5 from 18 votes
Green Goddess Salad (Panera Copycat)
The Green Goddess Salad features a creamy herbaceous dressing made from basil, mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, shallots, and pesto. Crisp romaine and spring mix form a fresh base for a classic Cobb salad including grilled chicken breast, hard-boiled eggs, bacon, avocado, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and optional blue cheese. The combination of tangy and savory flavors balances well with creamy and crunchy textures, making it a hearty salad that’s suitable for lunch or a light dinner.
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
25 mins
Servings:
6
-4 servings
Calories:
394 kcal
Course:
Main Course, Lunch
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
Green Goddess Dressing
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise I like using a heart healthy brand, like Chosen Foods Avocado Mayo
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt plain, I used whole fat
- 3/4 cup basil packed, rinsed and patted dry, leaves
- 1 tablespoon shallot minced
- 1 tablespoon pesto homemade or storebought
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 1/2 tablespoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- black pepper pinch
- kosher salt pinch
Chicken Cobb Salad
- 2 medium chicken breast boneless, skinless (may use rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 4 large egg sliced into 4 wedges each, hard-boiled
- 8 lices Bacon cooked, drained and chopped into pieces
- 6 cups lettuce I used a blend of Romaine and Spring Mix, rough chopped, use your favorite
- 1 cup cherry tomato diced, or use grape tomatoes
- 1 avocado sliced or diced
- 1/2 cup red onion or just sliced red onions, pickled
- 1/2 cup blue cheese this is optional, use your favorite cheese, crumbles
Instructions
Make Green Goddess Dressing
- Place mayonnaise, yogurt, basil, shallot, pesto, vinegar, honey, mustard, salt, and pepper in a blender. Blend until smooth. Set aside or refrigerate until ready to use.
Cup of Yum
Grill Chicken & Cook Hard Boiled Eggs
- Brush the chicken with oil and season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Heat the grill or a grill pan to medium-high. If using a grill, you want it at 400° F (204°C).Place the chicken breasts on the grill, close the lid, and cook for 5-6 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook for 6 minutes or until the internal temperature is 165°F (74°C). Remove chicken to a cutting board, allowing it to rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
- See notes for easy ways to hard-boil eggs if not using store bought.
Assemble Green Goddess Salads
- While the chicken is resting, assemble the salads. Arrange each bowl or plate with lettuce, bacon, tomato, eggs, onion, avocado, and cheese.Slice the chicken and add that to the salad. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of dressing and enjoy immediately.
Notes
- To mellow raw red onions, soak sliced onions in ice water for about 10 minutes before adding to salad.
- The dressing can be made by finely dicing shallots and chopping basil, then whisking all ingredients together or shaking in a mason jar if a blender is unavailable.
- Pickled red onions can be purchased pre-made or prepared at home for added flavor; any preferred cheese such as Feta, goat cheese, or Cheddar can replace blue cheese.
- Rotisserie chicken or chicken thighs can be substituted for grilled chicken breasts; warm or cold chicken both work in the salad.
- Prepare salad ingredients in advance (excluding avocado); combine and add avocado just before serving to prevent browning.
- Bacon can be oven-baked in batches to save time and used in other dishes.
- Hard-boiled eggs can be prepared in an Instant Pot using cold water and pressure cooking or by stovetop boiling followed by ice water cooling.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1serving
Calories
394kcal
(20%)
Carbohydrates
12g
(4%)
Protein
22g
(44%)
Fat
29g
(45%)
Saturated Fat
9g
(45%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
5g
(29%)
Monounsaturated Fat
12g
(60%)
Trans Fat
0.1g
(5%)
Cholesterol
179mg
(60%)
Sodium
921mg
(38%)
Potassium
657mg
(14%)
Fiber
4g
(16%)
Sugar
6g
(12%)
Vitamin A
1036IU
(21%)
Vitamin C
13mg
(14%)
Calcium
138mg
(14%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6 -4 servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 394
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1serving | |
| Calories | 394kcal | 20% |
| Carbohydrates | 12g | 4% |
| Protein | 22g | 44% |
| Fat | 29g | 45% |
| Saturated Fat | 9g | 45% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 5g | 29% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 12g | 60% |
| Trans Fat | 0.1g | 5% |
| Cholesterol | 179mg | 60% |
| Sodium | 921mg | 38% |
| Potassium | 657mg | 14% |
| Fiber | 4g | 16% |
| Sugar | 6g | 12% |
| Vitamin A | 1036IU | 21% |
| Vitamin C | 13mg | 14% |
| Calcium | 138mg | 14% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.