I love a good chicken salad, but sometimes the heavy mayo situation just isn’t what I’m craving. I wanted something lighter, brighter, and packed with goodness – especially for quick lunches or easy dinners. That’s when I leaned into the magic of avocados! This Creamy Lime Chicken and Avocado Salad uses ripe avocado to create that wonderful creamy texture naturally, gets a zip from fresh lime, and comes together in minutes.
Seriously, if you have some leftover cooked chicken (hello, rotisserie chicken!), you’re basically 10 minutes away from this incredibly delicious and satisfying salad. It’s fresh, it’s fast, and it feels fantastic to eat.
Why You’ll Be Obsessed Too
- Naturally Creamy, No Mayo: Ripe avocado provides a rich, satisfying creaminess without a drop of mayonnaise or sour cream. It’s genius!
- Zesty & Bright Flavors: Fresh lime juice, cilantro, and a hint of cumin make this salad taste incredibly fresh and vibrant.
- Lightning Fast: Uses pre-cooked chicken, so assembly takes about 12 minutes flat. Perfect for busy schedules!
Healthy Bites: Nutrition Notes & Tips
This salad isn’t just delicious, it’s packed with nutritional benefits, making it a fantastic choice for healthy eating goals:
- Super Low-Carb: Thanks to the avocado base and the absence of fillers like grapes or sugary binders, this salad is incredibly low in net carbohydrates. This makes it fantastic for maintaining stable blood sugar levels and ideal for keto or low-carb lifestyles.
- Healthy Fats Powerhouse: It’s rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats from both the avocado and extra-virgin olive oil, keeping you satisfied and fueled.
- Lean Protein Packed: Using chicken breast provides high-quality lean protein to support muscle health and keep you feeling full longer.
- Naturally Low Sugar: With virtually no sugar (only trace amounts naturally occurring in the veggies and lime), you can enjoy this without worrying about hidden sweeteners.
- Sodium Control: Since you season it yourself, you have complete control over the sodium content. Start with just a little salt and adjust to your taste.
What Goes In The Bowl
Here’s your simple ingredient list:
- Main Salad Components:
- 1 large cooked chicken breast, shredded or chopped (about 1.5 cups): Rotisserie chicken is my ultimate shortcut here! Leftover grilled or baked chicken works great too.
- 1 large ripe avocado, pitted and diced: Make sure it’s ripe but still slightly firm, so it doesn’t turn to complete mush.
- 3 tablespoons red onion, finely minced: Adds a little sharp bite and color. Mince it really fine!
- 1.5 tablespoons fresh cilantro, minced: If you’re not a cilantro fan, fresh parsley or dill are nice alternatives.
- Dressing Components:
- 1.5 tablespoons fresh lime juice: Freshly squeezed is key for the best bright flavor! Lemon juice works in a pinch.
- 1.5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil: Use a good quality one for taste.
- Seasonings:
- ¼ teaspoon ground cumin: Adds a subtle warmth that pairs beautifully with lime and avocado.
- Salt, to taste: Add according to your preference.
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste: Always better fresh!
Putting It All Together (It’s SO Easy!)
- Prep Your Players: Make sure your chicken is shredded or chopped into bite-sized pieces you like. Gently dice up that beautiful avocado. Finely mince the red onion and chop the cilantro. Squeeze your lime juice. Easy peasy!
- Combine the Stars: In a medium-sized bowl, add the prepared chicken, diced avocado, minced red onion, and chopped cilantro.
- Dress it Up: Drizzle the fresh lime juice and extra-virgin olive oil over all the goodies in the bowl. Sprinkle on the ground cumin, a pinch of salt, and some freshly ground black pepper. Start light with the salt – you can always add more!
- Mix with Care: Grab a rubber spatula or a big spoon. Gently fold and toss everything together. You want to get it all nicely coated, but be gentle! The goal is to keep those lovely avocado chunks intact, not mash them into guacamole (though that’s delicious too, just not the goal here!).
- Ready to Eat! Serve your gorgeous Creamy Lime Chicken and Avocado Salad right away for the absolute best flavor, texture, and vibrant green color.
Pro Tips for Success
- Keep it Green: To help keep the avocado vibrant longer (especially if prepping slightly ahead), you can toss the diced avocado with the lime juice first before adding it to the other ingredients.
- Add-In Ideas: Want to mix it up? Finely minced jalapeño adds a nice kick. Diced cucumber or celery adds extra crunch. A little crumbled bacon? Why not!
- Best Fresh: Avocado tends to brown, so this salad is truly best enjoyed soon after making it.
- Storage Smarts: If you must store leftovers, press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the salad before sealing the container and refrigerate. Try to eat within 24 hours. The color might change slightly, but it will still taste good.
Ways to Enjoy Your Salad
This versatile salad is fantastic served in so many ways, especially if you’re keeping things low-carb:
- Lettuce Wraps: Spoon into crisp butter lettuce, romaine, or iceberg cups.
- Veggie Scoops: Serve with celery sticks, cucumber slices, or bell pepper strips for dipping.
- Avocado Boats: Stuff back into the avocado halves (if you carefully scooped them out).
- On Greens: Pile it high on a bed of spinach or mixed greens.
- Simply Solo: Eat it straight from the bowl with a fork – it’s that good!
It’s perfect for a quick and healthy lunch, a light supper, packing for picnics, or even bringing to a potluck (just maybe assemble it right before serving if possible).
Creamy Lime Chicken and Avocado Salad
A refreshing and healthy chicken salad made naturally creamy with avocado and brightened with lime juice. This mayo-free salad is quick to assemble and perfect for a light, low-carb meal.
Ingredients
Main Salad Components:
- 1 large cooked chicken breast shredded or chopped (about 1.5 cups)
- 1 large ripe avocado pitted and diced
- 3 tablespoons red onion finely minced
- 1.5 tablespoons fresh cilantro minced
Dressing Components:
- 1.5 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1.5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Seasonings:
- ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
- Salt to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Ensure your cooked chicken is shredded or cut into bite-sized pieces. Gently dice the ripe avocado. Finely mince the red onion and fresh cilantro. Have your lime juice, olive oil, and seasonings ready.
- Combine Salad Base: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the prepared chicken, diced avocado, minced red onion, and minced cilantro.
- Dress and Season: Pour the fresh lime juice and extra-virgin olive oil over the ingredients in the bowl. Sprinkle with the ground cumin, salt, and freshly ground black pepper according to your preference.
- Mix Gently: Using a rubber spatula or large spoon, carefully fold and toss the salad ingredients. Mix just until everything is evenly coated with the dressing and seasonings. Be gentle during mixing to avoid mashing the avocado chunks excessively; you want to maintain some texture.
- Serve: Serve the Creamy Lime Chicken and Avocado Salad immediately for the best texture and color. Excellent served in lettuce cups, with vegetable sticks, or on its own.
Notes
Yields: 4 servings
Nutrition Information (Per Serving - Approximate):
(Based on 4 servings. Assumes chicken cooked without significant added salt and minimal salt added to taste. Does not include optional serving items.)
- Calories: 205 kcal
- Protein: 18.5 g
- Total Fat: 12.8 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.1 g
- Total Carbohydrates: 4.6 g
- Dietary Fiber: 2.8 g
- Total Sugars: 0.7 g
- Net Carbs (est.): 1.8 g
- Cholesterol: 48 mg
- Sodium: 189 mg (varies significantly based on added salt)
Go Make This Refreshing Salad!
Seriously, ditch the mayo routine just once and try this fresh, creamy, zesty alternative. It’s become such a staple for me, and I have a feeling you’ll love its speed and flavor just as much. Let me know if you try it!
