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.
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!!
Loaded with all things Mexican
I call this Avocado Chicken Salad a Mexican Salad because it’s loaded with all things Mexican:
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Mexican marinated grilled chicken;
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Avocado Tomato Corn Salsa; and
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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!
Triple duty dressing and marinade
This Avocado Chicken Salad recipe uses a neat trick where the lime coriander/cilantro dressing does triple duty as:
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the dressing for the salad;
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dressing for the salsa; and
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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!
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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Mexican Avocado Chicken Salad
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:
First published May 2017, post refreshed May 2018 - no changes to recipe.
Nutrition Information:
MORE CHICKEN SALADS YOU’LL LOVE
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More giant Salads for Meals
Life of Dozer
When Dozer gets booted out of the house….. (and the reason the window isn’t closed is because he’d beat the glass with this heavy paws)
Second time I made this recipe. I made a little extra dressing and it was barely enough for 2 people. Served with broccoli, red mizuna mustard, & cilantro microgreens, and added micro-scallion and extra cilantro to the dressing.
This was simple absolute goodness with a crispy tequila on a Saturday night.
Fantastic recipe. Simple, foolproof and tasty. Thanks for sharing.
It’s another winner Nagi which will go on my regular rotation. The lime dressing really made this something special. I served with some baked corn chips for some added crunch.
I am so glad you enjoyed it Bec! N x
Loved this! Although I have to confess that I didn’t make it exactly as you did. I had leftover chicken that I used so I sprinkled the cumin over the entire salad. I also added black beans and half of a baked sweet potato that I had left over. I was also out of chipotle so no chipotle. It turned out great anyway. I look forward to making it again with the chipotle.
Love love love! The marinade/dressing is one of the best. I doubled up…it’s that good!
Amazing! So easy to make, healthy but delicious! Perfect for a summer night dinner!
Wow what a lovely salad. Started my diet off today so this was perfect added a can of black beans to pad it out.
Just love your recipes keep up the fantastic cooking ideas.
Made this tonight for dinner and it was so delicious!! Even all the kids ate it (9yrs, 7yrs and 18 months). Have shared it around already and will definitely be making it again!!!!!
This salad was delicious. I’ve made it twice in a week. I thought the spice might be too much initially but when you combine it with the dressing and the other ingredients, it was perfect!
Oh my days, Nagi, this was tea tonight. I’m here after setting my knife and fork down. It was out of this world. Thank you for another amazing recipe 🙂
PS – my husband enjoyed it so much he washed the dishes 😉
I’m so glad you both loved it Michelle, that’s great to hear!! N x
I actually mixed 1/4 cup Avocado oil with the cumin, chipotle mix, and some grated lime rind. Coated the chicken both sides and marinated for 6hrs.
Did the rest as suggested. Tops!
I’m allergic too. So leeks are a perfect replacement for onions
Absolutely loved this recipe!! I added some tortilla strips, shredded Mexican cheese mix and a squirt of Mexican cream. It is filling and satisfying.
Thanks s much for letting me know Madeline! N x
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.
Try this one Faustina!! https://www.recipetineats.com/chicken-salad-with-avocado-dressing/ N x
Nagi, thank you so much for the avocado dressing recipe. It was absolutely delicious and will be used regularly in our household.
Can’t find chipotle powder? Take a dried chipotle and run it through a coffee grinder.
LOVE that idea N x
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!
Hi Sherrise, just leave the tomatoes out – and sub the onions with shallots/scallions if you can 🙂
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!
I’m so glad you loved it Rachel!
The best salad. Summer or winter. Make extra dressing! It’s yummy.
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.
I’m so glad you love it Wynne!!