This easy guacamole recipe tastes just as good as your favorite restaurant-style guacamole. It's quick to make at home from scratch with fresh, wholesome ingredients: avocado, lime juice, jalapeños, onions, and cilantro. We love it as a snack with tortillas and salsa and it's super popular on taco nights too!
My family is obsessed with guacamole - we love to eat it on everything! I've been making this simple guacamole recipe for decades so when I tell you it's easy, I mean it! Plus it tastes good (like REALLY REALLY good). You can whip up a batch in 5 minutes depending on your chopping and mashing speed!
Ingredients to Make GOOD Guacamole
You need only a few ingredients to make this limey, salty, creamy deliciousness at home. Let's make some guac!:
- Ripe avocados: Of course! Choose dark, ripe avocados. If the avocados are too firm, they don’t mash well, and the flavor isn't fully developed yet. See the tips below!
- Red onion: Slightly sweet, pungent, onion flavor - adds crunch too. Diced white onion also a great choice.
- Fresh lime juice: Makes the guacamole flavor zesty and bright.
- Fresh cilantro: Cilantro adds a fresh citrus, peppery kick to guacamole, but skip it if you’re not a fan.
- Jalapeño peppers (optional): If you like some heat, add diced jalapeño, serrano peppers or red pepper flakes.
- Salt: Makes all the flavors pop!
- Optional add ins: Minced garlic, cumin, and chopped tomatoes are popular additions, but not for my family.
How to Make the BEST Guacamole!
You don't have to go out to enjoy authentic, restaurant style guacamole anymore - YAY! Here's how to make it:
- Peel and pit the avocados, finely dice the onion, cilantro, and jalapeño (if using).
- Mash the avocados in a bowl (or on the cutting board). Just a rough initial mash - keep it chunky. I recommend using a fork.
- Add remaining ingredients: Add the onion, cilantro, jalapeño peppers, salt, and lime juice to the mashed avocado then mix to incorporate.
- Choose your texture: For a chunky guacamole, mash less; for a smoother guacamole, mash/mix more. The texture is totally customizable to your preference.
- Taste and tweak the seasonings as needed. Enjoy!
A Few Tips & FAQ
Even though guacamole is simple to make, I'm sharing a few tips that will help it turn out perfect every time!:
- Plan ahead: Sometimes all the avocados in the store are hard as rock and no matter what avocado ripening tip you use to speed up the process, they're never going to be ready same day (or even next day).
- Selecting avocados: Choose avocados that are dark and somewhat firm (not mushy). When you gently press into the avocado, it should leave a slight indentation.
- Storing avocados: Store unripe avocados at room temperature until they are somewhat firm to the touch, then move them to the fridge until ready to use.
- The secret to great guacamole: The perfect guacamole is a combination of creamy and chunky textures - not overly smooth. It's easy to control the texture simply using a fork and not over mixing.
- Why is my guacamole bland?: If your guacamole is missing something, the answer is almost always to add more salt followed by more lime as needed. Salt makes the flavors pop and lime cuts through the richness of avocados and makes the guacamole bright.
- What can I add to guacamole to give it a kick?: If you're in the mood for fiery guacamole, add more jalapeno, serrano peppers, red pepper flakes or even a pinch of cayenne.
Storing Guacamole
Guacamole is one of those recipes that's superior when served immediately. However, if you have some left over, place in an airtight container, smooth it out, add a squeeze of lime juice (to slow down oxidation), then press a sheet of plastic wrap onto the surface. Add the lid and store it for one day.
Note: There are plenty more strategies on the internet for storing leftover guacamole (what is that anyway?) including covering it with water, storing it with an onion, etc etc.
Ways to Serve Homemade Guacamole
My family's favorite way to eat guac is with a big bag of tortilla chips, some pico or salsa, and maybe vegan queso when we're feeling fancy. Guacamole is an excellent and healthy snack, and it's a big hit as an appetizer too!
Guacamole is the perfect accompaniment to any Mexican inspired recipe:
- Vegan Buddha Bowl
- Spicy Taco Bowl
- Vegan Breakfast Burritos
- Mushroom Walnut Tacos
- Crispy Black Bean Tacos
More Vegan Appetizers to Try
If you like appetizers and dips, here's a few more of our favorites to try next:
- Loaded Vegan Nachos with Queso
- EPIC Vegan Sausage Rolls
- Crunchy Vegan Chicken Nuggets
- Mango Corn Salsa
- Easy Hummus Recipes
The Best Tasting Guacamole (recipe + tips)
Rate this recipe!
Equipment
- fork & bowl
INGREDIENTS
- 3 large ripe avocados
- 3-4 tablespoons red or white onion, minced
- ¼ cup cilantro leaves, chopped (more or less to taste)
- ½ - 1 small jalapeño, small dice
- 2-3 tablespoons fresh lime juice (~2 limes)
- ½ teaspoon sea salt, (more to taste)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Dice the onions, jalapeño peppers, and cilantro.
- Mash the avocados: Cut the avocados in half and remove the pits. Scoop the avocado flesh with a spoon and place in a bowl. Rough mash - keep it chunky. I use a fork, but you could use a potato masher.
- Add the remaining ingredients: Add the onion, jalapeño peppers, cilantro, salt and lime juice to the avocado and stir to incorporate.
- Choose your texture: For a chunky guacamole, mash less; for a smoother guacamole, mash/stir more. The texture is totally customizable to your preference; but you can't unmash an avocado if you know what I mean.
- Season to taste: If your guacamole tastes bland or like it's missing something: first add more salt, then add more lime as needed.
- Enjoy! Serve immediately with chips and pico or salsa.
Marnie
Great tasting guacamole! It’s really easy to customize too!