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?
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.
The recipe
Chicken and Avocado Salad
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
More salad recipes
More lunch recipes
From sandwiches to salads, check out the full range of lunch recipes on the blog.
Sinead says
Ooooo this looks really nice! I may be stealing this for exam time lunches. =D
Emmyw says
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!
Claire @foodiequine says
I forgot about your previous name! Fab salad. Chicken and Avocado is the perfect combo.
Emma Walton says
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!
Heidi Roberts says
That sure is one very healthy and summery salad!
Emma Walton says
Thanks Heidi 🙂 but best of all its seriously TASTY!
janie says
Emma, that looks truly superb. I am now craving chicken salad!!!
Janie x
Emma Walton says
Thanks Janie. Better get yourself down to the shops 😉
Kellie@foodtoglow says
Chicken, avo and black beans are just made for one another. And beautiful styling - love your textile!
Emma Walton says
Thanks Kellie 😀 the napkin is from Anthropologie 😉
Ali @ Home & Plate says
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!
Emma Walton says
Thanks Ali! I do try my best to get a tasty balanced meal at lunchtime otherwise I'm always left snacking! Enjoy!
Elissa says
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)
Emma Walton says
Thanks Elissa 😀 it's funny how things change and foods become in and out of popularity!
safira says
Such an awesome salad!YUM
Lynn | The Road to Honey says
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.
Emma Walton says
Thanks Lynn! Glad you like it! Homemade does always taste best doesn't it?
Jackie Garvin says
I love big, hardy salads! This is incredible! Nicely done.
Emma Walton says
Thanks Jackie 😀 glad you like it!
Jemma says
Chicken and avocado is such a winning combination for me. Love the sound of that dressing too!
Emma Walton says
Thanks Jemma. I definitely think it's becoming a classic :')
Kavey says
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!
Emma Walton says
Haha thanks Kavey! That made me laugh. Who knew they were obsessed with avocados in that part of the globe!