Avocado Chicken Salad (Printable)
Shredded chicken, ripe avocado, cherry tomatoes and lime-garlic dressing for a quick, protein-rich lunch.
# What You Need:
→ Proteins
01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced (about 2 medium breasts)
→ Vegetables & Fruits
02 - 2 ripe avocados, diced
03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
05 - 1 small cucumber, diced
06 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
→ Dressing
07 - 3 tablespoons olive oil
08 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
09 - 1 clove garlic, minced
10 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
11 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
→ Optional Add-ins
12 - 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
13 - 1/4 cup sliced almonds
# How to Make It:
01 - Dice the avocados, halve the cherry tomatoes, finely chop the red onion, dice the cucumber, and chop the fresh cilantro. Shred or dice the cooked chicken breast.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the prepared chicken, avocados, cherry tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, and cilantro.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, fresh lime juice, minced garlic, salt, and ground black pepper until well blended.
04 - Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and gently toss until everything is evenly coated, being careful not to mash the avocado.
05 - Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese and sliced almonds over the salad if using, and toss lightly to distribute.
06 - Serve immediately, or refrigerate for up to 2 hours before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It comes together in under thirty minutes with zero cooking if you use leftover or rotisserie chicken.
- The creamy avocado replaces mayonnaise entirely, making every bite feel lighter but somehow more satisfying.
02 -
- Avocado browns fast once exposed to air, so the lime juice in the dressing helps slow that down but will not stop it entirely.
- Tossing too aggressively is the fastest way to turn a beautiful chunky salad into green mush.
03 -
- Squeeze the lime juice over the diced avocado before you mix it into the salad to create a thin acid barrier against browning.
- A rotisserie chicken from the deli counter will make this recipe feel almost effortless on a weeknight.