Avocado Ranch Chicken Salad (Printable View)

Grilled chicken breast with creamy avocado ranch dressing, fresh vegetables, and mixed greens for a satisfying lunch or light dinner.

# 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 as needed

→ 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 generously with olive oil, salt, and pepper on both sides.
02 - Cook chicken for 6 to 7 minutes per side until cooked through and juices run clear. Allow to rest for 5 minutes before cutting 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 and creamy, adding water gradually to achieve desired consistency.
04 - In a large mixing bowl, combine salad greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and celery. Toss gently to distribute vegetables evenly.
05 - Add cooked chicken chunks to the salad base. Pour avocado ranch dressing over the entire salad and toss gently until all components are well coated.
06 - Transfer to serving plates immediately while chicken is still warm. Garnish with additional fresh herbs if desired and serve at once.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The avocado ranch is so creamy and fresh, you will never want store bought dressing again.
  • It comes together in under half an hour, which makes it perfect for busy weeknights.
  • You can prep the chicken and dressing ahead, then assemble everything in minutes when hunger hits.
  • It feels indulgent but keeps you full without that heavy, sluggish feeling.
02 -
  • Let the chicken rest after cooking or all the juices run out when you cut it, leaving you with dry, flavorless chunks.
  • Add the dressing right before serving or the greens wilt and the salad turns soggy and limp.
  • Taste the dressing before tossing and adjust the lime, salt, or herbs because avocados vary in flavor and richness.
03 -
  • Use a meat thermometer to check that the chicken reaches 165 degrees F so you never have to guess if it is done.
  • Blend the dressing longer than you think you need to, a full minute ensures it is silky smooth with no avocado chunks.
  • If your avocado is not quite ripe, let it sit in a paper bag with a banana overnight to speed things up.
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