These Paleo stuffed avocados are so satisfying and easy to make! Avocado halves are stuffed with seasoned chicken, baked, and topped with a simple cilantro lime cream sauce.
Cinco de Mayo {aka May 5th, Mexican Heritage Day, and Cinco de Drinko} is just around the corner, my friends!
Seeing as how I’m a stone’s throw from not only Mexico but also a full-blown Mexican pedigree, it’s only right that I contribute to the party with a knock-your-socks-off recipe.
Behold! The {full name, so deep breath} Paleo Mexican Shredded Chicken Stuffed Avocado with a Cilantro Lime Coconut Milk Cream Sauce! Phew. Can you see why my friends convinced me to abbreviate the title?
This dish is dEEElicious, the sternest form of paleo-friendly, and really simple to make.
What’s involved? Shredded seasoned chicken, fresh avocado halves stuffed with said shredded chicken that’s baked to perfection, and finally a dreamy cilantro lime cream sauce made with full-fat coconut milk drizzled over the aforementioned shredded-chicken stuffed avocados. Bam!
I recommend you enjoy with a salted glass of something tart over ice. Mine may or may not involve tequila. {Ahem… a few good options: Paleo Margarita or the Paleo Paloma}. Enjoy!
For starters, chop up about 4 cloves of garlic. Pour about 1 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) into a wide-base pan {that has a fitting lid} over medium/high heat. Saute the garlic until it’s crispy brown, but not burnt – fine line there. If you want to play it safe, just slightly brown the garlic. Once the garlic is cooked, you can either leave it in the pan {if you just LOVE garlic} or remove it and do the rest of your cooking in the now garlic-infused EVOO.
Wash and dry about 1 pound of chicken tenders. Season one side of the tenders with kosher salt. Turn the heat to medium/high in your pan and cook the seasoned side of the tenders first for about 1-2 minutes. While the seasoned side is down, season the other up facing side now with more kosher salt. Flip the tenders once a white rim forms around the pink. Cook on this side for additional minute or two.
Pour in enough chicken broth to cover the tenders. Cover with a lid and let it simmer for about 18-20 minutes.
After that, pull the cooked tenders out of the broth and put them in a bowl. Using two forks {or your kitchen aid mixer – rumor has it that works too} shred the chicken. It works best when the chicken is still hot and moist. Right about now is a good time to preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. To your now beautifully shredded chicken, add ½ tablespoon cumin, ½ tablespoon light chili powder, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Mix it all together!
Halve and de-seed four avocados. Lay them out on a parchment paper or aluminum foil lined baking sheet. Stuff each avocado with the chicken then bake for about 5 minutes.
In the meantime, let’s focus on the dreamy cilantro lime coconut milk cream sauce. Use a whole can of full-fat coconut milk {make sure you shake it before you open!}. Add the juice of 4 small limes. Chop up about ½ cup of fresh cilantro {or more if you really really love cilantro}. Stir it all together.
Pull the avocados out of the oven. Don’t they look good? Now we’re going to marry the already too good to be true stuffed avocados with the cream sauce. Ta-dah! Drizzle to your heart’s desire.
Paleo Stuffed Avocados with Cilantro Cream Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 pound Chicken Tenders
- 4 Medium-Sized Avocados
- 1 tablespoon EVOO Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Chicken Broth
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 can {~14 fluid ounces) Full-Fat Coconut Milk
- 1/2 tablespoon Cumin
- 1/2 tablespoon Chili Powder {light chili powder if you can find it}
- 2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1/2 cup Chopped Cilantro
- 4 Small Limes Juiced
Instructions
- Sautee 4 cloves of garlic with about 1 tablespoon EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil) over medium/high heat in a wide-base pan with a fitting lid.
- Once the garlic is browned, either leave in pan or scoop out and discard {leaving behind the now flavored EVOO}.
- Wash, dry, and season the chicken tenders with a pinch of kosher salt.
- Sautee each side in the seasoned EVOO over medium/high heat for about 2 minutes.
- Cover the chicken tenders with chicken stock, put the lid on the pan, and simmer for about 20 minutes.
- Remove the tenders from the pan and place in a bowl. Shred using two forks or a stand mixer.
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper.
- Add the cumin, chili powder, 1 teaspoon of kosher salt, and the black pepper to the shredded chicken. Stir it together.
- Halve and de-seed four avocados. Lay them out on a parchment paper or aluminum foil lined baking sheet.
- Stuff each avocado half with the chicken then bake for about 5 minutes at 400 F.
- For the cream sauce, stir one can of full-fat coconut milk with the lime juice and cilantro.
- After the avocados are finished, pull out of the oven, plate, and drizzle with the cream sauce.
Nutrition
I just made them….very simple to make. Thanks for the recipe!
Thanks for trying them out Aramis! Hope you enjoyed!
these look delish, and I can’t wait to make them! I want to take them for lunch, but will they keep? Or will the avocado begin to brown?? Thanks!
Hi Savannah! I would keep the meal in an airtight container if saving for the next day. It might brown some, but it would still be delicious. You could also just make the chicken and cilantro cream sauce the night before, and then once you are at work just bring in an avocado and assemble there.
these look delicious
Is the coconut milk sweetened?
No, not sweetened.
My husband and I made these tonight and they were absolutely delicious! So much flavor and a great way to spice up the work week. Thanks for sharing- your recipes (and photos) are great! 🙂
These look delightful! Can’t wait to try them out!
I hope you love them!
A few months… well… half a year after Cinco de Mayo and I ran across this post on Pinterest. Not to say I will wait till next Cinco de Mayo to try them out, these look awesome! Thanks for a great post!
My pleasure! You just inspired me to throw a Cinco de Diciembre party…margaritas and stuffed avocados for everybody!
I want to try this but I hate the taste of cilantro. Is there anything I can sub it with?
Hi Jessica! Does it taste like soap to you? I’ve heard that quite a bit – entire cultures {some think genetic links} have aversions to the taste of cilantro. I think it’s fascinating. If you want the same green texture, you can try adding chopped Italian Flat Leaf Parsley or just leave it out all together. The lime makes it flavorful on its own too. Hope that helps!
I made this last night and am taking them for lunch this week. Needless to say, the recipe has already been circulated around the office and everyone thinks I’m gourmet! It is absolutely delicious and surprisingly filling. It is going to become a staple, like the coconut chicken tenders, for me. Yum!
That’s so great! Thanks, Liz!!
I just made these and am in love! Thank you for the great recipe!
Thanks, Rhonda! It’s my pleasure. I’m so glad you liked them 🙂
Looks so yummy!
Thank you!
YUM! Must try this
Thanks! I’d love to know what you think after you give it a try!
Going to show this to Wifey and try it tomorrow night, I think. I’m going to be honest, with the way I eat I might want to couple this with something. Any suggestions?
Totally! I need more to a meal than this too. I would serve it up with a generous portion of the Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice. Doesn’t taste like cauliflower and is really filling. Hope that helps!
I love everything about this recipe… Bravo! I will definitely be trying this as well. Enjoy your salt rimmed tart beverage and happy cinco!
Thanks love! Happy Cinco 😉
These look amazing! I think I’m going to try making them for Cinco de Mayo.
Thank you! I’d love to know what you think after you give them a try 🙂
So good! I think it’s safe to say I am quickly going to become obsessed with your recipes.
Aw, thanks Ashleigh! I’m so glad you liked it!