By: Jill Mills Posted: Aug 18, 2026

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This Mango Chicken Salad is the perfect combination of sweet, savory, creamy, and crunchy in every bite. Juicy seasoned chicken is served over crisp lettuce with sweet mango, creamy avocado and cherry tomatoes, then finished with a simple lemon-cilantro dressing.

Mango Chicken Salad on a white table with additional ingredients.

I love a salad that’s hearty enough to be a meal on its own, and this one definitely is! The chicken is marinated before cooking so it’s tender and flavorful, while the fresh mango adds just the right amount of sweetness. Add the creamy avocado and bright lemon dressing and you have an easy chicken salad that’s perfect for lunch or a light dinner. This is a great salad to have with chicken, but you can use other meats like tuna, salmon, or turkey. If you love chicken and salad as much as we do, you’ll also want to check out our Chinese Chicken Salad, Honey Mustard Chicken Salad and Classic Chicken Caesar Salad recipes.

Why You’ll Love This Mango Chicken Salad

Fresh and flavorful. Sweet mango, creamy avocado, juicy tomatoes, red onion, and fresh cilantro add tons of flavor and texture.
Filling enough for dinner. Adding sliced chicken turns a simple mango salad into a satisfying meal.
Simple homemade dressing. All you need is lemon juice, olive oil, and fresh cilantro.
Perfect for summer. This light and refreshing chicken salad is especially delicious when mangoes and tomatoes are at their best.
Easy to customize. Swap the greens, nuts, or vegetables based on what you have on hand.
Ready in under an hour. Most of the prep is simple chopping and assembling.

Ingredients You’ll Need

This Mango Chicken Salad is made with fresh, simple ingredients. See the recipe card below for exact measurements.

Chicken. A boneless chicken breast fillet is marinated and pan-cooked before being thinly sliced for the salad.
Worcestershire sauce. Adds a savory depth of flavor to the chicken marinade.
Olive oil. Helps keep the chicken moist and carries the flavors of the marinade. This is creates the base of the simple vinaigrette.
Lemon juice. Adds acidity and fresh flavor while complementing the mango for the chicken marinade and the dressing.
Salt and pepper. Simple seasonings are all you need to finish the marinade.
For the Salad
Mango. The star of the salad! Choose a ripe mango that’s sweet and juicy but still firm enough to dice without becoming mushy.
Lettuce. Creates a fresh, crisp base for all of the toppings.
Avocado. Adds a creamy texture that pairs beautifully with the sweet mango.
Red onion. Thin slices add a little crunch and sharpness to balance the sweeter ingredients.
Cherry tomatoes. Add juicy freshness and another pop of color.
Pine nuts. Sprinkled over the finished salad for a light, buttery crunch.
Cilantro. Fresh chopped cilantro adds lots of fresh flavor.

How To Make Mango Chicken Salad

This fresh Mango Chicken Salad is easy to put together. The chicken marinates for just 15 minutes before cooking, so you don’t have to plan hours ahead.

Make the marinade. In a plastic bag, add the Worcestershire sauce, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Add the chicken and combine slightly to coat before setting aside for 15 minutes.

Cook the chicken. In a hot and dry frying pan, add the marinated chicken and cook for 6-7 minutes on low heat. Spray the pan lightly with oil if needed. Flip the chicken and cook for 5-6 minutes with a lid on top.
Assemble the salad. In a large bowl, add a bed of chopped lettuce and top with cubes of mango and chopped red onion. Prepare the avocado by peeling and pitting it before cutting it into cubes. Slice the tomatoes in half and place the prepared avocado and tomatoes onto the plate. Slice the chicken into thin pieces and place into the bowl.

Adding the tomatoes and avocado to the Mango Chicken Salad.

Make the dressing. In a small bowl, combine the lemon juice, olive oil, and finely diced cilantro. Drizzle the dressing on top of the salad and serve with pine nuts. Enjoy!

Mango Chicken Salad topped with pine nuts.

Tips & Tricks

How to tell if a mango is ripe – Gently press the outside of the mango with your thumb. A ripe mango should give slightly under pressure without feeling mushy. If it’s rock-hard, give it another day or two at room temperature. Don’t rely entirely on the color. Depending on the variety, a ripe mango can be green, yellow, orange, red, or a combination of colors. You want the mango ripe enough to be sweet and juicy but still firm enough that the cubes hold their shape in the salad.
Don’t skip the marinade. Even 15 minutes gives the chicken extra flavor before cooking.
Let the chicken rest before slicing. Give it a few minutes after cooking so the juices can settle before cutting into it.
Slice the chicken thin. Thin slices make it easier to get a little chicken along with the mango, avocado, and veggies in every bite.
Cut the avocado last. Avocado starts browning after it’s cut, so prepare it shortly before assembling the salad.
Add the dressing just before serving. This keeps the lettuce crisp and fresh.
Toast the pine nuts. This is optional, but quickly toasting them in a dry skillet brings out even more of their nutty flavor.
Variations – Instead of lettuce, try: romaine, baby spinach, arugula or spring mix. Instead of pine nuts, swap for sliced almonds, cashews, pecans, or walnuts. Add a little heat. Thinly sliced jalapeño or a pinch of red pepper flakes adds a spicy contrast to the sweet mango.

A fork lifting up some of the Mango Chicken Salad.

Storage

Fridge: Store leftover Mango Chicken Salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator. For the best texture, keep the dressing separate and enjoy the salad within 1-2 days. If possible, store the chicken separately from the lettuce and fresh ingredients. This makes it easier to reheat the chicken without warming the entire salad.
Freezer: I don’t recommend freezing the assembled salad. Mango, avocado, tomatoes, and lettuce won’t maintain their texture once thawed. The cooked chicken can be frozen separately if needed.

Mango Chicken Salad

Why You’ll Love This Mango Chicken Salad

Ingredients You’ll Need

How To Make Mango Chicken Salad

Tips & Tricks

Storage