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Home » Recipes » Salads

Avocado Chicken Salad

Published: Dec 1, 2021 · Modified: Mar 12, 2024 by Sarah Baumeister · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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All of the flavors of guacamole are present to make up this delicious Avocado Chicken Salad! Creamy avocado is a great substitute for mayo, which is the base in most chicken salads. The crunchy jalapeno and onion add great texture and flavor. Make sure you add enough lime juice-- it totally brings this dish to life!

avocado chicken salad on a blue plate with a jalapeno on top
Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • How to make Chicken Salad with Avocado
  • How to serve
  • Variations
  • Storage
  • more recipes using avocados
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Avocado Chicken Salad

The origin of this guacamole-inspired avocado chicken salad came from a need for a recipe that uses a lot of avocados. Doesn't it seem that either avocados are hard as rock or they are mush, there's no in between. Not ripe, not ripe, not ripe, and… you missed your window! Well if you have a ton of avocados to use at once, this will be a recipe you will want to try out.

I love making different types of chicken salads, as they are generally low carb, HIGH protein and full of flavor. In my opinion, some of the best recipes for chicken salad are this lemon tarragon chicken salad and pesto chicken salad. I love to serve these as is, on croissants, or in wraps!

Ingredients

ingredients for the chicken salad on a white background
  • Chicken: Grilled chicken breast or rotisserie chicken work great.
  • Ripe avocados: Make sure your avocados are super ripe, as they will be creating a "sauce" to coat the chicken chunks.
  • Jalapeno: Click here to learn all about jalapenos and how to pick a good one.
  • Cilantro: In my opinion, this ingredient is essential as the flavor really amps up the chicken salad.
  • Garlic cloves: Fresh garlic is best, as the flavor is more bitey. If you would like, you can substitute in a half of a teaspoon of garlic powder.
  • Red onion: Onion adds flavor and crunch. You can sub in yellow, white, or a shallot.
  • Lime: Lime adds freshness and helps to preserve the color and texture of the avocados. Lemon juice will work in a pinch.

How to make Chicken Salad with Avocado

In a large mixing bowl, add in diced chicken, avocado, jalapeno, cilantro, garlic, red onion and lime.

hand scooping avocado out of skin and into a bowl of chicken
two avocado halves in a bowl of diced chicken with other ingredients scattered around


Stir to combine and coat all of the chicken with avocado.

The avocado will break down a bit to cover the rest of the chicken salad ingredients, but will still retain avocado chunks as well. If you want a smoother chicken salad, combine the guacamole ingredients first and then add in the chicken.

diced ingredients added to bowl of chicken
mixed avocado chicken salad with a black spoon coming out of the bowl


Add salt and pepper to taste.

How to serve

Southwest avocado salad with chicken can be serve a bunch of ways. Eat it on its on, on toast, a tortilla, bib lettuce, or a croissant.

You can also top the salad with shredded pepper jack cheese for extra protein.

Variations

This avocado chicken salad is pretty chunky. If you want the chicken to be coated in more of a "sauce," prep the guacamole part first and thin it out with extra lime or a little water until the avocado mixture resembles more of a thin sauce.

Some guacamole recipes call for diced tomatoes, feel free to add tomatoes into the salad or on top of the finished chicken salad.

Avocado and bacon are a match made in flavortown. Try adding a strip or two of crispy, crumbled bacon for a bit of a salty bite.

scoop of avocado chicken salad on a blue plate with a fork placed to the side

Storage

Because this chicken salad is made with loads of fresh avocado, the shelf life is short. The lime juice will help a bit with preservation, but avocados lose their color and texture quickly once cut. Store any leftovers in the fridge, and eat this avocado chicken salad within a day or two for best taste and texture.

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Recipe FAQs

Can you freeze chicken salad?

Yes, you can freeze chicken salad, but it's important to keep in mind that freezing may affect the texture and quality of the salad. Thaw in the fridge and stir well to mix together anything that may have separated.

Are avocados low carb?


Avocados are relatively low in carbohydrates compared to many other fruits. While they do contain carbohydrates, the majority of their carbohydrate content comes from dietary fiber. Avocados are considered a good source of healthy fats and are often included in low-carb and keto diets. One medium avocado contains about 12 carbs.

Did you enjoy this Avocado Chicken Salad? I would love for you to let me know by leaving a comment and star rating. I can't wait to hear from you!

avocado chicken salad on a blue plate with a slice of jalapeno on top

Avocado Chicken Salad

Sarah Baumeister
Avocado chicken salad is made without mayonnaise and with all of the flavors of guacamole!
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 10 minutes mins
Course chicken
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 4 servings
Calories 281 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cooked chicken breasts diced (Grilled chicken breast or rotisserie chicken work great)
  • 2 ripe avocados peeled and diced
  • 1 jalapeno finely diced
  • 1 handful of cilantro roughly chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • ½ cup red onion diced small
  • 1 lime juiced
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper

Instructions
 

  • In a large mixing bowl, add in diced chicken, avocado, jalapeno, cilantro, garlic, red onion and lime.
  • Stir to combine and coat all of the chicken with avocado.
  • The avocado will break down a bit to cover the rest of the chicken salad ingredients, but will still retain avocado chunks as well. If you want a smoother chicken salad, combine the guacamole ingredients first and then add in the chicken.
  • Add salt and pepper to taste.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 281kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 21gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 51mgSodium: 588mgFiber: 8gSugar: 2g
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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Hi, I'm Sarah!

I am a wife, mother, and believer. I have been cooking since I can remember and love sharing recipes with all of you. You will find a variety of recipes here from healthy family dinners, to ways to prepare venison, to soups, to baked goods, anything and everything delicious.

About Sarah

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