Avocado Ranch Chicken Salad (Printable)

Tender chicken tossed with creamy avocado ranch dressing, fresh vegetables, and crisp greens for a light and satisfying 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 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 Steps:

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. Allow to 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 achieve 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 avocado ranch dressing over the salad. Toss gently to coat evenly.
06 - Serve immediately, garnished with extra fresh herbs if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The avocado ranch is so creamy you won't believe it's mostly yogurt and fresh herbs.
  • It comes together in half an hour, which means you can make it on a weeknight without feeling like you're working too hard.
  • Every bite has texture: tender chicken, crisp veggies, and that silky dressing tying it all together.
  • It's satisfying enough to be dinner but light enough that you won't feel weighed down afterward.
02 -
  • Let the chicken rest after cooking or all the juices will run out onto your cutting board instead of staying in the meat.
  • If your avocado isn't ripe enough, the dressing will be lumpy and won't blend smoothly no matter how long you run the blender.
  • Add water to the dressing a tablespoon at a time because it's easier to thin it out than to fix it if it gets too runny.
03 -
  • If you blend the dressing and it tastes a little flat, add an extra pinch of salt and another squeeze of lime to wake it up.
  • Don't skip letting the chicken rest, it makes the difference between juicy chunks and dry ones.
  • Taste the dressing before you pour it over the salad so you can adjust the seasoning while it's still in the blender.
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