Guacamole Recipe (with VIDEO)

My authentic Guacamole Recipe is loaded with avocados, tomato, onion, cilantro, and plenty of lime juice! I’ve probably made over a hundred batches of guacamole, and I’ve perfected the proportions in this guac recipe. Watch my video tutorial and learn how to make the BEST Guacamole – all you need is crunchy tortilla chips for dipping!

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Easy Guacamole

I take my guacamole very seriously, just like I do Pico de Gallo. My husband and I make it on our regular rotation (at least once a week), and after making hundreds of batches, it has been perfected over the years. I use this guacamole as an appetizer, a topping, and a side dish for so many Mexican dishes! I’m convinced this is the only guacamole recipe you’ll need. It’s creamy, chunky, fresh, and has just the right amount of lime zing. It’s so satisfying that it’s hard to stop eating it.

Guacamole is the perfect appetizer with tortilla chips, but it’s also amazing as a topping for Taco Salad, it’s delicious on Tostadas, Beef Burritos, and so good on Chicken Fajitas – yum!

Guacamole Video

If you love guacamole recipes, this classic one 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 for Authentic Guacamole

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 are the star of the show. Make sure you pick ripe ones (see my tips for selecting avocados below).
• Lime Juice – Lime juice is the key to keeping guacamole green! Here’s the correct ratio: use 1 Tbsp of FRESH lime juice for every 1 large avocado. It helps prevent browning, and the right amount will make your guacamole come alive (but not literally, don’t worry). You can substitute for equal parts lemon juice if needed.
• Onion – Authentic guacamole is made with white onion because of its crisp, fresh, and clean flavor profile, 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. Tomatoes should be firm and not overripe. To prevent a watery guac, you can seed your tomatoes if desired, and if your tomato is very juicy when diced, strain off the juices before adding them.
• 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 don’t like cilantro. In that case, 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 Pick Ripe 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 my tips below for faster ripening.

• Select Ripe Avocados – the stems should be attached and you should be able to push the sides in slightly with your fingertips.
• Avoid overripe avocados – very soft, squishy, or hollow-feeling avocados are more likely to be browned on the inside.

How To Soften Hard Avocados

Place underripe avocados in a paper bag with an apple or banana (which releases ethylene gases to speed up ripening) and leave at room temperature for 2-3 days. 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 Prevent Guacamole from Browning?

For my fellow science nerds: Once avocados are cut and exposed to air, the oxidation process begins, which causes the avocados to turn brown or grey. Once the guacamole is made, place a sheet of plastic wrap directly over the surface to keep the air away; this will help prevent discoloration.

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 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 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.

Serve Guacamole With

From a stand-alone appetizer to a topping, dip, or garnish, there are so many great ways to serve guacamole. It’s great for Cinco de Mayo or any time of year. Here are some of my favorite ways to serve it:

• Appetizer – serve with tortilla chips, Pita Chips, or Tostadas
• Taco Night – spoon onto Breakfast Tacos or Shrimp Tacos
• Toast – Spread onto crisp breakfast toast
• Salmon – Serve it on Grilled Salmon or Pan-Seared Salmon
• Burgers – Try guacamole inside juicy Burgers
• Nachos – Scoop guacamole over servings of Baked Nachos

I 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?

More Appetizer Recipes

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