Easy Guacamole Recipe
This easy guacamole recipe will take you less than 5 minutes to make. It's a simple recipe that uses minimal ingredients, just like authentic guacamole. You will love this easy, healthy, and delicious guacamole recipe!
Why this guacamole recipe is the best ever
- It's deliciously flavored and perfectly creamy.
- It takes less than 5 minutes to make.
- You only dirty one bowl, one fork, a knife, and a cutting board. Do you see where we're going with this? No dishes! Almost.
- It's super versatile – and we have lots of suggestions about ingredients you can add to make it extra special.
- Besides tasting amazing, homemade guacamole is also very healthy for you!
If you've only ever bought guacamole before, right now would be a great time to stop doing that. Seriously. Please stop. Please, please. Making it yourself is almost as easy to make as taking a lid off a jar, and it is SO MUCH tastier.
The three main ingredients in this guacamole recipe
There're lots of different ways you can make guacamole. But after years of making our favorite dip, we've found that using just a few fresh ingredients is always the best. This recipe is how we make guacamole 90% of the time. It's super simple and super delicious!
- Lime juice – fresh is always best!
- Garlic – finely minced so you don't end up biting into chunks of garlic.
- Salt – we prefer the mild taste of sea salt in this recipe.
And of course, avocados, too.
Other optional ingredients:
There are plenty of other tasty things you can also add, but with lime juice, garlic, and salt you can make a bowl of guacamole in less time than it would take you to say, “Uno más cerveza, por favor!” Ok, almost less time. Here are a few other ingredients that you can add to your guacamole to really kick it up a notch:
- Fresh diced tomatoes
- Minced cilantro
- Hot peppers – one jalapeño will turn this into spicy guacamole!
- Finely minced onion
- Cumin (a sprinkle of this is fantastic!)
- Cojita or feta cheese
Watch this video to see how to make this easy guacamole recipe
While this guacamole recipe is incredibly simple to make, you can watch the video to see exactly how it's made in just a minute. Watch the step-by-step video on YouTube.
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How to choose a ripe avocado
Choosing a ripe avocado can be a little tricky. If you choose one that is under-ripe, it will be hard and inedible. Insert crying face emoji. If you choose one that is too ripe, it will be mushy and brown. Ick.
So what do you do?
Luckily there are ways to find a perfectly ripe avocado.
- The best way to begin your search for “The One” is to look for the dark avocados. When you find one, give it a gentle squeeze. Does it give just a little without giving in and feeling hollow? Awesome! This could be the one.
- Once you're 99% sure you've found a good one, take a look under the stem. If it looks green, you're good to go. If it's brown, it's past its prime.
What if you can't find a ripe avocado?
Finding a ripe avocado can feel like finding your soul mate; the more you want one, the harder it is to find. To help turn an under-ripe avocado into a guacamole-ready one, you need to use the paper bag trick.
All you have to do is put the avocado (or a few avocados) and an apple in a paper bag. Close the bag and set it aside on your counter. In about a day, you'll have a ripe avocado.
You can also put under-ripe avocados in your fruit bowl to help them ripen. The ethylene gas that fruit releases helps to ripen your hard avocado.
How to store leftovers
While guacamole is best eaten shortly after it's made, it is possible to store it. Here's the best way to store leftover guacamole:
Put the guacamole into a bowl and smooth the top with a spoon. Now take a piece of plastic wrap and press it firmly onto the guacamole so that there are no air pockets. Now your guac will stay fresh for 2-3 days in your fridge.
For plastic-free storage, you can also use parchment paper or beeswax food wraps. Neither of these options work quite as well so you may need to scrape a little brown guacamole off the top before eating it.
What to serve with this guacamole recipe
The classic way to eat guacamole is with crunchy tortilla chips, but it's great served as a dip for veggies, too. Here are a few other ways to serve guac:
- Mexican Pork Carnitas
- Loaded Food Truck Mexican Nacho Fries
- Shrimp Fajitas
- Cheesy Fajita Stuffed Chicken
- Baja Fish Tacos
And don't forget to treat yourself to a fizzy lime margarita!
Popular guacamole recipes
- Smoky Chipotle Guacamole Dip
- Delicious Apple Guacamole
- Bacon Guacamole with Roasted Garlic
- Chunky Grilled Guacamole
- Corn Guacamole
Easy Guacamole Recipe
If you love this recipe as much as we do, let us know with a 5-star rating!
Ingredients
- 3 ripe avocados
- 1 lime
- 1-2 cloves garlic, grated on a Microplane or finely minced
- Large pinch of salt
Instructions
- To cut the avocados, run a knife around the avocado (from top to bottom) and twist in half. Pull out and discard the pit. Using a spoon or your thumb, remove the flesh and place into a medium-sized bowl.3 ripe avocados
- Cut the lime in half and squeeze both halves into the bowl with the avocado, being careful not to get any seeds in the bowl. Add the garlic, salt and any/all or none of the optional ingredients (see notes). Using a fork gently mash each avocado half a few times then stir all ingredients together.1 lime, 1-2 cloves garlic, Large pinch of salt
Notes
- Guacamole is best made and eaten right away. If you must store it make sure that you cover it with plastic wrap directly against the guacamole. Press the plastic wrap into it with your fingers to prevent any air getting to it and causing it to go brown.
- To make a single serving, lunch sized guac, use 1 avocado, 1/2 lime, a small clove of garlic, and a pinch of sea salt.
- Optional additions: chopped tomato, cilantro, chopped onion, finely minced chilis, finely minced chipotle peppers, a few drops of liquid smoke, finely crumbled cooked bacon.
This recipe is part of our Healthy Super Bowl Recipes series.
More recipes to try!
This so simple and makes the best guacamole!! Served with some chips, I could almost eat this and only this for dinner!
I totally agree! I’ve made a meal out of this more than a few times. 🙂
This guacamole is so quick to make. Perfect for dipping chips or putting on top of tacos.
Thanks, Sharron! I’m really happy to hear that you enjoyed the recipe!
I have never made an easier guacamole recipe. This is definitely the way to go when making guac!
That’s wonderful to hear. Thanks, Danielle!
I think I could eat guacamole every single day… with a margarita of course. I love the straightforward simplicity of your recipe. I like to add a few drops of my grandfather’s hot sauce to give it extra kick. Too good!
I’m totally with you! I like your idea to add some hot sauce. I’ll have to try that!
This recipe was easy to understand and easy to use. And it tastes delicious too.
That’s wonderful to hear. Thanks!
Such a simple guacamole recipe without compromising for taste. So awesome. 🙂
Thanks, Anita! I’m really happy to hear that you liked the recipe!
My kind of recipe…Simple and Delicious!
Yes! So happy to hear that you like the recipe as much as we do!
This recipe is a winner. We added diced tomatoes to ours and it was gone in no time. We will be making another batch soon.
That’s so awesome to hear, Ali!
What a great way to make my favorite restaurant-style side at home. I love that it only calls for 4 ingredients!
Yes! So happy that you enjoyed the recipe!
Beautiful dip! This is a must for parties!
Thanks, Caitlyn!
Love this recipe! I make it everytime I have friends over and I always get compliments. Simple but so good.
Yay! That’s so great to hear, Krystal!
I can’t believe I looked up a recipe for something as simple as guacamole, but man is this great! I love to add a little serrano chili, and for something a little different, some Microplaned lemongrass!
Simple is so good isn’t it? I like your lemongrass idea!
Made it! Super yummy and simple! I added tomatoes! Thank you! God bless!
You are very welcome!
Guacamole is like meatloaf, less is more. It does not need to be loaded to be good. This is basically the way I have always made guacamole but never added cumin. I will from now on. Just a pinch takes tis guacamole to a whole new level.
I’m happy to hear that you like a little pinch of cumin, too! It’s my fav!
I love the simplicity of this recipe and yet so simple and quick to make! I didn’t have any lime juice so I just opted for lemon juice but still tasted OK. Of course next time I’ll be using a lime.
I’m so happy to hear that the recipe was a hit, Allison!
perfect simplicity like described added a little too much garlic but still delicious. thank you mucho!!!
Happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe!
I like how simple this recipe is. Will make it again.
You should call this the best guacamole recipe. It’s easy but it’s also the best I’ve tried.
So easy and yum!
Happy that you think so too!
I made this recipe just now and it’s delicious. I don’t like guacamole with bits of tomatoes and onions and this is perfect.
That’s wonderful! Thank you for coming back to let us know!
Great recipe. I think the more simple it is the more appealing it is in some cases. I love keeping food close to their natural taste but this recipe gives it just what it needs to make it a perfect hit. Thanks.
I love simple too! So happy to hear that this recipe was a hit!
Fast , basic and easy to add your favorite other items to personalize it and make it your own.
So happy to hear that the recipe was a hit!
hi i love the recipe it is my first guacamole recipe i made and i made it today plus im young
That makes me so happy to hear! Hooray!
Turned out great!! Thanks for a quick recipe that can be whipped up in minutes!!
You’re so welcome!!
The easy recipe works well
Thank you!
Hi! I really like your recipes! Two days ago I made it and it was really delicious! Thank you
I’m so happy to hear it was a hit! Thank you for coming back to let us know!
Tried this recipe because I wanted a simple quick recipe. I usually do a very good one adding onions and cilantro but didn’t have all these ingredients. I liked your recipe and all those who tasted it said it was very nice. Thanks and well done. I will check out your other recipes.
That is so great to hear! Thank you for taking the time to come back to let us know!
I just smash some avocados with salt, a lot of lime juice and add olive oil. Call it simple but that is a great guac for me
I’ve never thought of adding olive oil! I’ll have to try that next time I make it. 🙂
LOve his role recipe but having a problem finding a recipe with little to no lime.
Do you not like the flavor of lime? You can omit it if you don’t like the taste. 🙂
Kristen, I am so pleased I found your website. This recipe reminds me of Marcella Hazen’s style: Why make a simple thing complicated? Oh, incidentally, Ms Hazen to my mind is the gold standard of cooking and teaching.
Ciao, bella,
Bob
I totally agree! Often simple is best!
Another way to keep your guac from going brown especially if you’re serving a larger amount at a party is to keep the pits and put 1,2, or 3 right into the guacamole, depending on how much you have made. It looks funny and I don’t know the science behind why keeps it from going brown but it is always worked whenever I’ve done it. Also adding it to your mix while in the fridge along with keeping the saran wrap tightly over it is what I always do to keep it from browning
That’s a great tip!
Quick and easy thanks
I’m so happy to hear the recipe was a hit!
Thank you for making my dinner a Hit!
You are so welcome!!
Can you use minced garlic from a jar
I’ve never used garlic from a jar before. Does it taste like fresh garlic? If it does, then it should be just fine. 🙂
I made this for the first time for a cinco de mayo party and now it’s my go to guac. It’s so easy to make! Sometimes I add in your suggested extras but most of the time I jsut make it as it.
So happy you like the recipe!!
My roommates make guacamole ALL the time, so our kitchen always smells of fresh avocados, limes, lemons, and garlic salt! You can never go wrong with a delicious homemade guacamole. It always disappears by the end of a day, but realistically, at least in a few hours!
It never lasts long, does it? Homemade is the best!!
Love this recipe. Easy!! Can you use lemon and lime? I seem to be tasting a lot of lime and I have adjusted the recipe a bit but seem to be tasting a lot of lime I have even used some pepper flakes. Any suggestions would be helpful. thank you
I use lemon juice in a pinch when I don’t have any limes on hand but I prefer it with lime juice. You can always reduce the amount if it’s too much for you. Another option would be to add some of the ‘extras’ that I mentioned in the post. Some chopped tomatoes or cherry tomatoes, minced onion, and cilantro will all bulk it up so the lime flavor won’t be as noticeable. Hope that helps!
Mostrar muito, deve ter ficado muito gostoso.
This is my go-to recipe for guacamole now. I make it for every party and event and get tons of compliments on how amazing it is. I have to double or triple the recipe because it gets eaten so fast. Thank you for sharing this!
I make it in its basic form, but add in finely diced red onions. The secret with the onions is to deflame them by letting them soak in scalding hot water for about 10 minutes, then rinsing them with cold water.
That’s so great to hear! Even after all these years it is still my go to recipe, too!
I love how quick and easy this recipe is. Sometimes it’s nice to keep things simple and let the main ingredient shine. Will make this again.
Thanks, Kimberly! I love this basic recipe, too. 🙂
Wow this looks amazing!
It’s delicious!
Great recipe, turned out delcious. Thanks for sharing.
Simon
You’re so welcome!
Why do you not want it to turn brown? Is it not fit to eat when it is brown? Furthermore, why do you give a recipe with three avocados and then tell us to eat it right away or I suppose you mean in one serving.
It seems to me if you want guacamole on a sandwich it would be better to just slice an avocado up and sprinkle on some garlic powder and lime juice and salt? If you want to eat some avocado with chips then just mash an avocado and stir in some salsa.
Avocados, like apples, will oxidize and turn brown when exposed to air. While it’s not unsafe to eat, it’s not very appetizing looking. If you’re only making guacamole for yourself, you can cut the recipe down to one avocado. Otherwise, the recipe will serve 3-4 as a snack/ appetizer.
Love guacamole and this is the BEST EVER,
Thank you so much, Mary!!
Best ever sooo easy love it thank you!!!
could I use lemon juice instead of lime? Thank you!
Absolutely! I prefer lime better but lemon also works 🙂
Awesome recipe! I love guacamole 🙂
Thanks for sharing.
Simone
Like it easy to remember too thanks
If you cover with plastic wrap allways make sure its the type that can come into contact with food some tell you not to let it touch any food.
LOVE GWOCK YUmmmmmmm
I had no idea that some plastic wrap should’t come in contact with food. Thanks for the heads up! I checked mine right away and it seems to be ok 🙂
Pomegranate in guacamole is delicious.
Great idea!
This was awesome, there is so much flavour with little ingredients. I choose to add finely chopped onion and cilantro, and it was delicious! Thanks for the recipe!
I work from home and often struggle with quick and healthy lunch ideas. Guacamole is perfect!
I love guacamole, and keeping it simple is definitely the best. This looks great!
Thanks, Grace!!