Sometimes it's a bit difficult to find something besides a chicken sandwich to munch on at
Chick-fil-A. So how about a salad? If you're thinking about swapping your usual meal for
Chick-fil-A's Cobb Salad, here's what you need to know before braving the drive-thru
line.
Just like many of today's biggest stars, the Cobb salad got its start in Hollywood, California,
though the year it was created is a little unclear.
Some say that the tasty meal was born in 1929, while others claim 1937 was the year that
it came to fruition. While we may never get a definite answer as to when the first Cobb
salad was put together, the ingredients that go into it are fairly clear.
Per Chef Billy Parisi, the traditional version of this dish has a base of mixed leafy greens
and is topped with bacon, hard-boiled eggs, tomatoes, avocado, bleu cheese, and chicken.
Chick-fil-A's version, meanwhile, doesn't deviate too far.
Introduced to the menu in 2013, the eatery's take on the iconic Cobb comes with the usual
bed of mixed greens, bacon, eggs, and grape tomatoes, but also adds a few "elements of
surprise."
Instead of bleu cheese, Chick-fil-A chef Angela Wadlington opted for a less controversial
blend of Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese. When creating the chain's Cobb salad, she
also threw in roasted corn, charred tomatoes, and crispy red peppers to make the dish, quote,
"a nice blend of eating better with the indulgence of the original."
Top it off with some protein if you'd like and a douse of the restaurant's avocado lime
ranch dressing, and there you have it! A meal certainly worthy of replacing your usual chicken
sandwich.
You're more than likely never going to see Chick-fil-A serving up two different types
of Cobb salad. But, the chain does allow customers a few customization options to make the meal
their own.
Along with your choice of dressing, the main way that you can personalize your Chick-fil-A
Cobb Salad is with the protein you add to it, or if you even choose to add protein to
it at all. The eggs and bacon make the dish fairly satisfying by itself.
If you still want to get a taste of the eatery's delectable poultry, you have the option of
topping your salad with any type of chicken that Chick-fil-A serves.
The chain suggests getting your Cobb salad with a hearty serving of its pressure-cooked
chicken nuggets, but you don't have to stick with that suggestion. They also offer the
ability to swap them out for the grilled nuggets, Chick-n-Strips, or even an entire chicken
patty.
You can also request a spicy grilled or crispy chicken fillet on top of your Cobb salad to
give it a bit of a kick.
Competition amongst fast-food chains is stiff, and one of the biggest ways to bring in customers
is by offering delicious food at an affordable cost.
Dollar menus and value meals are all the rage these days, so Chick-fil-A's nearly $9.00
Cobb Salad may not present itself as an option that's easy on the wallet. Especially when
a Chick-fil-A sandwich combo gets you two of the chain's most popular items plus a drink
for an average of $7.59.
However, when breaking down the Cobb salad's price tag a little further, you'll see that
it's easy to justify purchasing the meal.
A Chick-fil-A Cobb Salad without the addition of nuggets or any other type of chicken topping
rings in at an average of $6.75. The price isn't terrible when you realize Chick-fil-A
brings in fresh veggies on almost a daily basis to make it.
"These are salads that we're making every day from scratch in the restaurant throughout
the course of the day."
In comparison, that price jumps to $8.99 when you add one of the various protein options
Chick-fil-A offers. A 5-count order of chicken nuggets runs you about $2.75, so the combination
of the two menu items really is a pretty good deal.
When you factor in the possibility of splitting this massive entrée salad into two separate
meals that averages to $4.50 each.
When many of us are spending that much on our morning coffee alone, it's safe to say
that Chick-fil-A's Cobb Salad is a steal.
Chick-fil-A is generally regarded as being a healthier option when compared to the other
fast-food establishments out there. But, when you order the chain's Cobb salad the nutrition
information can surprise you.
Yes, the Cobb salad is packed with fresh veggies, but topping them with chicken nuggets and
avocado lime ranch dressing like the restaurant suggests contains a total of 850 calories,
making it just shy of the 880 calories that can be found in two – yes, two - signature
chicken sandwiches.
That same salad combination also packs 61 grams of fat, 34 grams of carbs, and a whopping
2220 milligrams of sodium, which is especially concerning since the FDA reports that adults
should limit their sodium intake to 2300 milligrams a day. Yikes!
Fortunately, there are some adjustments you can make to Chick-fil-A's Cobb Salad into
less of a calorie-laden meal.
Nutritionist Lisa Richards explained to TODAY that opting for grilled proteins over fried
is one place to start. In fact, topping Chick-fil-A's Cobb Salad with grilled nuggets will cut out
120 calories.
Swapping out the 310-calorie avocado lime ranch dressing for something else, like the
chain's 25-calorie light Italian, will make this meal a bit healthier as well.
Price and nutritional value are both factors to consider when deciding whether or not you
want to swap your Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich for a Cobb salad during your next trip, but
none of it matters if the taste of the meal isn't up to par.
Considering that the chain is known mostly for its chicken products, you might think
that it's salads, in general, could be a bit of an afterthought.
However, when it comes to the salads that Chick-fil-A offers, the Cobb Salad has been
favored by customers in the past.
Fast Food Menu Prices' review of the meal pointed out that the CFA Cobb Salad was not
only visually appealing but also packed a, quote, "exciting flavor combination" with
each bite. The reviewer had this to say about the salad:
"The crumbled bacon and chicken nugget slices offer a strong crunch that I like, and because
the lettuce is cut fresh daily, it maintains its shape and crispness without being soggy
or saggy."
Ultimately, they dubbed it as one of their favorite fast food options.
Another fan on Reddit even said that they would pick the dish, along with one of the
restaurant's frosted lemonade drinks, as their, quote, "death row last meal."
With such high praise from several sources, it's clear that Chick-fil-A's Cobb Salad is
worth a try at least once.
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