while adhering to a plant-based lifestyle.
Our innovative vegan copycat swaps traditional chicken for tender plant-based chicken strips, replaces bacon with a smoky vegan alternative, and uses dairy-free cheese shreds. Instead of hard-boiled egg, we’ve opted for rich, creamy avocado – a delightful and often preferred plant-based alternative that adds a luxurious texture and healthy fats to the salad. Everything is brought together with a vibrant, zippy Dijon vinaigrette, which perfectly complements the fresh ingredients and keeps the overall dish light, tangy, and incredibly flavorful.
Why You’ll Adore This Vegan Chick-fil-A Cobb Salad
Prepare to fall in love with this plant-based take on a fast-food classic. Here’s why this vegan Chick-fil-A Cobb salad will become a new favorite:
- Incredibly Satisfying & Filling. This isn’t just a side salad; it’s a robust meal in itself! The hearty plant-based chicken strips, combined with the creamy, nutrient-rich avocado, make this salad exceptionally filling and truly satisfying, ensuring you stay full and energized.
- A Symphony of Textures and Flavors. Every forkful offers a delightful sensory experience. You’ll enjoy the juicy chewiness of the vegan chicken, the smooth creaminess of avocado, the tangy burst of fresh tomatoes, the crisp coolness of lettuce, and the savory crunch of plant-based bacon. It’s a perfect balance that will keep your taste buds excited.
- Effortlessly Easy & Quick to Prepare. This recipe is designed for modern, busy lifestyles. It comes together remarkably fast, making it an ideal choice for a quick yet wholesome work lunch, a speedy weeknight dinner, or even a flavorful meal prep option for the days ahead.
- Health-Conscious & Nutrient-Packed. By opting for plant-based ingredients, you’re choosing a salad that’s naturally lower in saturated fat and cholesterol, and higher in fiber and essential vitamins. It’s a delicious way to boost your daily intake of fresh vegetables and plant proteins.
Notes on Key Ingredients for Your Vegan Cobb Salad
Achieving the perfect vegan Chick-fil-A Cobb salad starts with selecting quality ingredients. While the full quantities are listed in the recipe card below, here are some helpful notes on choosing and preparing your components:
- Lettuce – The foundation of any great salad! For this recipe, you have several excellent choices: crisp romaine, soft butter lettuce, or classic iceberg lettuce. A mix of these can also provide a wonderful variety in texture. Ensure your lettuce is thoroughly washed and dried before chopping to prevent a watery salad.
- Green Onions – These add a mild, fresh onion flavor and a touch of color. Slice them thinly for even distribution throughout the salad.
- Grape Tomatoes – Sweet, juicy, and perfectly bite-sized. Halving them releases their natural juices and ensures a burst of flavor in every bite. Quartered cherry tomatoes are a fantastic substitute.
- Carrot – Shredded carrots contribute a subtle sweetness and beautiful color. To save time on busy days, pre-shredded carrots from the grocery store are a convenient option.
- Vegan Cheese – The market for dairy-free cheese has come a long way! For this salad, shredded cheddar-style vegan cheese works best to mimic the original. Look for reputable brands like Daiya, So Delicious, Follow Your Heart, or Violife, which offer excellent melt and flavor profiles. You can also cube a block of vegan cheddar if you prefer larger pieces.
- Cucumber – English cucumbers are often preferred for salads because they have thinner skin and smaller, less noticeable seeds, making them ideal for slicing and adding a refreshing crunch without bitterness. Regular cucumbers work too, just peel them if the skin is thick.
- Vegan Chicken Strips – The star of the show! Many excellent plant-based chicken options are available. I highly recommend Beyond Chicken Strips for their realistic texture, Ultimate Plant-Based Chick’n Tenders by Gardein, or Daring Original Plant Chicken Pieces. Cook these according to package directions until golden and slightly crispy.
- Vegan Bacon or Tempeh – For that smoky, savory crunch, vegan bacon is a must. Brands like Benevolent Bacon by Sweet Earth, Smart Bacon Meatless Veggie Bacon Strips by Lightlife, or even Treehouse Tempeh Smoky Maple Bacon by Tofurky offer fantastic flavor and texture. Cook until desired crispness is achieved, then crumble or chop.
- Avocado – Our creamy, healthy fat replacement for hard-boiled eggs. Choose a ripe but firm avocado. It should yield slightly to gentle pressure. Slice it just before serving to prevent browning.
Crafting the Zesty Salad Dressing:
The dressing ties all the wonderful flavors of this Cobb salad together. A good vinaigrette is crucial for balancing richness and freshness.
- Red Wine Vinegar or Balsamic Vinegar – Either of these vinegars will provide a lovely tang. Choose your preference based on what you have on hand or the flavor profile you enjoy most. Red wine vinegar offers a sharper, brighter note, while balsamic is a bit sweeter and more mellow.
- Fresh Lemon Juice – This is non-negotiable! Freshly squeezed lemon juice makes a huge difference compared to bottled varieties, providing a bright, zesty lift to the dressing.
- Dijon Mustard – A key emulsifier and flavor enhancer. Dijon mustard adds a subtle pungency and helps to create a smooth, well-blended vinaigrette.
- Salt – Essential for seasoning and bringing out the flavors of the other ingredients.
- Black Pepper – For a bit of warmth and mild spice, use freshly coarsely cracked black pepper. It adds a wonderful texture and “bite” to the dressing.
- Garlic – Minced fresh garlic infuses the dressing with aromatic depth. Use a garlic press or finely mince by hand.
- Dried Oregano – Adds a classic Mediterranean herb note, complementing the other robust flavors.
- Olive Oil – A good quality extra virgin olive oil is vital for a rich, smooth vinaigrette. It provides a luxurious base and healthy fats.
- Maple Syrup or Granulated Sugar – These are optional. If you prefer your dressing a little sweeter and less tangy, a small amount of maple syrup or sugar will perfectly balance the acidity. Adjust to your taste!
How to Assemble Your Delicious Vegan Chick-fil-A Cobb Salad
Creating this satisfying salad is quick and straightforward. Remember to cook your vegan chicken strips and plant-based bacon according to their package instructions before you begin assembling. Once those are ready, follow these simple steps:
- Prepare the Zippy Dressing. In a clean jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine all the salad dressing ingredients: red wine or balsamic vinegar, fresh lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt, black pepper, minced garlic, dried oregano, olive oil, and optional maple syrup or sugar. Seal the jar tightly and shake vigorously for about 30-60 seconds until the ingredients are well combined and the dressing is emulsified. Set it aside.
- Toss the Fresh Salad Base. In a large mixing bowl, gently combine the chopped lettuce, sliced green onions, halved grape tomatoes, shredded carrot, vegan cheese, and sliced cucumber. Toss these vibrant ingredients a few times to ensure they are evenly distributed.
- Artfully Assemble and Serve. Arrange the cooked and chopped vegan chicken strips and crispy plant-based bacon evenly over the top of your tossed salad base. Next, carefully place the freshly sliced avocado on top. Drizzle a generous amount of your homemade Dijon vinaigrette over the entire salad. You can serve it immediately as is, allowing guests to toss it themselves, or give it one final gentle toss to combine all the delicious components before serving.
Pro Tips for a Perfect Vegan Cobb Salad
While this vegan Chick-fil-A Cobb salad recipe is inherently simple, these expert tips will help ensure your salad turns out perfectly every single time, maximizing flavor and freshness:
- Dress with Care, and Don’t Overboard. When initially assembling the salad, add just enough dressing to lightly coat the ingredients. This prevents the salad from becoming soggy, especially if you’re not serving it immediately or if there will be leftovers. Always serve with extra dressing on the side, allowing everyone to add more to their personal preference.
- Gentle Tossing is Key. If you decide to toss the salad a second time before serving, do so very gently. The vegan chicken pieces and delicate avocado slices can break apart easily. Use large salad tongs or your hands to carefully lift and fold the ingredients together, preserving their beautiful presentation and texture.
- Optimal Storage for Meal Prep. For meal prepping or storing leftovers, keep the salad components separate from the dressing. Store the crisp greens and other vegetables in one airtight container, and the cooked vegan chicken and bacon in another. Crucially, slice the avocado just before you are ready to serve or eat to prevent it from browning and maintaining its fresh, creamy texture.
- Chill Your Greens. For the crispiest salad, ensure your lettuce and other vegetables are well-chilled. A quick soak in ice water for 10-15 minutes after washing, followed by thorough drying, can significantly enhance their crispness.
- Customize Your Chop. How you chop your ingredients can impact the eating experience. For a more traditional Cobb, aim for roughly diced pieces. For a finer salad, chop ingredients into smaller, more uniform pieces.
Delicious Variations to Customize Your Vegan Cobb Salad
This versatile vegan Chick-fil-A Cobb salad is a fantastic base for customization. Feel free to get creative and tailor it to your personal preferences or what you have available. Here are a few exciting ideas:
- Add a Touch of Sweetness with Corn. Incorporate fresh, sweet corn kernels (or thawed frozen corn) into your salad. It adds a delightful pop of sweetness and another layer of texture that pairs beautifully with the savory elements.
- Homemade Vegan Chicken for an Extra Touch. While store-bought vegan chicken strips are convenient, if you have the time and desire, consider swapping them for homemade vegan chicken. Recipes for seitan or mushroom-based “chicken” can add an even more gourmet touch.
- Explore Different Dressings. Don’t limit yourself to the Dijon vinaigrette, though it is excellent! This salad also pairs wonderfully with other creamy or tangy vegan dressings. Try my homemade vegan ranch dressing for a rich and herby twist, or my creamy vegan avocado dressing for an extra layer of healthy fats and smooth flavor.
- Boost with Nuts or Seeds. For an added crunch and nutritional boost, sprinkle some toasted pecans, walnuts, sunflower seeds, or pumpkin seeds over your salad. They add healthy fats and a satisfying texture.
- Spice It Up. If you enjoy a bit of heat, consider adding a pinch of red pepper flakes to your dressing, or finely diced jalapeños to the salad itself for a spicy kick.
- Add More Veggies. Feel free to incorporate other vegetables you love! Diced bell peppers, blanched broccoli florets, or even thinly sliced radishes can add more color, nutrients, and crunch.
Storing Your Vegan Chick-fil-A Cobb Salad for Later
Proper storage is essential to keep your leftover vegan Chick-fil-A Cobb salad fresh and delicious for future enjoyment. If you’ve already dressed the entire salad, it’s best consumed within 1-2 days. However, if you’ve followed our meal prep tips and stored components separately:
- Undressed Salad: The base salad (greens, tomatoes, carrots, cucumber, green onions, cheese, vegan bacon, and cooked chicken) can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.
- Dressing: The Dijon vinaigrette can be stored separately in a sealed jar in the refrigerator for up to a week. Give it a good shake before each use.
- Avocado: Always slice the avocado just before serving to prevent browning. If you must store a pre-sliced avocado, place it in an airtight container with a lemon wedge or brushed with lemon juice to minimize oxidation, but still aim to consume it within a day.
When you’re ready to enjoy leftovers, simply combine your desired portion of the salad base with fresh avocado slices and a drizzle of dressing. If you prefer the vegan chicken warm, you can quickly reheat it in the microwave or a skillet before adding it to the cold salad.
More Irresistible Vegan Salad Recipes to Explore
If you’ve enjoyed this delightful vegan Cobb salad, you’ll love exploring other fresh and flavorful plant-based salad creations. Here are some of my top recommendations to inspire your next meal:
- Vegan Greek Panzanella Salad: A rustic bread salad bursting with Mediterranean flavors.
- Vegan Watermelon Feta Salad with Balsamic Reduction: A refreshing combination of sweet and savory.
- Greek Cucumber Salad: Simple, crisp, and incredibly refreshing.
- Mediterranean Chickpea Salad: A hearty and protein-packed salad, perfect for meal prep.
- Southwest Quinoa Salad: Packed with black beans, corn, avocado, and a zesty lime dressing.
- Roasted Vegetable & Arugula Salad: A warm and inviting salad featuring seasonal roasted vegetables over peppery arugula.
Enjoy, friends! If you make this incredibly delicious vegan Chick-fil-A Cobb salad, please don’t forget to snap a photo and tag #jessicainthekitchen on Instagram! We absolutely love seeing your culinary creations. Your feedback is also invaluable, so please leave a comment below and give the recipe a rating! Thank you so much for your support!
Vegan Chick-fil-A Copycat Cobb Salad
4
-6 servings
30 minutes
30 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 large head of lettuce, rinsed and chopped (e.g., romaine, butter, iceberg, or a mix) (495 grams)
- 4 green onions, sliced (25 grams)
- 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved (or quartered cherry tomatoes) (150 grams)
- 1 cup shredded carrot (165 grams)
- 1 cup vegan cheese, shredded or cubed (e.g., cheddar style) (120 grams)
- ½ cucumber, sliced (150 grams)
- 1 (8-9 ounce) package vegan chicken strips , (breaded or unbreaded), cooked and chopped (approximately 275 grams)
- 1 (5 – 7 ounce) package vegan bacon, or tempeh, cooked and chopped (approximately 165 grams)
- 1 large avocado, sliced (200 grams)
Salad Dressing:
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar, or balsamic vinegar (40 grams)
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (14 grams)
- 1 ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard (7.5 grams)
- ¼ teaspoon salt (1 gram)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper (1 gram)
- 1 garlic clove, minced (4 grams)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano (1 gram)
- ⅓ cup olive oil (210 grams)
- ½ teaspoon maple syrup or granulated sugar, optional (2.5 grams)
Instructions
- Add all salad dressing ingredients to a jar, seal it with a lid, and shake it several times to combine and emulsify. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the chopped lettuce, sliced green onion, halved tomatoes, shredded carrot, vegan cheese, and sliced cucumber. Toss gently a few times to mix.
- Sprinkle the cooked and chopped vegan chicken and bacon on top of the salad. Garnish with the sliced avocado and drizzle with the prepared salad dressing. Toss once more if preferred, or serve as is. Store leftover salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days, keeping dressing separate if possible.
Notes
- *Lettuce: For this recipe, you can use romaine lettuce, butter lettuce, iceberg lettuce, or a combination of any of these for varied texture and flavor.
Recommended plant-based products for this recipe:
- Vegan Cheese:
- Cheddar Style Shreds by Daiya
- Plant-Based Cheddar Style Shreds by So Delicious
- Finely Shredded Cheddar Cheese by Follow Your Heart
- Just Like Cheddar Shreds by Violife
- Vegan Chicken:
- Beyond Chicken Strips by Beyond Meat
- Ultimate Plant-Based Chick’n Tenders by Gardein
- Original Plant Chicken Pieces by Daring
- Vegan Bacon/Tempeh:
- Benevolent Bacon by Sweet Earth
- Smart Bacon Meatless Veggie Bacon Strips by Lightlife
- Treehouse Tempeh Smoky Maple Bacon by Tofurky
To Store: For best results, store leftover vegan Chick-fil-A Cobb salad components separately. Keep the greens and main veggies in one airtight container, the cooked vegan chicken and bacon in another, and the dressing in a sealed jar in the refrigerator for up to two days. Slice avocado fresh before serving. Reheat chicken in the microwave if desired, or enjoy it cold with the rest of the salad.
Carbohydrates: 23g,
Protein: 5g,
Fat: 32g,
Saturated Fat: 6g,
Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g,
Monounsaturated Fat: 18g,
Cholesterol: 0.01mg,
Sodium: 495mg,
Potassium: 734mg,
Fiber: 8g,
Sugar: 7g,
Vitamin A: 6563IU,
Vitamin C: 21mg,
Calcium: 92mg,
Iron: 2mg
Disclaimer: Although jessicainthekitchen.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Jessicainthekitchen.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting from your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.
American
Salad, Main Dish
Jessica Hylton