Chipotle Lime Chicken Avocado Salad (Smoky, No Mayo, 45g Protein)

Avocado on calories, chipotle in adobo and cotija on sodium. Adobo sauce is salty, and so is cotija. Lighter version: one chipotle instead of two, skip the cotija, use one avocado. Under 400 calories and the smoke is still there.

Every one of these serves two, and every serving has a whole avocado in it. That’s on purpose. The fat is what makes it a meal without carbs. If the number is more than you want, split it four ways. Half an avocado each, works as a snack or a light lunch. The toast isn’t in the macros.

I char the corn in a dry skillet until a few kernels blacken. Takes three minutes and it’s the difference between this tasting like a salad and tasting like something off a grill. Two chipotles for me. One if you’re unsure.

Serves 2. No cooking. 15 minutes.

Ingredients

• 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
• 2 ripe avocados
• 1 to 2 chipotle peppers in adobo, minced, plus 1 tsp sauce
• 1 lime, juiced
• 1/4 cup corn, charred if you can
• 1/4 red onion, diced
• 2 tbsp cotija, crumbled
• 2 tbsp cilantro, chopped
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika or chili blend
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 4 slices sourdough, toasted

To serve: sourdough toast, lettuce cups, a tortilla, or straight from the bowl.

Steps

1. Mash one avocado. Dice the other.
2. Stir chipotle, adobo sauce, lime juice, paprika, and salt into the mashed avocado.
3. Add chicken, corn, red onion, and cilantro. Mix.
4. Fold in diced avocado and cotija.
5. Serve on toast with a lime wedge.

Char a whole bag of corn at once and keep it in the fridge. It goes on everything that week, not just this.

Don’t freeze the finished salad. Avocado turns to water. In the fridge, press plastic wrap right on the surface and it holds for two days. Better move: freeze the shredded chicken in portions, prep the add-ins, and mix with fresh avocado the day you eat it. Two minutes.

Is chipotle chicken avocado salad spicy?

Two chipotles is medium. One is mild with smoke. The adobo sauce carries most of the flavor, so you can use one pepper and still get the smoke.

Can I use chipotle powder instead of chipotles in adobo?

Yes. One teaspoon chipotle powder plus an extra squeeze of lime. You lose a little depth but it works.

How do I char corn without a grill?

Dry skillet, high heat, don’t stir for the first two minutes. Frozen corn works. Pat it dry first.

What’s the difference between this and reina pepiada?

Both have lime and cilantro. This one is smoky from chipotle and adobo. Reina pepiada is fresh, with onion and cumin. They taste nothing alike.

• Chipotles in adobo: 1 tsp chipotle powder plus extra lime.
• Cotija: feta, or queso fresco for milder.
• Corn: black beans if you want it heartier. Adds carbs.
• Red onion: pickled red onion if you have it. Better, honestly.