Introducing the Cobb Pasta Salad: everything you love about a Cobb salad now as a cool, delicious, refreshing pasta dish.
Cobb pasta salad
This time of year, I'm always looking for cool, refreshing recipes to bring to summer cookouts, tailgates, and BBQs. There's nothing like a delicious pasta salad to compliment a potluck dinner spread.
Whenever I'm out to dinner and spot a Cobb salad on the menu, it's tough for me to pass up. The crispy bacon, fresh lettuce, soft egg, creamy avocado, delicious dressing...it gets me every time! Now you're starting to see how this recipe was born.
This Cobb pasta salad is the perfect combination of a cool pasta salad with the Cobb ingredients we all know and love. Get ready to be the star of your next BBQ or potluck with this creative dish!
What does cobb mean in a salad?
Curiously enough, there are discrepancies in how the cobb salad was created and how it was given its name. A couple of things everyone can agree on is that it was created at the Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant sometime in the 1930s. It was named for the restaurant's owner, Mr. Robert Howard Cobb.
A Cobb salad is known for being served with each ingredient in neat rows. It is not only delicious, but aesthetically pleasing as well. The classic ingredients include chopped greens, tomato, bacon, turkey breast, hard boiled egg, avocado, chives, and blue cheese.
Cobb pasta salad ingredients
Gather your ingredients and get ready to cook:
- chickpea pasta
- grilled chicken breast
- bacon
- hard boiled eggs
- grape tomatoes
- avocado
- salt & pepper
- Ranch dressing
Substitution ideas for Cobb pasta salad
- Chickpea pasta: I use chickpea pasta because it is lower in carbs and higher in protein, but you can use whichever pasta you have on hand.
- Grape tomatoes: If you're not a fan of tomatoes, you can leave these completely off. Or add another of your favorite veggies to the dish. Broccoli or cauliflower would be nontraditional as far as a Cobb salad goes, but would taste great in this dish.
- Ranch dressing: Classically, a Cobb salad is served with red wine vinaigrette, although many have been used throughout the years. Use whatever dressing you like best here!
How to make Cobb pasta salad
- Start by preparing the ingredients for the recipe. (Cook chicken and bacon; prepare chickpea noodles; slice and dice vegetables.)
- Add all of the ingredients (besides dressing) to a large bowl. Mix well.
- Add dressing and stir until everything is evenly coated.
- Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Chill in fridge until ready to enjoy!
How to store pasta salad
It's best to store the Cobb Pasta Salad in an airtight container in the fridge. This recipe will last up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
How to meal prep this recipe
This refreshing pasta salad makes 8 servings but will only last in the fridge for 5. Make sure you take that into consideration when you're meal prepping this recipe.
When meal prepping, I think it is easiest to divvy up the individual servings into separate containers. That way when you're ready to eat one, all you have to do is grab one from your fridge!
Is Cobb salad healthy for you?
Healthy is a subjective term and means different things for different people. It depends on your personal health and fitness goals as well as your own body.
This Cobb pasta salad offers many different nutrients for your body. It has avocado, which has lots of healthy fat. Bacon and hard boiled eggs will help you reach your protein goals for the day. Tomatoes offer lots of Vitamin C!
More pasta salad recipes
Cobb Pasta Salad
Equipment
- large bowl
- Mixing spoon
Ingredients
- 8 oz box chickpea pasta
- 12 oz grilled chicken breast, cooked & shredded
- 6 slices bacon cooked & chopped 45 grams
- 2 hard boiled eggs
- 1 pint grape tomatoes sliced in half 10 oz
- 1 avocado diced 100 grams
- salt & pepper
- ½ cup ranch bolthouse farms
- optional: Blue cheese
Instructions
- Start by preparing the ingredients for the recipe. (Cook chicken and bacon; prepare chickpea noodles; slice and dice vegetables.)
- Add all of the ingredients (besides dressing) to a large bowl. Mix well.
- Add dressing and stir until everything is evenly coated.
- Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Chill in fridge until ready to enjoy!
Brittney
Saturday 23rd of September 2023
This is a solid repeat recipe in our house. It’s filling, has plenty of protein and it tastes great! I tend to not love leftover cold chicken, but for some reason this combo is easy for me to eat for lunch two or three days in a row, which is a huge win.
Suzanne
Tuesday 29th of August 2023
I made this salad to take with me while visiting with my husband who’s in the hospital for a few weeks. He asked for a bite, then stalked me until I was done and took the leftovers that I couldn’t finish. Now I’m going to make several for him to keep in the fridge in his room because he was able to eat this and tolerated it well (not much sounds good to him right now). Thanks!
Jordan Smith
Thursday 31st of August 2023
Suzanne, I'm so sorry to hear your husband is in the hospital, and I'm hoping for a quick recovery! Also, how awesome to hear you both enjoyed the recipe! That's amazing and hope this pasta salad continues to be a family favorite.
Janice
Sunday 11th of June 2023
Delicious Jordan! My husband who is a fussy eater liked this. Easy to make, I used rotisserie chicken to make it more convenient. I am also thankful for your monthly meal plan makes it so easy for meals.