Chicken Salad Stuffed Avocado is a light and satisfying lunch recipe that always hits the spot! Creamy, seasoned avocados stuffed with a delicious rotisserie chicken salad. It’s a complete meal that’s ready in just 20 minutes.
If you love this easy and healthy dish, try my Shrimp Salad Stuffed Avocados and Avocado Shrimp Salad.
Table of Contents
While this chicken salad stuffed avocado recipe is excellent for lunch, make no mistake… I enjoy them for dinner too! They’re a well rounded meal that always fill me up without weighing me down. On a hot summer night (especially in Florida weather), lighter recipes like this one are always welcomed.
The best thing about this stuffed avocado recipe is just how easy it is to assemble and easy to prep ahead of time! In about 20 minutes you can have this delicious veggie meal ready to eat. Toss together the chicken salad, place it in a prepared avocado, and enjoy. So simple!
While this recipe may be delightfully laid back and simple, the flavors are bold in the very best way. The avocado itself is prepped with lime juice and seasonings to give it a little extra oomph, while the creamy chicken salad features red onions, fresh parsley, and even more tangy lime juice.
Health Benefits of Avocados
Avocado is a wonderful fruit that I always have on hand and add to sandwiches, tacos, salads, and pretty much any meal of the day. It’s healthy and it can often be substituted for mayo and butter. The signature smooth texture and mild flavor goes so well with everything.
There are so many health benefits to avocados! It’s really a super fruit (yep, not a veggies) that you should include in your diet often. It contains more potassium than a banana, loaded with vitamins like C, K, E, and B, as well as folate and amino acids. Did you know that an avocado has all essential amino acids that a body needs? It does, and your body uses it to build protein in support of muscle and skin structure.
Avocado is also considered a low-carb fruit even though there are about 9 grams of carbohydrates. Most of those carbohydrates are actually fiber and not sugar, which makes it beneficial.
Ingredient Notes
Chicken – get your favorite rotisserie chicken from the grocery store and make sure to take all the meat off the skin. Discard the bones and skin.
Avocados – Test if your avocado is ripe by giving it a gentle squeeze. If it’s super soft, it’s too ripe. Too firm and it’s not quite ripe enough. Avocados are notorious for being finicky, so consider buying one or two more than you need just in case.
Red Onion – This is my favorite type of onion to use in chicken salad because of its potent and slightly sweet flavor. You can easily use Vidalia onion as well.
Celery – Always give your celery a little rinse before chopping, just in case there’s any dirt or residue on it.
Lime Juice – This is always best when it’s freshly squeezed.
Mayonnaise and Sour Cream – You can use regular or low-fat versions. Just note that the consistency and flavor will be slightly different.
Fresh Parsley – try to use fresh herbs when you can, they offer a more vibrant flavor.
See recipe card for complete information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Stuffed Avocados
Prepare the meat. If you’re using a rotisserie chicken, pick out all of the meat. Shred or chop it all into small pieces. Add it all to a mixing bowl.
Mix the chicken salad. Add the onions, celery, parsley, mayo, sour cream, lime juice, salt and pepper to the bowl with the chicken (1). Toss it all together to thoroughly combine (2).
Slice the avocados. Cut the avocados in half and remove the pits (3). Carefully remove the skin from the avocado and do you best to keep the avocado itself in tact. Then, make a thin slice at the rounded bottom of each avocado (4) to help keep it from rolling over.
Season the avocados. Use a brush or your hands to coat each avocado with lime juice (5). Season it with salt all around, followed by a pinch of paprika and chili powder on top (6).
Stuff the avocados. Spoon about 1/3 cup of the chicken salad into each seasoned avocado half. Serve and enjoy!
Tips for the Stuffed Avocado
- To keep the freshness, make sure to cut avocados right before stuffing and serving. Rubbing each half in lime juice will help to keep it from turning dark but not for long.
- Make sure to season the avocado itself! Many people forget to season the avocado and just season the stuffing. This leaves avocado without flavor. So rub some lime juice all around, season it with salt on all sides, and add just a pinch of paprika and chili powder. Seasoning can also vary depending on the stuffing.
- Make a thin slice on the rounded bottom of the avocado half to help it stand without rolling over.
- If there are any stuffed avocados leftover, you can easily turn it into guacamole. Just separate the stuffing and mash avocado halves with remaining guacamole ingredients.
Recipes FAQs
You can definitely make the chicken salad ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator in an airtight food storage container. DON’T make the whole stuffed avocados ahead of time, they get oxidized and soft very quickly once opened. Cut and stuff avocados when ready to serve.
To keep the avocados green longer, make sure to cut avocados right before stuffing and serving. Rub each half with fresh lime juice all over – the acid will help keep it from turning brown but not for long.
Feel free to dress up your avocados with some chopped nuts like almonds or pecans. Give them a drizzle of balsamic reduction or a simple olive oil and vinegar. You can make it more spicy by adding a little more chili powder. Or, add more minced fresh herbs like parsley, dill weed, and/or chives for a more early fresh flavor.
Storage Instructions
You can easily store your leftover chicken salad separately from the avocados. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 2-3 days.
Here’s the deal – once you open the avocados, they’re best enjoyed right away. I recommend making guacamole if you have any leftover avocado halves. To store the guacamole, simple place it in an airtight container and squeeze some fresh lime juice all over it. Cover it flush with a sheet of plastic wrap.
Plastic wrap should be touching the top of guacamole to create a close barrier between the dip and the air. Cover the container with a lid and refrigerate. Guacamole will keep for 2 days in the refrigerator.
More Healthy Lunch Recipes
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? PLEASE leave a 🌟 star rating! Let me know how you liked it by leaving the 📝 comment below or share and tag me on social media @willcookforsmiles. DON’T FORGET to subscribe to my newsletter!
Chicken Salad Stuffed Avocado Recipe
Ingredients
Chicken Salad:
- 1 whole rotisserie chicken
- 1/4 cup diced red onion
- 1/4 cup diced celery
- 2 tbsp minced fresh parsley
- 3/4 cup mayo
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 2 tbsp fresh squeezed lime juice
- salt
- fresh cracked black pepper
Stuffed Avocado:
- 5 ripe avocados (can use 4-6 avocados with more or less stuffing)
- 1 lime – juice only
- salt
- paprika
- chili powder
Instructions
- NOTE: Chicken salad recipe makes about 3 1/2 cups. This recipe can make about 8-12 stuffed avocados, depending on how much stuffing is used on each half. Chicken salad can also be made ahead of time and used as needed for individual avocados.
Chicken Salad:
- Take rotisserie chicken apart, picking out all the meat.
- Dice chicken meat and add it to a large mixing bowl.
- Add diced red onion, diced celery, parsley, mayo, sour cream lime juice, salt, and pepper. Mix very well, until all ingredients are incorporated throughout.
Stuffed Avocados:
- Cut avocados in half and take out the pits. Use a large spoon to gently separate the skin off the avocado flesh. Carefully spoon the avocado meat out, leaving it intact.
- Make a thin slice at the rounded bottom of each avocado half to help it stand without rolling over.
- Rub each avocado half with lime juice on all sides and season it with salt all around. Sprinkle just a pinch of paprika and chili powder onto the avocado.
- Spoon about 1/3 cup of chicken salad into the avocado halves and serve.
Notes
- To keep the freshness, make sure to cut avocados right before stuffing and serving. Rubbing each half in lime juice will help to keep it from turning dark but not for long.
- Make sure to season the avocado itself! Many people forget to season the avocado and just season the stuffing. This leaves avocado without flavor. So rub some lime juice all around, season it with salt on all sides, and add just a pinch of paprika and chili powder. Seasoning can also vary depending on the stuffing.
- Make a thin slice on the rounded bottom of the avocado half to help it stand without rolling over.
- If there are any stuffed avocados leftover, you can easily turn it into guacamole. Just separate the stuffing and mash avocado halves with remaining guacamole ingredients.
Nutrition
Originally published on Will Cook For Smiles in July 2019.
Christiline Johnson says
Hmmm, I just love this recipe. Sound nutritious and yummy. I am certainly going to try it and when I do I will comment.
LyubaB says
I’m so glad to hear that you’re excited to try the recipe! It really is a delicious! I can’t wait to hear how it turns out for you.
Cherise Reaume says
What portion size are the calories based on?
LyubaB says
One stuffed avocado is a serving.
Angela says
This is a new favorite!
LyubaB says
I am so glad you liked it, Angela!