Avocado Chicken Salad (Printable)

A fresh and creamy salad featuring tender chicken, ripe avocado, zesty lime, and fragrant herbs perfect for light meals.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced

→ Vegetables & Fruit

02 - 2 ripe avocados, diced
03 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
04 - 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 1 small cucumber, diced

→ Herbs & Seasonings

06 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
07 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
08 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Dressing

10 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
11 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

# How to Prepare:

01 - In a large bowl, combine the cooked chicken, diced avocados, red onion, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber.
02 - Add the chopped cilantro and parsley to the chicken and vegetable mixture.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, olive oil, salt, and black pepper until emulsified.
04 - Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss to combine, being careful not to mash the avocado.
05 - Serve immediately, or chill for up to 1 hour before serving for a colder, firmer texture.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together in the time it takes to listen to three songs, no oven or stovetop drama required.
  • The creamy avocado acts as the dressing, so you're not drowning anything in mayo or heavy sauces.
  • It tastes like summer even in the middle of January, bright and clean and satisfying.
  • You can eat it straight from the bowl, stuff it in lettuce wraps, or pile it on toast without changing a thing.
02 -
  • Don't dice the avocado too early or it will oxidize and turn brown, wait until you're ready to assemble.
  • If your lime juice tastes too sharp, add a tiny pinch of sugar or honey to round it out.
  • Tossing too hard will turn this into guacamole with chicken in it, so be gentle and deliberate.
03 -
  • Use a spoon to scoop the avocado out in one piece, then dice it on the cutting board for cleaner, more uniform chunks.
  • If you can only find hard avocados, place them in a paper bag with a banana overnight to speed up ripening.
  • Taste the salad before serving and adjust the lime or salt, sometimes it needs just a little more to sing.
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