Tex-Mex Cobb Salad
This protein-packed salad puts a Tex-Mex spin on a classic Cobb salad with romaine, buttermilk cilantro ranch, chicken thighs, bacon, diced green chilies topped with soft-boiled eggs.
Servings 4
Ingredients
For the buttermilk cilantro ranch dressing:
- ½ cup low-fat buttermilk
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 medium jalapeño, seeds and membrane removed
- ½ cup (packed) cilantro
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Kosher salt, as needed
For the salad:
- ½ pound thick-cut applewood smoked bacon, cut into ½” wide strips
- 1 pound chicken thighs
- Kosher salt, as needed
- Freshly ground black pepper, as needed
- 2 hearts of romaine lettuce, roughly chopped
- 1 (4-ounce) can diced green chilies
- 1 cup 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
- ¾ cup shredded pepper Jack cheese
- 4 soft-boiled eggs, halved
Instructions
For the buttermilk cilantro ranch dressing:
- Add the buttermilk, sour cream, jalapeño, cilantro and garlic powder to a blender or a food processor fitted with the blade attachment.
- Pulse until smooth and season to taste with salt. Set aside until ready to use or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
For the salad:
- Add the bacon to a large cast iron skillet. Cook the bacon over medium-low heat until the fat is rendered and the bacon is crispy, about 5 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove the bacon, reserving as much fat in the pan as possible.
- Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Return the cast iron pan to medium heat and cook the chicken thighs in the remaining bacon fat without touching them for 5 minutes.
- Flip the chicken thighs over, turn the heat down to medium-low and continue to cook until they are completely cooked through, about an additional 7 minutes. Remove the chicken thighs then chop them into 1” pieces.
For serving:
- Add the romaine to a large salad bowl and pour ½ cup of the dressing over the lettuce (add additional if desired), then toss to combine.
- Add the bacon, chicken, green chilies, tomatoes and pepper Jack cheese, tossing once more. Divide among salad bowls and top with the soft boiled eggs.