This Cilantro Lime Avocado Salad is a refreshing, creamy, and tangy dish that’s perfect for warm days. With just a handful of ingredients and only 10 minutes of prep time, it’s the kind of salad that delivers big flavor without the fuss. The smooth richness of ripe avocados perfectly complements the zing of lime and the freshness of cilantro, while juicy cherry tomatoes and crisp red onions add brightness and crunch.
Ideal as a light lunch, side dish, or even a taco topping, this salad is naturally gluten-free, vegan, and packed with healthy fats and fiber. Whether you’re hosting a summer barbecue or meal prepping for the week, it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Plus, it’s endlessly customizable, add black beans, grilled chicken, or tortilla strips to suit your taste and make it your own!
Full Recipe:
Ingredients:
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2 large ripe avocados, diced
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1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
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1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
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1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
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1/2 cup canned corn, drained (or grilled corn)
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1 tablespoon olive oil
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Juice of 2 limes
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1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
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1/4 teaspoon cumin
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Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
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In a large mixing bowl, gently combine diced avocado, halved cherry tomatoes, chopped red onion, corn, and fresh cilantro.
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In a small bowl or jar, whisk together lime juice, olive oil, garlic powder, cumin, salt, and pepper.
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Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine without mashing the avocado.
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Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.
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Serve immediately or chill for 10–15 minutes before serving.
Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cooking Time: 0 minutes | Total Time: 10 minutes
Kcal: 210 kcal | Servings: 4 servings
Cilantro Lime Avocado Salad: A Bright and Creamy Summer Favorite
There’s something magical about a dish that manages to be creamy, zesty, and refreshing all at once. That’s exactly what you get with this Cilantro Lime Avocado Salad, a simple, wholesome, and utterly satisfying creation that celebrates the vibrant flavors of summer. Whether you’re on the hunt for a side dish to brighten up your dinner table, a light lunch to enjoy al fresco, or something fresh and nutrient-packed to round out your meal prep routine, this salad is an effortless yet impressive choice.
At its core, this salad is a celebration of ingredients that are best when fresh and in-season. Avocados bring a luxurious, creamy texture. Lime juice cuts through with a bold tang, waking up your palate and complementing the richness of the avocado. Cilantro infuses the dish with herbaceous brightness, while sweet corn and juicy tomatoes add both color and bursts of summery flavor. The result is a salad that doesn’t just accompany a meal, it is the meal, especially for those looking for something healthy, filling, and energizing.
The Beauty of Simplicity and Whole Foods
One of the best things about the Cilantro Lime Avocado Salad is that it uses real, whole food ingredients. No preservatives. No processed dressings. Just raw vegetables, fresh herbs, healthy fats, and natural seasonings. This kind of eating supports a wide range of dietary lifestyles, it’s gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, paleo, and can even be adapted for keto diets with minimal changes.
It’s also a nutrient powerhouse. Avocados are loaded with heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, potassium, and fiber. Tomatoes offer lycopene, a powerful antioxidant. Corn adds natural sweetness and a bit of crunch, while red onions provide bite and antimicrobial properties. Together, they create a well-balanced profile of macros and micros that work for your body and your taste buds.
A Crowd-Pleaser for Every Occasion
Whether you’re preparing a feast for guests or throwing together a quick lunch between meetings, this salad works beautifully for every occasion. It’s elegant enough for entertaining, the colors alone make it stunning on the plate and casual enough to prep in advance and eat throughout the week.
Hosting a summer BBQ? Pair it with grilled meats like carne asada or BBQ chicken. Planning a vegan spread? Serve it alongside roasted vegetables, tacos, or rice bowls. Want a light lunch? Throw in some black beans or chickpeas and turn it into a protein-rich, meatless meal. You could even spoon it over nachos or scoop it up with tortilla chips for a fun twist on guacamole.
This versatility is what makes the Cilantro Lime Avocado Salad so special. It’s not bound by rules. It’s customizable, scalable, and endlessly adaptable.
Tips for Success and Customizations
Choose Ripe Avocados: The quality of your avocados will make or break this salad. Choose ones that are just slightly soft to the touch but not mushy. If they’re too ripe, the salad can turn overly creamy and lose some texture.
Use Fresh Lime Juice: Skip the bottled lime juice. Fresh-squeezed lime is brighter and more fragrant, and it brings the whole dish to life.
Don’t Overmix: Avocados are delicate. To maintain those perfect cubes and avoid a mushy texture, toss gently and just enough to coat the ingredients with the dressing.
Serving Tip: If you’re not serving the salad immediately, add the avocado at the last minute to preserve its color and texture. The lime juice will help slow browning, but fresh is always best.
Fun Add-Ons:
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Protein: Add grilled shrimp, shredded rotisserie chicken, black beans, or quinoa.
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Texture: Sprinkle with roasted pepitas, sunflower seeds, or crushed tortilla chips.
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Heat: Add finely chopped jalapeños or a dash of chili flakes.
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Cheese: Cotija or feta adds a lovely salty contrast (not vegan, of course).
A Meal Prep Win
With no cooking required, this salad is ideal for those who want to eat healthier but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen. It takes less than 10 minutes to prepare from start to finish and can easily be scaled up or down depending on how many people you’re feeding.
Even better, this salad holds up surprisingly well in the fridge for about 24 hours if kept in an airtight container especially if you reserve the avocado and mix it in fresh before serving. That makes it a great addition to your weekly meal prep rotation, adding a vibrant, feel-good option to your lunches or dinners.
Flavor Profile: Bright, Creamy, and Zesty
Let’s break down what makes this flavor combo work so well:
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Creamy: The avocado creates a luscious texture that coats the other ingredients like a natural dressing.
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Tangy: Lime juice adds acid, balancing the richness of the avocado and cutting through any heaviness.
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Herbaceous: Fresh cilantro ties everything together with a bright, clean finish.
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Savory: The olive oil and spices add a subtle depth that keeps you coming back for bite after bite.
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Sweet & Juicy: Tomatoes and corn offer balance and natural sweetness, enhancing the dish’s complexity.
This is the kind of dish where every bite is a little different. Some bites are creamy and rich. Others are bright and zingy. But all of them are undeniably delicious.
Why You’ll Love This Dish
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✅ Quick & Easy (10 minutes prep!)
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✅ Vegan and Gluten-Free
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✅ Naturally dairy-free
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✅ Minimal ingredients
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✅ Super fresh and flavorful
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✅ Great for warm weather
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✅ Perfect for entertaining or meal prep
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✅ Customizable to your dietary needs
Conclusion
The Cilantro Lime Avocado Salad is everything a modern recipe should be fast, fresh, flexible, and nourishing. It showcases how simple ingredients, when combined thoughtfully, can create a dish that feels indulgent yet completely wholesome. Whether you’re new to plant-based eating or a seasoned veggie lover, this recipe offers something for everyone.
From its vibrant colors to its craveable texture, this salad proves that healthy doesn’t have to mean boring. It’s bold in flavor, light on effort, and endlessly versatile. Make it once and it just might become your new go-to for summer salads, backyard parties, or quick weekday lunches.
So, grab your ripest avocados, squeeze those limes, and dig into a bowl full of sunshine. Your taste buds and your body will thank you.