5 Chicken and
Avocado Tacos

You don’t have to wait for Taco Tuesday for a delicious handheld — chicken and avocado tacos are terrific seven days a week! The following five recipes are easy to assemble and customize to fit with a vegan or gluten-free diet. Plus, the delicious, always-good avocados inside add nearly 20 vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. Talk about a powerhouse meal!

Here are our five favorite chicken and avocado tacos, plus tips for adapting them to fit with gluten-free and vegan diets.

Five Chicken and Avocado Tacos Recipes

1. Grilled Chicken Tacos

You can’t go wrong with a classic. This recipe is loaded with juicy chicken, red bell pepper, and creamy avocado slices. If you’re into all things spicy, add a few more jalapeños for an extra kick.

Diet Modifications

• Gluten-free: Use corn tortillas.
• Vegan: Substitute chicken with sliced portobello mushrooms.

2. Avocado Chicken Fajita Tacos

These seasoned tacos are an explosion of flavor, complete with irresistible avocado, buttery queso Oaxaca, tender chicken breasts, and more.

Diet Modifications

• Gluten-free: Instead of a tortilla, add the ingredients to the inside of a whole or halved bell pepper and roast in the oven.
• Vegan: Nix the queso Oaxaca. Replace the chicken with a medley of veggie fajita favorites, such as baby bella mushrooms, sliced bell pepper, and cauliflower.

3. 20-Minute Easy Chicken Tacos

Whether you’re short on time or patience, these easy-peasy chicken tacos will quickly curb your craving. They’re simple to make but don’t sacrifice flavor.

Diet Modifications:

• Gluten-free: You’re good to go as is!
• Vegan: Use the same chicken marinade with diced potatoes. Roast them in the oven on a well-oiled baking sheet for 20–30 minutes at 400°F.

4. Traditional Pollo Taquito With Avocado Drizzle

Taquitos are technically not tacos … but they’re close! These made the list because they’re overflowing with chicken and avocado goodness and authentic Mexican flavors. Not to mention refried beans and cheddar cheese!

Diet Modifications:

• Gluten-free: Don’t change a thing.
• Vegan: Skip the cheese. Replace the avocado crema drizzle with slices of fresh avocado tucked inside the taquito.

5. Lime-Rubbed Chicken Tacos With Corn Guacamole

Refreshing and tangy, these tacos might just be our favorite recipe yet. Fresh lime juice and corn kernels brighten the tacos, while the avocado helps cool down the fiery goodness of roasted jalapeño.

Diet Modifications:

• Gluten-free: You’re all set with this one.
• Vegan: Use extra-firm tofu or chickpeas as the primary source of protein.

Dietary Modifications for Chicken and Avocado Tacos

As you can see, there’s a chicken and avocado taco for everybody — whether you are vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free. Sometimes, that’s thinking beyond the taco shell and using bell peppers, lettuce, or coconut wraps. If you are going meatless, it’s easy to swap the chicken for poultry-like alternatives — such as tofu or seasoned vegetables — or protein-rich produce, such as chickpeas, black beans, or lentils.

Preparation and Cooking Tips for Chicken and Avocado Tacos

Here’s how to make tacos taste exceptional every time.

Up Your Avocado Game

Chicken and avocado tacos call for buttery-soft, ripe avocados. How do you tell when an avocado is ripe? Just give it a little squeeze! Ripe avocados will yield to gentle pressure without feeling mushy. Secondly, perfect your avocado slices and dices by following tried-and-true avocado-cutting techniques. Always use a sharp knife as they’re safer than dull knives because they require less pressure to cut and are less likely to slip.

Become a Master of Marination

The basic formula for marinades involves three main components: acid, fat, and seasonings. You likely already have the ingredients for a great marinade in your pantry. Common acids are vinegar or lemon juice, while fats are typically vegetable oils. The sky’s the limit when it comes to seasonings, from basic salt and pepper to smokey cumin and paprika. Here are a few tips:

• Try blending your marinades for even distribution.
• Stay under two hours of marination time for chicken. Too much time in the marinade can toughen the meat.
• Marinate chicken in a glass bowl or dish. Aluminum containers may give your chicken a funky taste.
• Marinate chicken in the fridge for safe food practices.

Put Food Safety First

Any time you cook with raw meat, you run the risk of contamination. Bacteria can transfer from meat to knives, cutting boards, and utensils if you forget to wash them before reuse. In fact, it’s recommended to have separate cutting boards for meat and produce. And, of course, always wash your hands after handling raw meat. Cook chicken to a minimum of 165° F and consume leftovers within 3–4 days.

Chicken and avocado tacos just scratch the surface of tasty handhelds. There’s a whole world of avocado taco recipes ripe for the picking.