Healthy Avocado Chicken Salad (Printable Version)

Juicy chicken meets creamy avocado in this vibrant salad with crisp vegetables and tangy lime dressing.

# What You Need:

→ Meats

01 - 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 10.5 oz total)

→ Vegetables & Fruits

02 - 2 ripe avocados diced
03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
04 - 1 small cucumber diced
05 - 1/4 cup red onion finely diced
06 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro chopped

→ Dressing

07 - 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
08 - Juice of 1 lime
09 - 1 garlic clove minced
10 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
11 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

# How to Make It:

01 - Season chicken breasts lightly with salt and pepper. Grill, poach, or pan-sear until fully cooked (internal temperature 165°F), about 6-8 minutes per side. Let rest 5 minutes, then dice into bite-sized pieces.
02 - In a large bowl, combine diced avocado, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and cilantro.
03 - Add cooled, diced chicken to the bowl with vegetables.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lime juice, minced garlic, salt, and pepper.
05 - Pour dressing over salad ingredients and gently toss until well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve immediately for best texture.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything comes together in under 30 minutes with almost zero active cooking time
  • You get that perfect restaurant salad bowl texture without paying restaurant prices
  • The leftovers (if you somehow have any) actually taste even better after the flavors mingle
02 -
  • Don't dress the salad more than an hour before serving or the avocado will start to brown and the cucumbers will release water and make everything soggy
  • If you need to meal prep this, keep the dressing separate and toss individual portions right before eating
  • The lime juice's acidity actually helps preserve the avocado's green color for several hours, but not overnight
03 -
  • Buy slightly underripe avocados if you're making this more than a few hours in advance
  • Pat your diced cucumbers dry with paper towels if they seem especially watery
  • The salad tastes best at room temperature, so remove from fridge about 15 minutes before serving

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