Parmesan Crusted Chicken Cobb Salad (Printable version)

Golden baked chicken with Parmesan crust over hearty Cobb salad with fresh vegetables, avocado, bacon, and zesty dressing.

# Needed ingredients:

→ Parmesan Crusted Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
02 - 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
03 - 1 cup gluten-free or regular panko breadcrumbs
04 - 1 tsp garlic powder
05 - 1 tsp paprika
06 - 1/2 tsp salt
07 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
08 - 2 large eggs
09 - 2 tbsp olive oil

→ Salad

10 - 6 cups mixed salad greens
11 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
12 - 1 large avocado, sliced
13 - 1 cup cucumber, sliced
14 - 4 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and quartered
15 - 4 strips cooked bacon, crumbled
16 - 1/2 cup blue cheese, crumbled
17 - 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced

→ Dressing

18 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
19 - 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
20 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
21 - 1 tsp honey
22 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
23 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# How to make it:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a shallow bowl, whisk eggs. In another bowl, combine Parmesan, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
03 - Dip each chicken thigh into the egg mixture, then coat thoroughly in the Parmesan breadcrumb mixture. Place on prepared baking sheet.
04 - Drizzle olive oil over the coated chicken thighs.
05 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and cooked through with an internal temperature of 165°F. Let rest for 5 minutes, then slice.
06 - While chicken bakes, arrange mixed greens on a large platter. Top with tomatoes, avocado, cucumber, hard-boiled eggs, bacon, blue cheese, and red onion in neat rows.
07 - Whisk together olive oil, vinegar, mustard, honey, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
08 - Top the salad with sliced chicken. Drizzle with dressing just before serving.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • That golden, crispy Parmesan crust stays crunchy even when it hits the cool salad greens—pure textural magic.
  • It's a one-plate meal that feels restaurant-quality but comes together in under an hour, no fancy skills required.
  • The whole thing is naturally gluten-free if you swap the breadcrumbs, which makes it perfect for mixed-diet dinner tables.
02 -
  • Don't skip letting the chicken rest after baking—those 5 minutes let the juices redistribute, and you'll taste the difference in every bite.
  • If you dress the salad too early, the greens will wilt and the crust will soften; assemble everything except the dressing, then drizzle it on right before people eat.
03 -
  • If your breadcrumb crust isn't getting golden enough, your oven might run cool—bump it up to 425°F and watch closely during the last few minutes of cooking.
  • The secret to this salad tasting restaurant-quality is the balance of acid in the dressing; taste it before you serve, and add a splash more vinegar if it feels too rich.
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