This authentic Guacamole Recipe is loaded with avocados, tomato, onion, cilantro, plenty of lime juice, salt, and pepper. Learn how to make the BEST EVER Guacamole with our easy video tutorial.
Guacamole is the perfect appetizer with crunch tortilla chips but it’s also amazing as a topping for Taco Salad, it’s delicious on Tostadas and so good on Chicken Fajitas. It complements so many Mexican recipes.
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Guacamole Recipe
We take our guacamole very seriously – we make this on our regular rotation (at least once a week) and after making hundreds of batches, it has been perfected over the years. This is the only guacamole recipe you’ll need. It’s creamy, chunky, so fresh, and has just the right amount of lime zing. It’s so satisfying and hard to stop eating it.
Guacamole Video
If you love guacamole recipes, this classic guacamole is the base for so many awesome variations like Corn Guacamole, or even Spicy Guacamole if you want to add some heat. It’s so easy to master guacamole and once you have this basic recipe down, you can experiment with adding your favorite flavors.
Ingredients
Once you have selected your perfectly ripe avocados, getting the ratio of ingredients is important for the most authentic-tasting guacamole. Here’s what you will need for homemade guacamole:
- Avocados – avocados are the star of the show so make sure you pick ripe avocados (see our tips for selecting avocados below).
- Lime Juice – we use 1 Tbsp of FRESH lime juice for every 1 large avocado. The lime juice helps to prevent browning and the right amount will make your guacamole come alive (but not literally, don’t worry).
- Onion – the flavor profile of white onions is our top choice for authentic-tasting guacamole, but you can substitute whichever onion (yellow, or purple) that you have on hand.
- Tomato – not everyone adds tomatoes but I love the color and juicy sweetness it adds to guacamole. If your tomato is very juicy when diced, strain off the juices before adding it.
- Cilantro – I don’t think you can have a proper batch of guacamole without the freshness of cilantro. That said, I also recognize some people are genetically predisposed to not liking cilantro. If that is you, you might try parsley, basil, dill, chives or green onions.
- Salt and Pepper – Salt enhances the flavor of avocado and tomato and balances the acidity of lime juice, while freshly ground black pepper adds a subtle heat. You can add both to taste.
How to Select Avocados
When you are buying avocados, consider when you will be making your guacamole and if they need time to ripen. If you want guacamole tonight, select perfectly ripe avocados. If you are shopping ahead, you can get firm avocados and follow our tips below for faster ripening.
- Select Ripe Avocados – ripe avocados should have stems attached and you should be able to push the sides in slightly with your fingertips.
- Avoid overripe avocados – overly soft and squishy avocados or avocados with missing stems are more likely to have browned on the inside.
- To soften hard avocados – place underripe avocados in a paper bag with an apple or banana (which releases ethylene gasses to speed up ripening) and leave at room temperature for 2-3 days.
- To slow down ripening – if your avocados are getting ripe and you aren’t ready to use them, you can slow down the ripening process by placing whole avocados in the refrigerator.
How to Make Guacamole
This is the same basic process for making every guacamole recipe and you will have it memorized in no time.
- Prep avocados – Start by cutting the avocado in half lengthwise then remove the pit, use a spoon to scoop out the flesh and transfer it to a mixing bowl. Coarsely mash with a potato masher to a chunky consistency.
- Add lime juice – Squeeze lime juice directly over the top to prevent browning.
- Add remaining ingredients – add diced tomatoes, chopped cilantro, and onion.
- Season – add salt and pepper to taste, and stir just to combine.
Pro Tip: Watch the video tutorial above to see our favorite way to cut, pit and peel avocados.
Ways to Serve Guacamole
From a stand-alone appetizer to a topping, dip or garnish, there are so many great ways to serve guacamole. Here are some of our favorites:
- Appetizer – serve with tortilla chips, Pita Chips, or crackers
- Toast – Spread leftover guacamole on crisp toast for breakfast
- Salmon – Serve it on Grilled Salmon or Pan-Seared Salmon
- Burgers – Try guacamole inside juicy Burgers
- Nachos – Scoop guacamole over servings of Baked Nachos
- Deviled Eggs – Guacamole Deviled Eggs are surprisingly delicious
Common Questions
Check out the nutrition label below to see the calories and carbs for guacamole. Avocados are nutrient-rich and contain fiber and good fats. To make it healthier, you can control your portion sizes by eating in moderation. Also, instead of chips for dipping, try whole grain crackers or use fresh veggies like cucumbers.
Lime juice is the traditional choice, but we often substitute lime juice with lemon juice if that is what we have on hand. If substituting, use the same amount of lemon juice. The KEY is to use freshly squeezed juice and never from concentrate or it will taste like boring store-bought guac.
White onion is the classic choice for guacamole because of its crisp, fresh, and clean flavor profile. You can substitute for yellow onion or red onion like we did with the Corn Guacamole, but white onion is most commonly used in authentic guac.
We can’t get enough of this homemade guacamole. I’d love to hear about your favorite guacamole ingredients. Is there anything special that you love to add?
Make-Ahead
Guacamole tastes best enjoyed within a day or so of making it, but there is a better way to store leftovers to prevent discoloring:
- To Refrigerate – you can whip up a batch of guacamole a day ahead. Air is the enemy of avocados and will cause it to brown. You can preserve your guacamole by placing plastic wrap directly over the surface of the guacamole, pushing out all extra air. Even if stored in closed Tupperware, putting plastic wrap directly over the guacamole first will keep it looking green and vibrant.
- Freezing – we do not recommend freezing since the veggies can get soggy and mealy when thawed.
More Appetizer Recipes
If you are looking for more appetizer ideas for your next party, these are some of our best loved, crowd-pleasing appetizers:
- Buffalo Wings
- Spinach and Artichoke Dip
- Shrimp Cocktail Recipe
- Pico De Gallo
- Ceviche
- Cheeseburger Sliders
Best Guacamole Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 avocados, (large, ripe)
- 1 tomato, (medium), seeded and diced
- 1/2 white onion, diced
- 1/2 cup cilantro, (1/3 bunch) finely chopped
- 3 Tbsp lime juice
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
Instructions
- Cut 3 avocados in half lengthwise, remove pits, scrape the flesh of the avocado out with a spoon. Place in a medium bowl with a flat bottom and mash avocados with a potato masher to a chunky consistency.
- Squeeze 3 Tbsp of fresh lime juice directly over avocados while prepping the rest of your ingredients.
- Add diced tomatoes, onion, and chopped cilantro. Season with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Stir just until combined and serve.
This recipe and all of your recipes are fantastic, every time I make them, the compliments are never ending. Thank you so much for making my cooking so much fun, easy and delicious.
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Linda!
Great proportions…I like a little hint of pepper, cumin, chili powder and fresh garlic in my Guacamole…
Arriba! Best guacamole recipes ev—er! Will include cumin in my next batch. Avocados are considered a health food now. Thank you Natasha! I love the way you savour your creations and enjoy the process.
Hi Diane! You’re very welcome. Thank you.
Really delicious this recipe!
I use chives instead of onion and parsley instead of cilantro!
Thank you for sharing, Nicole! So glad you loved it.
Wonderful recipe. I’ve been making it for years but, I add a little cumin and I don’t add pepper. ( I don’t like pepper) I add a little paprika instead
Sounds wonderful!
Great recipe!
If I may, my mom bought me an air tight Guacamole Keeper Bowl, which pushes out the air when you put the top on and it stayed fresh and green for a week!
That’s wonderful, Michele! What a great gift.
If you don’t like raw onion (or it doesn’t like you) how much onion powder would you use in place of raw onion in this recipe?
Hi Gayle. You can experiment with it and add it to your preferred taste. I did a quick Google search and found that one tablespoon of onion powder equals one cup of fresh onion. I hope that helps give you a reference point.
Thankyou Natasha! That is my go to recipe for guac. Theds get in my way
I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe!
Hi Natasha, I have read this entire page and can not find the link for your prep gloves. I also went on your Amazon page and they aren’t there either. Please where do you get them. V
Hi Vicky! These are the vinyl glovesI used.
Very good spicy guacamole!
I can never find the notes where you link to products. Where are they?
Hi Rick! If you read through my blog post above, anything that is linked will be in red font. You can click on the words in red font and it will take you directly to the link for that. You can also find all my supplies on my amazon shop by clicking on “shop” at the top of the page. I hope that helps.
Can you tell me any Great tips for keeping the guacamole from getting so brown the next day? TIA
The lime juice will help with that. Often times people leave in the pits/seeds too.
This is how I have always made it only I use garlic salt and it really is delicious 😋 love all of your Shares!
Thank you! So glad you are enjoying my recipes.
This is a great recipe. I don’t know why most put garlic in. It just does belong. Garlic is used way too much
Thank you so much for sharing that with me. We love garlic, but you can omit it and adjust to personal preference.
My 2nd note because I meant to say RealLime Juice instead of Lemon. So… If I have RealLime juice instead of a lime, can I use that instead?? Thank you Natasha. This looks so good, I’m thinking I’m going to be eating it by the spoon fulls. 🙂
Got it, I assumed thats what you meant, but I responded to other comment. 🙂
I hope you love this recipe.
If I don’t have a lemon on hand, can I use RealLemon Juice?
Hi! We love the taste of fresh lime juice, but yes, you can if that is all that you have.
I love making guacamole!!! I use everything that you have here and I add minced jalapenos (in winter) that I froze from my garden. I also add more onion, and a bit of
minced garlic
Sounds great, Karen! Thank you for sharing. 🙂
This really is the best guacamole recipe ever!! Thanks for sharing this amazing recipe, definitely going to be using it again!
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Olivia! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
Didnt have to alter this recipe at all. So perfect! Its our go-to recipe during the summer time.
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Julia!
Love a chunky guacamole!! This stuff is addicting & so delicious!!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!
I made it several times since a few weeks ago! I love guacamole and happy to able to make it at home rather than buying from restaurant w a high price! I also make a variation for my 19 month old (only avacado, tomato and lime) and he loves it! Very healthy!
Thank you for making it easy to make it at home!
You’re very welcome! 🙂
Awesome! Delicious, easy and quick to make. Thank you for yet another awesome recipe!❤️
Hi Cheryl! That’s wonderful. I’m glad you loved it. Thank you.