Easy Guacamole Recipe

Everyone loves this fresh guacamole recipe with ripe avocados, tomatoes, jalapeno, cilantro, and lime. Here's how to make guacamole the easy way.

What is guacamole

Guacamole is a mashed avocado dip and spread, often made with cilantro, lime, onions, and jalapeño peppers that add layers of texture and Mexican flavor. You can make guacamole with tomatoes or simply leave them out.

Why you'll love this guacamole recipe

This simple guacamole recipe comes together in 10 minutes and can be enjoyed immediately.

This crowd-favorite goes with everything. In fact, a bowl of tortilla chips and guac is guaranteed to disappear – regardless of the food theme.

This homemade recipe includes tips and tricks to make the best guacamole dip, including how to keep it from turning brown.

Ingredient notes

• avocados - Perfectly ripe avocados are essential to a guacamole recipe. See the below section: How To Select Ripe Avocados.
• tomatoes - Use any variety. I recommend removing excess moisture and seeds.
• red onion - An essential ingredient for flavor and texture.
• cilantro - This fresh herb is a must! It adds a traditional flavor and feel to this dip.
• Jalapeño pepper - The heat or spice in these peppers can vary, so always test the heat level before using.
• fresh lime - Keep it fresh. It won't be authentic guacamole to use packaged lime juice.
• ground cumin - This is optional, but adds a savory depth of flavor to this Mexican dip.
• sea salt - This is another essential ingredient, but should be added in small amounts when adjusting the flavor.

How to make guacamole

Step 1. Cut each avocado in half, remove the pit, and use a spoon to scoop it away from the skin into a mixing bowl.

Step 2. Use a vegetable masher or other tool to gently mash the avocados so the final texture is the perfect blend of creamy and chunky.

Step 3. To this, add tomatoes, onion, cilantro, Jalapeño pepper, fresh lime, ground cumin, and salt. Gently fold these ingredients together until well-combined, but with minimal effort to prevent over-mixing.

Step 4. Add more salt to taste, if needed. Garnish with lime wedges and serve with a bowl of chips and devour!

How to select ripe avocados

Since texture is the make or break of the best guacamole, avocado ripeness matters – possibly even more than the brand.

So, when possible, I like to buy very firm, unripened avocados 2 or 3 days ahead of serving and allow them to ripen at room temperature. This also increases the likelihood that they're not bruised.

If you're making guac right away, select avocados with dark green skin and a texture that has a little give when you press into it. Avoid texture that is too firm because it's not ripe and overly soft texture that's it's too ripe.

How to keep guacamole from turning brown

Lemon or lime juice can help prevent browning, but using too much can overpower the flavor. If you need to make-ahead, or if you have unexpected leftovers, here's a flavor-neutral way to prevent browning.

1. Place guacamole in an airtight container.
2. Add a layer of plain water – enough to cover the dip's surface by ¼ inch minimum. You can use lemon or lime juice for this, if you like.
3. Cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours, or more at your discretion.
4. To serve, drain water from the dip, stir, and enjoy.

What to eat with guacamole

If you're looking for an alternative to tortilla chips, here are a few ideas of what to dip in guacamole.

• Fresh vegetables: carrots, cucumbers, cauliflower, snap peas, and radishes.
• Starchy things: corn chips, crackers, pretzels

Other ways to use guacamole

It's hard to beat a classic like chips and guacamole, but pair it with refried black beans or totchos and you practically have a meal. This gorgeous, green guac is an essential component in everyone's favorite 7 layer dip, especially on game day! Creamy guacamole also makes a great topping for entrees like this scrumptious taco bowl or my super comfy, one-pot taco pasta.

Guacamole recipe tips and variations

Avoid using overripe avocados because they might be bruised under the skin and the texture can be mushy, which isn't optimal.

When you make you guacamole with tomatoes, don't skip the step of removing the juice from tomato varieties with excess moisture. This prevents the dip from becoming watery.

The sooner you serve homemade guac, the brighter green and fresher it will be. But, if you can't serve it right away, there is hope for preventing oxidation. Check out my section above: How to keep guacamole from turning brown.

If you want to add fresh garlic to this guac recipe, just peel and mince a few medium-sized cloves and add with the other ingredients.

Since avocados can be pricey, adding sour cream or Greek yogurt to guacamole adds volume (and even more flavor) without adding more avocados. This is a great dollar-stretching strategy for your game day crowd.

More party appetizers we love

• Homemade Pico de Gallo
• Easy Crab Dip
• Honey Hot Wings
• Jalapeno Popper Dip
• Mexican Salsa
• Avocado Ranch Dressing and Dip