Garlic Lime Chicken Taco Salad With Avocado Dressing
This mix of grilled onions and zesty lime chicken with fresh veggies makes taco night easy and healthy any day of the week! This vibrant and fresh Garlic Lime Chicken Taco Salad with Avocado Dressing is light and bursting with flavor, making it perfect for a healthier Taco Tuesday!
If you’re looking for more organic salad recipes, check out Kale Apple Salad with Honey Dijon Dressing, Gut Healthy Chicken Salad, Roasted Cauliflower Turkey Salad With Lemon Dressing, or Chicken Sausage Greek Salad.
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- Recipe Name: Garlic Lime Chicken Taco Salad With Avocado Dressing
- Ready In: 45 minutes
- Makes: 4 servings
- Main Ingredients: chicken breasts, Romaine, avocado, tomato
- Flavor Profile: garlic, lime, creamy avocado
- Dietary Info: gluten free, no seed oils,
- Difficulty: Medium
- Why You’ll Love It: street tacos in salad form with a punch from a tangy lime dressing
Summarize & Save This Content On
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Bursting with Flavor: This Garlic Lime Chicken Taco Salad with Avocado Dressing combines the zesty tang of lime, the robust flavor of garlic, and the savory taste of seasoned chicken, making each bite a like biting into a taco without the tortilla!
- Gluten Free: This Garlic Lime Chicken Taco Salad is naturally gluten free, no tortillas needed.
- Tangy Avocado Lime Dressing: Homemade avocado dressing without seed oils is quick and easy to make!
- Healthy Option: This salad is loaded with fresh vegetables like lettuce, tomatoes, and avocados.
- Lunch or Dinner: Enjoy for a light lunch or a dinner. This taco salad is full of healthy ingredients and is both filling and versatile.
Jump to:
- A Quick Look At The Recipe
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients
- Tips
- How to Make Garlic Lime Chicken Taco Salad with Avocado Dressing
- Make Ahead & Storage Tips
- Garlic Lime Chicken Taco Salad with Avocado Dressing FAQ’s
- More Organic Salad Recipes
- Garlic Lime Chicken Taco Salad with Avocado Dressing
- The Bake Shop
I created this recipe with my friends at Organic Prairie for a healthy taco salad that you can feel good about enjoying every Taco Tuesday. As someone who loves tacos, especially Garlic Lime Chicken Street Tacos, Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Street Tacos, Chili Lime Ahi Fish Tacos and Sweet Chili Chicken Soft Tacos, this salad really does measure up!
This easy taco salad is bursting with bold and zesty flavor. Rich and caramelized grilled onions compliment the lean and zesty chicken while the creamy homemade avocado dressing ties it all together! Try serving it with Organic Homemade Salsa With Fresh Tomatoes and 3 Ingredient Mango Guacamole.
Ingredients
- Chicken Breasts: I use organic boneless skinless chicken breasts, but thighs also work if you prefer.
- Lime: Using organic lime provides a zesty flavor in both the chicken and in the Avocado Lime Dressing!
- Ghee: I use organic ghee for a little richer flavor in the chicken and grilled onions, but olive oil or avocado oil also work too.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: I love using Organic Apple Cider Vinegar in dressings as it gives a tang to dressings.
- Romaine Lettuce: I love using a large head romaine lettuce as a base for a big salad. You can use any kind of lettuce or mixed greens you have on hand.
*For a full list of ingredients and measurements, visit the recipe card below.
Tips
- I'm using chicken breasts for a leaner option, but chicken thighs also work too.
- If you have leftover taco seasoned steak or pork, you can use this protein in this salad in place of chicken.
- You can use store bought dressing if you prefer instead of making your own, but this homemade avocado lime dressing is totally worth the couple extra minutes!
- Feel free to add a dollop of sour cream on top if you want.
- You can also add shredded Mexican cheese or sharp cheddar cheese.
- If you have leftovers, store each ingredient separately in a tupperware in the fridge. Then assemble the salad with leftovers when you're ready to enjoy. This will keep veggies fresh and crisp!
- This Homemade Creamy Avocado Lime Dressing is also great as a dip for chips if you'd like to serve corn chips on the side.
How to Make Garlic Lime Chicken Taco Salad with Avocado Dressing
- In a large bowl, add the garlic powder, sea salt, black pepper, and lime juice and mix together. Cut chicken breast cross grain into 2-inch-wide strips and add to the bowl and coat in spice mix. Place bowl in fridge to marinate while you make the dressing.
- Next, you’ll make the dressing by adding the avocado, olive oil, water, apple cider vinegar, cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper to a high powered blender. Blend until smooth.
- Next, it’s time to cook the chicken. In a large skillet over medium heat, add the ghee and melt completely to coat the pan. Place the chicken in the pan and cook over medium/high heat until lightly browned on both sides and fully cooked with an internal temperature of 165°F, about 20 minutes.
- The grilled onions are my favorite part of this salad! I make them as I am cooking the chicken as they don’t take long. Slice the onion into thin slices. Add the ghee into a small skillet and melt over medium high heat. Add the sliced onions and reduce heat to medium. Lightly salt the onions. Continue to cook until onions are translucent and golden brown.
- Last step is to put it all together. Chop romaine lettuce and add to bowls. Dice the tomato and add evenly to bowls. Cut the avocado into cubes and add to bowls. Dice the chicken into small cubes and add to the bowl along with the grilled onions. Drizzle with your desired amount of dressing.
Make Ahead & Storage Tips
- You can allow chicken to marinate for up to 24 hours if needed.
- You can prep this salad by making the chicken and grilled onions ahead of time.
- You can also make the Homemade Creamy Avocado Lime Dressing in advance, just store in an airtight container in the fridge (like a mason jar). You can make it a few days in advance if needed.
- Then just chop veggies and assemble this easy taco salad!
- If making ahead or you have leftovers, store each ingredient separately in an airtight container in the fridge. Then assemble salad when ready to enjoy.
Garlic Lime Chicken Taco Salad with Avocado Dressing FAQ's
This is a light, creamy and zesty dressing with subtle notes of cilantro and lime. It's totally delicious and makes this salad!
The dressing ingredients are super simple and it only takes 5 minutes to make. But yes, you can make the dressing up to 3 days in advance. Just store it in an airtight container in the fridge.
Yes, you can use chicken thighs if you prefer.
Yes, this salad would be delicious with steak or even pork too. You can even use leftover taco meat to make up this easy taco salad.
No, if you prefer raw onions, you can simply dice onions and add to your salad.
You can by simply using avocado oil or olive oil instead of ghee.
Yes, you can use different lettuce depending on your preference.
Yes, you can use a flour tortilla and wrap this up like a wrap. You could also put the ingredients into a corn tortilla for tacos or add rice or black beans for a taco bowl. This recipe is super flexible!
Yes you can, just do not add the dressing if you are meal prepping. I also like to store the chicken and onions in one container and the rest of the salad ingredients in another. This will allow you to reheat the chicken and grilled onions before adding them onto the salad and then dressing it.
This is great served with tortilla chips or tortilla strips and Organic Homemade Salsa With Fresh Tomatoes or 3 Ingredient Mango Guacamole as a side dish! You can also add a dollop of sour cream on top if you like.
If you have leftovers, store each ingredient in a separate airtight container in the refrigerator and you can put together another salad the next day.
More Organic Salad Recipes
Loved it? Tell us!
Thanks a waffle lot for stopping by 🧇 If you loved this recipe, sprinkle some love by leaving a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review — it inspires others to try this recipe and helps me organically reach dog loving foodies like you! I personally read and appreciate every message!
Also, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel and join John John and me in the kitchen for step by step recipe videos! And subscribe to our newsletter for new and seasonal recipes!
Garlic Lime Chicken Taco Salad with Avocado Dressing
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
- Blender
- Cast Iron Skillet
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 lime (juice)
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon ghee
For the Dressing
- 1 avocado
- 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 6 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons cilantro
- 1 lime juice
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
For the Onions
- 1 tablespoon ghee
- 1 yellow onion
- Fine sea salt
For the Salad
- 2 hearts Romain lettuce
- 2 avocados
- 1 tomato
Instructions
- To make the chicken: In a large bowl, add the garlic powder, sea salt, black pepper, and lime juice and mix together. Cut chicken breast cross grain into 2-inch-wide strips and add to the bowl and coat in spice mix. Place bowl in fridge to marinate while you make the dressing.
- To make the dressing: In a high-powered blender, add the avocado, olive oil, water, apple cider vinegar, cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth.
- To make the chicken: In a large skillet over medium heat, add the ghee and melt completely to coat the pan. Place the chicken in the pan and cook over medium/high heat until lightly browned on both sides and fully cooked with an internal temperature of 165°F, about 20 minutes.
- To make the grilled onions: Slice the onion into thin slices. Add the ghee into a small skillet and melt over medium high heat. Add the sliced onions and reduce heat to medium. Lightly salt the onions. Continue to cook until onions are translucent and golden brown.
- To make the salad: Chop romaine lettuce and add to bowls. Dice the tomato and add evenly to bowls. Cut the avocado into cubes and add to bowls. Dice the chicken into small cubes and add to the bowl along with the grilled onions. Drizzle with your desired amount of dressing.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- I'm using chicken breasts for a leaner option, but chicken thighs also work too.
- If you have leftover taco seasoned steak or pork, you can use this protein in this salad in place of chicken.
- You can use store bought dressing if you prefer instead of making your own, but this homemade avocado lime dressing is totally worth the couple extra minutes!
- Feel free to add a dollop of sour cream on top if you want.
- You can also add shredded Mexican cheese or sharp cheddar cheese.
- If you have leftovers, store each ingredient separately in a tupperware in the fridge. Then assemble the salad with leftovers when you're ready to enjoy. This will keep veggies fresh and crisp!
- This Avocado Lime Dressing is also great as a dip for chips if you'd like to serve corn chips on the side.
- High Altitude — Follow the recipe as noted.
Nutrition
The Bake Shop
Visit The Bake Shop for foodie inspired tees, sweatshirts, and accessories. Find my favorite kitchen tools (with discounts!) in the Kitchen Shop. And shop our collection of food inspired dog accessories too!
Obsessed with this salad, it’s so good!