Grilled Chicken with Avocado Salsa

Grilled Chicken with Avocado Salsa

Julia

This Grilled Chicken with Avocado Salsa is a vibrant, naturally gluten-free dinner that brings together perfectly seasoned grilled chicken breasts with a fresh, zesty avocado salsa. The dish celebrates simple ingredients prepared with care, allowing the natural flavors to shine through without any need for complicated sauces or breading.

The chicken is marinated in a simple blend of olive oil, lime juice, and cumin, which tenderizes the meat while infusing it with bright, citrusy notes. Grilling creates a beautiful char on the outside while keeping the interior juicy and tender. The real star of this dish is the avocado salsa—a colorful medley of creamy avocados, ripe tomatoes, red onion, cilantro, and jalapeño, all tossed with fresh lime juice. This salsa provides a cool, refreshing contrast to the warm, smoky chicken.

What makes this recipe particularly special is its versatility and ease of preparation. It's perfect for busy weeknights when you want something healthy and satisfying without spending hours in the kitchen. The entire meal comes together in under 30 minutes, yet it's impressive enough to serve to guests. The combination of lean protein and healthy fats from the avocado makes it a nutritionally balanced meal that will keep you satisfied.

This dish is naturally gluten-free, making it an excellent choice for those following a gluten-free diet or anyone looking to enjoy a lighter, cleaner meal. Serve it with a side of rice, quinoa, or a simple green salad to round out your dinner plate.

Nutrition

27 minutes
None servings
385 calories
Fat 21.00g
Carbs 12.00g
Protein 40.00g

Ingredients

4 piecesboneless, skinless chicken breasts, about 6 oz each
3 tbspolive oil, divided
3 tbsplime juice, freshly squeezed, divided
1 tspground cumin
1 tspgarlic powder
1 tspsalt, divided
1/2 tspblack pepper, freshly ground
2 largeripe avocados, diced
1 cupcherry tomatoes, quartered
1/4 cupred onion, finely diced
1/4 cupfresh cilantro, chopped
1 smalljalapeño, seeded and minced (optional)
1 wholelime, cut into wedges for serving (optional)

Equipment

Cutting board
Whisk
paper towels
tongs
small mixing bowl
chef's knife
medium mixing bowl
meat thermometer
basting brush
grill or grill pan
meat mallet

80/20 Diet

This recipe fits the 80/20 approach perfectly, with 100% of ingredients being nutrient-dense whole foods including lean protein, fresh vegetables, healthy fats, and natural seasonings. It represents the nutritious 80% that forms the foundation of this balanced eating philosophy.

Ancestral Diet

This ancestral diet recipe uses only whole, unprocessed foods that would have been available to hunter-gatherers—meat, vegetables, healthy fats, and herbs. It contains no grains, legumes, dairy, or modern processed ingredients, focusing on nutrient-dense foods for optimal health.

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

This anti-inflammatory recipe features omega-3-rich ingredients, colorful vegetables packed with antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory spices like cumin and cilantro. The combination of lean protein, healthy fats from avocado and olive oil, and fresh produce helps reduce inflammation while avoiding processed foods and refined ingredients.

Atkins Diet

This Atkins-friendly recipe features high-quality protein, healthy fats from avocado and olive oil, and low-carb vegetables with no grains, sugar, or starchy ingredients. The macronutrient profile aligns perfectly with Atkins principles, keeping net carbs very low while providing satisfying, flavorful nutrition.

Autoimmune Paleo

This recipe can be made AIP-compliant by omitting the cumin (a seed-based spice) and using only fresh herbs and garlic powder. The base ingredients—chicken, avocado, vegetables, olive oil, and fresh herbs—are all AIP-approved and support gut healing and reduced inflammation.

Clean Eating

This recipe exemplifies clean eating with its use of whole, unprocessed ingredients in their natural state—fresh chicken, vegetables, avocado, and simple seasonings. It contains no refined sugars, artificial ingredients, or processed foods, just real food prepared simply to let natural flavors shine.

DASH Diet

Perfect for the DASH Diet, this recipe features lean poultry, abundant fresh vegetables, and heart-healthy fats from avocado and olive oil while keeping sodium low. The use of herbs, spices, and citrus for flavor instead of salt makes it ideal for blood pressure management.

Diabetic Diet

This diabetic-friendly recipe features lean protein, healthy fats, and low-glycemic vegetables that support stable blood sugar levels. With no added sugars, refined carbohydrates, or high-glycemic ingredients, it provides balanced nutrition that won't cause blood sugar spikes.

Evolutionary Diet

This evolutionary diet recipe features only foods available to our ancestors—chicken, vegetables, avocado, and natural seasonings—while excluding all grains, legumes, and dairy. The nutrient-dense whole foods support optimal health through evolutionary eating principles.

Flexible Dieting

This flexible dieting recipe features nutrient-dense whole foods with easily trackable portions of protein, fats, and carbs. The balanced macronutrient profile and use of quality ingredients demonstrate how wholesome, satisfying meals can fit into any flexible eating approach.

Gluten-Free Diet

This recipe is naturally gluten-free, using only fresh chicken, vegetables, avocado, and simple seasonings with no wheat, barley, rye, or gluten-containing ingredients. It's a safe, delicious option for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity without requiring any special substitutions.

Heart-Healthy Diet

This heart-healthy recipe emphasizes lean poultry, monounsaturated fats from avocado and olive oil, and fresh vegetables while avoiding saturated fats and excess sodium. The use of herbs, spices, and citrus for flavor instead of salt makes it ideal for cardiovascular health.

High-Protein Diet

This high-protein recipe delivers approximately 36-40 grams of protein per serving from lean chicken breast, making it ideal for muscle building and satiety. The protein-forward approach is complemented by nutrient-dense vegetables and healthy fats for a complete, satisfying meal.

IIFYM (If It Fits Your Macros)

This macro-friendly recipe provides clear portions of lean protein from chicken breast, healthy fats from avocado and olive oil, and minimal carbohydrates from vegetables. The whole-food ingredients and measurable portions make it easy to track and fit into personalized macronutrient targets.

Intermittent Fasting

This nutrient-dense meal is ideal for intermittent fasting eating windows, providing high-quality protein for satiety, healthy fats for sustained energy, and whole food ingredients that support stable blood sugar levels throughout fasting periods.

Intuitive Eating

This recipe supports intuitive eating principles by offering a balanced, satisfying meal with varied textures and flavors that honors both nutrition and pleasure. The fresh ingredients and vibrant salsa create an enjoyable eating experience without restriction or guilt-inducing language.

Ketogenic Diet

This is an excellent keto-friendly meal featuring high-quality protein from chicken and abundant healthy fats from avocado and olive oil. With minimal carbohydrates from the vegetables and no grains or starches, it fits perfectly within ketogenic macronutrient ratios while keeping net carbs very low.

Low-Carb Diet

This low-carb recipe delivers satisfying protein and healthy fats while keeping net carbohydrates minimal through its focus on chicken, avocado, and non-starchy vegetables. With no grains, starches, or high-carb ingredients, it easily stays under 15g net carbs per serving.

Macro Diet

This recipe is ideal for macro tracking with its well-balanced combination of lean protein, healthy fats, and low carbohydrates from whole-food sources. The clearly portioned ingredients make it easy to calculate and log macronutrients while providing satisfying nutrition.

Mayo Clinic Diet

This recipe aligns with Mayo Clinic Diet principles by emphasizing lean protein, abundant vegetables, and healthy fats from avocado and olive oil. The whole-food ingredients and appropriate portions create a nutritionally balanced, satisfying meal that supports sustainable weight management.

Mediterranean Diet

This recipe exemplifies Mediterranean Diet principles with its use of extra virgin olive oil, fresh vegetables, lean poultry, and citrus. The avocado salsa provides healthy fats while the herbs and spices deliver flavor without excessive salt, making it a heart-healthy, nutrient-dense meal.

MIND Diet

This MIND Diet-friendly recipe features brain-healthy ingredients including lean poultry, vegetables, and olive oil as the primary fat source. The fresh, whole-food approach with minimal saturated fat and no processed ingredients supports cognitive health and neuroprotection.

Mindful Eating

This recipe is perfect for mindful eating with its variety of colors, textures, and fresh flavors that engage all the senses. The combination of smoky grilled chicken with cool, creamy avocado salsa encourages slow, conscious consumption and sensory appreciation of each component.

Paleo Diet

This recipe is completely Paleo-compliant, featuring grass-fed quality chicken, fresh vegetables, healthy fats from avocado and olive oil, and natural seasonings. It contains no grains, legumes, dairy, or processed ingredients—only whole foods that align with ancestral eating patterns.

Paleolithic Diet

This Paleolithic recipe is completely compliant with pre-agricultural eating patterns, featuring only hunted/gathered foods like chicken, vegetables, avocado, and herbs. It excludes all grains, legumes, dairy, and processed ingredients that came with agriculture.

Pegan Diet

This Pegan-friendly recipe emphasizes vegetables and healthy fats while using high-quality animal protein in appropriate portions. It's completely free of dairy, gluten, and processed ingredients, featuring anti-inflammatory whole foods like avocado, fresh vegetables, and herbs that align with both Paleo and vegan principles.

Primal Blueprint

This Primal Blueprint recipe features high-quality protein, abundant healthy fats from avocado and olive oil, and nutrient-dense vegetables while completely avoiding grains, legumes, and processed ingredients. The simple preparation and whole-food focus align perfectly with primal living principles.

Primal Diet

This Primal-compliant recipe features high-quality protein, healthy fats from avocado and olive oil, and fresh vegetables with no grains, legumes, or processed ingredients. The simple preparation and whole-food ingredients align perfectly with primal eating principles for optimal health.

South Beach Diet

This recipe fits South Beach Diet principles perfectly with its lean protein, healthy fats from avocado and olive oil, and non-starchy vegetables. It contains no refined carbohydrates, added sugars, or processed ingredients, making it suitable for all phases of the diet.

Weight Watchers

This Weight Watchers-friendly recipe emphasizes lean protein from skinless chicken breast, nutrient-dense vegetables, and healthy fats in appropriate portions. The fresh, whole-food ingredients and simple preparation method create a satisfying, lower-point meal that supports weight management goals.

Whole30

This recipe is completely Whole30-compliant, featuring only whole, unprocessed ingredients including chicken, fresh vegetables, avocado, and compliant oils. It contains no added sugars, grains, legumes, dairy, or artificial ingredients—just real food that supports the Whole30 reset.

Instructions

1

Preheat your grill or grill pan to medium-high heat, about 400°F.

5 min
2

In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon lime juice, cumin, garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and black pepper to create the marinade.

1 min
3

Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. If any breasts are significantly thicker than others, pound them to an even thickness of about 3/4 inch using a meat mallet.

2 min
4

Brush both sides of each chicken breast with the marinade mixture, coating evenly.

1 min
5
6 min

Place the chicken breasts on the preheated grill. Close the lid and cook for 6-7 minutes without moving them, allowing nice grill marks to form.

6
6 min

Flip the chicken breasts using tongs and continue grilling for another 6-7 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F when checked with a meat thermometer in the thickest part.

7

While the chicken is grilling, prepare the avocado salsa. In a medium bowl, gently combine the diced avocados, quartered cherry tomatoes, diced red onion, chopped cilantro, and minced jalapeño if using.

3 min
8

Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 tablespoons lime juice, and 1/2 teaspoon salt to the avocado mixture. Gently toss to combine, being careful not to mash the avocados.

1 min
9

Remove the chicken from the grill and let it rest on a cutting board for 3-5 minutes to allow the juices to redistribute.

4 min
10

Slice the chicken breasts if desired, or serve whole. Top each chicken breast generously with the avocado salsa and serve with lime wedges on the side.

1 min

Frequently Asked Questions