Avocado Ranch Chicken Salad (Printable)

Grilled chicken tossed with creamy avocado ranch dressing, fresh vegetables and herbs for a refreshing, easy meal.

# What You 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
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
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

→ 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

# Directions:

01 - Preheat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Rub chicken breasts with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Cook for 6 to 7 minutes per side until cooked through and juices run clear. Allow to rest 5 minutes, then cut into 1-inch chunks.
02 - 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 reach desired consistency.
03 - In a large bowl, combine salad greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and celery.
04 - Add warm or cooled chicken chunks to the salad mixture and pour avocado ranch dressing over top. Toss gently to evenly coat all components.
05 - Transfer to serving plates immediately and garnish with additional fresh herbs if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The avocado ranch is so creamy and tangy, youll want to drizzle it on everything.
  • It comes together in 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
  • The herbs add such bright, fresh flavor that every bite feels like summer.
  • Leftovers actually taste better the next day once the flavors meld together.
02 -
  • Dont skip resting the chicken after cooking, or all the juices will run out when you cut it and the meat will be dry.
  • Add the water to the dressing slowly because avocados vary in size and you might need less than you think.
  • If youre making this ahead, keep the dressing separate until serving so the greens stay crisp and dont get soggy.
03 -
  • Use a ripe but firm avocado so the dressing stays creamy without turning watery or brown too quickly.
  • If youre sensitive to raw onion, soak the diced red onion in cold water for 10 minutes to mellow the sharpness.
  • Taste the dressing before tossing and adjust the lime juice or salt, because every avocado and yogurt brand tastes a little different.
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