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Home » chicken » Avocado Chicken Salad

Avocado Chicken Salad

Published: Aug 15, 2016 · Modified: Jul 22, 2019 by Louisa Clements · This post may contain affiliate links

This post may contain affiliate links

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Avocado chicken salad skips the heavy dressing with a simple yogurt and avocado dressing with fresh basil and lemon. 

Avocado chicken salad uses avocado instead of mayonnaise for a lighter chicken salad with tons of fresh basil. | livinglou.com

If you know me, you know that my food philosophy is around balance and cooking unabashedly delicious food based on simple, fresh and flavourful ingredients. This creamy, avocado chicken salad is exactly the kind of recipe that I love. 

This avocado chicken salad is not your traditional, mayonnaise-loaded chicken salad, but it’s still creamy and satisfying because it’s made with avocado and yogurt. In this recipe, the avocado and yogurt take the place of mayonnaise. The yogurt adds a nice tang that balances out the richness of the avocado.

The other reason I love this recipe is that it includes one of my all-time favourite flavour combinations; avocado and basil.

Avocado chicken salad uses avocado instead of mayonnaise for a lighter chicken salad with tons of fresh basil. | livinglou.com

Have you tried avocado and basil together before? You’ve probably had avocado and cilantro together in guacamole, but basil and avocado is another combination of flavours that just works and totally screams summer. The first time I had these two together was in a sandwich with an avocado basil spread and I couldn’t get enough of it!

For this recipe, I poach chicken then shred it, but you could easily use store bought rotisserie chicken here as well, whichever is easier for you.

Along with avocado, basil and yogurt, I also add some green onions in here for a tiny bit of a mild kick.

Avocado chicken salad uses avocado instead of mayonnaise for a lighter chicken salad with tons of fresh basil. | livinglou.com

I love green onions and add them to pretty much all of my recipes. I love how mild they are, with a hint of onion flavour and I also love that you don’t end up with ¾ or ½ an onion sitting in your fridge. I’m not the kind of person to use half of this and a quarter of that, it just gets a little annoying to have bits and bobs of ingredients floating around the fridge.

If you love chicken salad and are looking for something a little on the lighter side, or if you just love avocados, or maybe you’re super into basil right now (it is August after all), then you have to give my avocado chicken salad a try. It’s insanely simple but elevates and updates the somewhat dated chicken salad.

Louisa Clements

Yields 2 ½ cups

Avocado Chicken Salad

Avocado chicken salad made with yogurt, avocados and fresh basil.

10 minPrep Time

21 minCook Time

31 minTotal Time

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Ingredients

  • 2 chicken breasts or about 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
  • ¾ tsp salt, divided
  • 2 avocados
  • ¼ cup plain yogurt
  • ¼ cup thinly sliced basil
  • 2 green onions, thinly sliced
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice

Instructions

  1. In a medium pot, bring water and ½ tsp salt to a boil. Add chicken, cover and cook for 3 minutes, remove from heat and let sit covered for 18 minutes. Discard water and shred chicken.
  2. In a large bowl, mash avocado with yogurt. Sitr in basil, green onions, olive oil and lemon juice. Add chicken and mix until combined.

Tags

Allergy
gluten free
egg free
soy free
wheat free
seafood free
treenut free
sesame free
mustard free

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
    Amount Per Serving
  • Calories 1447
  • % Daily Value*

  • Total Fat: 113 g 173.85%
  • Saturated Fat: 20 g 100%
  • Cholesterol: 187 mg 62.33%
  • Sodium: 2006 mg 83.58%
  • Potassium: 3046 mg 87.03%
  • Total Carbohydrate: 48 g %
  • Sugar: 6 g
  • Protein: 75 g
  • Vitamin A: 24.14%
  • Calcium: 534 mg 53.4%
  • Iron: 19 mg 105.56%
  • * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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https://www.livinglou.com/avocado-chicken-salad/

Let me know if you give this avocado chicken salad a try in the comments below.

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Comments

  1. Maddie

    April 18, 2017 at 2:02 pm

    This totally upped my lunch game. I'm lactose intolerant and used plain coconut yogurt which provided the same creaminess but did not taste coconut-y with the basil, lemon, avocado cancelling it out!
    Reply
    • Lou

      April 20, 2017 at 5:44 pm

      So glad to hear that, Maddie! I'm thrilled that you love it and that the coconut yogurt works well here. Enjoy! :)
      Reply
  2. Hayley

    April 10, 2017 at 9:29 am

    Does Greek yogurt work okay with this recipe?
    Reply
    • Lou

      April 14, 2017 at 10:46 am

      Hi Hayley, yes Greek yogurt will work!
      Reply
  3. Martha

    October 02, 2016 at 4:33 pm

    I've tried incorporating avocado into chicken salad previously (I just really hate mayo). But I never thought of adding the basil. Louisa, you are a genius! Thanks for the continuous inspiration and delicious recipes!
    Reply
    • Lou

      October 06, 2016 at 6:36 am

      Thank you, Martha! Basil and avocado is such a delicious combination. :)
      Reply
  4. Shirley

    August 22, 2016 at 10:25 am

    Oh my goodness; another healthy, yummy, easy to prepare recipe from Living Lou! Love your blog & your photo, as always!
    Reply
    • Lou

      September 05, 2016 at 4:52 pm

      Thank you! :)
      Reply
  5. Kelly

    August 16, 2016 at 10:17 pm

    Thanks for a quick and easy recipe! Of course I made substitutions with what I had using sour cream and red onion instead. We loved it! Put in a wrap with baby spinach.
    Reply
    • Lou

      August 17, 2016 at 7:57 pm

      Thanks, Kelly! That's what cooking is all about, I love that you made this recipe your own. :)
      Reply
  6. Mari Clements

    August 16, 2016 at 8:26 am

    Awesome !!! Very light tasting and filling!
    Reply

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Hi, I'm Louisa Clements & welcome to Living Lou. I've been creating simple, fresh & flavorful recipes for the modern kitchen for 12 years.
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