Crispy Chicken Cobb Jar Salad (Printable version)

Layered mason jar salad featuring crispy chicken bites, bacon, blue cheese, and fresh vegetables for convenient lunches.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Crispy Chicken

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
02 - 1 cup buttermilk
03 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
04 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
05 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
06 - 1/2 teaspoon paprika
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
09 - Olive oil spray

→ Salad Base

10 - 4 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
11 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
12 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
13 - 2 large hard-boiled eggs, peeled and quartered
14 - 4 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
15 - 1 avocado, diced
16 - 1/2 cup blue cheese, crumbled
17 - 1/2 small red onion, finely sliced

→ Dressing

18 - 1/3 cup mayonnaise
19 - 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt
20 - 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
21 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
22 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
23 - 1 tablespoon fresh chives, chopped
24 - Salt and pepper to taste

# Directions:

01 - Place chicken pieces in buttermilk and let marinate for at least 15 minutes at room temperature.
02 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a shallow bowl, combine panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
03 - Remove chicken pieces from buttermilk, shaking off excess. Coat thoroughly in the panko mixture and arrange on prepared baking sheet. Mist generously with olive oil spray.
04 - Bake for 18 to 20 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Allow to cool slightly before assembling.
05 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, white wine vinegar, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and fresh chives until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
06 - In each of four 16-ounce mason jars, layer ingredients in this order: 2 tablespoons dressing, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, bacon, blue cheese, hard-boiled egg, crispy chicken bites, and romaine lettuce.
07 - Top each jar with diced avocado immediately before serving to prevent discoloration. Seal jars and refrigerate until ready to consume.
08 - Shake jar vigorously or pour contents into a bowl and toss to combine all ingredients and dressing evenly.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The chicken stays ridiculously crispy because it sits above the dressing instead of swimming in it.
  • You can make all four jars on Sunday and have grab and go lunches that taste better than anything from a cafe.
  • Every ingredient has a reason to be there, from the salty bacon to the tangy blue cheese that cuts through the richness.
02 -
  • If you layer the dressing anywhere except the very bottom, your lettuce will turn soggy and sad within hours.
  • Let the chicken cool completely before adding it to the jar, or the steam will wilt the lettuce and make everything warm and unappetizing.
  • Don't skip the parchment paper on the baking sheet, or you'll spend 20 minutes scrubbing stuck on breadcrumbs.
03 -
  • Mist the chicken with olive oil spray right before baking, it's the secret to getting that deep golden color without frying.
  • If your bacon is too floppy, bake it in the oven at 375°F for 15 minutes instead of pan frying, it comes out evenly crispy every time.
  • Press the lettuce down gently as the last layer so you can fit more in without crushing the ingredients below.
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