Creamy mayo-free avocado chicken salad with mango, carrots, cucumber, pecans, raisins, and bell pepper. This fresh new take is healthier than classic chicken salad, yet big on flavor!

This post is sponsored by the California Avocado Commission.

Mayo-Free Mango Avocado Chicken Salad - a healthier chicken salad recipe with carrots, cucumber, green onion, bell pepper, raisins, and pecans. Serve it up on toasted bread as a sandwich or on a green salad!

How do you feel about chicken salad? Has it always been a thing in your life? Are you a chicken salad newbie? What do you put in it and how do you eat it (as is, on a sandwich, on a salad, in a wrap, etc)?

My answers to the above queries? I always steered clear of chicken salad as a kid, because: mayonnaise. As an adult, I still shy away from chicken salad that I haven’t made, because I’m pretty particular about the ingredients.ย 

What can I say? I have a thing about mayonnaise. I just canโ€™t dig it most of the time, and even on the rare occasion Iโ€™m on board, I have very stringent specifications for how itโ€™s sourced, how itโ€™s used, and the amount. For instance, I’m alright with avocado oil mayonnaise in the tiniest portion as long as it’s in something where it’s nearly indistinguishable. I knowโ€ฆ Iโ€™m a pill.

BUT, all mayo thoughts and feelings aside, I do have a mayo-free chicken salad recipe for you that I think youโ€™ll love even if you do like mayonnaise!

Mayo-Free Mango Avocado Chicken Salad - a healthier chicken salad recipe with carrots, cucumber, green onion, bell pepper, raisins, and pecans. Serve it up on toasted bread as a sandwich or on a green salad!

This recipe is more health-conscious than your typical chicken salad recipe, yet itโ€™s still insanely delicious (you have my permission to quote me on this). It incorporates fresh vegetables, mango, raisins, and pecans for a super flavorful, crunchy, and vibrant salad. And the best part? Itโ€™s tied together with a mashed avocado instead of mayonnaise. I know…BRILLIANT! Why didnโ€™t I think of that ages ago when I started making my Curried Chicken Salad?? Better late than never, though, and now we can make ALL THE CHICKEN SALADS with avocado muuuhahahaha!

^^Sorry.

Mango Avocado Chicken Salad ingredients

Speaking of avocado, did you know June is California Avocado Month?? It is! And weโ€™re celebrating by showcasing a perfect example of the versatility of the avocado. Avocados can be used to replace mayonnaise, cream, banana, oil, and much more as a bonus to the fact that theyโ€™re already incredibly delicious and nutritious. Just take the following recipes I have already posted using avocado as an ingredient swap:

 

Le sigh….le avocadoes..theyโ€™re magical, I tell you!

Mayo-Free Mango Avocado Chicken Salad - a healthier chicken salad recipe with carrots, cucumber, green onion, bell pepper, raisins, and pecans. Serve it up on toasted bread as a sandwich or on a green salad!

Alright, now that weโ€™re proficient in the fine art of avocado everything, we can discuss how you can change up this chicken salad to make it your own.

Recipe Adaptations:

  • Add fresh dill, mint, or basil to the chicken salad for an herb-infused adventure.
  • Replace the mango with grapes
  • Swap out the raisins for dried blueberries or cranberries
  • Incorporate your favorite nut (cashews, almonds and walnuts work great) in place of pecans, or omit to make-nut free.
  • Get creative with your vegetable selection – you can use tomato, celery, broccoli, etc.

Mayo-Free Mango Avocado Chicken Salad - a healthier chicken salad recipe with carrots, cucumber, green onion, bell pepper, raisins, and pecans. Serve it up on toasted bread as a sandwich or on a green salad!

I like eating the chicken salad on top of a green salad (Iโ€™ve been adding cooked quinoa and more avocado with a drizzle of avocado oil and cider vinegar), but you can also make chicken salad sandwiches with it, make a salad wrap, or eat it just as it is. The options are aplenty!

Mayo-Free Mango Avocado Chicken Salad - a healthier chicken salad recipe with carrots, cucumber, green onion, bell pepper, raisins, and pecans. Serve it up on toasted bread as a sandwich or on a green salad!

Mayo-Free Avocado Chicken Salad

5 from 1 vote
Chicken Salad with the addition of fresh mango and avocado is incredibly fresh and flavorful!
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts about 1 pound
  • 1 large California Avocado peeled and chopped
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt to taste
  • 3/4 cup carrot peeled and finely chopped
  • 3/4 cup cucumber seeded and finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup mango finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup red bell pepper finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup raisins
  • 1/4 cup pecans

Instructions

  • Heat a large pot of water and bring it to a full boil. Add the raw chicken breasts and reduce heat slightly. Cook for 8 to 12 minutes (depending on thickness of chicken), until chicken is cooked through. Place chicken on a cutting board, allow it to cool, then chop into cubes.ย  For best results, refrigerate the chicken until chilled prior to finishing the recipe.
  • Add the chopped avocado, lemon juice, and sea salt to a large mixing bowl and mash everything together using a fork until creamy.
  • Add the remaining ingredients (including the chopped chicken) to the mixing bowl and stir well until combined. Taste salad for flavor and add more lemon juice and/or sea salt to taste.
  • Serve chicken salad on a bed of spinach as a green salad or on toasted bread to make a sandwich.

Nutrition

Serving: 1of 4 ยท Calories: 278kcal ยท Carbohydrates: 19g ยท Protein: 24g ยท Fat: 13g ยท Sugar: 12g
Author: Julia
Course: Lifestyle
Cuisine: American
Keyword: avocado, chicken, mango, paleo
Did You Make This Recipe?I want to see it! Tag @the.roasted.root on social media!

Mayo-Free Mango Avocado Chicken Salad - a healthier chicken salad recipe with carrots, cucumber, green onion, bell pepper, raisins, and pecans. Serve it up on toasted bread as a sandwich or on a green salad! | TheRoastedRoot.com #paleo #healthy #lunch

Julia Mueller
Meet the Author

Julia Mueller

Julia Mueller is a recipe developer, cookbook author, and founder of The Roasted Root. She has authored three bestselling cookbooks, – Paleo Power Powers, Delicious Probiotic Drinks, and The Quintessential Kale Cookbook. Her recipes have been featured in several national publications such as BuzzFeed, Self, Tasty, Country Living, Brit.co, etc.

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Questions and Reviews

  1. I love chicken salad, but I am not a fan of mayo. I really like this recipe, and I can’t wait to try it out!

  2. I love using avocado instead of mayo…I’m with you on that!! Can’t wait to try; this looks so fresh and flavorful!