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Home » Recipes

Chicken and Avocado Salad with black beans and smokey buttermilk dressing

Published: Aug 7, 2016 · Modified: Jan 5, 2023 by Emma · This post may contain affiliate links · 23 Comments

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This simple Chicken and Avocado salad is both healthy and filling. Why not take it on your next picnic? Get the recipe below.

Simple salads

Simple salads are the key to my heart. When I'm making my lunch or dinner I want something quick and easy but which I know is going to be part of a healthy, balanced diet. That's where this Chicken and Avocado Salad, complete with black beans and a buttermilk dressing comes in.

I guess you could say this salad has a bit of a Tex-Mex feel but it is much much lighter than any Tex-Mex food I've ever eaten. The salad leaves are fresh and crisp, the tomatoes are juicy, the avocado is creamy, the dressing brings the right amount of sharpness, the chicken is tender and black beans provide the roughage to make sure you're full without feeling heavy.

It's loaded full of protein, fibre, fats and nutrients for a well rounded meal. It's also easy to make! What's not to love?

Chicken and Avocado Salad with protein rich black beans and a smokey buttermilk dressing. Healthy eating doesn't get better than this. Find the recipe at Supper in the Suburbs

How to make my Chicken and Avocado Salad

To make this salad I griddle my chicken ahead of time with a little olive oil and plenty of herbs and spices but you could buy precooked chicken breasts. Often these are also marinated or flavoured with herbs so you won't lose out on taste.

In terms of veggies, avocado is a key component but I've also added shredded lettuce and ripe, juicy red tomatoes which I cut into quarters.

Black beans are included for fibre and extra protein. They also make sure you feel fuller for longer.

To really pimp out this salad I've also added a smokey buttermilk dressing. You can, of course, pick up a bottle from your local supermarket. That's perfectly fine by me, we are all busy people. But if you're making this at the weekend or perhaps serving it up to guests then you're probably going to want to go the whole hog and add your own homemade dressing. Don't worry, it's included in the recipe below.

Serving suggestions

We have been known to serve this up with either toasted wholewheat tortilla strips or even a big old hand of corn tortilla chips! The extra added crunch is satisfying but optional.

Chicken and Avocado Salad with protein rich black beans and a smokey buttermilk dressing. Healthy eating doesn't get better than this. Find the recipe at Supper in the Suburbs

The recipe

Chicken and Avocado Salad

This Chicken and Avocado Salad makes a delicious and filling lunch or dinner.
No ratings yet
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Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 20 minutes mins
Course Dinner, lunch, Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 1 person
Calories 917.7 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 chicken breast with skin on
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon oregano dried
  • 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
  • 1 head lettuce gem or romaine work well
  • 1 large vine ripened tomato
  • 2 spring onions
  • 0.5 avocado
  • 125 grams black beans tinned, drained weight
  • 100 ml buttermilk
  • 0.5 lemon juice only
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 clove garlic crushed

Instructions
 

  • Begin by rubbing the chicken breast with the olive oil, dried oregano and Cajun seasoning.
  • Turn a griddle pan on high and cook the chicken for 5 minutes on either side until charred on the outside and cooked through the centre.
  • Place to one side and allow to cool completely.
  • To assemble the salad, slice the lettuce into strips.
  • Dice the tomatoes, slice the spring onions and cube the flesh of the avocado.
  • Add these to the lettuce along with the drained black beans.
  • Once completely cool, slice the chicken and place on top of the salad.
  • Finally, mix together the buttermilk, lemon juice, paprika and garlic.
  • Drizzle over the salad and enjoy.

Nutrition

Calories: 917.7kcalCarbohydrates: 76.72gProtein: 72.46gFat: 40.27gSaturated Fat: 7.67gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 155.64mgSodium: 446.22mgPotassium: 3327.84mgFiber: 30.1gSugar: 23.39gVitamin A: 6033.73IUVitamin C: 93.21mgCalcium: 361.09mgIron: 8.74mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sinead says

    April 30, 2011 at 2:32 pm

    Ooooo this looks really nice! I may be stealing this for exam time lunches. =D

    Reply
  2. Emmyw says

    April 30, 2011 at 2:45 pm

    Sounds good to me!!! It should keep you going 😛 (I'll have to put some brain power fishy recipes on here next!)My exams are 3 hours long EUGH! So there's a fine line between not eating enough and being STARVING at the end, and eating too much and wanting to sleep haha!Good luck with your exams!

    Reply
  3. Claire @foodiequine says

    August 07, 2016 at 7:29 pm

    I forgot about your previous name! Fab salad. Chicken and Avocado is the perfect combo.

    Reply
    • Emma Walton says

      August 07, 2016 at 8:12 pm

      It's such a cringe name I try to avoid mentioning it usually hahaha bit I've been having fun reminiscing and looking back at the old posts from that time 🙂 glad you like the combo!

      Reply
  4. Heidi Roberts says

    August 07, 2016 at 10:07 pm

    That sure is one very healthy and summery salad!

    Reply
    • Emma Walton says

      August 08, 2016 at 6:02 am

      Thanks Heidi 🙂 but best of all its seriously TASTY!

      Reply
  5. janie says

    August 08, 2016 at 10:45 am

    Emma, that looks truly superb. I am now craving chicken salad!!!
    Janie x

    Reply
    • Emma Walton says

      August 08, 2016 at 10:59 am

      Thanks Janie. Better get yourself down to the shops 😉

      Reply
  6. Kellie@foodtoglow says

    August 08, 2016 at 10:47 am

    Chicken, avo and black beans are just made for one another. And beautiful styling - love your textile!

    Reply
    • Emma Walton says

      August 08, 2016 at 11:42 am

      Thanks Kellie 😀 the napkin is from Anthropologie 😉

      Reply
  7. Ali @ Home & Plate says

    August 08, 2016 at 11:26 am

    I've been on an avocado mix lately and this salad sounds perfect for lunch and easy enough to whip up the dressing. Adding the black beans is brilliant too. It really has all the right ingredients. Yum!

    Reply
    • Emma Walton says

      August 08, 2016 at 11:43 am

      Thanks Ali! I do try my best to get a tasty balanced meal at lunchtime otherwise I'm always left snacking! Enjoy!

      Reply
  8. Elissa says

    August 08, 2016 at 11:46 am

    That looks fabulous, and healthy, and not that hard to make - tick, tick, tick! I remember in my childhood (quite a few years ago now) avocados were a total luxury, nothing like these days.
    (love your profile pic, BTW)

    Reply
    • Emma Walton says

      August 08, 2016 at 12:36 pm

      Thanks Elissa 😀 it's funny how things change and foods become in and out of popularity!

      Reply
  9. safira says

    August 08, 2016 at 11:50 am

    Such an awesome salad!YUM

    Reply
  10. Lynn | The Road to Honey says

    August 08, 2016 at 11:59 am

    Well. . .I'm always in the mood for a nice pimped out salad especially one that is as colorful as this beauty. As for salad dressing, I prefer to make my own as it tastes so much better and really isn't that time consuming to make. I'm definitely going to need to give your smokey buttermilk version a try.

    Reply
    • Emma Walton says

      August 08, 2016 at 12:36 pm

      Thanks Lynn! Glad you like it! Homemade does always taste best doesn't it?

      Reply
  11. Jackie Garvin says

    August 08, 2016 at 1:20 pm

    I love big, hardy salads! This is incredible! Nicely done.

    Reply
    • Emma Walton says

      August 08, 2016 at 1:28 pm

      Thanks Jackie 😀 glad you like it!

      Reply
  12. Jemma says

    August 10, 2016 at 8:03 am

    Chicken and avocado is such a winning combination for me. Love the sound of that dressing too!

    Reply
    • Emma Walton says

      August 10, 2016 at 8:23 am

      Thanks Jemma. I definitely think it's becoming a classic :')

      Reply
  13. Kavey says

    August 11, 2016 at 8:27 am

    My last contract was in a company with a lot of Aussies, Kiwis and South African staff and oh my goodness, I think more avos were consumed in that one office than in the rest of the UK put together. Most people made their lunches themselves in the kitchens on each floor, and they sure loved their avos! Your salad looks ACE!

    Reply
    • Emma Walton says

      August 15, 2016 at 9:28 am

      Haha thanks Kavey! That made me laugh. Who knew they were obsessed with avocados in that part of the globe!

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Emma. I'm a UK based food blogger who's been sharing recipes with the world since 2011. I'm passionate about eating a plant based diet using local, seasonal ingredients.

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