Creamy Chicken and Avocado Salad: Your Go-To Recipe for a Healthy, Flavor-Packed Meal

Discover the ultimate blend of fresh flavors and wholesome ingredients with this incredibly easy and utterly delicious **chicken and avocado salad**. Combining two universally loved components – tender chicken and creamy avocado – this recipe transforms simple leftovers into a vibrant, satisfying dish. Perfect for a quick lunch, a light dinner, or an impressive side, this salad offers a fantastic balance of healthy fats, high protein, and low carbohydrates, making it an ideal choice for a nutritious lifestyle. With minimal effort, you can create a culinary masterpiece that’s bursting with zest from fresh lime, aromatic cilantro, and the irresistible crunch of celery and savory notes from shallot and garlic. It’s more than just a salad; it’s a delightful experience that keeps you feeling energized and satisfied.

This delightful chicken and avocado salad offers a refreshing spin on traditional chicken salad recipes. Its cool and creamy texture makes it a perfect antidote to summer heat, yet its rich flavor profile ensures it’s a welcome addition to your table any time of year. As someone who appreciates both convenience and quality, I often prepare extra chicken specifically for versatile dishes like this. Coupled with my always-on-hand supply of ripe avocados, it wasn’t long before this recipe naturally came to be. It quickly became a favorite for fast, healthy lunches, and I’m thrilled to share this simple yet extraordinary creation with you.

Whether you’re looking to revitalize your meal prep routine or simply need a speedy solution for a nutritious meal, this chicken and avocado salad delivers. It’s an adaptable recipe that encourages creativity, allowing you to tailor it to your preferences while always yielding a delicious result.

Why You’ll Love This Easy Chicken and Avocado Salad Recipe

This isn’t just another chicken salad; it’s a culinary staple that offers numerous benefits. Here’s why this recipe is bound to become a favorite in your kitchen:

• Effortlessly Healthy, Quick, and Simple: In today’s fast-paced world, finding meals that are both nutritious and time-efficient is a game-changer. This salad fits the bill perfectly. It’s packed with wholesome ingredients like lean protein from chicken and healthy fats from avocado, supporting a balanced diet. The steps are straightforward, requiring minimal cooking (especially if your chicken is pre-cooked), making it an ideal choice for busy weeknights or a spontaneous lunch. You can have this flavor-packed dish ready to enjoy in under 20 minutes!
• Smart Use of Leftover Chicken: Say goodbye to bland leftovers! This recipe is a brilliant way to give new life to cooked chicken breast. Whether you have remnants from a Sunday roast, grilled chicken from a barbecue, or a store-bought rotisserie chicken, this salad transforms it into something exciting and fresh. It’s a fantastic solution for reducing food waste and making your meal prep more efficient.
• Nutrient-Rich Powerhouse with Exceptional Flavor: This salad is a nutritional superstar. Avocados provide a generous dose of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, fiber, and essential vitamins (K, C, B6, E), while chicken offers high-quality lean protein vital for muscle repair and satiety. Beyond its health credentials, the flavor combination is simply irresistible. The creamy avocado contrasts beautifully with the zesty lime, fresh cilantro, and the subtle bite of shallot and celery, creating a dynamic taste and texture experience that will delight your palate.
• Versatile for Any Occasion: While its refreshing qualities shine in warmer months, this salad is truly a year-round delight. It’s light enough for a summer picnic yet satisfying enough for a hearty autumn lunch. Its adaptability means it can be served in various ways, from lettuce wraps to sandwiches, or as a vibrant side dish, ensuring it always feels fresh and exciting.

Essential Ingredients for Your Chicken and Avocado Salad

Crafting the perfect chicken and avocado salad starts with selecting fresh, high-quality ingredients. Each component plays a crucial role in building the layered flavors and appealing textures of this delightful dish.

• Cooked Chicken: The star of the show! This recipe is incredibly flexible, utilizing leftover roast chicken breasts, grilled chicken, or even a convenient store-bought rotisserie chicken. For the best texture, ensure your chicken is cooled and then cut into small, uniform bite-sized cubes. This allows for an even distribution throughout the salad and a pleasant mouthfeel.
• Ripe Avocado: The creamy cornerstone! A perfectly ripe avocado is key to achieving that luscious texture and rich flavor. To check for ripeness, gently squeeze the top near the stem; it should yield slightly without feeling mushy. Avocados not only add incredible creaminess but are also packed with healthy monounsaturated fats, fiber, and various vitamins and minerals, boosting the nutritional value of your meal.
• Celery: For that essential crisp crunch! While optional, adding finely chopped celery provides a wonderful textural contrast to the creamy avocado and tender chicken. Its subtle, earthy flavor also complements the other ingredients beautifully. If you’re not a fan of celery, you can omit it or substitute with another crunchy vegetable like cucumber or bell pepper.
• Shallot: A touch of delicate onion flavor. Shallots are milder and sweeter than onions, offering a refined, aromatic kick without overpowering the other delicate flavors. Finely mincing the shallot ensures its flavor is evenly distributed and integrates seamlessly into the salad. If shallots aren’t available, a very small amount of finely minced white or red onion can be used as a substitute.
• Fresh Herbs (Cilantro or Parsley): The vibrant freshness. Fresh cilantro lends a bright, citrusy, and slightly peppery note that is characteristic of many avocado dishes. However, if cilantro isn’t to your taste, fresh flat-leaf Italian parsley makes an excellent alternative, offering a clean, herbaceous flavor. Whichever you choose, ensure your herbs are freshly chopped for maximum aroma and flavor.
• Garlic: A savory depth. A single small fresh garlic clove, properly prepared, adds a subtle yet significant layer of savory depth to the salad. Its pungency should enhance, not dominate, the overall flavor profile.
• Lime: The essential bright and tangy lift. Freshly squeezed lime juice is vital for two reasons: it adds a bright, tangy acidity that cuts through the richness of the avocado and mayonnaise, and it helps prevent the avocado from browning due to oxidation, keeping your salad looking vibrant and appealing.
• Mayonnaise: The binder for creaminess. Your favorite brand of mayonnaise provides the creamy base that brings all the ingredients together. Choose a good quality mayo with a light flavor profile to ensure it enhances rather than masks the natural tastes of the chicken and avocado. For a lighter or dairy-free option, alternatives like Greek yogurt or a plant-based mayo work wonderfully.
• Sea Salt and Ground Black Pepper: The finishing touch. Seasoning is crucial for balancing and enhancing all the flavors. Start with the recommended amounts and adjust to your personal preference, tasting as you go to achieve the perfect balance.

Substitutions and Creative Variations

One of the joys of cooking is the freedom to adapt recipes to your taste or what you have on hand. This chicken and avocado salad is incredibly forgiving and invites experimentation. Here are some fantastic substitutions and variations to help you make this recipe uniquely yours:

• Swap Cooked Turkey Breast for Chicken: This is an excellent idea, especially after holidays like Thanksgiving. Cooked turkey breast provides a similar lean protein base and texture to chicken, making it a perfect stand-in. It’s a delicious way to enjoy your holiday leftovers in a fresh, new context.
• No Ripe Avocado? Use Prepared Guacamole: Sometimes, finding a perfectly ripe avocado can be a challenge. Don’t let that stop you! High-quality, prepared guacamole can be a convenient substitute. Just be sure to choose a plain variety with minimal added ingredients to keep the flavor profile consistent with the recipe’s intent. This ensures you still get that signature creamy texture and healthy fats.
• Don’t Like Mayo? Swap Plain Greek Yogurt: For a lighter, tangier, and often higher-protein alternative to mayonnaise, plain Greek yogurt is an excellent choice. It provides a creamy texture and a pleasant tartness that complements the lime and fresh herbs beautifully. For a dairy-free option, a good quality plant-based yogurt can also work.
• For a Touch of Spice, Add Finely Chopped Jalapeño: If you appreciate a little heat, a finely chopped jalapeño pepper can elevate the flavor profile with a delightful kick. For less heat, remove the seeds and white membrane before chopping. Start with a small amount and add more to taste.
• Swap Red Onion for Shallot: While shallots offer a milder flavor, red onion provides a sharper, more pungent bite and a beautiful pop of color. If you prefer a bolder onion flavor, finely minced red onion is a great alternative.
• Add Chopped Walnuts for More Crunch and Healthy Fat: To introduce another layer of texture and boost the healthy fat content, stir in about ¼ cup of chopped walnuts. Their earthy, slightly bitter notes pair wonderfully with the creamy avocado and chicken, adding a satisfying crunch. Almonds or pecans would also be delicious.
• Introduce Sweetness with Dried Cranberries or Grapes: For a touch of sweetness and chewiness, consider adding a couple of tablespoons of dried cranberries or a handful of halved red grapes. This classic chicken salad addition provides a delightful contrast to the savory elements.
• Boost Veggies with Bell Peppers or Corn: Finely diced red or yellow bell peppers will add extra crunch, sweetness, and vibrant color. Canned or frozen (thawed) corn kernels can also be stirred in for a subtle sweetness and texture.
• Make it a Southwestern Delight: Add a tablespoon or two of black beans (rinsed and drained), some diced tomatoes, and a pinch of cumin to give your salad a Tex-Mex twist.

Chef’s tip on garlic in salads: When you’re adding fresh garlic to a salad like this chicken and avocado salad, you need it to almost disappear. Biting into a piece of raw garlic can be quite overpowering and unpleasant. Instead of trying to chop the garlic extremely finely with a knife, zest it with a microplane zester. Zesting instantly turns raw garlic into a smooth, flavorful paste quickly and easily. This method ensures the garlic’s potent flavor is evenly distributed throughout the salad, practically disappearing into the mixture while still delivering its savory essence without any harsh, unexpected bites.

Step-by-Step Recipe Instructions

Creating this delicious chicken and avocado salad is incredibly simple. Just follow these easy steps for a perfect, creamy, and flavorful result every time.

1. Step 1: Prepare the Chicken. Begin by taking your cooked chicken breast – whether it’s leftover from a previous meal, freshly grilled, or a store-bought rotisserie chicken – and place it on a clean cutting board. Using a sharp chef’s knife, carefully chop the chicken into small, uniform, bite-sized cubes. Aim for pieces roughly ½ to ¾ inch in size. Consistency in size ensures that every forkful of salad contains a balanced mix of ingredients. Transfer the cubed chicken to a large mixing bowl.

2. Step 2: Prepare the Avocado and Aromatic Base. Take your ripe avocado and carefully cut it in half lengthwise, circling around the pit. Twist the halves in opposite directions to separate them. To remove the pit, gently but firmly lodge the sharp edge of your knife into the pit, then twist to lift it out. If you’re nervous about this step, hold the avocado half with the pit in a kitchen towel for added safety. Once the pit is removed, use a small knife to score the avocado flesh in a grid pattern (without piercing the skin), then scoop the diced avocado directly into a medium bowl. Immediately squeeze the fresh lime juice over the avocado and gently mix. This step is crucial as the lime juice not only adds flavor but also helps prevent the avocado from browning. If you prefer a smoother, creamier texture, you can lightly mash the avocado with a fork at this stage.
3. Step 3: Combine and Season. Finely chop your celery (if using), shallot, fresh cilantro (or parsley), and microplaned garlic. Add these ingredients to the bowl with the avocado and lime juice. Gently combine. Next, add the cubed chicken and your preferred mayonnaise to the bowl. Mix all the ingredients gently, ensuring everything is well coated without over-mashing the chicken or avocado (unless you prefer a very smooth texture). Finally, season the salad with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Give it a final gentle stir to incorporate the seasonings.

Note: If you prefer a super creamy style, almost like a guacamole chicken salad, you can thoroughly mash the avocado with the mayo, lime juice, shallot, and garlic until smooth before adding the chicken and other ingredients. This creates a very different, yet equally delicious, texture.

Chef’s tip: The easiest and safest way to seed an avocado is to carefully run a sharp knife edge around the entire circumference of the avocado lengthwise, cutting until you feel the pit. Once you’ve scored all the way around, grasp each half firmly and twist them in opposite directions to open the avocado. The pit will typically remain in one half. To remove it, strike the sharp edge of your knife blade gently but firmly into the pit until it lodges securely. Then, with a twisting motion, lift the pit out. If this technique makes you nervous, or if you’re new to it, it’s always safer to hold the avocado half with the seed firmly wrapped in a thick kitchen towel, protecting your hand while you remove the pit.

Delicious Serving Suggestions for Your Chicken and Avocado Salad

This versatile chicken and avocado salad is delightful on its own, but its adaptability truly shines when paired with various accompaniments. Here are some of our favorite ways to enjoy this creamy, flavorful dish:

• Classic Salad Platter: For a light and refreshing meal, pile generous scoops of the chicken and avocado salad onto a bed of fresh, crisp lettuce greens. Any soft lettuce, such as butter lettuce, romaine hearts, or spring mix, works wonderfully. This presentation makes it a satisfying entree salad. Garnish with extra lime wedges for a burst of fresh citrus, if desired.
• Healthy Lettuce Wraps: For a low-carb and gluten-free option, use large, sturdy lettuce leaves (like butter lettuce, cos, or iceberg) as edible cups. Spoon the chicken salad into the leaves for a crunchy, fresh, and hand-held meal.
• Burrito or Wrap Style: Transform your salad into a quick and easy wrap. Spread a generous amount of the chicken and avocado salad onto whole wheat or corn tortillas. You can add a handful of fresh spinach, some sliced bell peppers, or a sprinkle of cheese for extra flavor and substance, creating a delightful burrito-style lunch.
• Traditional Sandwiches or Pitas: This salad makes an excellent filling for sandwiches. Serve it on your favorite toasted bread, a flaky croissant, or stuffed into a warm pita pocket for a hearty and satisfying meal. Add some tomato slices or extra lettuce for freshness.
• Protein-Packed Grain Bowls: For a heartier, complete meal, spoon the chicken and avocado salad over a bed of cooked quinoa, brown rice, or farro. This creates a nutritious and flavorful grain bowl that’s perfect for meal prepping.
• Crispy Dippers: Serve the salad alongside crunchy tortilla chips, pita chips, or an assortment of crackers for a satisfying snack or appetizer. The chips provide a great textural contrast to the creamy salad.
• Vegetable Dippers: For a lighter dipping option, offer slices of cucumber, bell pepper strips, carrot sticks, or celery sticks.
• Stuffed Avocados or Tomatoes: For an elegant presentation, halve extra avocados (scooping out a bit of the flesh if needed to make space) or core large tomatoes, then fill them with the chicken and avocado salad.

Due to the perishability of avocado, this chicken and avocado salad is best enjoyed fresh. However, if stored properly in an airtight container in the refrigerator, it can last for up to 2 days. The lime juice helps significantly in preventing browning, but some slight discoloration might still occur over time. Gentle mixing before serving will refresh its appearance.

Recipe FAQs: Common Questions About Chicken and Avocado Salad

More Delicious Recipes With Avocado

As a proud native Californian, my love for avocados runs deep! If you share my passion for these glorious green fruits, you’ll be thrilled to explore more recipes that feature them prominently. Avocados bring a unique creaminess and nutritional boost to a wide range of dishes, from dips to hearty salads and even smoothies. Expand your avocado horizons with some of these fantastic recipes!

Did You Make This Recipe?

Your feedback is invaluable! If you’ve tried your hand at making this creamy chicken and avocado salad, please take a moment to share your experience by adding a comment below. I love hearing from you and discovering how the recipe worked in your kitchen. If you absolutely loved it, please consider leaving a 5-star rating! Your ratings truly help other readers discover and enjoy this delicious and healthy recipe.

Easy Chicken and Avocado Salad Recipe

This fantastic recipe brings together flavorful leftover chicken and creamy avocado to create a truly delicious and satisfying salad. It’s an ideal way to utilize cooked chicken, including rotisserie chicken, transforming it into a fresh, vibrant meal.

Author: Sally Cameron

Prep Time: 20 mins

Total Time: 20 mins

Course: Lunch, Main Course, Salad

Cuisine: American

Servings: 4

Calories: 415 kcal

Print Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 ¼ pounds cooked chicken breast, cubed
• 1 medium ripe avocado
• 1 large celery rib, chopped fine (½ cup, optional)
• 1 small shallot, finely chopped (2 tablespoons)
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro (or fresh parsley)
• 1 small garlic clove, peeled and zested
• 1 lime, juiced
• ¼ cup Vegenaise or your favorite mayonnaise
• ¼-½ teaspoon sea salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Chop the chicken into small, bite-sized cubes with a sharp knife. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
2. Run a sharp knife edge around the center of the avocado lengthwise. Twist the halves in opposite directions and open the avocado. Remove the seed by lodging the sharp edge of the knife into the seed, then twist to remove. If this makes you nervous, hold the avocado half with the seed in a kitchen towel for safety. With a small knife, slice a grid into the avocado flesh, then scoop the diced avocado into a medium bowl. Immediately add the lime juice and mix gently to prevent browning.
3. Chop the celery (if using), shallot, cilantro, and garlic. Add these to the bowl with the avocado and lime juice and mix gently. Then, add the cubed chicken and mayonnaise. Mix all ingredients gently until well combined. Season with sea salt and ground black pepper to taste. Serve immediately and enjoy! If you have an extra lime, you can serve wedges for an optional squeeze over the top.

Notes

• For added crunch and healthy fats, consider adding about ¼ cup of chopped walnuts to the salad.
• The celery is optional; feel free to omit it if you prefer a different texture or flavor.
• If you’re not a fan of cilantro, fresh flat-leaf Italian parsley is an excellent substitute, offering a clean, herbaceous note.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

• Calories: 415 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 8g
• Protein: 45g
• Fat: 21g
• Saturated Fat: 4g
• Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g
• Monounsaturated Fat: 7g
• Cholesterol: 120mg
• Sodium: 336mg
• Potassium: 652mg
• Fiber: 4g
• Sugar: 1g
• Vitamin A: 124IU
• Vitamin C: 11mg
• Calcium: 38mg
• Iron: 2mg