Avocado Chicken Salad (Printable)
Shredded chicken and ripe avocado with tomatoes, cucumber and lime-garlic dressing for a bright, protein-rich lunch.
# 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
→ 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
# Method:
01 - Dice the chicken breast, avocados, cucumber, and cherry tomatoes. Finely chop the red onion and fresh cilantro.
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 - Fold in the crumbled feta cheese and sliced almonds if using, and toss lightly to distribute.
06 - Serve immediately at room temperature, or refrigerate for up to 2 hours before serving for a chilled version.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- It comes together in the time it takes to brew a pot of coffee and somehow tastes like you spent all afternoon on it.
- The creamy avocado coats everything like a second dressing so you get richness without heaviness.
02 -
- Once you add the dressing the clock starts ticking so if you need to wait more than two hours keep the avocado separate and combine at the last minute.
- A pinch of chili flakes in the dressing completely changes the personality of this salad in the best way possible.
03 -
- Dice the avocado a little larger than you think you need because it will break down slightly during tossing.
- The best flavor happens when the chicken is still slightly warm and meets the cool lime dressing.