Fresh Avocado Chicken Salad (Printable version)

Tender chicken, ripe avocado, cherry tomatoes, and fresh herbs tossed in zesty lime dressing for a light, nutritious meal.

# Needed ingredients:

→ 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 make it:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked chicken, diced avocados, red onion, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber.
02 - Add chopped cilantro and parsley to the bowl with chicken and vegetables.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, extra-virgin olive oil, salt, and black pepper until combined.
04 - Pour dressing over salad and gently toss to combine, taking care not to crush the avocado pieces.
05 - Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 1 hour before serving for enhanced firmness and chilled texture.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together in the time it takes to listen to three songs, and you can eat it straight from the bowl without anyone judging.
  • The avocado makes everything creamy without needing mayo or anything heavy, so it feels light even when you're full.
  • You can pack it for lunch and actually look forward to opening the container later.
  • It uses up leftover chicken in a way that makes it feel like a whole new meal.
02 -
  • If your avocados are even slightly underripe, the salad will taste flat and the texture won't be creamy enough to coat the chicken.
  • Don't make this more than an hour ahead unless you want to serve brown avocado; lime juice helps, but it's not magic.
  • Tossing too hard will turn your salad into a chunky dip, so use a light hand and fold instead of stirring.
03 -
  • Use a rotisserie chicken and this becomes a no-cook meal that still tastes homemade and fresh.
  • Always dice your avocado last so it spends the least amount of time exposed to air before you toss it with lime juice.
  • If you're meal prepping, keep the dressing separate and toss everything together right before eating to avoid soggy vegetables.
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