Best Guacamole Recipe (VIDEO)
Learn how to make the BEST EVER Guacamole with our easy video tutorial. This authentic guac recipe is loaded with avocados, tomato, onion, cilantro, plenty of lime juice, salt, and pepper.
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We take our guacamole very seriously – we make this on the 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.
Watch the Guacamole Recipe Video:
This classic guacamole is the base for so many awesome variations like Corn Guacamole, or even Spicy Guacamole if you wanted to add some heat. Watch the video tutorial and you will see just how easy it is to make an incredible batch of guac.
It’s so easy to master guacamole and once you have this basic recipe down, you can experiment with adding your favorite flavors. If you’re feeling adventurous, another combination we love is to replace tomatoes with diced mango (like our Avocado Mango Salsa).
Ingredients for Authentic Guacamole:
Once you have selected your perfectly ripe avocados, getting the ratio of ingredients is important for the most authentic tasting guac. 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).
Can I Substitute Lime Juice?
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.
What is the Best Onion for Guacamole?
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.
How to Select Avocados:
When you are buying avocados, consider when you will be making your guac. If you want guac 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 avocados or avocados with missing stems are more likely to have browned on the inside. Tip: to slow down ripening or if making guacamole another day, store ripe avocados in the refrigerator.
- 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.
How to Make Guacamole:
We use the same basic process for all of our guacamole varieties and you will have it memorized in no time.
- Pit 3 avocado and use a spoon to scoop them into a mixing bowl then coarsely mash with a potato masher.
- Squeeze lime juice directly over the top to prevent browning.
- Add diced tomatoes, cilantro, and onion. Season with salt and pepper and stir just to combine.
Can I Make Guacamole Ahead?
Yes! 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 storing in closed tupperware, putting plastic wrap directly over the guacamole first will keep it looking green and vibrant.
Guacamole tastes best enjoyed within a day or so of making it and we do not recommend freezing since the veggies can get soggy when thawed.
Is Guacamole Healthy?
Check out the nutrition label below to see the calories and carbs for guacamole. Guacamole is naturally paleo, gluten-free and low carb so it’s keto-diet friendly. Also, avocados are nutrient-rich and contain a healthy kind of fat. You can read more about their health benefits.
More Appetizer Recipes:
- Spinach and Artichoke Dip – our most popular dip recipe
- Shrimp Cocktail Recipe – with the best cocktail sauce
- Pico De Gallo – authentic and mouthwatering
- Ceviche – a shrimp avocado salsa with lime juice
- Cheeseburger Sliders – we love these as an appetizer or main course
Best Guacamole Recipe
How to make the BEST EVER Guacamole. This authentic guac recipe is loaded with avocados, tomato, onion, cilantro, plenty of lime juice, salt and pepper. The only guacamole recipe you’ll need!
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
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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.
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Squeeze 3 Tbsp of fresh lime juice directly over avocados while prepping the rest of your ingredients.
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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.
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
This classic guacamole recipe was first published in 2010 (the photo below reflects our photography skills from that era). We added new photos and a video tutorial and perfected the ingredient proportions, making this the ultimate guacamole!
Natasha Kravchuk
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Fresh Mango Salsa Recipe (5 Ingredients) 
Avocado Shrimp Salsa Recipe (VIDEO) 
Spicy Guacamole Recipe 
Hi! I'm Natasha Kravchuk. Here you'll find delicious, trusted recipes with easy step-by-step photos and videos. 
Can you use lemon juice instead of lime juice?
Hi Ellie, yes you can. 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.
I love, love, love, your recipes. Love being able to print out the recipes. Can’t wait to try all of these. Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome, Wanda. Hope you’ll love all the recipes that you will try!
Hallo Natasha!
I tried this and it was awesome!! You can also add pieces of mango, it gives a bit of sweetness and sourness….
Oh great idea!! I love that! Thank you for sharing Luna!
Hello Natasha
Love your blog. How do you stay so thin. OMG I can eat those all week with chips LOL.
You’re so nice! Thank you!
I add a finely diced jalapeño pepper (seeded). It adds a kick.
Sounds good, Lynn! Thanks for the suggestion.
Very nice recipe ,, try ripening avocados in fridge they ripen from inside out I do this also an banana in paper is used for a faster method !!!
I’m so glad that was helpful Joseph!
Favorite guacamole I’ve ever made! Followed the recipe but left out the tomatoes ( son doesn’t like tomatoes much ) really good!
Hi Jean, it’s still yummy without tomatoes. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
I often use red bell pepper in place of tomato. It gives it a little crunch and adds flavor where tomatoes sometimes are not very flavorful and adds too much moisture. Try substituting the red pepper for tomatoes once and it will be your new favorite 🤩
I like to use grated garlic in place of the onion.
Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
I make the same recipe but do not use black pepper, but instead I add 1/2 tsp of cumin and a dash of red pepper flakes (to taste). I use 1 lime to 3 avocados and don’t worry if it is exactly 3 TB of juice but squeeze it all out. Salt is also to taste as it will taste way off without it (we tried).
That’s great to know! Thanks for the tip and for sharing some suggestions with us, Angela.
Hi Natasha, my sister and I made this guacamole today. It was so good! We loved it! Our family tore it up. We topped it on top of our nachos. It was delicious! Thanks for the recipe!
Hello Zoie, so lovely to hear that! Thank you so much for your awesome feedback, I’m so glad your family enjoyed this recipe.
Fantastic and delicious!
Thank you for the great review!
Absolutely delicious!!
Thank you for shar
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed that!
Perfect taste! Simple ingredients. Love!
I’m happy you enjoyed that!
Followed recipe as written and I wouldn’t change a thing. This was delicious! thank you for a winner.
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Joan!
This is the best ever! This is my go to place for recipes and they turn out amazing every time! Thanks lovely😍
Thank you for that wonderful compliment! Happy New Year Karisa!
luv your recipes, ty for posting n sharing them! my husband and i are eating much better variety of foods. they are easy to follow which is helpful to someone like myself who is not a skilled cook; but they’ve been turning out really good!
Hello Tania, I’m so glad that you and you’re both enjoying my recipes. I hope that you will both love every recipe that you will try from my website!
I made this exactly as recipe stated. There was too much lime taste. It was all I could taste.
Hi Paula, it will tone down as it stands for a bit, but that can depend on the size of your limes and how juicy they are.
Try using oregano instead of black pepper for your guacamole. To me, it makes it taste much better. My Guatemalan tip 🙂
Thanks for sharing! That sounds like a fun experiment. Dried oregano, correct?
Cant wait to try your guacamole!! Looks divine!!
Can you send a link to the food scraper you use in your videos please?
You are awesome!
Bernie
I think you will love it! You can see the kitchen tools that I use here in our Amazon Page.
Quite literally the best guac recipe! I’ve already made it twice and friends told me it was the best guac they’ve ever had. Thank you for sharing this one with us!
Love it! Thanks for sharing your great experience with us, Jane.
No garlic? Gotta have garlic!
No garlic but you are definitely welcome to add that!
Hey,
Love your recipes 🙂
Can you please add the link for best garlic crusher you used ?
Thanks
Hi Amber, this is the garlic press that we love from OXO.
Hi Natasha, I am new to your blog. In your video, you mentioned that you will add the link to where I can find the gloves you used. I can’t find it here. Please help. I’d like to get one the same as what you used. Many thanks.
Hi Jen, you can find our favorite tools in our Blog Shop HERE and in our Amazon Shop HERE. I hope that helps
Hi Jen, here’s the link to the gloves that I used in that video.
This is so good! Any good recipes for French onion soup?
Hi Sheri! This is at the top of our list! We hope to have one on the blog soon.
This is such an amazing guacamole recipe! Everyone at my house loved it!
Sounds like you found a new family favorite! That’s so great!
So much flavour I can barely stand it!! Thank you for yet another winner!
That’s so great! I’m so glad you enjoyed that Julia!
This guac was perfect, I love a good chunky style guac and this was the perfect addition for our taco night.
Wonderful to hear that Natalya. Thanks for giving this recipe great feedback!
Link for those gloves please. Thank you for the awesome recipes. I will definitely be making those guacs.
Hi Helen! I hope you love this recipe. Here’s the list of kitchen tools that I am using and I think the gloves is also in this list.
Is there a link for the scoop spoons?
Hi Melissa, I used this Fruit Scoop.
San Diego is the avocado capital of America and I have been enjoying them almost for 50 years. I get very annoyed when I open a new one from the grocer and find so many bruised spots! (squeezing to see if it’s ripe?) I find just holding it in my hand and gently squeezing with my palm will tell me if it is soft inside and just ripe. I have also inserted a paring knife tip into it and if it goes in easily it is ripe enough. If not, just set it aside for another day… the knife slit will not hinder it in any way. Another tip: sprinkle a little “Fruit Fresh” into the guacamole and it keeps its bright green color.
Thank you so much for sharing those tips with us Mary Ann!
Hi Natasha:
Love the way you explain recipes! Definitely going to try this guac recipe. I may have missed it, but I didn’t see the reference to the kind of food prep gloves you use. The ones we have are too large for my hands. Thanks!
Thank you Barb, I’m so glad you love the recipes that I have. Yes please give this a try and let us know how it goes! Here’s the list of kitchen tools that I am using and I think the gloves is also in this list.
I made this just like you said. loved it. so simple
So glad you enjoyed it Faye!
Hi Natasha,
I just watched your video on making spicy guacamole and you mentioned adding 1/2 tsp cumin. Yet in your written recipe, it is omitted. Should we still add it?
Hi Mollymae, the cumin was added to the Corn Guacamole Recipe, not the ‘Best Guacamole Recipe’ I hope that helps.
LOVE the new photography!! Congrats to your husband.
I made this last night. Very good.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Natasha, just a hint if you leave the seed in avocados it stops it from browning.
Oh is that so? Thanks for the tip! I should try that next time.
What can I use instead of cilantro?
You can omit it or try parsley? Let me know how it goes.
Exactly like I make it – chunky. I substitute 1/3 of a can of diced, fire roasted tomatoes, drained for the fresh because out of season tomatoes are basically flavorless. Freeze the remainder. A pinch or two of ground cumin and garlic powder finishes it off.
It stores well in a nifty container called a guaclock. Another trick is to level the container of guac then float a thin layer of water over the top to seal out air then cover with the lid.
So awesome thank you for the tip and thanks for sharing how you prepare your guacamole!
I have used some of your recipes with my6 smoked neat. Delicious,
So nice to know that, Jerry. Thanks for sharing!
Super women !!!
Thank you!
Natasha how did you know? Haha I was just talking about making our own guacamole a few days ago. Can’t wait to try it!
I love when that happens! I hope you enjoyed this recipe!
What a delicious recipe, I love adding guacamole to my breakfast toast and this was the perfect guac. with the perfect hint of citrus. Thank you. I will defiantly be using this again for Cinco de Mayo.
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
This Guac is unbelievably good! We’re so obsessed! Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it!
Trying to find the grilled corn guacamole recipe. Looks delish.
Hi Darlene, we have a link in the recipe above for future reference but here is a direct link to the Corn Guacamole recipe. Also, anytime you are looking for a recipe, you can click the search bar on my site and type in the name and it should come up quickly.
Can you tell me where to get the kitchen tool you use to scrape up ingredients. It’s a half circle of stainless with a black handle edge? Thank you
Hi Debi, we have it linked in our Amazon shop here.
I have also tried this recipe as a salad, not a dip by adding a little less avocado, plus black beans, red peppers and roasted corn. It’s for the time when avocados are not as cheap anymore 🙂
Oh that’s brilliant! Thank you!
you should add jalepeno pure or cut up a small amount. it adds some nice spice and the avocado really soothes at the same time. mmm so good! P.S. my advice is to slightly mash the avocados with a fork leaving a few chunky pieces seems to taste so much better! 🙂
Yay, Cycaha, I was wondering why no one mentioned green chile or jalapeno! That’s how we like it in NM. Chunky too.
Very good recipe. Thank you. I would recommend to substitude onion for red onion and lemon juice for lime juice. Also add some halapeno or some hot sauce to make it more authentic.
Sounds good! Thanks Charlie!
I lived in Mexico for a year and never saw a lemon. Lime is the ticket. Try it in the guacamole, but great squeezed in a bowl of chicken soup too. Just moved to Ukraine in October. Trying to learn the language. Great to see some recipes that I can completely understand. keep up the good work.
We will try that. We have been using lime in guacamole but not salsa. Sounds like lime will make it more authentic.
I really like this version of guacamole. If you want Cali style, sub the lemon with lime and add a dash of cayenne pepper and your favorite finely chopped chilis to suit your heat level. We make this dip into a spread for turkey, swiss and spinach wraps. It’s amazing!
Those are some great tips! We are huge guacamole people 🙂 Using it as a spread like you mentioned sounds great. Thanks Whitney!
it is deilcious as a spread in a wrap instead of mayo. also great on a grilled chicken with toasted bun. YUM!
I meant “grilled chicken breast”…And yes, use Lime instead of lemon.
If you are in a major hurry(someone pops over without calling) I just add a good “fresh salsa that has been made with all the ingreidients listed”
use a “slotted spoon(to get rid of excess liquid) add to mashed Avacoda, and “you are “set to go!”…Just make sure its not a brand like “Taco bell”. Buy deli made…This saves chopping time.
Oh great ideas! Thanks Christine 🙂
Amazing taste
sounds a lot simpler than my recipe. will deffinatly need to try yours out!
Hope you enjoy it as much as we do 🙂
this dip is the bomb, i’ve made it a couple times, fedor loves it!
I’m glad you guys like it :).
I LOVE GUACAMOLE! Thanks for sharing Vadim’s tried and true recipe.
You are welcome Veronica :).