Fresh Avocado Chicken Salad (Printable)

Fresh and creamy salad with tender chicken, ripe avocado, zesty lime, and fragrant herbs perfect for a light meal.

# 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

# 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 combined ingredients.
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 refrigerate for up to 1 hour before serving for optimal texture and temperature.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in the time it takes to listen to three songs, no stove required if you use rotisserie chicken.
  • The lime and herbs make everything taste alive, like summer even when it's not.
  • You can eat it straight from the bowl, scoop it onto toast, or wrap it in lettuce without changing a thing.
  • It never feels like diet food, even though it's light and clean.
02 -
  • Once I added the dressing too early and let the salad sit for two hours, the avocado turned brown and the whole thing looked sad, so now I dress it right before serving.
  • If your avocados aren't quite ripe, the salad will taste flat and lack that creamy richness that makes it so satisfying.
  • I learned to taste the dressing before pouring it on, because limes vary wildly in acidity and sometimes you need an extra squeeze.
03 -
  • Always cut your avocado last so it has the least amount of time to oxidize before you toss it with the lime juice.
  • If you're making this ahead, keep the dressing separate and toss everything together right before serving to keep it fresh and bright.
  • Use a fork to gently fold the salad instead of a spoon, it gives you more control and keeps the avocado intact.
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