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This guacamole recipe is fresh, creamy, and easy to make with a few simple ingredients. It is one of my favorite ways to bring fresh flavor to tacos, bowls, quesadillas, and snack plates.
I love making homemade guacamole because it adds that cool, creamy bite that can pull the whole meal together. You can serve it with Blackened Shrimp Tacos, Salmon Tacos, Steak Tacos, or a bowl with Chipotle Chicken, and it always feels right on the table. When I want to switch things up, I’ll add other fresh toppings like Avocado Cream Sauce or Mango Peach Salsa, but guacamole is one I come back to again and again.
Why You’ll Love This Guacamole Recipe
- Fresh, bright flavor: Lime juice, cilantro, red onion, and avocado give this guacamole the kind of flavor that wakes up the whole plate.
- Easy to make: All you need is a bowl, a fork, and a few fresh ingredients.
- Great as a dip or topping: Serve it with chips, spoon it over tacos, or add it to bowls and quesadillas.
- Made with simple ingredients: Everything in this recipe is easy to find and easy to work with.
Ingredients for Homemade Guacamole
This guacamole recipe uses a handful of simple ingredients. Grab the exact measurements in the recipe card below.
- Avocados: Ripe avocados are the base of the recipe and give guacamole its creamy texture. They should feel slightly soft when you gently press them.
- Red onion: Adds a little crunch and sharp flavor. I like red onion here because it gives the guacamole a little bite without taking over.
- Cilantro: Fresh cilantro gives guacamole that classic fresh flavor. I would skip dried cilantro here.
- Garlic powder: Adds savory flavor and blends in easily.
- Black pepper: Gives the dip a little extra depth.
- Lime juice: Brightens the guacamole and balances the richness of the avocado. Fresh lime juice tastes best, but bottled works if that is what you have.
- Fine sea salt: Salt brings everything together, so be sure to taste and adjust before serving.
How to Make Guacamole
This easy guacamole recipe comes together fast with one bowl and a fork.
Prep the ingredients
Dice the red onion, chop the cilantro, and cut the avocados. Add everything to a bowl with the lime juice and seasonings.
Mash and mix
Use a fork to mash the avocado while mixing everything together. I like mine a little chunky, but you can mash it more if you want it smoother.
Taste and adjust
Give it a taste before serving and add more salt or lime juice if needed. That last little adjustment helps all of the flavors pop.
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How to Pick Ripe Avocados for Guacamole
A good guacamole recipe starts with ripe avocados. One of the easiest ways to check is to look under the stem. If you gently lift it and see green underneath, the avocado is usually ready to use. If it looks brown, the inside may already have brown spots. If the stem does not lift easily, it probably needs more time to ripen. You can also gently press the outside. It should feel slightly soft, but not mushy.
How to Keep Guacamole Fresh
Guacamole is best the day you make it, when the color is brightest and the flavor is freshest. If you need to make it ahead, store it in the fridge in a tightly covered container. Pressing plastic wrap directly onto the top can help slow browning. If the top darkens a little, just stir it before serving. I would skip freezing this one. Since it comes together so quickly, it is usually best made fresh.
Easy Guacamole Variations
This version keeps things simple, but you can change it depending on what you like.
- Add jalapeño: For a little heat.
- Swap the onion: Shallot works well if you want a milder flavor.
- Add tomato: This gives it a chunkier texture and more of a pico-style feel.
- Change the texture: Mash less for chunkier guacamole or more for a smoother dip.
What to Serve with Guacamole
Guacamole works with a lot more than chips.
Spoon it over Shrimp Tacos, Salmon Tacos, Steak Tacos, or tuck it into a Steak Quesadilla. It is also really good with Chipotle Chicken, Buffalo Chicken Bowls, taco salads, burrito bowls, and nachos.
For taco night, guacamole is one of my favorite toppings because it adds a cool, creamy finish. If you want to switch things up, Avocado Cream Sauce is great when you want something smooth and drizzleable, and Mango and Peach Salsa adds a sweet, fruity contrast.
For a snack or appetizer, serve it with tortilla chips, sliced cucumbers, bell peppers, or whatever fresh vegetables you already have in the fridge.
Guacamole Recipe FAQs
Most guacamole recipes are made with avocados, lime juice, onion, cilantro, and salt. Some versions also include jalapeño, tomato, or garlic.
Yes, but it is best the day you make it. If you make it ahead, cover it tightly and store it in the fridge.
Not this version. If you want some heat, add diced jalapeño or serrano pepper.
Guacamole can fit into a low-carb or keto lifestyle since avocado is naturally lower in carbs. But for this post, the focus is really a fresh, easy guacamole recipe that works for all kinds of meals.
If you try this recipe, please stop back and leave it a star rating and/or a review in the comments. Stay connected & share photos of your creations with me & others on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest!
Guacamole Recipe
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Ingredients
- 2 avocados, ripe
- 1/4 cup Red Onion, diced
- 1/4 cup cilantro, fresh
- 1/4 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
- 1 Lime, juiced
- Natural Ancient Sea Salt, to taste
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients for the Guacamole to a small bowl.
- Mix with a fork.
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Nutrition Details
The nutrition facts come from entering the recipe ingredients into Spoonacular API, a database of food ingredients. They may vary for any recipe based on the exact product used.
