Avocado Herb Chicken Salad (Printable Page)

Tender chicken and creamy avocado blend with fresh herbs inside crisp lettuce cups for a light meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Protein

01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded

→ Vegetables & Herbs

02 - 1 large ripe avocado, diced
03 - 1/2 cup celery, finely chopped
04 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
05 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
06 - 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped

→ Dressing

07 - 3 tablespoons Greek yogurt or dairy-free mayonnaise
08 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
09 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
10 - 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
11 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Assembly

12 - 8 large butter lettuce leaves or romaine heart leaves
13 - Cherry tomatoes, halved, for garnish (optional)

# Step-by-Step Guide:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked chicken, diced avocado, celery, red onion, parsley, and dill.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until smooth and well combined.
03 - Pour the dressing over the chicken mixture and gently toss to coat all ingredients evenly, ensuring uniform distribution.
04 - Taste the mixture and adjust salt, pepper, and other seasonings as needed for desired flavor balance.
05 - Spoon the chicken salad evenly into the prepared lettuce leaves to form cups, distributing filling consistently.
06 - Top with cherry tomato halves if desired and serve immediately while lettuce is crisp and fresh.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes indulgent with that creamy avocado element, but it's secretly a low-carb, protein-packed lunch that won't leave you sluggish.
  • The prep is genuinely simple, so even on mornings when you're running behind, you can still have something elegant on your plate.
02 -
  • Cut your avocado just before assembly—it browns quickly once exposed to air, but the lemon juice in the dressing slows that process down considerably once everything is mixed together.
  • If your lettuce leaves are limp, soak them in ice water for five minutes before stuffing them, and they'll crisp back up like they were just picked.
03 -
  • Let your lettuce leaves come up to cool room temperature before assembling—cold, crisp leaves hold their structural integrity so much better than ones straight from the cold crisper drawer.
  • If you're making this for a crowd, set up a self-serve assembly station where everyone can fill their own cups, which makes it interactive and ensures each person gets exactly the ratio of salad to lettuce they prefer.
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