Harvest Cobb Salad with Maple Vinaigrette (2024)

This Harvest Cobb Salad is full of fall textures and flavors from roasted butternut squash, toasty pecans, crispy bacon, apples, dried cranberries, and a maple vinaigrette that’s so good you could drink it. Atop a bed of mixed salad greens and kale—this fall harvest salad is one heck of a hearty entrée salad!

Harvest Cobb Salad: a fall twist on the classic chicken cobb salad

I changed most everything about the chicken cobb salad for my fall, or “harvest” version. Of course I kept the good stuff, like the bacon, but revamped the rest. Instead of crisp flavorless lettuce (not hating—there’s a time and place) I instead use more nutrient-dense kale and mixed salad greens. Not only are they healthier, but I find they pair better with the autumn flavors of the dish.

In keeping with tradition, this salad does still feature roasted chicken and bacon—but frankly it would also be delicious with leftover turkey from Thanksgiving, which is why I’ve listed either in the ingredient list.

The toppings also include roasted butternut squash, toasted pecans (toasted is a MUST), sweet red apple, dried cranberries, and finally, nutty strips of Manchego cheese.Ahh this is one of my favorite salads!

Ingredients in Harvest Cobb Salad

The classic cobb salad is an American main-dish salad packed with a variety of flavors, textures and protein. The base of the salad most often consists of chopped crisp lettuce such as romaine or iceberg, and is topped with tomato, crispy bacon, roasted chicken, hard-boiled eggs, avocado, blue cheese, chives and a basic red wine vinaigrette.

Massage the Kale

Depending on the type of kale you’re using—giving it a quick 30 seconds to a minute of massaging goes a long way. Regular kale (with the frilly, curly leaves) and Lacinato kale, also labeled Tuscan kale (with the flatter, bubbly leave), are tough and fibrous. Not a bad thing—but can be a mouthful in a salad.

To avoid a chewing catastrophe, chop or tear the kale into bite sized pieces, add to a large bowl, and massage for about 30 seconds using your hands—squeezing and pressing—until the kale is somewhat softened.

If you aren’t a fan of mature kale, simply grab some baby kale at the store and mix that in. It’s also nutritious, but a bit more tender!

Maple Vinaigrette

The simple and delicious dressing for this salad is our maple vinaigrette. All you need to make it is:

• Extra-virgin olive oil
• White balsamic vinegar (if you haven’t cooked with white balsamic, get ready, it is delish!!)
• Shallot
• Pure maple syrup
• Dijon mustard

The maple syrup balanced the tartness of the vinegar and the Dijon emulsifies the dressing. Try it one this salad then enjoy it with pan-seared chicken and blanched green beans!

Variations on This Harvest Salad

• Swap some of the oil in the vinaigrette for a few tablespoons of warm bacon drippings.
• Swap the butternut squash for acorn squash, pumpkin or sweet potato.
• Swap the pecans for pumpkin seeds.
• Swap the chicken or turkey for white beans or lentils to make it vegetarian (leave the bacon out).
• Make it more “fall” and use apple cider vinegar for the vinaigrette (which would make a delicious cider vinaigrette with the maple syrup!)

What to serve with this chicken cobb salad:

• This salad is a great when paired with our Healthy Skillet Cornbread.
• Round out the meal with homemade Garlic Naan Bread.
• Any kind of dinner roll is great with this salad, try our Milk Bread Rolls, Sweet Potato Dinner Rolls or Kaiser Rolls.
• Keep things gluten-free and try our fiber-rich .

More salad recipes you may also like…

• We’ve got loads of fall-inspired salads, including our Apple Walnut Salad that features the most delicious toasted cumin vinaigrette.
• Our Pear and Arugula Salad is another hit during the fall. It features a crispy topping and toasted lemon vinaigrette that makes each bite spectacular!
• Autumn Kale Apple Salad