Parmesan Crusted Chicken Cobb Salad (Print)

Extra-crispy baked chicken thighs with Parmesan crust served over classic Cobb salad with fresh vegetables and tangy dressing.

# Components:

→ 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 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1 teaspoon paprika
06 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
07 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
08 - 2 large eggs
09 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Salad

10 - 6 cups mixed salad greens (romaine, iceberg, or choice)
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 tablespoons red wine vinegar
20 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
21 - 1 teaspoon honey
22 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
23 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# Directions:

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 cheese, 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. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature 165°F). Remove from oven and let rest 5 minutes, then slice.
05 - While chicken bakes, arrange mixed greens on a large serving platter. Top with tomatoes, avocado, cucumber, hard-boiled eggs, bacon, blue cheese, and red onion in neat organized rows.
06 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
07 - Top the assembled salad with sliced chicken. Drizzle dressing over salad just before serving.

# Chef Secrets:

01 -
  • The chicken gets so crispy you'll forget it's baked, not fried, and your kitchen smells incredible the whole time.
  • It's a complete meal in one bowl, so you're not scrambling to figure out sides at dinner time.
  • You can prep everything ahead and just toss it together when you're ready to eat, making weeknight dinners feel manageable.
02 -
  • Flipping the chicken halfway through is the difference between a crust that shatters and one that's soggy on one side, so set a timer and actually do it.
  • The salad components can all be prepped hours ahead, but the dressing should be made fresh and the chicken should go on warm, so everything feels intentional instead of reheated.
03 -
  • Make your dressing in a jar and shake it right before serving so the emulsion stays intact and tastes fresh instead of separated and oily.
  • If you're serving this to a crowd, keep the warm chicken separate and add it to individual plates right before eating so it doesn't steam the lettuce.
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