Avocado Chicken Salad (Printer-Friendly)
Protein-rich chicken and creamy avocado tossed with crisp veggies and lime-garlic dressing for a bright, easy meal.
# What You'll 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 (optional)
→ 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 chicken breast, avocados, cucumber, and cherry tomatoes. Finely chop the red onion and fresh cilantro. Mince the garlic clove.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded chicken, diced avocados, halved cherry tomatoes, chopped red onion, diced 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 top if using, and toss lightly to incorporate.
06 - Serve immediately at room temperature, or refrigerate for up to 2 hours before serving for a chilled option.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It comes together in the time it takes to set the table and pour drinks.
- The lime garlic dressing tastes like something from a coastal restaurant but uses pantry staples.
02 -
- Avocados brown fast once cut, so if you are making this ahead, leave the pits in the diced pieces and add the lime dressing first as a protective acid barrier.
- Overmixing turns this into guacamole with chicken, which is still edible but not what you aimed for.
03 -
- Chili flakes sprinkled at the end give the whole bowl a low warm hum that makes people ask what your secret is.
- Rotisserie chicken skin chopped and crisped in a pan makes an unexpected crunchy garnish that nobody expects from a salad.