Sweetgreen Copycat: The Ultimate Guacamole Greens Salad with Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette

Inspired by the popular salad chain, Sweetgreen, this Guacamole Greens Salad is a vibrant masterpiece bursting with fresh flavors and satisfying textures. It’s not just a salad; it’s a complete meal designed to energize and delight your taste buds!

Years ago, I first shared my beloved Guacamole Greens Salad recipe with you, and it quickly became a fan favorite. Now, this enduring classic has received a fresh update, making it even more irresistible and perfectly tailored for home cooks seeking a healthy, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying meal.

For those familiar with the renowned salad chain, Sweetgreen, this salad needs no introduction. It’s been a celebrated mainstay on their menu for quite some time, captivating salad lovers with its unique blend of ingredients and zesty dressing.

My journey with this salad began during my time in Washington, D.C. It was a regular treat, a vibrant burst of freshness I’d often pick up on my commute home. But as much as I enjoyed the convenience, I knew I could replicate – and even elevate – this culinary experience right in my own kitchen. What started as a simple desire to recreate a favorite became a mission to perfect it.

Dare I make a confession? My homemade version, if I do say so myself, truly surpasses the original. It’s a bold claim, perhaps, but the ability to control the freshness of ingredients and fine-tune the flavors makes all the difference. To this day, it remains one of the most requested and cherished everyday salad recipes, both in my home and among my readers!

This magnificent Guacamole Greens Chicken Salad is generously loaded with an array of delectable ingredients. Imagine a crisp bed of mixed greens, tender pieces of perfectly cooked chicken, juicy fresh tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion for a subtle bite, creamy chunks of ripe avocado, a bright splash of fresh lime juice, and the irresistible crunch of crushed tortilla chips. Each component plays a vital role in creating a symphony of textures and tastes.

The magic truly happens when this vibrant salad is lovingly tossed with our homemade Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette. This isn’t just any dressing; it’s a zesty, herbaceous elixir infused with the subtle heat of fresh jalapeño and the warm, earthy notes of ground cumin. This vinaigrette is the secret ingredient that masterfully ties the entire dish together, elevating it from a simple salad to an extraordinary culinary experience.

Preparing this incredibly flavorful cilantro lime vinaigrette is surprisingly simple, especially with the help of modern kitchen tools. The easiest method involves a small capacity food processor or a high-powered blender, such as a Vitamix (affiliate link). These appliances ensure a smooth, emulsified dressing with perfectly incorporated herbs and spices, making your prep time minimal.

For convenience, the dressing can certainly be prepared in advance. However, a small tip to keep in mind: the fresh herbs, particularly cilantro, may oxidize and lose a bit of their vibrant green color if stored for too long. While the flavor remains fantastic, for the most visually stunning presentation, it’s best enjoyed fresh or within a day. Regardless, always remember to give it a good shake just before tossing to re-emulsify and evenly distribute all those wonderful flavors.

Simplify Your Life: Accessible Ingredients & Easy Customization

One of the primary reasons I adore this salad recipe is its inherent simplicity. It calls for only a handful of readily available ingredients, all of which are easy to source year-round. This makes it a perfect choice for last-minute weeknight dinners or a reliable option when you’re looking to create something healthy and delicious without a special trip to the grocery store. The beauty lies in its accessibility and the fresh impact each ingredient delivers.

The recipe outlined below is designed to yield one generous large salad serving, perfect for a hearty individual meal, or two smaller, lighter servings for lunch. However, don’t feel constrained by these quantities! This recipe is incredibly flexible, allowing you to easily adjust ingredient amounts to suit your appetite, dietary needs, or the number of people you’re serving. Whether you’re making it for yourself, a family dinner, or a gathering, scaling it up or down is a breeze.

Dive Deeper: Guacamole Greens Salad Ingredients Explained

Let’s take a closer look at the star components that make this Guacamole Greens Salad an absolute sensation:

• Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette: This homemade dressing is truly the heart of the salad. My rendition of Sweetgreen’s popular vinaigrette features wholesome avocado oil as its base, ensuring a smooth texture and healthy fats. It’s generously packed with fresh cilantro, brightened by zesty lime juice, given a gentle kick with finely chopped jalapeño pepper (seeds and ribs removed for controlled heat), and deepened with aromatic ground cumin. The result is a dressing that is wonderfully citrus-forward, vibrant, and boasts just the slightest hint of spicy warmth. Beyond this salad, it’s incredibly versatile and tastes fantastic on various other salads, grain bowls, or even as a marinade for chicken or fish!
• Mixed Greens: The foundation of any great salad! For this recipe, I highly recommend using a fresh mix of baby greens, or a thoughtful combination of mixed greens and crisp romaine lettuce. This blend provides both a tender bite and a satisfying crunch, creating a perfect base that complements the other ingredients beautifully.
• Chicken: This ingredient adds a substantial protein boost, transforming the salad into a filling main course. You have several convenient options: easily use shredded rotisserie chicken for a quick fix, grill chicken breasts seasoned simply with salt and pepper for a smoky flavor, or repurpose any leftover roast chicken you might have. For those seeking a delicious vegetarian version, crispy baked or roasted chickpeas are an outstanding substitute, offering a similar satisfying texture and absorbing the dressing wonderfully.
• Tomatoes: Halved or quartered grape or cherry tomatoes are ideal for this salad. Their small size makes them easy to eat, and they burst with sweet, tangy flavor, adding a crucial splash of color and freshness that brightens every forkful.
• Red Onion: The finely diced red onion is one of my personal favorite components, contributing a sharp, pungent bite that contrasts beautifully with the creaminess of the avocado and the sweetness of the tomatoes. If you find raw onion a bit too strong, here’s a pro tip: submerge the diced onion in a bowl of cold water for about five minutes, then drain thoroughly. This simple trick effectively mellows out their intensity without sacrificing their flavor.
• Avocado: It wouldn’t be a “guacamole” greens salad without the star ingredient! Creamy chunks of ripe avocado are essential, providing healthy fats, a luxurious texture, and that signature, irresistible flavor profile. Choose avocados that yield slightly to gentle pressure for the best results.
• Tortilla Chips: A handful of lightly crushed corn tortilla chips might seem like an unconventional addition, but they are a game-changer! They introduce a fantastic, savory crunch and an extra layer of flavor that makes the salad incredibly satisfying and fun to eat, mimicking the experience of enjoying guacamole with chips.
• Lime Wedges: Just before the final toss, a generous squeeze of fresh lime juice from a lime wedge is the ultimate finishing touch. This vibrant burst of citrus acidity brightens all the flavors, pulling every single ingredient together into a harmonious and truly unforgettable dish. It’s the fresh pop that makes the salad sing.

Why This Guacamole Greens Salad Will Become Your New Favorite

For me to feel completely satisfied with a salad as my main course, it needs to deliver on multiple fronts. It can’t just be a plate of greens; it needs to be an engaging culinary experience, packed with a variety of textures, bold flavors, and genuine heartiness. This Guacamole Greens Salad effortlessly checks all these boxes and more, while remaining remarkably easy to prepare. It’s a hearty, yet delightfully citrus-forward and light dish, making it a perfect choice for any season, whether you’re craving something fresh in summer or a flavorful boost in winter.

The combination of tender chicken, creamy avocado, crisp vegetables, and crunchy tortilla chips, all brought together by that vibrant cilantro lime jalapeño vinaigrette, creates a dining experience that is truly unforgettable. It’s the kind of salad that leaves you feeling full and nourished without the heavy, sluggish feeling. Perfect for a quick lunch, a satisfying dinner, or even as part of a meal prep routine for healthy eating throughout the week.

Beyond the Plate: Health, Savings, and Customization

Beyond its incredible taste and ease of preparation, there are several compelling reasons to make this Guacamole Greens Salad a staple in your meal rotation. A comparable salad at Sweetgreen typically costs around $12 or more. By preparing this flavorful meal at home, you not only enjoy significant cost savings but also gain complete control over the quality and freshness of every single ingredient. This means you can opt for organic produce, choose your preferred type of chicken, and adjust seasonings precisely to your liking – ensuring a meal that is both healthier and perfectly tailored to your palate.

Embracing home cooking for dishes like this salad also contributes to a more sustainable lifestyle by potentially reducing packaging waste associated with takeout. It’s a mindful choice that benefits both your wallet and your well-being. So, next time you’re craving a gourmet-quality salad, skip the line and the hefty price tag, and whip up this sensational Guacamole Greens Salad instead. You’ll be amazed at how simple it is to create restaurant-worthy flavors in your own kitchen!

If you’re a fan of main course salads that are packed with flavor and substance, I highly recommend you also try my Mediterranean Chicken Salad with Sumac Dressing next. It’s another vibrant, satisfying recipe that has become a beloved mainstay in our kitchen, offering a different but equally delicious flavor profile.

Get ready to transform your perception of salads with this Guacamole Greens creation. It’s truly a testament to how fresh, simple ingredients can come together to form an extraordinary meal that’s both good for you and incredibly delicious. Enjoy the process of creation and savor every vibrant bite!