Avocado Ranch Chicken Salad (Printable View)

Tender chicken breast with creamy avocado ranch dressing, fresh vegetables, and herbs. Gluten-free, easy to prepare, and perfect for any meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.1 lbs)
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Avocado Ranch Dressing

05 - 1 ripe avocado, peeled and pitted
06 - 1/2 cup Greek yogurt or sour cream
07 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
08 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
09 - 2 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped
10 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
11 - 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped or 1 teaspoon dried dill
12 - 1 garlic clove, minced
13 - 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
14 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
15 - 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
16 - 2 to 3 tablespoons water for thinning

→ Salad

17 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
18 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
19 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
20 - 1/2 cup celery, diced
21 - 4 cups mixed salad greens or romaine, chopped

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Rub chicken breasts with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
02 - Cook chicken for 6 to 7 minutes per side, or until cooked through and juices run clear. Let rest 5 minutes, then cut into 1-inch chunks.
03 - While chicken cooks, combine avocado, Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, lime juice, chives, parsley, dill, garlic, onion powder, salt, and black pepper in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth, adding water as needed to reach desired consistency.
04 - In a large bowl, combine salad greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and celery.
05 - Add warm or cooled chicken chunks and pour the avocado ranch dressing over the salad. Toss gently to coat.
06 - Plate immediately and garnish with extra fresh herbs if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The avocado makes the dressing creamy without feeling heavy, and the lime juice keeps it tasting fresh instead of rich.
  • It comes together in less than half an hour, and you can make extra dressing to use on tacos or grain bowls all week.
02 -
  • Don't skip resting the chicken, cutting it too soon releases all the moisture and leaves it dry.
  • If your avocado is too firm, the dressing will be lumpy no matter how long you blend it, wait a day or mash it by hand first.
03 -
  • Blend the dressing right before you use it so the avocado stays bright green, it oxidizes quickly once exposed to air.
  • If the dressing tastes flat, add a pinch more salt or another squeeze of lime, acidity and seasoning are what make it pop.
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