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.

Salt & Lavender is a recipe blog with a focus on delicious comfort food using everyday ingredients. Beat the weekday grind with hundreds of easy-to-follow and hassle-free recipes!

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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

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.

Is guacamole just mashed 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.

How do Mexican restaurants keep guacamole from turning brown? ›

Pour a thin but visible layer of water or lemon/lime juice over the guacamole to form a barrier with the air. Cover the dish with plastic wrap, pushing the wrap, so it is flush with the guacamole to prevent air pockets, or put the guacamole in a sealed tub.

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.

Do Mexicans put tomatoes in guacamole? ›

The basic basic of Guacamole is Avocado, Tomatoes, Onion with salt to taste. General rule leave the guac under salted as Chips served with it are salted which you do not want an overly salty guac. Juice of a lemon or lime can be used to slow down the browning process.

How long does guacamole last in the fridge? ›

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.

What can I use instead of avocado in guacamole? ›

Broad beans belong to the group of legumes. They mainly contribute carbohydrates, protein and fiber. They are an excellent source of B complex vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B6 and B9), as well as minerals such as iron, calcium, phosphorus and potassium. Broad beans could be a singular way to replace avocado in your guacamole.

Is eating guacamole as good as eating an avocado? ›

With all the vitamins, fiber, and healthy fat in avocados, it's hard to imagine guacamole being bad for you. But you should keep in mind what you're eating with the guacamole. Because guacamole is usually served as a dip, it can keep you reaching for more and more chips.

Is Taco Bell guacamole real avocado? ›

Add the fact that our guacamole is made with real Haas avocados and you've got a taste-bud symphony going on here.

Does putting the pit in guacamole keep it fresh? ›

Some people swear by this one, so we had to put it to the test. The verdict: Contrary to popular belief, adding the avocado pit to guacamole does not prevent oxidation. In fact, if it sticks out above the surface, it creates air pockets that prevent the plastic wrap from adhering tightly enough.

Does lemon juice keep guacamole from turning brown? ›

After testing nine methods, I found that a good squeeze of lemon juice was by far the best at preventing guacamole from turning brown. Lime juice was a close second.

What powder keeps guacamole fresh? ›

The avoFresh contains ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and calcium carbonate. You add the powder mixture to fresh mashed avocado. The avoFresh keeps the avocado fresh and from turning that off-putting brown that avocado pulp gets when exposed to air.

Can you put too much lemon in guacamole? ›

Adding too much lemon or lime juice can cause a very watery guacamole. That's because salt and citrus juice work in conjunction -- they draw out extra moisture from the avocado.

Should guacamole not have tomatoes? ›

Tomatoes are great — but not in guac.

They don't add anything other than filler. When you eat guac, what you want is creamy avocado, fresh lime, savory onion, salt, and maybe a little cilantro, if that's your thing. I'm never putting tomatoes in my guacamole and neither should you.

What is guacamole in Mexican culture? ›

Guacamole History: A Mexican Food? The history of this tasty treat dates back to the Aztec Empire in Central America during the 1500s. Avocados were a favorite fruit in the area, and the Aztecs loved their “ahuaca-mulli” or avocado-mixture.

What are the ingredients in store bought guacamole? ›

WHOLLY® GUACAMOLE Chunky Guacamole Bowl Chunky

Hass Avocados, Tomatoes, Onions, Cilantro, Contains 2% Or Less Of Lime Juice, Garlic, Salt, Serrano Peppers.

What is the difference between a Hass avocado and a regular avocado? ›

The biggest nutritional difference between California and Florida avocados is their fat content. For each golf ball-sized portion (two tablespoons, or two to three thin slices), a California avocado such as Hass contains 4.6 grams of fat and the same portion of a Florida avocado averages 3 grams of fat.

Why is restaurant guacamole so green? ›

It isn't exposed to air

When avocados are exposed to air, they begin to oxidize. That's when and why they start to turn brown. But if you can eliminate any contact with air, guacamole — or even an avocado half — can be stored for longer without changing colors.

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