Lately I feel like I have cupcakes coming out of my ears! Definitely not the worst thing, but balancing the buttercream is key. Luckily for me and you, avocado chicken salad makes balancing a snap, and with summer temps making a comeback this week, there’s no better time to make this. The best part about this situation, besides that it’s avocado central, is there’s no mayo so it’s perfect for summer entertaining. The only problem is it tends to disappear in a flash!
The first thing you’ll want to do is prepare the chicken. I cook chicken breast and use that, but you can also pick up a rotisserie chicken and make your life even easier. And I’m not sure if I’m the last person to the party on this one, but did you guys know you can shred chicken in a Kitchen Aid mixer? I tossed the warm chicken in the mixing bowl, popped the paddle attachment on and in under three minutes I had perfectly shredded chicken. Consider my mind blown.
Next up is the avocado dressing, also known as my secret weapon. You simply put all the ingredients in a food processor and pulse till smooth. I list all the amounts down below, but make sure to taste it and season it to your liking. Some people like a little more cilantro, some like it heavy on the lime. You won’t believe how incredibly creamy this turns out. I make this dressing a lot and use it on everything from salads to tacos.
Once it’s ready, toss the dressing with the shredded chicken and diced red onion. I like to pop it in the fridge so it has some time to chill and all the flavors can really come out. At this point you can eat it as is or you can make these cute little wonton cups to serve it in. These little wonton cups are super easy to make and were such a hit last week when I had people over.
Simply brush the wonton wrappers with olive oil, press into mini cupcake tins and bake till golden. Once they’ve cooled, fill them with a spoon of chicken salad. I shredded some pepper jack cheese to top them and cannot believe how it tied the whole little bite together. That little bit of heat was just what they needed and garnished with a sprig of cilantro, they’re party perfect! How great would these be for Labor Day? Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 2 avocados
- 2-3 Tbsp. cilantro + additional for garnish
- juice of 2 limes
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1/2-1 tsp. cumin
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 small or 1/2 large red onion, diced
- 3 cups cooked chicken, shredded (1 pound package of chicken breast)
- 1 package wonton wrappers
- 1-2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 2 ounces pepper jack cheese, shredded - I used Cabot
Instructions
- Place avocados, cilantro, garlic, lime juice, cumin in food processor and pulse till smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Add avocado dressing to shredded chicken and mix well.
- Add diced onion and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper.
- Chill till ready to serve.
- Very lightly brush both sides of wonton wrappers with olive oil.
- Press into mini cupcake tins.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 7-8 minutes till they start to get golden. Keep a close eye on them.
- Fill wonton cups with chicken salad.
- Top with shredded cheese and garnish with cilantro.
Vicky says
Love the sound of these! Will have to try making these next time!
kelly h says
can you make the salad the night before then the next day do the won tons and prepare?
Joy says
Hubby LOVES this! Do you know the nutritional values? If not, I’ll add it all up.
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
I’m loving everything about this recipe. Great use of wonton wrappers 🙂
Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love. says
I’m pretty sure I could eat a whole tray of these!
Cecily says
This sounds so yummy. I just want to make it now. The avocado dressing is genius.
Anne@FromMySweetHeart says
Meghan….what an absolutely perfect bite! And thanks so much for the tip about shredding the chicken in the mixer. Who knew??? And those wonton cups…fabulous idea! A couple of these with a glass of wine….and I’ve had the perfect dinner! (But oh…I still might have to have a cupcake for dessert!
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking says
Such a scrumptious, easy snack or appetizer! These look delicious and super festive, Meghan! Perfect for my monthly girls’ nights in. 🙂
bblondie says
Thanks Georgia! Yes, perfect for girls night!
Terra says
Did you say avocado dressing? O.M.G. YUM!!!! This does sound like a perfect recipe to balance out after enjoying loads of treats:-) Hugs, Terra
bblondie says
Much needed balance 🙂 Thanks Terra!
Bill says
I love using wonton wrappers like this and your avocado and chicken salad stuffing sounds delicous! Great post and beautiful photos!
bblondie says
The wonton wrappers are so great for parties! Thanks so much, Bill!
Jessica@AKitchenAddiction says
Love that avocado is the dressing for the salad! Can’t wait to try these!
bblondie says
Thanks Jessica!
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes and Desserts says
I love chicken and avocado together. These are such a cute idea for a party!
bblondie says
Me too! Thanks Erin!
Beverley says
Love the combination of the flavour and the presentation is so wonderful. Will be making these the next time I entertain. xoxo
bblondie says
Thanks Bev! Hope you enjoy them 🙂
Stacy | Wicked Good Kitchen says
Ohmahgosh! Meghan, I am so enamored with this idea of yours! Not only is it a terrific appetizer for Labor Day, but also for tailgating season, the holiday season, Super Bowl, etc. Woohoo! When I don’t have time to poach chicken, but am suddenly craving some Tex-Mex, we also pick up rotisserie chicken or a couple roasted chicken breasts from one of our favorite shops, Fresh Market or Whole Foods. We just adore avos. Thanks for sharing, girl! xo
bblondie says
Thanks so much, Stacy! You’re right, they’re pretty much great for any get together 🙂
Cathy Pollak ~ Noble Pig says
They are so cute and the perfect one bite treat!
bblondie says
Thanks Cathy!
Meagan @ A Zesty Bite says
So I tried to make some avocado chicken salad but mine was too gummy. I’m going to try this one out because it’s definitely creamier than mine.
bblondie says
That’s so strange, I promise this one is definitely not gummy! Hope you like it Meagan!
Sandra says
I do believe I am making these today.
bblondie says
Yay! Hope you enjoyed them, Sandra!
Lori says
I made these for a progressive dinner and they were a huge hit. Even my non-avocado eating husband loved them. As I was the second stop, I waited to mix the avocado into the dressing until the last minute because I was afraid they wouldn’t stay a pretty green. I should NOT have worried. The lime must keep it fresh because even the left over chicken mix was still a delightful bright green color the next morning.
Definitely will make again! Thank you!