Guacamole Recipe

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Our favorite easy Guacamole Recipe — straight from a native of Maui! This luscious and creamy dip is vibrant and fresh tasting with a touch of zing from the added citrus juice. Grab a big bag of chips — you’re going to need them!

Have loads of ripe avocados? You’ve come to the right place– we have dozens of avocado-filled recipes! Try our Black Bean Corn Avocado SaladGrilled Chicken with Avocado Salsa, or this Avocado Tuna Salad next.

A large bowl of Guacamole with tortilla chips alongside.

Easy Guacamole Recipe

A few years ago when my husband and I were in Maui, we took The Road to Hana driving tour. After passing dozens of avocado trees, the tour guide and I started chatting about the avocados. Naturally, the conversation led to one of the best uses of avocados: guacamole.

He convinced me that his guacamole recipe was the best I’d ever try. He had me open up my phone and write exactly what he was going to share with me, ha!

Process shots: add onion, jalapeño and cilantro to cutting board; season with salt and mash; transfer to a bowl

How To Make Guacamole

His “secret” method of making guacamole: throw everything on a cutting board and finely chop and mash it up together into a thick paste. Then you mashed the avocado into that paste. Finally, season it with salt, pepper, and his two secret ingredients: lemon and lime juice. He swore by the combination of using both and I couldn’t wait to try it. So much so, that we actually grabbed avocados on that tour and tried it that night. And this tour guide didn’t disappoint — truly the best guacamole recipe!

The point I couldn’t agree with him more — avocados need to be the star in guacamole. There shouldn’t be competing flavors or textures. Also, he emphatically told me — no tomatoes! The one spot we differed in is the addition of cilantro. He claimed there was no place for cilantro in guacamole, but it’s my personal favorite herb to add in. He prefers chives which are also tasty!

Avocado halves in the bowl

Guacamole Recipe FAQs

1What is guacamole?

Guacamole is an avocado-based dip or spread first created in Mexico. It has since become an addition to American and international cuisine as a condiment, salad addition, and/or dip.

In its purest form, guacamole is simply mashed avocados with a few seasonings added.

2Are guacamole and avocado the same thing?

Not quite. Avocados are an ingredient in guacamole. Guacamole typically has other ingredients in addition to the avocados which are mashed into a chunky consistency.

Think of it like tomatoes and ketchup. Tomatoes are the main ingredient in ketchup, but ketchup isn’t simply another word for tomatoes.

3Is guacamole good for you?

Avocados contain heart-healthy fats and a good amount of fiber — both of which will keep you satiated for longer.

That said, avocados are still high in fat so they should be enjoyed in moderation.

Another factor to consider is what you’re dipping into the guacamole. Chips are going to be higher in fat and calories than veggie sticks.

4Can you freeze guacamole?

I have personally never tried, but Food Network gave it a go in an experiment. Here’s what they have to say about it.

Process shots of guacamole recipe: mash the avocados; add citrus juice and seasonings; mix well; serve with chips

 Use Guacamole with…

  • Chips (tortilla chips, corn chips, pita bread chips, etc.).
  • Slathered on bread (like avocado toast!) with some veggie toppings.
  • On a sandwich or burger. Replace the mayo with a scoop of guac (or add both!).
  • As a salad dressing. Add a few scoops of this guacamole to a bed of greens and veggies.
  • With blackened or fried fish. We love guacamole scooped on a flaky white fish!
  • With eggs. Fried, scrambled, over easy — all great with some guac.
  • As a dip for a grilled cheese sandwich.
  • Atop a baked potato or smashed potatoes.

Guacamole Recipe Tips

  • The best Guacamole Recipe starts with fully ripe avocados. Ripe avocados make all the difference in guacamole! You can tell an avocado is ripe by gently pressing it near the stem. If the avocado yields to that gentle pressure, it’s ripe and ready to be mashed into this guac.
  • Season based on the chips. If you’re serving this guacamole with chips, remember that chips can be quite salty so you may want less salt in your actual dip. I like to give the guacamole a taste test with the chips to fully gauge any additional guacamole seasonings needed.
  • Use a fork to mash the avocados. Guacamole is intended to be fairly chunky, not ultra smooth, so avoid mixers when whipping together this dip.

QUICK TIP

Want to ripen an avocado quicker? Add it to a brown paper bag with an apple or banana until ripened (1-3 days). Otherwise, set unripe avocados on the counter until they’ve ripened on their own (check daily). Once the avocados are ripe, place them in the fridge to halt the ripening and use them within the next few days.

A bowl of guacamole

STORAGE

Guacamole Storage

Taste of Home Magazine spills the secret on how to properly store guacamole — by covering the dip with some water. They say this layer shields it from oxygen and diminishes browning. Here’s how to do that:

  1. Transfer guacamole to a small airtight container. Use a spoon to flatten the surface and remove any air pockets.
  2. Gently pour about 1/2 inch of water on top to fully cover the surface.
  3. Cover tightly and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
  4. To serve, carefully pour off the water and scrape off any parts that have browned. Stir up the guac and serve!

More fun dips to try

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Guacamole Recipe

5 from 3 votes
Our favorite easy Guacamole Recipe -- straight from a native of Maui! This luscious and creamy dip is vibrant and fresh tasting with a touch of zing from the added citrus juice. Grab a big bag of chips -- you're going to need them!
Print Recipe

Guacamole Recipe

5 from 3 votes
Our favorite easy Guacamole Recipe -- straight from a native of Maui! This luscious and creamy dip is vibrant and fresh tasting with a touch of zing from the added citrus juice. Grab a big bag of chips -- you're going to need them!
Course Appetizer, condiment, Side Dish
Cuisine Healthy, Vegan, Vegetarian
Keyword guacamole, Guacamole Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 6 servings (with chips as an appetizer)
Chelsea Lords
Calories 132kcal
Cost $4.97

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
  • 2 teaspoons finely chopped jalapeno (Note 1)
  • 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro or chives (Note 2)
  • Fine sea salt and pepper
  • 2 medium, very ripe avocados (Note 3)
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice (or more lime in a pinch)
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, optional
  • Chips for dipping

Instructions

  • MAKE A PASTE: Place the finely chopped onion, finely chopped jalapeño, and finely chopped cilantro or chives on a cutting board. Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt over everything. Chop together with a knife and then mash with the back of a fork until you get a thick paste. Use a spatula to scrape every bit of this paste into a bowl.
  • ADD AVOCADO: Remove the peels and pits of the avocados and add the flesh to the bowl. Use a fork to mash the avocado, incorporating it with the paste as you mash. Once fairly mashed, add in the lime juice, lemon juice, garlic powder, and more salt & pepper to taste (I add 1/4 teaspoon of each). Mix.
  • SERVE: Give the guacamole a taste test (with chips) to properly gauge saltiness (chips are salty!) then adjust any flavors to personal preference -- more salt/pepper/lime/lemon, etc. Serve with chips or however you'd like to enjoy it.
  • STORAGE: Transfer guacamole to a small airtight container. Use a spoon to flatten the surface and remove any air pockets. Gently pour about 1/2 inch of water on top to fully cover the surface. Cover tightly and refrigerate for up to 2 days. To serve, carefully pour off the water and scrape off any parts that have browned. Stir up the guacamole and serve! (Thanks to Taste of Home Magazine for this tip!)

Video

Recipe Notes

Note 1: Jalapeño: Remove ribs and seeds for less heat; leave in for more. If you want more kick, increase the amount slightly, but the goal here is for the avocado flavor to shine! Less kick? Start with only 1 teaspoon.
Note 2: Cilantro or chives: Use whatever herb you prefer. We like cilantro best, but the tour guide sharing his guacamole recipe swore by chives! Coarsely chop either herb before measuring.
Note 3: Avocados: To get the best possible guac, you'll want to use fully ripe avocados. You can tell an avocado is ripe by gently pressing it near the stem. If the avocado yields to that gentle pressure, it’s ripe and ready to be mashed into this guac. We use about 270 grams of avocado flesh in this recipe.

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 132kcal | Carbohydrates: 7.5g | Protein: 1.6g | Fat: 11.8g | Sodium: 6.7mg | Fiber: 5.3g | Sugar: 0.6g

We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed.

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4 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I just made this and tasted it. It’s SPECTACULAR. Because I’m NOT a cilantro fan I did the chives option. It tasted so good. Another great one, Chelsea.

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