Avocado Herb Chicken Salad (Printer-friendly)

Protein-rich chicken and creamy avocado blend with fresh herbs in crisp lettuce cups.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded (about 2 medium breasts)

→ Vegetables & Herbs

02 - 1 large ripe avocado, diced
03 - 1/2 cup celery, finely chopped
04 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
05 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
06 - 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped

→ Dressing

07 - 3 tablespoons Greek yogurt or mayonnaise for dairy-free option
08 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
09 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
10 - 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
11 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Assembly

12 - 8 large butter lettuce leaves or romaine hearts
13 - Optional: cherry tomatoes, halved, for garnish

# Directions:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked chicken, diced avocado, celery, red onion, parsley, and dill.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
03 - Pour the dressing over the chicken mixture and gently toss to coat all ingredients evenly.
04 - Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
05 - Spoon the chicken salad evenly into the lettuce leaves to form cups.
06 - Garnish with cherry tomato halves if desired and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in 20 minutes flat, which means weeknight lunches stop feeling like a chore.
  • The avocado keeps things creamy without any heavy mayo overload, so you actually feel energized after eating.
  • Lettuce cups feel fancy enough for guests but casual enough to eat at your desk without guilt.
02 -
  • Don't cut your avocado until you're ready to use it—I once prepped ahead and ended up with brown, sad avocado that nobody wanted.
  • The lettuce cups will soften if they sit too long with dressing, so serve right away or assemble them individually at the table.
03 -
  • If you're meal prepping, keep the chicken and dressing separate from the lettuce and avocado until you're ready to eat—everything stays better that way.
  • Room-temperature chicken tastes better than cold chicken in situations like this, so pull it out of the fridge 10 minutes before assembling.
Return