Avocado Chicken Salad (Printable)

A fresh, creamy combination of tender chicken, ripe avocado, and zesty lime with fragrant herbs. Light and satisfying.

# What You 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

# Directions:

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 mixture.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, olive oil, salt, and black pepper.
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 required.
  • The creamy avocado does all the heavy lifting without any mayo or dairy weighing things down.
  • Every bite feels fresh and satisfying without leaving you sluggish afterward.
  • You can throw it in lettuce cups, eat it straight from the bowl, or pile it on toast and call it lunch.
02 -
  • If your avocados are too soft, they'll turn into guacamole when you toss the salad, so pick ones that are ripe but still hold their shape.
  • The lime juice is not optional, it's what keeps the avocado green and ties all the flavors together into something that tastes intentional.
  • Toss gently with a folding motion instead of stirring aggressively, or you'll end up with chunky green paste instead of distinct cubes.
03 -
  • Roll your lime on the counter with firm pressure before cutting it, you'll get almost twice as much juice out of it that way.
  • If you're cooking the chicken yourself, poach it in water with a bay leaf and a pinch of salt so it stays tender and picks up a little extra flavor.
  • Taste a piece of avocado before you dice the whole thing, if it's bland, the salad will be too, so choose fruit that already tastes rich and buttery on its own.
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