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 Salad, Grilled Chicken with Avocado Salsa, or this Avocado Tuna Salad next.
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!
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!
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.
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:
- 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 guac and serve!
More fun dips to try
- Queso Dip Recipe with white American cheese
- 7 Layer Bean Dip with taco-seasoned sour cream
- Chipotle Ranch Dip with chipotle peppers
- Cannoli Dip our favorite dessert dip! Inspired by the famous Italian pastries
- Baked Potato Dip with bacon and Cheddar cheese
Guacamole Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
- 2 teaspoons finely chopped jalapeno see note 1
- 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro or chives see note 2
- Fine sea salt and pepper
- 2 medium very ripe avocados see 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
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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.
I am so thrilled to hear this! Thanks Ryan! 🙂
Cant wait to make this soon for me i never had guacamole before perfect for my snacks
You’re going to love this one! 🙂