Cottage Cheese Avocado Herb Cups (Printable)
Roasted chicken, cottage cheese, avocado and herbs spooned into crisp lettuce cups for a light, protein-rich lunch.
# List of ingredients:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 12 oz)
02 - 1 teaspoon olive oil
03 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
04 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ Salad Base
05 - 1 large ripe avocado, diced
06 - 1 cup (8 oz) cottage cheese, low-fat or full-fat
07 - 2 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped
08 - 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
09 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
10 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
11 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
12 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
13 - Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Serving
14 - 8 large butter lettuce leaves or romaine hearts
# Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Rub chicken breasts with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Arrange on a baking sheet and roast for 18–20 minutes until fully cooked through. Allow to rest briefly, then dice or shred into bite-sized pieces.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the diced avocado, cottage cheese, chives, dill, parsley, red onion, lemon juice, and garlic powder. Gently fold in the cooled chicken until evenly distributed. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.
03 - Arrange butter lettuce leaves on a serving platter. Spoon a generous portion of the chicken salad mixture into each leaf.
04 - Serve immediately at room temperature, or refrigerate for 30 minutes for a chilled, refreshing presentation.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The cottage cheese and avocado create a creamy dressing without a drop of mayonnaise, which feels like a small kitchen victory every single time.
- It comes together in under an hour and uses one baking sheet plus one bowl, so cleanup is almost nothing.
02 -
- If the cottage cheese seems watery, drain it in a fine mesh strainer for a few minutes before mixing or your salad will pool liquid at the bottom of the lettuce cups.
- Assemble the cups no more than an hour before serving, because the lettuce will start to soften and wilt where it touches the filling.
03 -
- Sprinkle the avocado with lemon juice the moment you cut it to prevent browning while you prep the remaining ingredients.
- Use the deepest, most cup shaped lettuce leaves you can find, because a flat leaf means salad on your lap instead of in your mouth.