Learn how to make chicken avocado salad, a favorite main dish salad recipe that can be made in less than 10 minutes. If you are looking for an easy, healthy salad, you’re in the right place. This simple salad has become a go-to weeknight standout in my recipe rotation because it comes together so quickly. Best of all, you might have the ingredients you need right on your pantry shelf, in the freezer, or in the garden. Need a recipe for keto chicken avocado salad? Grilled chicken avocado salad? I’ve got you covered. Read on for the step-by-step instructions and additional chicken avocado salad recipes you can make by just changing up a few ingredients.
Table of Contents
My Chicken Avocado Salad Backstory
Like many things in life, this easy main dish salad recipe came about by accident. I had seen a variety of salads on Pinterest which listed avocados, chicken, corn, and bacon as ingredients. Those recipes looked delicious to me, so I saved them for later to my Recipes to Try board. One day, I was suddenly inspired to make the salad. It was a warm day, I was hungry, and I felt like eating something healthy. The problem? After a quick inventory of the contents of our fridge, I realized I didn’t have cooked chicken breasts or cooked bacon. Also, I didn’t have a freshly-cooked ear of corn. Ahhhh! We live a few miles outside of town, and I didn’t feel like driving into the grocery store. The solution? The pantry and the freezer! I’ll share with you my adapted version, simplified to fit your busy lives, friends.
A Versatile Recipe for Traveling
Since this chicken avocado salad can be made so quickly, it’s a great recipe to make while camping. If you are staying at a beach cabin and need to make a quick meal, this recipe is perfect for that as well. Just pack along the simple ingredients, and you may even want to mix the dressing ahead of time to make meal prep even easier.
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Equipment Needed for Chicken Avocado Salad
You only need a few kitchen items for this recipe. If you are using canned chicken and canned corn, you will need a can opener. You will also need a salad bowl, and if it has a lid, that’s even better. You may have leftovers. A small mixing bowl is great to have on hand for mixing the dressing.
Basic Chicken Avocado Salad Ingredients
1 12.5 ounce can of chunk chicken breast or 1 1/2 to 2 cups cooked chicken or turkey, chopped
1 15.25 ounce can of whole kernel corn, drained or 1 ear of corn, cooked and cut fresh off of the cob
3/4 cup bacon crumbles or 4-6 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
2 avocados, peeled, pitted, and chopped into bite-sized pieces
1/4 cup chives, chopped (these were found in our garden) or green onions, chopped
Easy Lemon Dressing
This easy lemon dressing is terrific on this simple salad. It can also be served by itself to top other salads at a lemon-themed lunch or dinner. The ingredients are simple and delicious.
3 tablespoons lemon juice (fresh-squeezed is best, but bottled is fine as well)
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt (we are a low-salt family, so you may wish to add more)
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 or 2 tablespoons of dill weed, if desired (we serve our dill on the side to be sprinkled on top)
Directions for Chicken Avocado Salad
Combine the first five ingredients in a salad bowl.
In a small mixing bowl, combine the ingredients for the dressing. Pour the dressing over the ingredients in the salad bowl. Voila! Your salad is finished! If you want to add a bit of extra flavor, garnish the salad with a sprinkle of chopped preserved lemon. This recipe makes about 4 main dish portions.
Chicken Avocado Salad
Equipment
- 1 salad bowl
- 1 small mixing bowl
- 1 can opener
Ingredients
- 1 12.5 ounce can chunk chicken breast
- 1 15.25 ounce can whole kernel corn, drained
- ¾ cup bacon crumbles
- 2 avocados, peeled, pitted, and chopped into bite-sized pieces
- ¼ cup chives or green onions, chopped
Easy Lemon Dressing
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1-2 tablespoons dill weed (optional)
Instructions
- Combine the first five ingredients in a salad bowl.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine the ingredients for the dressing.
- Pour the dressing over the ingredients in the salad bowl and mix.
Notes
Keto Chicken Avocado Salad
It’s very simple to make this chicken avocado salad a keto-friendly salad. What is a keto diet? A ketogenic diet is high in fat and low in carbs. If you want to make this easy chicken avocado salad recipe fit in with a keto diet, just omit the corn. You will end up with a salad that has about 6 grams of carbs per serving.Grilled Chicken Avocado Salad
In the mood for a taste of grilled chicken flavor? Grill up a chicken breast or two, depending upon the size. Chop the grilled chicken into bite-sized pieces and add to the salad.Chicken Avocado Spinach Salad
We have been buying a lot of fresh baby spinach lately. We mix it in with soups and cook it with our scrambled eggs. It makes an excellent topping for this main dish salad. Just grab a few baby spinach leaves and tear them up on top of your serving of salad to add even more nutrition.Chicken Avocado Fritos Salad
My husband is fond of putting corn chips (such as Fritos) on his salad. It’s a very delicious addition, but it does take away from the healthy aspect a bit. Have you ever noticed how easy it is to take a healthy salad and turn it into something else entirely? I seem to do that quite often.Keto Chicken Avocado Salad
It’s very simple to make this chicken avocado salad a keto-friendly salad. What is a keto diet? A ketogenic diet is high in fat and low in carbs. If you want to make this easy chicken avocado salad recipe fit in with a keto diet, just omit the corn. You will end up with a salad that has about 6 grams of carbs per serving.
Grilled Chicken Avocado Salad
In the mood for a taste of grilled chicken flavor? Grill up a chicken breast or two, depending upon the size. Chop the grilled chicken into bite-sized pieces and add to the salad.
Chicken Avocado Spinach Salad
We have been buying a lot of fresh baby spinach lately. We mix it in with soups and cook it with our scrambled eggs. It makes an excellent topping for this main dish salad. Just grab a few baby spinach leaves and tear them up on top of your serving of salad to add even more nutrition.
Chicken Avocado Fritos Salad
My husband is fond of putting corn chips (such as Fritos) on his salad. It’s a very delicious addition, but it does take away from the healthy aspect a bit. Have you ever noticed how easy it is to take a healthy salad and turn it into something else entirely? I seem to do that quite often.
How Else May this Chicken Avocado Salad be Used?
This salad lends itself well to being a filling for wraps. It’s also useful as a sandwich filler or topping for crackers. I love its versatility!
Do You Have Any Favorite Easy Salad Recipes?
I’m always looking for more easy recipes, and salad recipes are especially nice during the warmer weather months. What are your favorite easy, go-to warm-weather recipes? I’d love to know about them.
More Meal Inspiration
It’s always nice to have a plan when it comes to meals. If you’re looking for a way to get more organized with your menu ideas, I’ve got something for you. Free, editable meal planners! The templates can be used over and over, as often as you need them. You can make as many duplicates as you like, and you’ll be able to save old meal plans for future reference. I hope it simplifies things for you.
Get my digital, editable, printable templates!
If you would like even more recipe ideas, consider following my Easy Recipes board on Pinterest. Have a fabulous day, and enjoy experiencing chicken bacon avocado corn delight.
More Easy Salad Recipes
- Special Side Dish: Crowd-Pleasing Seafood Salad
- Delicious Berry Mandarin Tossed Salad
- Simple Taco Salad
- Easy Potato Salad
- Incredibly Easy Chicken Ramen Noodle Salad
This is one of the best chicken avocado salad recipes I’ve ever tried!
Oh, thank you. I’m glad you liked it.
Oh, thank you! I’m so glad you liked it.
Yum! I love chicken salad but I have never added an avocado to it. I will have to try this out now! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!
You are most welcome. It’s a great combination.
This chicken avocado salad is truly easy and fast. It’s a regular part of my monthly dinner plans now. Thank you for sharing these simple chicken avocado salad recipes.
You are most welcome! I’m always happy to share an easy recipe.
You’re right – this is really simple and quick to make! It looks and sounds delicious, especially with the spinach added. Yum!
Candi,
Yes, it’s truly simple and delicious. I hope you get to try it. Thanks for your comment, and have a super day!
Lisa
This looks like a great quick and easy meal. Sometimes the best meals are the ones that can be thrown together in just a few minutes and require no cooking. This would be great for the summer months when spending time near a hot stove isn’t appealing.
Sarah,
Yes, exactly! I will probably make it many times this summer. I agree, sometimes the simplest meals are the best. Thanks for your comment and affirmation.
Lisa
Way to turn up a chicken salad! I love this and will have to try it out.
Asia,
It’s definitely a great way to use up leftover chicken or turkey if you don’t have the canned version on hand. I hope you get to try it. Thanks for commenting!
Lisa
This looks so good! I’ll definitely need to try it!
Carolina,
I hope you do get to try it. It’s amazingly easy. Thanks for your kind words.
Lisa
This looks gorgeous. Quick and easy – just perfect for when you’re tired and don’t want to cook.
Nyxie,
Yes, and I find as the weather gets warmer, the less time I want to spend in the kitchen. Quick, easy and light are what I’m looking for during the warm months. Glad you liked the recipe, and thanks so much for your comment!
Lisa
This looks so good I like that it’s an easy to put together dish because sometimes after work you don’t want to go home and have to stand over a stove for hours to cook a meal! Thanks for sharing this I’m going to test it out with some turkey bacon lol
Adrienne,
I love the idea of turkey bacon! This recipe is great for mixing and matching different ingredients. Thanks so much for sharing your idea. I look forward to learning how it turns out.
Lisa
Looks great! Thanks for sharing!
Ronkerria,
I’m glad you like the post. If you try it and like it, please let me know!
Lisa