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Mexican Avocado Chicken Salad

By:Nagi
111 Comments
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This filling Mexican Avocado Chicken Salad has all the essentials of a really great salad – it’s jam packed with fresh, vibrant flavours, big, creamy chunks of avocado and irresistible Mexican grilled chicken. 

It’s like a giant salad version of Mexican Avocado Salsa – with the addition of chicken to complete the meal! To fill it out even more, try it with a side of Easy No Yeast Flatbreads, a southwest Cowboy Rice Salad or try some of these amazing easy No Knead Bread Rolls.

Overhead photo of Mexican Avocado Chicken Salad in a bowl, ready to be served

Avocado Chicken Salad – with Mexican flavours!

I’ve had a Giant Salad* almost everyday for the past month or so. Hopefully it’s more than just a phase and it becomes just a natural part of my lifestyle – that I crave a salad instead of pasta. Or cupcakes piled high with the fluffiest ever buttercream frosting. Or fall apart lamb shanks. Or cheese or potatoes in any shape or form.

OK. So that vision I painted of a holier-than-thou, new clean eating me is completely unrealistic.  You know it, my mother knows it, and everyone who knows me knows it!

Having said that, this is Avocado Chicken Salad is something that even non-salad-craving people like myself will love because it’s big, filling, interesting and packed full of flavour.

* The official definition of Giant Salad: flavour packed salads that are satisfying enough to have as a meal. No wimpy salads in my world!!

Close up of chicken for Mexican Chicken Salad

Loaded with all things Mexican

I call this Avocado Chicken Salad a Mexican Salad because it’s loaded with all things Mexican:

  • Mexican marinated grilled chicken;
  • Avocado Tomato Corn Salsa; and
  • Fresh lime coriander/cilantro dressing

All piled up over crisp lettuce leaves.

So just to be clear, it’s not a traditional Mexican salad. It’s a big, fat, satisfying salad that’s packed with fresh Mexican flavours!

Salsa for Mexican Avocado Chicken Salad in a white bowl

Triple duty dressing and marinade

This Avocado Chicken Salad recipe uses a neat trick where the lime coriander/cilantro dressing does triple duty as:

  • the dressing for the salad;
  • dressing for the salsa; and
  • marinade for the chicken.

This technique of a dressing doing double or triple duty is a highly effective technique I’ve been doing for as long as I can remember. I’m such a fan of it that it was the first theme I asked to do when I used to do regular features in Super Food Ideas magazine!

Jar with lime dressing for Mexican Avocado Chicken Salad

Mexican Chicken Salad in a white bowl, ready to be served

With all the things going on in this Avocado Chicken Salad, it’s a satisfying salad for dinner or lunch. Lots of nutrition, protein from the chicken, creaminess from the avocado, great textures, and a fresh dressing that’s anything but dull.

If you want to add some carbs, try this with a side of Easy Homemade Flatbreads, add some lime rice (use this Lemon Rice recipe, just switch the lemon with lime), Cowboy Rice Salad, or make some of these easy No Knead Soft Bread Rolls.

Pack this up for lunch simply by assembling the salad and keeping the dressing separate. Make all your co workers jealous! – Nagi xx

Watch how to make it

Mexican Avocado Chicken Salad recipe video!

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Loaded with all the good stuff! This Mexican Chicken and Avocado Salad is unbelievably good! www.recipetineats.com

Mexican Avocado Chicken Salad

Author: Nagi
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 8 mins
Total: 23 mins
Main Course
Mexican
4.94 from 31 votes
Servings3
Tap or hover to scale
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Recipe video above (see how I scoop out avocado!) A fully loaded salad, satisfying to have as a meal! Crunchy lettuce, creamy avocado corn and tomato salsa, marinated Mexican chicken drizzled with a lime dressing. Makes 2 meal size servings or 3 normal servings. Marinate 30 min.

Ingredients

Lime Dressing / Marinade:

  • 2 tbsp lime juice
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1/4 cup olive oil (65ml)
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • ½ tsp salt + black pepper

Chicken:

  • 2 small chicken breasts, 400g/14oz (pound or split if thicker than 2cm / 4/5”)
  • 1/2 tsp EACH chipotle powder (Note 1) and oregano
  • 1/4 tsp cumin powder
  • Salt & pepper
  • 1/2 tbsp olive oil

Avocado Salsa:

  • 1 avocado, chunky dice (watch video to see how I do this)
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • ¾ cup corn kernels (canned, drained)
  • ½ red onion, finely chopped

Salad:

  • 1/4 cup coriander / cilantro, finely chopped
  • 5 heaped cups cos / romaine lettuce, cut into bite size pieces

Instructions

  • Place Lime Dressing ingredients in a jar, shake well.
  • Put 2 tablespoons of Dressing in a ziplock bag. Add chipotle, oregano, cumin, salt and pepper, mix/squidge bag. Add chicken, seal and massage to coat. Marinate 30 min – overnight.
  • Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in skillet over medium low, cook chicken to taste (2cm / 4/5” takes around 8 minutes), getting a nice brown crust on it. Rest 5 min then slice.
  • Add 2 tablespoons of coriander into Dressing, shake.
  • Place avocado, corn, tomato and onion in a bowl. Add remaining coriander, drizzle with a bit of Dressing, toss gently.
  • Place lettuce in a bowl, drizzle with a bit of Dressing, toss.
  • Assemble Salad: Place lettuce on a serving platter. Top with Salsa and sliced chicken. Drizzle with remaining Dressing. Serve.

Recipe Notes:

1. Chipotle Powder is irritatingly difficult to find here in Australia!! It is a brilliant seasoning - it's like smoked paprika on steroids. More complex, more flavour, VERY Mexican (it's actually ground dried smoked jalapeños). I get mine from Firework Foods (online Mexican store), at some fruit & veg stores like Thomas Dux, sometimes from Harris Farms, stores that carry Herbies spices, and ethnic stores.
SUBSTITUTION: Australia and non US- 1/4 tsp smoked paprika, pinch each of chilli powder, coriander, cumin. US - 1/4 tsp smoked paprika, 1/4 tsp chili powder (i.e. what the US knows as chili powder which is not just pure ground chili).
2. Nutrition per serving, assuming 3 servings.

First published May 2017, post refreshed May 2018 - no changes to recipe.

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 390gCalories: 487kcal (24%)
Keywords: Avocado Chicken Salad, Mexican Salad
Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @RecipeTinEats.

MORE CHICKEN SALADS YOU’LL LOVE

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Dozer the golden retriever booted out of the house

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I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative!

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111 Comments

  2. Faustina says

    I make your Mexican Chicken and Avocado Salad all of the time and so do friends of ours. It’s absolutely delicious and refreshing. Thank you. I would love a recipe for creamy avocado dressing if you have one.

    Reply

  4. Sherrise says

    5 stars
    This looks amazing! But I’m allergic to tomatoes and my dad’s allergic to onion, does anyone have suggestions of how I can make this salad taste great without those two ingredients!

    Reply

  5. Rachel says

    5 stars
    After heavily indulging over Christmas, my partner and I were in desperate need of more salad meals. Your recipes are fool-proof, and this one was no exception. So delicious and the chicken was juicy – perfectly cooked as per your instructions. I did worry that the dressing had too much olive oil but once the once thing came together, it was perfect! Thank you Nagi, I can always trust your recipes!

    Reply

  7. Wynne Ann Vardy says

    Cannot tell you how many times we’ve made this and enjoyed it every time. Fail safe, delicious and you don’t feel guilty for eating it. Thanks for another great recipe.

    Reply

  8. Georgie says

    I’ve made this one several times and it’s a staple on my menu and on high rotation along with the Hawaiian chicken salad (also awesome) I could eat salad every night for dinner when it tastes this great

    Reply

  9. Michelle says

    5 stars
    This is one of the best salads I’ve ever had! I added black beans to it just to add a little extra extra 😉 but it is so refreshing and has a lot of great flavors

    Reply

  13. Kelly says

    5 stars
    I have made this recipe several times now and my entire family loves it.

    I am making it for dinner tonight as I write. The only difference tonight is, I made a creamy avocado dressing to top it.

    Reply

  14. Angie says

    Where can I find the pan you used to cook the Mexican avocado chicken salad in , because I would love to get one for myself ? The salad looks so good that I just can’t wait to try it. And thanks again for sharing the pictures of Dozer.

    Reply

  15. Judith Skehan says

    This salad looks delicious! I will be making it very soon, like tonight! All your recipes are awesome! Thank you for sharing. I love seeing pictures of Dozer. I have a golden retriever, named Harvey! A great companion!

    Reply
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