El Pollo Loco Avocado Salsa is the perfect topping for your favorite takeout chicken, spicy and creamy in just five minutes!
Here’s the best secret part of this recipe too. You know those avocados that aren’t the prettiest? You cut it open and it feels like a whomp whomp situation or slightly brown streaks that you feel like you can’t cut up and serve to your guests? The avocado is still delicious but wouldn’t win an avocado modeling contest? This recipe is PERFECT for that avocado.
People have asked me a ton of times, “How do I make avocado salsa?”
This recipe for El Pollo Loco Avocado salsa couldn’t be easier. You literally wash, cut veggies in half and toss them into the food processor. Cilantro, Avocado and jalapenos are the main flavors in this salsa and since everything is becoming a puree I don’t even bother chopping into smaller pieces.
You can also choose different levels of spice for the salsa quite easily. We like it mild, so I remove the seeds and most of the veins. This is where most of the spice in a jalapeno comes from.
If you like your salsa spicy, I recommend leaving in the veins. Want it even spicier? Leave in the seeds too. You won’t taste the pieces of the seeds as we’re pureeing everything here anyway.
Want more freshness? I would bump up the cilantro. Want this salsa but hate cilantro? Substitute parsley to keep the freshness.
If you’re reading this post you may be thinking about the chicken too! YES, I posted El Pollo Loco Chicken (Copycat) too! And it is delicious and authentic. Plus I also have the old school bean recipe (the one they removed a few years ago in spite of all of our protests!).
Serve this El Pollo Loco Avocado Salsa with:
- El Pollo Loco Chicken (Copycat)
- El Pollo Loco BBQ Black Beans (Copycat)
- Toasted Mexican Rice
- Chipotle Lime Chips and Guacamole (Copycat)
- Chipotle Corn Salsa (Copycat)
Looking for some more copycat sauce recipes?
- Zankou Chicken Garlic Paste (Copycat)
- Chick-fil-A Sauce (Copycat)
- In-N-Out Burger Spread Dipping Sauce (Copycat)
- Panda Express Sweet and Sour Sauce (Copycat)
Tools Used in making of this El Pollo Loco Avocado Salsa:
White Vinegar: I try not to buy the super harsh tasting variety, so I love this one. Make sure you aren’t using a white vinegar that is cleaning strength, it’ll taste awful.
Food Processor: This is the newer version of the one I have used and loved for ten years. It is a workhorse and the new model has similarly awesome reviews…and it is so affordable!
El Pollo Loco Avocado Salsa (Copycat)
Ingredients
- 1 avocado cut into quarters
- 1 jalapeno de-stemmed and cut in half
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro
- 1/4 yellow onion
Instructions
- Puree in small food processor until smooth.
Delicious, next time I’m going to have to double the recipe. =)
Thanks for the 5 stars, Bri.
I tried the recipe and this is NOT the same as El pollo loco’s. This salsa was thicker, vinegary, and not spicy as the original. I think It needs some fresh pressed-garlic, more water and less or no vinegar.
Sorry it didn’t live up to your expectation.
Use fresh lime juice instead of vinegar. You can also substitute serrano chili’s for the jalapeños.
There are no Jalapenos in el pollos locos Avocado salsa.
If I remake the sauce half vinegar half jalapeno and half the salt..
Why exactly do you have white vinegar in the recipe? The actual recipe for el Pollo Loco doesn’t have any.
But what it does have is powdered garlic and powdered soybean oil.
I used what I thought I tasted when breaking down the recipe. If you have the original recipe, I would love it!
I have to say this is our new favorite even my daughter loves it ,even tho its green and she’s 8 when I put it on homemade tacos lol.
I know how picky kids can be about food so I’m so happy to see that your daughter loved it too!
I work at El Pollo Loco. Our avocado salsa actually contains NO avocado. Weird I know, but when people with allergies to avocado ask we have to tell them it’s actually avocado free.
Can you tell us what IS in it? 🙂
Which location do you work at???
The salsa at ours has real avocado in it.
This sounds and looks delicious! I cannot wait to try it out!
I’m thinking I would even pour this over salad. Is that wrong?
I’ve totally done that mixed with sour cream. It was awesome!
I do it all the time! Works great as a flavorful, low calorie salad dressing option.
I enjoyed listening to you at the IFBCin Sacramento. I have a sad looking avocado living in my fridge, guess what I am making!
Ha! Love that, I’m guessing not the avocado rose! This sauce is way more flavorful anyway. 😉
I am dreaming of all the things I can put this salsa on!
Sweet dreams, haha!
All these EL Pollo Loco posts are making me SO wish I lived near one… but now I can make their food at home, thanks to you 🙂
I wouldn’t dare have you miss out!