El Pollo Loco Avocado Salsa is the perfect topping for your favorite takeout chicken, spicy and creamy in just five minutes!
El Pollo Loco Avocado Salsa is one of the sauces at the all-you-can-grab salsa bar in their restaurant, and it is always the one I stand in line for. Aside from feeling like you’re scoring free guacamole, it’s creamy, spicy, tastes fresh, and is naturally vegan. Sometimes, vegans get left out of the creamy salsa/sauces game due to sour cream.
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 win-win 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 the salsa?”
This salsa recipe 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 puree, I don’t even bother chopping into smaller pieces.
You can also easily choose different levels of spice for the salsa. We like it mild, so I removed 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 the veins in. 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 the Salsa:
White Vinegar: I try not to buy the super harsh-tasting variety, so I love this one. Make sure you aren’t using 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 is so affordable!
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
- Add avocado, jalapeno, water, vinegar, salt, cilantro, and onion to a small food processor.
- Puree until smooth.
Nutrition
It’s not spot on but it’s absolutely amazing regardless! It is my permanent go to for an avocado jalapeno salsa. Love your site!
Thanks for the feedback and for the five star review.
This salsa is amazing!!!! Has the same great taste!!!! I will be using as a salad dressing?? Thank you for sharing!
You’re so welcome Goldie!
I made this and while it’s close it’s not exactly spot on, but for how easy it is to make it’s dang close enough so thank you! I did have a question, how long does it usually keep in the fridge? I put it in a mason jar
Glad you enjoyed the salsa. We recommend keeping your salsa no longer than 3 – 5 days in the refrigerator!
Delicious! Easy to make and I used the blender!
Check out Punchfork. You have the same exact picture for avocado salsa. Same recipe too, what ‘s up with that.
This recipe was great! I added a lot of lime juice to give it more brightness and tang, and added some fresh garlic as well and it was awesome.
OMGosh, so good I couldn’t stop eating it, so light & airy, (I used my trusty Magic Bullet). Not sure I’ve even tried El Pollo Loco’s avocado salsa, but found this recipe while searching for ways of using up the left over avocados from last week’s harvest (we have 150 trees).
Going to make more & have put a batch in the freezer to see if it’ll survive. Wish me luck!!
Good Luck Vanessa!
Fantastic! El Pollo Loco didn’t add the avocado salsa to my order tonight. I searched online and found this. Took no time to make and it’s delicious. I added a little lime juice and more water. Great recipe!
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.
Anyone who knows about jalapenos knows that you can get one that is extremely hot and then one that is not hot at all. I find that the ones you buy at the beginning of the season are usually not that hot. However, once the summer gets going, you rarely find one that isn’t very hot. It seems to depend on the time of the year. Serranos are always a good bet if you like it hot and they are probably are a lot more consistent in their heat level. Bill had some great suggestions. You can always add a little water if it is too thick for you. Don’t be afraid to play around with the recipe until you are happy with it! Personally, I intend to add a little fresh garlic when I make it…lol!
There are no Jalapenos in el pollos locos Avocado salsa.
If I remake the sauce half vinegar half jalapeno and half the salt..
They use serrano chili
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? 🙂
How long can you store this salsa?
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!
Yes, it is good as a salad dressing, especially on their flour taco salad bowls with chicken and the works. I don’t like sour cream so I always substitute their regular dressing for the avocado salsa instead. I can’t imagine it wouldn’t be good over a number of salads, bean dishes, etc. It’s not just good for tacos and chips but a number of other dishes!
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!