This sweet and savory Strawberry Cobb Salad makes a delightful weeknight dinner, or serve it buffet-style for a beautiful dish perfect for summer entertaining!
We always get excited when strawberry season arrives! We just adore the fresh, sweet flavor of sun-ripened berries! They’re so versatile and can brighten up virtually any dish from grilled meats to sweet treats!
And of course, they’re the perfect addition to summer salads like this beautiful and flavorful Strawberry Cobb Salad! The combination of fresh strawberries with sweet and tangy balsamic lime vinaigrette transforms the classic cobb to a whole new level of yumminess!
One of my favorite things about this sensational ensemble is how simple, yet elegant and satisfying it is, which makes it perfect for entertaining. We had company visiting with us this week, so I decided to serve this scrumptious salad buffet-style and it received rave reviews! Everyone, even the kids (hallelujah), enjoyed this delicious healthy salad!
Another plus – it comes together in a snap with just a little prepping ahead. I made the balsamic lime vinaigrette and boiled the eggs a few days beforehand, since both keep well in the fridge for up to a week. And I also made extra bacon over the weekend and hid it in the freezer (I’m sure I don’t have to explain why?).
The rest of the ingredients are super easy to pull together the day you plan to serve it. And you can opt to grill the chicken just before serving so it’s warm, or grill it ahead of time and rewarm it or serve it cold. It’s totally up to you!
Then it’s as easy as piling all of these amazing toppings onto a bed of mixed salad greens, or setting everything out separately for a delicious make-your-own cobb salad buffet! (By the way, if you make extra like I do, you’ll have a fabulous easy lunch to look forward to as well. Yes!)
If you’re as excited about fresh strawberries as we are, be sure to take a peek at the delicious Strawberry Recipe Round-Up I’m sharing over at The Better Mom. It includes my family’s favorite berry-licious recipes perfect for summer!
P.S. If you’re doing Whole30 and are in search of compliant bacon, we purchase our pastured meats from ButcherBox. Also, there are a couple of compliant brands you may be able to find at your local market, such as Pederson’s, Wellshire Farms and Naked Bacon. (Just be sure to check labels.)
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup avocado oil (or EVOO)
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 3 Tbsp fresh squeezed lime juice
- 1 tsp fresh lime zest
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/4 tsp each of dried basil, oregano
- and ground ginger
- 3/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/8 tsp fresh ground black pepper
- 1.25 lbs boneless, skinless organic chicken tenders (or use grassfed steak; see recipe note below)
- 1/4 cup of the balsamic lime marinade
- 10oz mixed baby lettuce salad greens
- 1/2 lb fresh strawberries, hulled & sliced
- 3/4 cup cooked & crumbled uncured bacon
- 5 large eggs, boiled & quartered
- 2 avocados, diced
- Optional: Red onion slices
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the vinaigrette ingredients. Place 1/4 cup of the vinaigrette into a gallon-size baggie (or mixing bowl). Place remaining vinaigrette in a mason jar and refrigerate.
- Add the chicken tenders to the baggie (or mixing bowl) and toss well to coat. Place chicken in fridge to marinate for at least 30 minutes or overnight.
- When ready to serve, preheat grill to medium-high heat. Clean the grill grate with a grill brush. Then oil the grate to prevent the chicken from sticking. (Dip a wad of paper towels into oil, grab the wad with grill tongs, and then brush the grate.)
- Grill chicken tenders about 2 minutes per side, until cooked through. Transfer chicken to a plate, cover loosely with foil, and let it rest while you pull together the salad toppings.
- Place salad greens in a bowl and add toppings. Dice chicken and add to the salad. Drizzle the sweet-n-tangy balsamic lime vinaigrette over the top and toss. Or place each of the ingredients into separate bowls for a delicious make-your-own cobb salad buffet!
Notes
Recipe Variation: This salad is also absolutely delicious with grilled grassfed steak. Just follow the same steps above to marinate the steak in the balsamic lime vinaigrette. The vinaigrette not only adds a delicious subtle flavor to steak, but also acts as tenderizing agent for a juicy, tender steak!
P.S. When I’m not doing the Whole30, I like to add one teaspoon of honey to the balsamic lime dressing to add an additional hint of sweetness.
I have everything for that vinaigrette at home today! Yay! Making this tonight!
Yay! I hope you enjoy it, sweet friend! Thanks for taking the time to leave a kind note! xoxo
This sounds absolutely delicious! This is our dinner for tonight 🙂
Thanks so much, Lea! I hope you all enjoyed it as much as we do! Thanks for your kind note! 🙂