This Butter Lettuce Salad is made with tender butter lettuce, creamy avocado, crisp radish, and a tangy lemon vinaigrette. It’s a simple side salad that pairs well with just about any main dish!

Butter lettuce salad in a bowl with avocado and radish.

I love salads packed with a wide variety of ingredients like my Italian chopped salad, but sometimes simplicity wins over.

I make my Italian tricolore salad again and again because it’s so easy, and the same holds true with this Butter Lettuce Salad recipe.

This salad is proof that recipes don’t have to include a lot of specialty ingredients to taste amazing!

The salad itself is made using just four basic ingredients: butter lettuce, avocado, radishes, and chives. The vibrant, fresh herbs and veggies do more for this recipe than any specialty cooking technique or ingredient ever could!

The dressing for the butter lettuce salad is my lemon vinaigrette. The lemon flavor really shines in this recipe, making it my go-to side salad for the spring and summer.

Keep this salad in mind for busy weeknights and holiday gatherings alike. It comes together in minutes and pairs well with just about any entree!

Butter lettuce salad with avocado and radish in a bowl.
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Why you’ll love this recipe

  • Tender butter lettuce, crisp radishes, and creamy avocado are a wonderful contrast of textures. Chopped chives lend a delicate onion flavor, and the lemon vinaigrette adds a savoriness and makes the flavors pop.
  • It’s beyond easy to make! There are only (4) ingredients in the salad, and the dressing comes together in minutes.
  • It’s simple yet elegant, making it perfect for every day and entertaining.
  • You can customize this recipe by using your favorite herbs, vegetables, and salad dressing.

Recipe ingredients

The ingredients for this salad are easy to find, and you’re welcome to mix and match the salad toppings to use up what you have on hand.

  • Butter lettuce. Also known as Bibb lettuce or Boston lettuce. It’s very soft and tender with a mild, sweet flavor. This type of lettuce often comes packaged as living butter lettuce. It cannot be replanted, but the attached roots preserve freshness and nutrition. Live butter lettuce will keep for about 3-4 days unwashed.
  • Avocado. Adds creaminess to the otherwise crisp salad. This salad wouldn’t be the same without the avocado!
  • Radish. I used a combination of watermelon and red radish for color. Easter egg radishes are also a great choice. (See my produce guide and collection of radish recipes to learn more.)
  • Chives. If you don’t have chives on hand, sub with green onions or omit entirely as desired.
  • Dressing. Sub the lemon vinaigrette with my honey mustard dressing or use your favorite store bought brand.

See the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and quantities.

How to make butterhead lettuce salad

This butterhead lettuce salad recipe is extremely easy to make, and most of it may be done in advance.

Pro tip: You may prep the individual ingredients ahead of time, but the dressed salad is best served immediately.

See the recipe card below for full instructions.

  • Prep the butter lettuce. Wash the lettuce and allow it to drain in a colander. Blot dry gently with a towel or paper towels, then tear into bite-sized pieces and place in a large bowl.
  • Slice the radish and chop the chives. This may be done an hour or two in advance.
  • Slice or chop the avocado.  This should be done immediately before serving as avocado oxidizes or browns quickly.
  • Prepare the dressing.  Follow the instructions in my post for this vibrant lemon vinaigrette recipe. This may be done up to a day in advance.
  • Assemble the salad. Place all ingredients in a large serving bowl and toss gently with the desired amount of dressing. Serve immediately.
Butterhead lettuce salad with avocado, radish and lemon vinaigrette in a bowl.

Recipe FAQs

Can another type of lettuce be used?

I love making this salad with butter lettuce, but you may use any type of lettuce you like. Spring mix lettuce or romaine would work as well.

Can another type of dressing be used?

This simple side salad is also delicious when paired with red wine vinaigrette or Italian dressing.

How many people does this recipe serve?

If served as a side salad, you can easily get 4 to 6 servings out of this recipe.

Serving suggestions

When I say this salad can be served with almost any main dish, I mean it! Here are some of my favorite recipes to serve with this butter leaf and avocado salad:

Recipe notes

  • Pro tip: You may prep the individual ingredients ahead of time, but the dressed salad is best served immediately.
  • Butter lettuce is very tender, so I recommend tearing the leaves rather than slicing them with a knife.
  • You can customize this salad by adding your choice of dried or fresh fruit, nuts and seeds, and fresh or roasted vegetables.
Easy butter lettuce salad in a serving bowl with lemon vinaigrette.

More side salad recipes you’ll love

Did you try this recipe?  If so, be sure to leave a review below and tag me @flavorthemoments on Facebook and Instagram

Butter lettuce salad in a bowl with avocado and radish.

Butter Lettuce Salad with Avocado

This Butter Lettuce Salad is made with tender butter lettuce, creamy avocado, crisp radish, and a bright lemon vinaigrette. It's a simple side salad that goes well with just about any main dish!
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Ingredients

  • 1 head butter lettuce washed, patted dry and torn; see note 2
  • 1 large avocado chopped
  • 4 radishes sliced*
  • 2 tablespoons chopped chives
  • lemon vinaigrette

Instructions 

  • Place the butter lettuce, avocado, radish and chives in a large serving bowl.
    1 head butter lettuce, 1 large avocado, 4 radishes, 2 tablespoons chopped chives
  • Prepare the dressing and pour the desired amount over the salad and toss gently to combine (you may not need it all). Serve immediately and enjoy!
    lemon vinaigrette

Notes

  1. Pro tip: You may prep the lettuce ahead, but salad is best served immediately.
  2. Also known as Bibb lettuce or Boston lettuce. It’s very soft and tender with a mild, sweet flavor. This type of lettuce often comes packaged as living butter lettuce. It cannot be replanted, but the attached roots preserve freshness and nutrition. Live butter lettuce will keep for about 3-4 days unwashed.
  3. I used a combination of watermelon and red radish for color. Use your favorite!
  4. The nutrition information does not include the salad dressing as that information has been calculated in a separate post.

Nutrition

Calories: 87kcal, Carbohydrates: 5g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Sodium: 7mg, Potassium: 354mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 1489IU, Vitamin C: 8mg, Calcium: 23mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.

Did you try this recipe?Be sure to tag @flavorthemoments with the hashtag #flavorthemoments on Instagram so I can see what you made!

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