Guacamole Greens Salad with Cilantro Lime Jalapeño Vinaigrette
Inspired by the popular salad chain, Sweetgreen, this guacamole greens salad is bursting with flavor and texture!
One of my favorite salad recipes got a makeover! I first introduced you to this Guacamole Greens salad over four years ago.
If you’re familiar with the popular salad chain, Sweetgreen, you probably recognize this salad. It has a been a mainstay on their menu for years.
Back when I lived in Washington, DC I would occasionally treat myself and grab one of these salads on the way home from work. It didn’t take long for me to decide right then and there to recreate it at home.
Can I make a confession? My version tastes better than the original. To this day, it remains one of my (and yours) favorite everyday salad recipes!
This guacamole chicken salad is brimming with all sorts of goodies: mixed greens, chicken, fresh tomatoes, red onion, avocado, lime juice, and crushed tortilla chips.
The salad is tossed with a zesty homemade cilantro lime vinaigrette! Infused with fresh jalapeño and ground cumin, this herby vinaigrette ties the entire dish together.
The easiest way to prepare the cilantro lime vinaigrette is in a small capacity food processor or high-powered blender, such as a Vitamix (affiliate link).
While the dressing can be prepared in advance, the herbs will oxidize and lose some of their color as it sits. Either way, be sure to shake it well just before tossing.
One of the reasons why I love this salad is that it contains only a handful of ingredients, all of which are easy to grab and find year round.
The recipe below prepares one large salad serving or two smaller servings. Feel free to adjust the quantities as needed.
Guacamole Green Salad Ingredients:
- Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette – my version of Sweetgreen’s popular vinaigrette is prepared with healthy avocado oil, lots of fresh cilantro, lime juice, jalapeno pepper, and ground cumin. Citrus forward with the slightest hint of heat, this vinaigrette tastes great on a variety of salads or grain bowls!
- Mixed Greens – mixed baby greens (or a combination of mixed greens and romaine) are my greens of choice in this salad.
- Chicken – feel free to use shredded rotisserie chicken or grilled chicken (seasoned with salt and pepper) in this recipe. If you wish to prepare a vegetarian version of this salad, crispy roasted chickpeas would be a great substitute.
- Tomatoes – halved or quartered grape or cherry tomatoes add great color and flavor.
- Red Onion – the finely diced red onion is one of my favorite components in this salad! If you’re sensitive to raw onion, submerge the diced onion in cold water for five minutes, then drain. This will take away some of their bite.
- Avocado – it wouldn’t be a guacamole salad without the addition of creamy avocado chunks!
- Tortilla Chips – we’ll add a handful of crushed corn tortilla chips to the salad. They add great texture and flavor, and make the salad extra satisfying.
- Lime Wedges – just before tossing, we’ll add the juice of half a lime. The burst of fresh lime juice is that final touch that pulls everything together.
Why You’ll Love This Guacamole Greens Salad:
It takes a lot for me to feel completely satisfied with eating a salad as my main course.
It better have a lot going on, and there better be lots of texture and flavor. This guacamole greens salad checks all of those boxes and is easy to prepare. Hearty, yet citrus-forward, light, and great for all seasons.
Normally this salad costs $12 dollars at Sweetgreen, and I love that by preparing it at home, it not only saves money and tastes fresher, but also allows me to control the quality of ingredients.
If you’re a fan of flavorful main course salads, be sure to try my Mediterranean Chicken Salad with Sumac Dressing next. It is a mainstay in our kitchen too!
Guacamole Greens Salad with Lime Cilantro Jalapeño Vinaigrette
Equipment
Ingredients
Cilantro Lime Jalapeno Vinaigrette:
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¼ cup packed fresh cilantro leaves
- 1 small strip of jalapeno pepper seeds and ribs removed, finely chopped
- ¼ cup avocado (or grapeseed oil)
- ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
- freshly ground black pepper
- kosher salt
Guacamole Greens Salad:
- 4 ounces grilled chicken breast or rotisserie or leftover roast chicken, cubed
- 3 ounces grape tomatoes halved
- ¼ cup (1 ounce) finely diced red onion
- 8-10 large (1 ounce) corn tortilla chips crushed lightly with hands
- 1 small avocado pitted and cut into medium chunks
- 3½ ounces mixed spring greens
- wedge of lime for serving
Instructions
- Prepare Vinaigrette: Combine all ingredients in a blender, or small food processor bowl. Puree or pulse ingredients together, until mixture just begins to come together, and cilantro is still finely chopped. Set aside in a small container. Shake before using.
- Assemble Salad: In a large bowl, place the cooked chicken, halved tomatoes, diced red onion, crushed tortilla chips, avocado, and mixed spring greens. Squeeze the wedge of lime over the salad, then toss the salad lightly with lime cilantro jalapeño vinaigrette. Serve immediately.
Video
- Vinaigrette can be prepared up to 2 to 3 days in advance and kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Shake before using.
89 Comments on “Guacamole Greens Salad with Cilantro Lime Jalapeño Vinaigrette”
This recipe changed my life
I usually do not leave comments but this salad tasted identical to the real thing that I had to! I would even argue that since you get to select your own quality of chicken, it actually tasted even better. 10/10 would recommend anyone trying this out. The dressing was delicious and is probably the most difficult part when trying to recreate a favorite restaurant salad but this recipe is spot on and it did not take that long to make and was. Overall, a pretty simple but tasty salad!
I am also obsessed with the Sweet Green Guac Greens salad! I will try this recipe for sure! The dressing is so delicious! Can’t wait!!
Note: you forgot the red cabbage. When I order at SG I double the onions, double the cabbage and add cilantro to the salad. Dreamy!! 🥗
SG has recently switched to pickled onions. I thought it was going to be awful but guess what …. Even MORE tasty! Didn’t think it was possible!! Thanks for the recipe! Enjoy everyone!!
Interesting! They must have added cabbage to the salad in the last few years because it definitely wasn’t part of the original Guac Greens salad when I created and shared this a while back. Hope you enjoy it!
Was obsessed with this salad when I was travelling through America. Used sweet potato instead of chicken as I’m vegetarian and this is spot on. Obsessed.
It is hard to compete with Sweetgreen, but this comes awfully close!
I am not chef saavy. Doesn’t vinagrette usually have some kind of vinegar in it? Balsamic, ACV, etc? Going to make this, just got me wondering if an ingredient is missing.
Hi, a vinaigrette can be made in a lot of different ways, but no – just a type of acid (which vinegar is). The lime juice is the acid in this dressing!
This sounds wonderful and I’m particularly interested the dressing. Definitely making this one!
This salad is incredible- and even better than sweetgreen considering it’s not $15 for one serving. I added spicy broccoli (like the one at sweetgreen) & goat cheese which level it up that much more. I’m obsessed!!
This is so good. I’ve missed the guacamole greens salad since moving away from DC. We were back last month and I ate this so much while there I had to find a dupe. This is spot on and delicious.
So glad you liked it!! One of my faves!
I found this recipe using the search feature on Pinterest. This recipe is spot on. I have never been this excited about a salad. I added some additional diced jalapenos and cilantro just because I had them on hand. I also had some Italian bread at home, giving this recipe the complete Sweetgreen feel. I have nothing but good things to say about this recipe. So glad I found it.
I make this recipe all the time! So good and easy. I make it vegetarian by using black beans instead of chicken.
What fun is this!!! It’s like Cinco de Mayo in a bowl! Thanks!
Literally the best salad ever. So fresh and delicious. The dressing is next level. I also added some fresh corn! 11/10 Would recommend
I used to work next door to a sweetgreen and have been missing this salad especially during COVID. This recipe is an exact replica and SO good! Highly recommend.
So glad that you enjoyed it!! Thanks so much for the feedback!
This salad is the best I love anything with avocado. It makes the salad so much more filling
I love guacamole salads. This one looks incredible!
I have made this twice so far in a month. You can add to or subtract from the salad ingredients – put in anything that is fresh locally where you live. The dressing is delicious and would be great with pork or shrimp also!
I love salads with lots of greens and fresh veggies! I make similar salad to this but the cilantro lime jalapeno vinaigrette is new to me and can’t wait to give it a go next time I have this salad for lunch! 🙂
I LOVE this salad and I can attest that it is better than the Sweetgreens version. I love the salad dressing, and I am very excited because I have an avocado which will be ripe any day now! Thanks, Laura!