• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Food Sharing Vegan logo
  • About
  • Cookbooks
  • Podcast
  • Recipes
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Cookbooks
  • Podcast
  • Recipes
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • About
    • Cookbooks
    • Podcast
    • Recipes
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Lunch

    Vegan Cobb Salad

    Published: May 8, 2023 by Toni

    This vegan Cobb salad is loaded with color, texture, and flavor for a quick, easy, hearty, filling salad you can enjoy for lunch or dinner! Plus, it’s gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and ready in just 25 minutes.

    Jump to Recipe
    completed Vegan Cobb Salad against a light surface

    As the weather warms up, fully-loaded, hearty vegan salads like this vegan Cobb salad are game-changing. They’re quick and simple to prepare, crowd-pleasing, and filling enough to enjoy as a main. Plus, it’s easy to customize for a super satisfying salad, packed with nutrients that never bores.

    Table of Contents
    • What Are Cobb Salads?
    • How Do You Make a Cobb Salad Vegan?
    • Why You'll Love This Vegan Cobb Salad
    • The Ingredients and Substitutes
    • What Else Could I Add to Vegetable Cobb Salad?
    • How to Make Vegan Cobb Salad
    • Recipe Pro Tips
    • FAQs
    • Serving Suggestions
    • How To Meal Prep Vegan Salads?
    • Storage Instructions
    • More Easy Vegan Salad Recipes
    • Vegan Cobb Salad

    What Are Cobb Salads?

    A Cobb salad is an American, fully-loaded, main-dish salad originating in the 1930s in California. While the exact origins are contested, it’s thought it came about in the Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant, named after its owner, Robert Howard Cobb, and was a salad pulled together with lots of leftovers in the restaurant kitchen.

    Typically, a Cobb salad is made up of a bed of mixed leafy greens (lettuce - both iceberg and romaine, endives, watercress, etc.) topped with neat individual rows of tomato, avocado, eggs, chicken, bacon, blue cheese, chives, and a simple red-wine vinaigrette.

    The combination makes for a texturally and flavorfully satisfying salad that will keep you full until your next meal.

    How Do You Make a Cobb Salad Vegan?

    There are simple ingredient swaps and plenty of vegan salad toppings you can rely on for a delicious vegan cobb salad that’s just as satisfying.

    For example, in this case, we swapped in a vegan bacon alternative, substituted the chicken with a can of garbanzo beans, and love using any vegan creamy dressing, like vegan ranch. The results are out of this world!

    Why You’ll Love This Vegan Cobb Salad

    • Quick & simple: Just chop, assemble, add the vegan dressing, and enjoy!
    • Budget-friendly: Rely on inexpensive produce and household staples for the base recipe, or switch it up with veggies you need to use from your fridge.
    • Packed with texture & flavor: Making a super satisfying meal.
    • Child-approved: I’ve found salads with lots of elements do better with kids and picky eaters.
    • Versatile: There are tons of ways to adapt the toppings and dressing to your liking.

    The Ingredients and Substitutes

    ingredients for Vegan Cobb Salad measured out against a white surface
    • Leafy greens: Traditionally, a cobb salad relies on a mixed greens base, so I usually use a package of mixed leafy greens. However, you could just use iceberg or romaine lettuce.
    • Tomatoes: Cherry or grape tomatoes work year-round, but vine-ripened and Roma tomatoes will work during tomato season.
    • Cucumber: It’s best to use Persian or English cucumber in salads, as they are less seedy and have a thin peel that doesn’t require peeling.
    • Avocado: I love the creamy texture ripe avocado adds to the salad. To check for avocado ripeness, there should be some give when squeezed.
    • Red onion: Or shallots. For a less robust flavor, soak the onion in ice water for 10-15 minutes before adding it to the vegan cobb salad OR use green onions.
    • Chickpeas: I used canned garbanzo beans (or white beans) to replace chicken, but feel free to add flavor and texture by using roasted chickpeas.
    • Vegan bacon: Use your favorite vegan mock bacon or make homemade tofu/ tempeh bacon. Eggplant/carrot bacon or coconut bacon works too.
    • Dressing: I love this veggie cobb salad with creamy ranch dressing (homemade or store-bought) or other creamy salad dressings, like a tahini or green goddess dressing. However, you could also use a red wine vinaigrette.

    What Else Could I Add to Vegetable Cobb Salad?

    There are plenty of vegan salad toppings you can experiment with in this hearty, versatile vegan, gluten-free salad, including:

    • Dairy-free cheese (either shredded or crumbly vegan cheese)
    • Radishes (chopped or thinly sliced)
    • Corn (canned or grilled)
    • Carrot (shredded)
    • Beetroot (roasted and diced or shredded)
    • Green beans (steamed or canned)
    • Olives (any color, pitted)
    • Seeds (toasted pepitas/sunflower seeds add crunch, protein, & healthy fats)
    • Fresh herbs (like chives or dill)

    To make a ‘kind of’ copycat of the Cheesecake Factory vegan cobb salad, use iceberg lettuce and add to the veggies with roasted beets, grilled asparagus, and cooked green beans. This version also adds a mixture of quinoa and farro and tops it off with toasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds).

    How to Make Vegan Cobb Salad

    • 1) First, rinse and chop the tomatoes and cucumber, dice the avocado, and thinly slice the red onion. Also, drain and rinse the canned chickpeas. If the vegan bacon isn’t cooked, do that now, too.
    ingredients for Vegan Cobb Salad measured out against a white surface
    • 2) Divide the leafy greens between two large bowls, then divide all the toppings between the two bowls. For a traditional Cobb salad, set them in neat rows. However, you can just toss them all in if preferred.
    • 3) Drizzle over the dressing, and enjoy!

    Recipe Pro Tips

    • Use ripe, in-season produce: Any simple salad will massively benefit from the freshest, ripest ingredients.  
    • To speed up prep: If you have them, a food chopper and/or mandoline can help to speed up the vegetable prep.
    • Adjust the texture: Choosing how thin/big to chop and slice the ingredients will change the overall texture of hearty vegan salads and affect how much you’ll enjoy per forkful.

    FAQs

    Is vegan cobb salad healthy?

    Yes, this hearty vegan salad is loaded with fiber, protein, antioxidants, and several vitamins and minerals, providing the fuel to keep you full until your next meal.

    What can I use instead of meat in salad?

    These days we’re lucky enough to have plenty of mock meats and other meat alternatives available for practically every salad meat you can think of.

    Alternatively, vegan salads with protein often rely on tofu, tempeh, seitan, or beans and pulses (like chickpeas, beans, and lentils).

    Serving Suggestions

    Depending on the size of your portion, this vegetarian cobb salad makes for a hearty main meal or side you can enjoy at picnics, potlucks, and BBQs alongside:

    • Garlic bread
    • Breadsticks
    • Corn on the cob
    • Roasted or grilled vegetables
    • A baked potato/ hasselback potatoes
    • A small portion of soup
    • Vegan grilled cheese

    How To Meal Prep Vegan Salads?

    There are two main ways to meal prep salads. The first has you prepare all the various ingredients and store them separately in containers in the fridge, ready to assemble when needed.

    Alternatively, you can make ‘salad jars’; this allows you to layer/stack ingredients to maintain the best texture (i.e., wetter ingredients like tomato and cucumber at the bottom).

    There are a few things to keep in mind, though:

    1. Always keep any ‘crispy’ ingredients (like croutons) separate so they don’t become soft before serving.
    2. Only add quick-spoiling ingredients (like avocado) just before serving.
    3. Add the dressing when serving to avoid the salad becoming soggy too soon.

    For this salad, add the ingredients to the jar in the following order: A few tablespoons of vegan dressing, onion, tomato, cucumber, leafy greens, and vegan bacon. Shake the jar before serving, pour into a bowl, and add the avocado.

    Storage Instructions

    Most meal prep salads will store for about 4 days in airtight containers in the refrigerator.

    Once assembled, though, this vegetarian cobb salad doesn’t store particularly well. The avocado will brown, and the salad will become soggy over time as it sits in the vegan dressing. For that reason, I recommend eating it within a day.

    More Easy Vegan Salad Recipes

    • Ramen Noodle Cabbage Salad
    • Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad
    • Easy Mediterranean White Bean Salad
    • Cucumber Tajin Salad [or Snack]
    • Vegan Smashed Chickpea Salad [Sandwiches, Wraps, Dip]
    • Watermelon Mint Salad

    If you try this easy vegan cobb salad recipe, I’d love to know your thoughts in the comments below. I’d also really appreciate a recipe card rating.

    Photos by Alfonso Revilla

    completed Vegan Cobb Salad against a light surface

    Vegan Cobb Salad

    This vegan Cobb salad is loaded with color, texture, and flavor for a quick, easy, hearty, filling salad you can enjoy for lunch or dinner! Plus, it’s gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and ready in just 25 minutes.
    5 from 73 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 25 mins
    Course lunch, Salad
    Cuisine American
    Servings 2
    Calories 327 kcal

    Equipment

    • knife set

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 (9-ounce) package of leafy greens
    • 1 cup of halved cherry tomatoes
    • ½ of a cucumber, chopped
    • 1 large avocado, diced
    • ½ cup of thinly sliced red onion
    • 1 (15-ounce) can of garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
    • ½ cup of chopped cooked vegan bacon
    • 1 batch of your favorite creamy dressing (I like ranch)

    Instructions
     

    • Prepare two large salad bowls with leafy greens. Add half of the cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado, red onion, garbanzo beans, and vegan bacon to each bowl. Set aside.
    • Drizzle on your favorite dressing. Set immediately.

    Notes

    • Use ripe, in-season produce: Any simple salad will massively benefit from the freshest, ripest ingredients.  
    • To speed up prep: If you have them, a food chopper and/or mandoline can help to speed up the vegetable prep.
    • Adjust the texture: Choosing how thin/big to chop and slice the ingredients will change the overall texture of hearty vegan salads and affect how much you’ll enjoy per forkful.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 327kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 15gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 411mgPotassium: 1232mgFiber: 13gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 10005IUVitamin C: 46mgCalcium: 165mgIron: 4mg
    Keyword cobb salad, easy salad recipes, healthy recipes, healthy salads, quick recipes, vegan dinner, vegan lunch, vegan salads, vegetarian salads, veggies
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @foodsharingvegan on Instagram!

    Disclaimer: Although foodsharingvegan.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Foodsharingvegan.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.

    More Lunch

    • completed Vegan Cordon Bleu plated with green beans and sauce on the side
      Vegan Cordon Bleu
    • completed Vegan Chorizo Tacos against a white surface
      Vegan Chorizo Tacos
    • completed Easy Jackfruit Carnitas on a white surface
      Easy Jackfruit Carnitas
    • completed Buffalo Chickpea Wraps on a white surface
      Buffalo Chickpea Wraps

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Andrea says

      May 09, 2023 at 3:20 am

      5 stars
      such a pretty salad!

      Reply
    2. Cindy says

      May 09, 2023 at 2:06 pm

      5 stars
      So delicious and filling! It's my go to salad.

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        May 18, 2023 at 5:50 pm

        Right?! Such a fun and delicious salad!

        Reply
    3. Megane says

      May 10, 2023 at 6:56 am

      5 stars
      We loved this salad so much. It was my first time with vegan bacon... oh my! So good!

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        May 18, 2023 at 5:51 pm

        Such a complete salad!

        Reply
    4. Andréa Janssen says

      May 10, 2023 at 7:06 am

      5 stars
      I love a good cobb salad and this looks so beautiful. I'm going to serve it with dinner tonight!

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        May 18, 2023 at 5:51 pm

        Right?! The presentation is the best!

        Reply
    5. Stephanie says

      May 10, 2023 at 12:03 pm

      5 stars
      I can always depend on this site to find great plant-based recipes. We enjoyed the Vegan Cobb Salad and I am looking forward to having this refreshing meal again!

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        May 18, 2023 at 5:51 pm

        Love that you're enjoying the recipes! This one is a favorite of mine!

        Reply
    6. Katie says

      May 10, 2023 at 12:40 pm

      5 stars
      This vegan cobb salad is so amazing! Love all the flavors and how easy it is to make.

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        May 18, 2023 at 5:52 pm

        Right?! So easy to make and so delicious!

        Reply
    7. Rachael says

      May 10, 2023 at 2:57 pm

      5 stars
      Perfect salad for meal planning. Super simple. Thanks for the tips!

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        May 18, 2023 at 5:52 pm

        Definitely! Gotta love a simple salad!

        Reply
    8. Oscar says

      May 10, 2023 at 11:16 pm

      5 stars
      My favorite salad and love that I could get all these veggies in. The avocado addition to this salad was spot on. Great recipe.

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        May 18, 2023 at 5:53 pm

        Yesss! The avocado is just the cherry on top!

        Reply
    9. Giangi Townsend says

      May 13, 2023 at 6:34 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious salad and I love how light it is. I have made it for lunch and it was perfect .
      Thank you.

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        May 18, 2023 at 5:57 pm

        So glad you enjoyed it! It's a great go-to salad!

        Reply
    10. Linda says

      May 15, 2023 at 5:54 am

      5 stars
      I'm not a vegan, and I LOVE everything you have here. The color and fresh ingredients - it's perfect for Meatless Monday!

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        May 18, 2023 at 5:57 pm

        That's so awesome! So glad you enjoyed this cobb salad!

        Reply
    11. Erin says

      May 15, 2023 at 5:46 pm

      5 stars
      I haven't had a good cobb salad since going vegan. This salad recipe is great and hits the spot. So fresh and healthy!

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        May 18, 2023 at 6:04 pm

        Isn't it? Super fresh, full of color, and full of nutrition!

        Reply
    12. Rachel says

      May 15, 2023 at 6:37 pm

      5 stars
      Love this salad, it's quick to make and so delicious!

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        May 18, 2023 at 6:04 pm

        Gotta love the quick and easy recipes!

        Reply
    13. Jenn says

      May 17, 2023 at 8:19 pm

      5 stars
      Love it! What kind of vegan bacon is good?

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        May 18, 2023 at 6:06 pm

        So many kinds! I personally like Sweet Earths vegan bacon 🙂

        Reply
    14. Beatriz Buono-Core says

      May 23, 2023 at 10:56 am

      5 stars
      This Cobb salad will be my official summer lunch! So tasty.

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        May 28, 2023 at 8:29 pm

        You and me both! Such a delicious salad!

        Reply
    15. Gina H. says

      May 24, 2023 at 5:22 pm

      5 stars
      Such a fantastic vegan Cobb Salad! I've been craving one for so long and now I can finally enjoy it again. Yay!

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        May 28, 2023 at 8:40 pm

        Right?! It soooo good and so easy to make too!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Toni. Welcome to Food Sharing Vegan. Here you'll find comforting, delicious, vegan recipes to share with friends and family.

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Spring Favorites

    • completed muffins spread out against a white surface
      Vegan Strawberry Cupcakes
    • completed Strawberry Yogurt Smoothie in a glass cup with strawberries against a white background
      Strawberry Smoothie With Yogurt
    • completed Vegan Strawberry Shortcake on a cake stand
      Vegan Strawberry Shortcake [Cake Version]
    • completed Vegan Asian Mandarin Chicken Ramen Noodle Salad on a white plate against a white background
      Vegan Mandarin Chicken Ramen Noodle Salad

    Breakfast Recipes

    • completed Vegan Just Egg Frittata in a skillet against a white surface
      Vegan Just Egg Frittata
    • completed Dragon Fruit Smoothie Bowl (Pitaya Bowl) in a bowl against a light surface
      Dragon Fruit Smoothie Bowl (Pitaya Bowl)
    • several completed just egg french toast with berries on top against a white surface
      Easy Vegan Just Egg French Toast
    • several completed pieces of avocado toast on a white surface
      Vegan Avocado Toast

    Footer

    As Featured On

    Terms

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign up for emails and updates

    About

    • About
    • Contact
    • Cookbook
    • Podcast

    ↑ back to top

    • facebook
    • instagram
    • pinterest

    Copyright © 2023 Food Sharing Vegan