This simple guacamole recipe uses just 4 ingredients and comes together in about 10 minutes. It's a beginner-friendly homemade guacamole that you can customize with onion, tomato, jalapeƱo, cilantro, and other add-ins to make it exactly how you like it.
The recipe uses 2 avocados, but it's easy to make a small batch with 1 avocado or scale it up for parties and game days. Whether you prefer chunky guacamole for dipping or a smoother texture for tacos and burritos, this recipe adapts to your taste.
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Featured Comment from Sue:
āāāāā
"Today I made your guacamole, and talk about āknock your socks off!ā Itās the best."
š„£ TL;DR ā Recipe Summary
What is it? A basic 4-ingredient guacamole recipe with many options. Make it to your taste and only the amount you need using 1, 2, or more avocados.
Why you'll love it: A beginner-friendly recipe with simple fresh ingredients. Perfect for party dipping, dinner, or snacking.
How to make it: Scoop out ripe avocados, prep the other ingredients, and mix to your desired consistency.
š„ Ingredients
Avocados
Lime juice
Salt
Garlicāalmost required
Optional ingredientsāred onion, tomato, jalapeno, cilantro, pepper, and others
šØāš³ Quick Overview: How to Make Simple Guacamole
Mince the garlic and prep any add-ins. (Shown here are red onion, tomato, and jalapeƱo.)
Remove the pit and scoop the avocado from the skin.
ā Pro Tip: Rolling the lime on the counter will free up some juice before cutting.
Combine the avocado and prepared ingredients. Add the lime juice and salt.
Add any pepper and cilantro if using. Mash to the consistency you want using a fork or a potato masher.
ā Pro Tip: Guacamole is delicious right away, but a few hours in the refrigerator allows the flavors to meld.
For more details, keep reading. See theĀ Recipe CardĀ below for complete instructions and to print.
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š„ Buying the Best Avocados
There are several types of avocados, but we only get Hass in my area, so I am only discussing them.
What to look for:
- Dark green
- Not too hard but not mushy - it should give just a little.
- Taking the stem off is also helpful. If it is all brown underneath, it is over-ripe. If green or green with only a few specks of brown, It is too green.
ā Pro Tip: Bought avocados that are still hard or green? Place them in a paper bag with an overripe banana and seal the bag tightly. The banana releases natural ethylene gas, which helps ripen the avocados in a few days.
š„ How to Make Guacamole with 1, 2, or More Avocados
This simple guacamole recipe uses 2 avocados, but it's easy to make a smaller or larger batch. Since the add-ins are optional, adjust them to your taste and the amount of guacamole you want to make.
- Use the recipe card to adjust the servings up or down.
- The ingredient amounts will adjust automatically, but feel free to increase or decrease any optional add-ins to suit your taste.
āļø How to Store Guacamole and Prevent Browning
Guacamole turns brown when air reaches the surface. To keep it fresh, prevent oxygen from contacting the guacamole.
Method 1: Press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the guacamole before covering the container. Some people also add a thin layer of lime juice on top.
Method 2: Smooth the surface and cover it with about Ā¼ inch of water. When ready to serve, pour off the water and stir the guacamole.
Using either method, guacamole will usually keep for about 2 days in the refrigerator. A third day is possible but the quality declines quickly.
š½ļø Serving
Perfect with Crock Pot Chicken Fajitas, Spicy Taco Meat, Chili Nachos, or Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas. It's also delicious on toast, burgers, burritos, quesadillas, and tacos.
Serve alongside Mango Salsa with Pineapple and Mexican Rice for an easy Mexican-inspired meal.
ā FAQs
Almost. The most basic guacamole is mashed avocado with lime juice and salt. Garlic is highly recommended, but ingredients like onion, tomato, jalapeƱo, and cilantro are optional and can be adjusted to your taste.
Yes. Tomatoes are optional and are not included in this basic 4-ingredient guacamole recipe. Many people prefer guacamole made with only avocado, lime juice, garlic, and salt, while others add tomato, onion, jalapeƱo, cilantro, and other ingredients for extra flavor and texture.
For milder guacamole, reduce or omit the jalapeƱo. For more heat, leave some seeds and membranes in the jalapeƱo, add extra jalapeƱo, or use a hotter pepper. Start smallāyou can always add more heat, but you can't take it out.
Yes. Fresh garlic provides the best flavor, but garlic powder works well if that's what you have available. Start with about Ā¼ teaspoon of garlic powder for each clove of fresh garlic and adjust to taste.
šThe Recipe Card
Simple Guacamole Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 avocados - ripe
- 1 lime
- 1 Roma tomato
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 jalapeno pepper
- Ā½ red onion - medium
- Ā½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Ā¼ teaspoon pepper
- 2-3 tablespoons minced cilantro - optional
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Chop half a medium red onion and a Roma tomato. Mince 1 clove of garlic. De-vein the jalapeno and chop finely.
- Open the avocado by cutting around the avocado down to the seed. Twist it to open and remove the seed. The seed may come out easily, but if not, put the knife into it a little and twist it to remove it.
- Spoon the meat out of the avocado. It is easy. Combine the avocado with the prepped veggies in a large bowl.
- Roll the lime on the counter to free up some juice, then cut the lime in half and squeeze all the juice you can out.
- Add Ā½ teaspoon kosher salt and Ā¼ teaspoon pepper. Mash to the consistency you want using a fork or a potato masher. Optional: Add 2-3 tablespoons of minced cilantro.
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips
- Vary the ingredients and texture for your taste.
- This is a bit spicy, so cut down the jalapeno if you want. Or double if you want spicier.
- We are a family with a taste aversion to cilantro, so it is optional here, but most people will want it.
Picking Out Avocado
- Dark green
- Not too hard, not mushyāit should give just a little.
- Taking the stem off is also helpful. If it is totally brown underneath, it is over-ripe. If green or green with only a few specks of brown, It is too green.
Storage
- Guacamole will turn brown within a few hours due to oxidation of the surface. You can prevent this by preventing oxygen from getting to the surface. This involves more than just a lid on the container.
- Method #1: You can prevent oxidation by covering it with plastic wrap pressed down to eliminate any air contact. Some also recommend lime juice to the top of the guacamole.
- Method#2: Flaten the surface in a bowl and cover it with about Ā¼ inch of water. Just pour it off and mix your guacamole when you want more
- With either method, it will last about 2 days in the refrigerator. A third day is very iffy.
Your Own Private Notes
To adjust the recipe size:
You can adjust the number of servings above; however, only the amount in the ingredient list is adjusted, not the instructions.
Nutrition Estimate (may vary)
Editor's Note: Originally Published September 8, 2012. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.
Sue says
You are my #1 go-to for lone cooking, never disappointed. Today I made your guacamole, and talk about āknock your socks off!ā Itās the best. I had to share those thoughts! My thanks. Sue
Helly says
I always keep the pit and put it back in the dip, helps it stay fresh for longer period of time!
Carolyn Stephens says
I do everything I can to avoid using sharp knives. So I use a pastry blender to mush up the avocado. Then I stir in some pico de gallo from the market. After that I add lime juice, perhaps some garlic salt to taste.
DrDan says
Hi Carolyn,
Welcome to the blog. That sounds great.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Mahina says
Love this recipe. I put all the ingredients in a ziplock bag and let the kids squish it until the desired consistency. Snip off the corner and "pipe" into the serving dish. Easy clean up!
Delores Hunt says
Great chicken drummies. Quick and simple. Family loved it!!
Chris says
Avocados are one thing I don't trust to others to buy for me, it's such a subjective call.