Chicken Avocado Salad with Toasted Pecans

This Chicken Avocado Salad is a delicious and quick meal that is perfect for lunch or dinner. Here are the best tips for assembling a healthy and balanced salad recipe. Paleo and Whole30 friendly!

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We love summer salad recipes like this healthy avocado chicken salad. Other faves include this Trail Mix Salad and this Chicken Basil Salad. Check out all of our Salad Recipes for inspiration.

IN THIS POST: Everything you need to make Chicken Avocado Salad

Ingredients for this recipe

• cooked chicken – you can use leftover rotisserie chicken or poached chicken breasts.
• mayo – try this recipe for easy homemade mayonnaise (spoiler: it is simply olive oil and egg!)
• grapes – red or green – totally up to you!
• pecans – toasted is soooo much lovelier – check out my easy how-to toast pecans!
• celery – check your produce aisle to see if they single stalks of celery if you don’t want the entire bunch.
• avocado – pick a ripe but firm fruit
• tarragon – this herb has a peppery-dill flavor and is a key ingredient for any good chicken salad.

How to make avocado chicken salad

Super easy instructions for this avocado chicken salad recipe!

First, start by cutting the avocado into chunks.

Second, shred or cube the chicken.

Third, toast the pecans.

Next, add the mayo and seasonings to a large mixing bowl and stir. Add the chicken, celery, grapes, and toasted pecans to the mixture and stir again.

Finally, fold in the chopped avocado and serve.

Serving Suggestions:

• Start with lettuce wraps! I recommended Bibb lettuce if you go that route. Its cup shape is the best vessel to hold in all the chicken salad goodness.
• Spin it into a salad! Romaine lettuce is my go-to for crisp, hearty salads. Maybe crumble some bacon on top.
• Skip the lettuce altogether and just eat this right out of the avocado.
• Use as a sandwich filling or as a wrap with a whole wheat tortilla. Add in some sliced red onion and cucumber!

FAQS, Tips, and Substitutions:

• How do you pick a ripe avocado? It should feel firm to the touch but not hard and it should be a green color underneath the stem when you peel it off. You know I have been rummaging through the avocados when all the stems are gone! haha
• If you want a keto or low-carb dish omit the grapes.
• Substitute Greek yogurt for the mayo.
• Swap out the grapes, pecans, and tarragon for chopped tomatoes, corn, fresh cilantro, and garlic powder for some southwestern flavors. Finish it with a squeeze of lime juice or lemon juice.
• Substitute the grapes for some chopped apple.
• Store any leftovers in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Spice this recipe up by skipping the grapes and adding a couple of spoonfuls of chow chow relish instead. The tangy and spicy slaw is a great contrast to the creamy avocado.

More healthy chicken salad recipes:

• Coronation Chicken Recipe
• Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad
• Lemon Basil Chicken Salad
• Chicken Taco Salad with Salsa Ranch Dressing
• Lemon Chicken Quinoa Salad

This recipe was originally posted on May 17, 2019, updated on October 24, 2019,  and updated again on May 12, 2022, with recipe notes, writing, and new photos.*

If you’ve tried my chicken and avocado salad, please rate the recipe and let me know how it turned out by leaving me a comment below. I’m always interested in feedback!

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