Guacamole Recipe

My Guacamole Recipe is easy, fresh, and authentic, with ripe avocados, tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and plenty of lime juice. After making hundreds of batches, I’ve perfected the proportions for creamy, chunky, flavorful guacamole. Watch the video tutorial and learn how to make the BEST Guacamole.

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Guacamole Video

If you love guacamole recipes, this classic one is the base for so many awesome guacamole variations like Corn Guacamole, or Spicy Guacamole. Once you have this basic recipe down, you can experiment with adding your favorite flavors.

Guacamole

I take my guacamole very seriously, just like I do Pico de Gallo. My husband and I make it at least once a week, and after making hundreds of batches, this recipe has been perfected over the years. It’s creamy, chunky, fresh, and has just the right amount of lime zing. We use it as an appetizer, topping, or side dish for so many Mexican dishes.

Authentic Guacamole Ingredients

• Avocados are the star of the show, so use ripe ones that give slightly when gently pressed. Avoid firm avocados or ones that feel mushy or overripe.
• Lime Juice – adds fresh flavor and keeps guacamole green. Use 1 Tbsp of fresh lime juice for every 1 large avocado. Fresh lemon also juice works. Avoid bottled lime juice.
• Onion – Authentic guac is made with white onion for its crisp, fresh, and clean flavor profile, but you can substitute yellow or purple onion.
• Tomato – optional, but I love the color and juicy sweetness it adds to guacamole. Tomatoes should be firm and not overripe. To prevent a watery guac, you can seed your tomatoes or strain after dicing.
• Cilantro – I don’t think you can have a proper batch of guacamole without the freshness of cilantro, but if you must, you can sub with parsley, basil, dill, chives, or green onions.
• Salt and Pepper – Salt enhances the flavor of avocado and tomato while pepper adds a subtle heat. Add both to taste.

How To Ripen Hard Avocados Faster

Planning ahead makes all the difference when buying avocados for guacamole. If your avocados are firm, they’ll need time to ripen. Here’s how to speed things up or slow them down:

• To Ripen Avocados Faster: Place firm avocados in a paper bag with an apple or banana – they release ethylene gas to speed up ripening. Close the bag and leave it at room temperature for 2-3 days, checking daily. Do not microwave avocados – it doesn’t ripen them, and the texture won’t be the same.
• To slow down ripening: If your avocados are ripe and you aren’t ready to use them, place whole avocados in the refrigerator to slow ripening. This can give you a few extra days before making guacamole.

How to Make Guacamole

This easy guacamole comes together in minutes:

• Mash avocados – Start by cutting the avocado in half lengthwise to remove the pit, then use a spoon to scoop out the flesh, and transfer it to a mixing bowl. Coarsely mash with a potato masher or a fork to a chunky guacamole 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.

Tips for the Best Guacamole

• Use Ripe Avocados – This will give you the best consistency.
• Mash first, mix second – Mash the avocados before adding the remaining ingredients so the guacamole stays creamy and chunky.
• Use Fresh Lime Juice – It gives the best flavor and helps prevent browning.
• Season to taste – Avocados come in different sizes, so salt to taste.
• Drain juicy tomatoes – This keeps your guacamole from getting watery.

How to Keep Guacamole from Turning Brown

For my fellow science nerds: once avocados are cut and exposed to air, oxidation begins, which is what causes guacamole to turn brown or gray. Once your guacamole is made, press a sheet of plastic wrap directly onto the surface to keep air out and help prevent discoloration. A little lime juice helps, but blocking out air makes the biggest difference.

I can’t get enough of this homemade guacamole. I’d love to hear about your favorite guac add-ins in the comments below.

Serve Guacamole With

Guacamole is great for Cinco de Mayo or any time of year, from a stand-alone appetizer to a topping, dip, or garnish. Here is how we love to serve guac:

• Appetizer – serve with tortilla chips, Pita Chips, or Tostadas
• Tacos – spoon onto Breakfast Tacos or Shrimp Tacos
• Toast – Spread onto crisp toast
• Salmon – Serve it on Grilled Salmon or Pan-Seared Salmon
• Burgers – Try guacamole in Burgers
• Nachos – Scoop guacamole over servings of Baked Nachos
• Topping for Taco Salad, Tostadas, Beef Burritos, and Chicken Fajitas

More Easy Appetizers

If you are looking for more appetizer ideas for your next party, these are some of my best-loved, crowd-pleasing appetizers:

• Buffalo Wings
• Spinach and Artichoke Dip
• Shrimp Cocktail Recipe
• Stuffed Mushrooms
• Ceviche
• Cheeseburger Sliders
• Jalapeno Poppers