Easy Guacamole Recipe (2024)

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By Natasha

May 03, 2021, Updated May 19, 2022

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This easy guacamole recipe uses simple, fresh ingredients and is bursting with incredible flavor. It’s just like you’d get at your favorite Mexican restaurant!

If you need another crowd-pleasing recipe, try this Jalapeño Poppers recipe next.

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Why you’ll love it

Because it’s the best. Ok, everyone claims their guacamole recipe is the best, but mine for real is. The secret? It’s perfectly simple. That’s it. I find that many versions out there have unnecessary additions. You’re not going to find any of that here! There’s nothing to take away from that creamy, fresh, bright, and utterly addictive deliciousness.

My favorite part about going to Mexican restaurants is when they make the guacamole right at your table. When I make it at home, I try to replicate the technique. It’s actually really easy and tastes a million times better than the store-bought variety.

Ingredients you’ll need

  • Avocados – when you find the perfect avocado, you don’t need much else to enjoy it! I go for Haas avocados.
  • Lime juice – always use fresh lime juice
  • Cilantro – it’s a classic herb in Mexican dishes. If you have an aversion, leave it out or use Italian parsley instead
  • Salt & pepper – salting your guac enough is very important to bring out the flavors
  • Onion – red onion is my go-to variety if I’m eating it raw
  • Jalapeño – for that classic kick. You could also sub with a serrano chili, which are similar in taste but slightly spicier. Simply omit if you don’t like it.
  • Tomato – honestly, use whatever variety looks freshest at the grocery store, or from your garden would be amazing
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How to tell if an avocado is ripe

  • A trick to finding perfectly ripe avocados is to flick off that little nub that’s on top. If you see green underneath, the avocado should be good. If you see brown, don’t get it!
  • An avocado should have the slightest bit of give when you gently squeeze it. It’ll be very dark green in color as well. You don’t want one that’s completely black and has no firmness at all to it.

How to make guacamole

This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.

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Prep your ingredients, including removing the stem and seeds from the jalapeño pepper. In a molcajete add the cilantro, onion, jalapeño pepper, and salt & pepper and grind into a paste. Add in the avocado and lime juice. You can also make it in a bowl!

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Using the pestle (or a fork if making in a bowl), mash it gently to your desired consistency. We like keeping it a bit chunky. Stir in the tomatoes, give it a taste and adjust as necessary, and enjoy immediately.

What is a molcajete?

  • It’s basically the traditional Mexican version of a mortar and pestle. Molcajetes are typically made of volcanic rock or granite and come in a variety of sizes.
  • I use this molcajete. If you have one, it needs to be cured/seasoned before you use it, and this molcajete guide from my friends at Chili Pepper Madness explains how to maintain it. Don’t worry, it’s not a lot of work at all!
  • I love to make guacamole in my molcajete, but you can certainly just use a bowl. I included instructions for both methods in the recipe card below.

Substitutions and variations

  • Our kitchen feels this recipe is perfectly balanced as written, but it is very flexible! You can definitely adjust quantities to your liking and leave something out if you’re not a fan.
  • In terms of texture, it’s entirely up to you how finely you chop the ingredients and how much you mash the avocado. Everyone’s tastes vary, and there’s no right or wrong.
  • Want to make it taste more like the guacamole at Chipotle? They use an equal mixture of fresh lemon juice and lime juice for theirs, so you could definitely try that.
  • Sprinkle some cotija cheese on top as a finishing touch if you like.

What to serve with guacamole

  • I love to put it on tacos, wraps, and burritos. It pairs great with my Super Easy Ground Beef Tacos.
  • Serve it on a party platter along with tortilla chips and other dips like this Sun-dried Tomato and Basil White Bean Dip and my Super Easy Cream Cheese Corn Dip.
  • This guacamole is perfect served with my friend Isabel’s frozen margaritas. I use her recipe whenever we host Mexican Night at my house!

Leftovers and storage

  • I recommend eating guacamole right away. It doesn’t keep too well. But if you do need to store it, give thistip to stop guacamole from turning browna try. Basically, you’re putting plastic wrap directly on its surface to keep it completely airtight so that you can refrigerate it for a day or two.
  • If it’s been sitting out for a long time, I’d just dispose of it.

More delicious Mexican-inspired recipes

  • Mexican Chicken Soup
  • Easy Taco Casserole Recipe
  • Mexican Stuffed Peppers
  • Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup
  • Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
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Did you enjoy this homemade guacamole? Questions? Let me know in the comments below!

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5 from 1 vote

Easy Guacamole Recipe

By Natasha Bull

This easy guacamole recipe uses simple, fresh ingredients and is bursting with incredible flavor. It's just like you'd get at your favorite Mexican restaurant!

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Total: 15 minutes mins

Servings: 4

Save RecipePin RecipeRate RecipePrint Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 avocados cut into halves, pitted & peeled or flesh scooped out
  • Juice of 1/2 lime
  • 1-2 tablespoons cilantro finely chopped
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • 1-2 tablespoons onion chopped
  • 1 small jalapeño or serrano pepper chopped, seeds removed
  • 1 small tomato chopped

Instructions

  • Prep all ingredients.

  • Bowl method: In a bowl, add avocados, lime juice, cilantro, and salt & pepper. Using a fork, mash into desired texture.

    Gently mix in onions, jalapeño pepper, and tomatoes.

    Taste and adjust if needed (e.g. add more of a certain ingredient). Serve immediately.

  • Molcajete (pestle & mortar) method: add the cilantro, onion, jalapeño pepper, and salt & pepper to the molcajete. Grind it into a smooth paste.

    Add in the avocados and lime juice and mash them using the pestle (I like mine to be a bit chunky).

    Stir in the tomatoes (use a spoon).

    Taste and adjust if needed. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • This recipe is very flexible! Feel free to throw in another avocado if needed, and all ingredients can be adjusted to taste.
  • You can chop the ingredients as small/large as you’d like.
  • Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

Nutrition

Calories: 168kcal, Carbohydrates: 10g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 15g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Sodium: 8mg, Potassium: 559mg, Fiber: 7g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 383IU, Vitamin C: 19mg, Calcium: 16mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

© Salt & Lavender Inc. Content and photographs are copyrighted. Sharing this blog post is much appreciated, but copying and pasting full recipes without authorization to social media is strictly prohibited.

Leave a star rating and comment below!

This recipe was originally published on October 9, 2015. It’s been updated with new photos and better instructions but is the same great recipe!

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Hi! I’m Natasha.

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8 Comments

  1. Don’t forget a garlic clove, lots of cilantro, serrano, a hint of oregano, honey or sugar to taste. I use half sweet white onion and half purple. Soo good. Kroger puts out an amazing can of tomatoes with spices that’s for making salsa.

    Reply

    1. You can definitely dress it up like that, Linda! Super easy to tweak to your personal tastes. 🙂

      Reply

  2. I love guacamole and make it very similarly, adding garlic and a slash of orange juice with the lime juice. Oh and Serrano peppers instead of jalapeños. Always yummy. Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply

    1. Great minds think alike! 😀

      Reply

  3. What kind of tomatoes do you use for this?

    Reply

    1. Hi! I just buy whatever looks good at the store, to be honest. It can vary so much from week to week. I’ve used everything from grape/cherry tomatoes (cut up) to just regular “on the vine” ones.

      Reply

      1. Awesome, thanks! I’m making this today, and I can’t wait to try it. Your recipes are always a hit in my family!

        Reply

        1. Hope you love it as much as I do, Amanda. I was so excited to redo the photos just so I could eat it for lunch haha. I’m so glad you’ve been enjoying my recipes. 😀

          Reply

Easy Guacamole Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to make easy guacamole? ›

Mash avocado in a medium serving bowl. Stir in onion, tomato, and garlic. Season with lime juice, salt, and pepper. Cover and chill guacamole for 30 minutes to allow flavors to blend.

What makes guacamole taste better? ›

If you taste your guac and it is bland, start with more salt. Next, add lime juice. Often an additional pop of citrus is all guac needs to come alive and taste better. If you still aren't happy with the taste, you can rely on mix-ins to jazz it up.

What do restaurants put in guacamole to keep it from turning brown? ›

DOES LEMON JUICE KEEP GUACAMOLE FROM TURNING BROWN? Yes! The lemon forms a barrier between the outside air and the guacamole to make sure the dip stays its greenest.

What ingredients are good in guacamole? ›

Authentic guacamole doesn't contain fillers and unnecessary ingredients. All you need is avocados, onion, tomatoes, cilantro, jalapeno pepper, lime juice, garlic, and salt. Easy and delicious!

What is traditional guacamole made of? ›

Here's all you need for traditional guacamole: ripe avocados, coriander/cilantro, red onions, jalapeño or Serrano chilli, lime and salt. Avoid unnecessary fillers such as sour cream and cream cheese. They only dilute flavour. Popular optional extras include: garlic, tomato, cumin powder.

Why you should leave the lime out of guacamole? ›

I know what you're about to ask. "But what about oxidation?” While lime is touted as a way prevent avocados from browning, it takes a lot of lime for that to work—and it's generally a bad idea to transform a dish's taste for aesthetic reasons.

Can you use lemon juice instead of lime juice for guacamole? ›

I like the flavor better with lemon juice, but lime works too. If you're out of fresh lemons or limes, try using bottled lime or lemon juice. Although, freshly squeezed juice is definitely the best! Salt: Salt enhances the flavors and brings it all together.

Why do you put milk in guacamole? ›

Add milk or cream to make your guacamole denser. Place slices or cubes of fresh cheese on top of your guac. Add chopped mint to make your guacamole even fresher. Mango cubes add an unexpected touch and also keep your guac from turning brown.

How long is homemade guacamole good for? ›

From the second you crack open that avocado, it's a race against the clock before it goes brown. But with the right prep, you can make guacamole last in the fridge for three to four days. Planning on storing guacamole in the freezer? It should last for three to four months.

When guacamole turns brown does that mean it's bad? ›

Is Brown Guac Bad for You? Although brown guacamole isn't the most appealing, it's completely safe to eat (as long as you've stored the guacamole in the refrigerator, and it isn't more than three days old).

How far ahead can you make guacamole before it turns brown? ›

Topping off your avocado dip with water keeps air, at least in part, from being able to penetrate the guacamole, which keeps it from browning. By using this simple technique, you can keep the brown at bay for about two days (maybe longer if you're lucky).

Do you put tomatoes in guacamole? ›

Guacamole is an avocado-based dip or spread that originated in Mexico. It's typically made with mashed avocado and lime juice, then seasoned with salt and cilantro. Guacamole often contains tomatoes and onions.

Should tomatoes be in guacamole? ›

Add tomatoes to your guac.

In my opinion, all guacamole should include tomato for texture and flavor. Regular tomatoes tend to be too watery, so go for grape tomatoes instead! You can quarter them and they'll stay nice and firm.

Why put olive oil in guacamole? ›

Olive oil is rich in healthy fats and imparts a subtle richness to guacamole that makes it even more satisfying. In addition, it can help to prevent the avocado from turning brown too quickly by forming a barrier between the surface of the guacamole and the air.

Is guacamole just crushed avocado? ›

Guacamole is traditionally made by mashing peeled, ripe avocados and salt with a molcajete y tejolote (mortar and pestle). Recipes often call for lime juice, cilantro, onions, and jalapeños. Some non-traditional recipes may call for sour cream, tomatoes, basil, or peas.

Do you need lime for guacamole? ›

All you really need to make guacamole is ripe avocados and salt. After that, a little lime or lemon juice—a splash of acidity—will help balance the richness of the avocado. If you want, add chopped cilantro, chilis, onion, and/or tomato.

How much lime juice to keep guacamole from turning brown? ›

Editor's Tip: You may have heard a squirt of lemon or lime juice also keeps guacamole from browning. It's true—as long as you cover the entire surface of the dip with citrus juice.

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