18 High-Protein Salads with Avocado

June 05, 2020

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These high-protein salad recipes make a delicious lunch option for any summer day. You’ll be full after eating a combination of leafy greens, creamy avocado and proteins like chicken and salmon. Recipes like Grilled Chicken Taco Salad and Southwestern Salmon Cobb Salad are healthy, light and will keep you energized throughout your day.

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Grilled Chicken Taco Salad

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Peppery arugula, grilled corn and a tangy lime vinaigrette give this healthy taco salad recipe a serious upgrade. This recipe is the perfect vehicle for using the crushed-up tortilla chips at the bottom of the bag. Source: EatingWell Magazine, July/August 2016

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Chopped Chicken & Sweet Potato Salad

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This easy salad recipe allows for a wonderful use of leftover cooked chicken. Look for escarole in the produce section near the leafy greens; if you can't find it, you can use romaine instead. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine, Spring 2019

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Southwestern Salmon Cobb Salad

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Here's a healthy twist on a classic Cobb salad recipe: we skip the bacon, getting smoky flavor from chipotle peppers instead, and add salmon for a power-protein kick. Look for small cans of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce with Mexican foods at large supermarkets. Source: EatingWell Magazine, July/August 2013

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Southwestern Steak Salad

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This steak salad recipe is packed with fresh summer corn, ripe tomatoes and silky avocado. It might be hard to imagine that this healthy dinner can be whipped up so quickly but the secret is in the timing. While the steak is cooking under the broiler, you'll have plenty of time to whisk together the lightened-up creamy chipotle dressing and assemble the rest of the salad. Serve with crumbled tortilla chips for an extra crunch. Source: EatingWell Magazine, July/August 2014

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Shrimp and Mango Adobado Salad with Grilled Corn-Avocado Salsa

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This recipe is a reinvention of a classic dish. Remember when salsa was made only with tomatoes? This lively corn-red-onion-avocado-pepper salsa goes with grilled shrimp and mangoes, which are briefly immersed in a snappy grapefruit-lime juice marinade. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Vegan Kale Caesar Salad with Tofu Croutons

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Swapping tofu for the bread in these meal-prep Caesar salad bowls bumps up the satiety factor with 18 grams of protein. These crispy tofu croutons originally appeared in Lauren Grant's recipe for Diabetic Living magazine (see Associated Recipes). Lacinato kale, also known as dinosaur kale or Tuscan kale, has flat, dark green-blue leaves--and its tenderness makes it perfect for eating raw, like in this salad. Source: Eatingwell.com, July 2019

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Orange-Sesame Shrimp Salad

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In this healthy Asian-inspired shrimp salad recipe, two types of greens--romaine lettuce and red cabbage--pair beautifully with the avocado and shrimp. Use extra dressing for another salad or as a sauce for baked fish.

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Cobb Salad with Herb-Rubbed Chicken

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Try this satisfying salad recipe for an updated version of the classic Cobb. Kale, feta and strawberries give this chicken salad a colorful upgrade. Source: EatingWell Magazine, March 2019

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Tex-Mex Salad

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Get all the protein -- 17 grams -- you need without the fat and cholesterol. Loaded with fiber-filled beans, sweet corn, crunchy sweet pepper, smooth avocado, and spicy pico de gallo, this bold salad will satisfy your taste buds and appetite. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Chicken, Kiwi and Avocado Salad

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This light lunch salad is full of flavor and texture. Sweet kiwi, creamy avocado and spicy radishes combine with grilled chicken in a lime and basil flavored dressing. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Chicken & Kale Taco Salad with Jalapeño-Avocado Ranch

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This healthy, super-fast salad recipe swaps out romaine for kale, giving you more than 10 times the vitamin C. Easy flavor hacks like store-bought ranch and pickled jalapeños help make a creamy, tangy and spicy dressing you'll want to drizzle on everything from salad to sliced veggies and shredded poached chicken. Source: EatingWell Magazine, July/August 2018

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Chopped Salad with Chicken & Avocado-Buttermilk Dressing

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This herb-loaded green goddess-inspired dressing gets a color boost from creamy avocado. Make a double batch of this healthy salad dressing to keep on hand for salads throughout the week. Source: EatingWell Magazine, March 2020

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Avocado & Shrimp Chopped Salad

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The smoky flavors of grilled shrimp and corn in this healthy chopped salad recipe are a tasty match for the creamy cilantro dressing. Source: EatingWell Magazine, May/June 2014

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Chicken, Pineapple, Avocado and Rice Salad

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Looking for a yummy lunch or dinner salad? This 30-minute, one-bowl meal combines citrusy chicken, sweet pineapple, creamy avocado and full-of-fiber brown rice with nutritious spinach. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Loaded Mediterranean Chicken-Quinoa Salad

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Turn simple precooked ingredients into a delicious one-dish meal, high in fiber and with plenty of protein to keep you feeling satisfied. Source: EatingWell.com, November 2017

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Bean & Salmon Salad with Anchovy-Arugula Dressing

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This simple bean and salmon salad becomes something truly exciting when dressed with a bold dressing flavored with anchovies and arugula. Canned wild Alaskan salmon is a healthy and environmentally sound choice. Thoroughly drain the beans so the salad doesn't taste watered down. Sometimes heating beans slightly makes it easier to drain off the cooking liquid. Source: EatingWell Magazine, September/October 2009

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Grilled Beef and Avocado Salad with Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette

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Add a few key ingredients to a reduced-calorie salad dressing and the result is a marinade that turns the flank steak into the star of this hearty, main-dish salad. Flank steak really benefits from a long marinade time, so don't skimp! Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Mexican Chicken Salad Stacks

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These citrus-avocado salad bowls topped with seasoned chicken are the perfect choice when you're in a hurry. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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