Avocado Chicken Salad

Creamy, crunchy avocado chicken salad is vibrant green and a refreshing change of pace from traditional chicken salad. Sure, there are some common ingredients—a bit of mayonnaise, chopped celery, and onion. But it's where they're different that really makes avocado chicken salad stand apart from the classic kind.

Pistachios add lots of needed crunch; red grapes brighten up the chicken salad and work incredibly well with the creaminess of the avocado. Chopped parsley may not be traditional either, but it elevates the flavors of the avocado and makes this creamy dish bright and fresh.

The next time you're in the mood for chicken salad, or looking for a dish to serve at a party, consider this creamy twist on the classic chicken salad. Everyone will be thrilled to try something different.

Avocado Chicken Salad Ingredients

This avocado chicken salad has a few ingredients traditional homemade chicken salads don't have, so be sure to check this list twice before you head to the grocery store. (Full ingredient list is down the page a bit.)

• Mayonnaise: Some avocado chicken salads don't use mayo at all, but we found it still needs a bit to get the really creamy texture you expect. If you don't like mayo or prefer not to use it, you can cut it entirely. You may want extra avocado in that case.
• Garlic powder: This elevates the flavors of the entire dish.
• Avocado: You'll need one ripe avocado for this recipe. An underripe avocado might not be easy to mash, so make sure the one you use is ripe. (Even a bit overripe is OK.)
• Chicken: We call for cooked boneless, skinless chicken breast. You can use rotisserie chicken, too.
• Seedless red grapes: Southerners aren't strangers to chicken salad with grapes. We like the juiciness and sweetness the grapes lend this salad, but you can leave them out if you want.
• Red onion: Just a bit provides a nice backbone of flavor.
• Dry roasted pistachios: You need some crunch in this creamy salad, and pistachios are a great option.
• Chopped celery: This provides crunch, too.
• Parsley: This fresh herb brightens up the flavor of the rich avocado and mayonnaise.
• Lemon juice: This helps balance the richness of the avocado and the sweet grapes.
• Kosher salt and black pepper: To perfectly season the final dish.
• Croissants or salad greens: These are just suggestions for serving this avocado chicken salad. We have a few other ideas below, too.

How To Make Avocado Chicken Salad

We dare not say making avocado chicken salad is as easy as combining all the ingredients in one bowl and stirring, but it basically is. Here's a recap of the recipe. (The full recipe is further below.)

• Step 1. Mix creamy dressing: Combine the mayonnaise, garlic powder, and half the avocado. Mash and stir until well combined.
• Step 2. Add remaining ingredients: To the creamy dressing, add the chicken, grapes, onion, pistachios, celery, parsley, lemon juice, salt and pepper, and remaining diced avocado.
• Step 3. Serve: Top a croissant or salad greens, or make a sandwich with your avocado chicken salad.

How To Store Leftover Avocado Chicken Salad

Like guacamole, avocado chicken salad may turn a little brown if leftovers sit too long. But you can slow this process by covering any leftover chicken salad with plastic wrap—press the wrap against the chicken salad to eliminate air flow—and keep it in the fridge up to three days.

The lemon juice may help slow browning, too, but it's OK to eat any pieces that darken. Just stir the salad before eating the leftovers, and you'll never notice it.

How To Serve Avocado Chicken Salad

Chicken salads of all kinds are great by themselves with crackers, vegetables, or toast. You can also fancy it up with these ideas:

• Spread between two croissant halves with a piece of fresh lettuce.
• Serve in a wrap with lettuce and tomato slices.
• Make an open-faced sandwich, and sprinkle with fresh herbs.
• Scoop some on a bed of lightly dressed salad greens.
• Spoon some chicken salad between two pieces of bread, top with cheese (Swiss cheese would be great), and make a quick chicken salad melt.