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Bringing you all the spring vibes with this BBQ Chicken Cobb Salad with Avocado Ranch. Sweet and spicy BBQ chicken strips tossed with sweet corn, tomatoes, crispy bacon, and fresh spring greens. The avocado ranch dressing is quite possibly one of my favorite dressings ever. Itโ€™s not only great atop this salad, but also doubles as a yummy dip for chips and crackers. This salad is a big and beautiful spring and summer salad that is loved by allโ€ฆpicky eaters included!ย 

overhead photo of BBQ Chicken Cobb Salad with Avocado Ranch with salad on cutting board

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Half Baked Harvest At Home

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And just like that, we experienced one day of warm sunshine and Iโ€™m ready for big salads full of color. Of course, snow is in the forecast Thursday night through Saturday. But Iโ€™m going to look past that, and be excited for the warmer days ahead. Plus, I just really, really wanted to share this salad with you all. Itโ€™s another recipe from the Half Baked Harvest Cookbook, and itโ€™s without a doubt my favorite salad in the entire book. Which is saying something, as there are a good amount of salads.

I remember the day I photographed this recipe for the book. It was a cold December day and this was the very first recipe I shot for the book. I remember being SO nervous to begin shooting the cookbook recipes. I put a lot of pressure on myself to create photos that looked incredible, so getting started was a daunting task. With this being my very first cookbook, everything about the process was a little scary. But the photos where the scariest of all. And quite possibly the hardest part to completing the book. I know it may shock some of you, but I still struggle with photos! I always want to be creating something new and beautiful.

Anyway, when I finally turned everything into my editor, it was a mix of emotions. Obviously I was so excited, but also SO SCARED. Would you guys like the book? Were the photos even any good? Would the recipes work? Would anyone buy it? So many thoughts ran through my head. Looking back now, I feel so happy, grateful and thankful. But it all started with this Cobb Salad, and when I finished shooting it, I was so excited. Loved the recipe, loved the photo, and I was off to a good start!

Chipotle Shrimp Cobb Salad with Jalapeno Corn Vinaigrette | halfbakedharvest.com #shrimp #salad #summerrecipes #mexican

Spring is finally here, with summer soon to followโ€ฆthe perfect time to finally share this recipe. Meaning, this recipe needed to also live on HBH, since itโ€™s the one I make most often for family gatherings.

The first step is to cook up some BBQ chicken over medium heat on the grill. You can use your favorite homemade bbq sauce or store-bought, but use something with a sweetness and a good amount of spice. You guys know I love sweet and spicy.

While the chicken is cooking, mix up the salad in a big bowl. I like to use a mix of fresh and frozen corn, cherry tomatoes, crispy bacon, eggs, and romaine lettuce.

Ok, on to the avocado ranch. This is SO GOOD. Itโ€™s extra creamy, herby, and uses zero weird ingredients. As someone who has always loved ranch, I can honestly say this is better than anything from the bottle. Itโ€™s also super similar to my tahini ranch if youโ€™d rather use that. Both are great!

Put everything together and you have a delicious salad thatโ€™s a good mix of bright fresh flavors. Itโ€™s kind of summery, yes, but I know some of you guys are experiencing some very warm temps down south. And for those of us still in the cold, this salad gets us that much more excited for the warmer days ahead!

I hope you guys really enjoy this salad! OH! And hereโ€™s the video for this salad too! enjoy!ย  Enjoy!

Zesty Grilled Shrimp, Bread and Sweet Peach Salad with Avocado Vinaigrette | halfbakedharvest.com #salad #shrimp #healthyrecipes #summerrecipes #grilling

Watch the How To Video:

If you make this BBQ chicken cob salad, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, donโ€™t forget to also tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!

BBQ Chicken Cobb Salad with Avocado Ranch

BBQ Chicken Cobb Salad with Avocado Ranch | halfbakedharvest.com #chicken #cobbsalad #easyrecipes #healthy
4.67 from 89 votes
6
calories 871kcal
Prep15 minutes
Cook15 minutes
Total30 minutes
Sweet and spicy BBQ chicken tossed with sweet corn, tomatoes, crispy bacon, and fresh spring greens. The avocado ranch doubles as a yummy dip for chips and crackers. A big and beautiful salad thatโ€™s loved by all!
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Ingredientsย 

Avocado Ranch

Instructionsย 

  • 1. Heat a grill, grill pan, or skillet over medium-high heat.ย 
    2. In a medium bowl, toss the chicken with the barbecue sauce to coat. Grill for about 5 minutes per side, until lightly charred and cooked through.
    3. In a medium bowl, stir together the corn kernels, olive oil, cilantro, and a dash of chili powder. Season with salt and pepper.
    4. In a large bowl, toss together the lettuce, black beans, and tomatoes. Top with the corn mixture, sliced avocado, and bacon. Finish the salad with the chicken, a drizzle of the avocado ranch (recipe below), and hard-boiled eggs, if desired. Serve with the remaining ranch alongside.

Avocado Ranch

  • 1. In a high-speed blender or food processor, combine the buttermilk, avocado, cilantro, chives, and lime juice and puree until smooth. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. (The avocado ranch can be made up to 1 day in advance.)

Notes

Reprinted from theย Half Baked Harvest Cookbookย Recipes from My Barn in the Mountains.ย 

Nutrition

Calories: 871kcal

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.

Meet Tieghan Gerard

I'm Tieghan, the recipes you'll find here are inspired by the people and places I love most. I try to live simply, eat seasonally, and cook with whole foods. My hope is to inspire a love for amazing food, as well as the courage to try something new!

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4.67 from 89 votes (80 ratings without comment)

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40 Comments

  1. Amanda says:

    Delicious! Served (group of 10) charcuterie style and it was a big hit for adults and kids alike. Looking forward to having this al fresco as the weather allows.

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Hey Amanda,
      Happy Sunday!! So glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it!! ? xx

  2. Karoline H says:

    5 stars
    Revisited this salad for a โ€˜reconnecting with old friends lunchโ€™! Especially after the farmers market bounty today. Anyway, itโ€™s delicious and our guests loved everything about it! Everything can be made/prepped ahead of time which I prefer.

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Hey Karoline,
      Happy Sunday! Thanks a bunch for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! xTieghan

  3. G Rae says:

    5 stars
    Amazing salad, it is in constant rotation at our house!

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Hey there,
      Happy Friday! Thanks a bunch for making this recipe, I am thrilled that it was enjoyed:) xTieghan

  4. Bonnie J Brunotte says:

    5 stars
    A friend made this recipe and I loved it so much I had to find the recipe! Thank you!!

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Hey Bonnie,
      I am delighted that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a go! xxTieghan

  5. Syrine says:

    5 stars
    I loved it ! The BBQ chicken, the dressing… everything was perfect.

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Hey there,
      Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am so glad it was enjoyed! Have a great week:) xTieghan