This small-batch guacamole recipe uses 2 avocados and 4 simple ingredients for delicious homemade guacamole in about 10 minutes. It's easy to customize with your favorite add-ins or scale up for a crowd.
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Featured Comment from Sue:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Today I made your guacamole, and talk about “knock your socks off!” It’s the best."
🥣 TL;DR — Recipe Summary
What is it? A small-batch guacamole recipe using 2 avocados, with easy adjustments for larger or smaller batches.
Why you'll love it: Fresh, delicious guacamole in 10 minutes with only 4 ingredients, plus many options to make it your way.
How to make it: Mash ripe avocados with lime juice, garlic, and salt. Add your favorite extras and adjust the texture to your liking.
🥑 Ingredients
- Avocados — ripe but not mushy.
- Lime juice — fresh preferred.
- Salt — to taste.
- Garlic — highly recommended.
- Optional ingredients — red onion, tomato, jalapeño, cilantro, or pepper.
👨🍳 Quick Overview: How to Make Small-Batch Guacamole
1. Mince the garlic and prep any additional ingredients.
2. Remove the pit and scoop the avocado from the skin.
✅ Pro Tip: Rolling the lime on the counter will free up some juice before cutting.
3. Combine the avocado and prepared ingredients. Add the lime juice and salt, plus pepper if desired.
4. Mash with a fork or potato masher to your desired consistency.
✅ 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 the recipe card below for complete instructions and to print.
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🥑 Buying the Best Avocados
Hass avocados are the most common variety and work well for guacamole. Here's what to look for:
- Color: Dark green to nearly black.
- Firmness: The avocado should yield slightly to gentle pressure but not feel mushy.
- Under the stem: Green is good; brown may indicate overripeness.
✅ Pro Tip: To ripen hard avocados faster, place them in a paper bag with a ripe banana. The banana releases ethylene gas, which helps the avocados ripen in a few days.
🥑 How to Make Guacamole with 2 Avocados (Or Scale the Recipe)
This small-batch recipe starts with 2 avocados, but you can easily make more or less.
- 1 avocado: Cut the ingredients in half for a smaller batch.
- 2 avocados: Follow the recipe as written.
- More avocados: Increase the ingredients proportionally for larger batches.
Use the serving adjustment in the recipe card to change amounts automatically in the ingredient list, but not the instructions. Adjust the seasonings to your taste.
❄️ How to Store Guacamole and Prevent Browning
Guacamole turns brown when exposed to air. To keep it fresh, limit contact with oxygen.
- Method 1 — Plastic wrap: Press plastic wrap directly against the surface of the guacamole, then cover the container.
- Method 2 — Water: Smooth the surface and add about ¼ inch of water. Refrigerate, then pour off the water and stir before serving.
Refrigerate promptly. Guacamole is best within 2 days, although it may last a third day with some loss of quality.
❓ FAQs
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, jalapeño, cilantro, and other ingredients for extra flavor and texture.
For milder guacamole, reduce or omit the jalapeño. For more heat, add extra jalapeño, include some of the white membranes, or use a hotter pepper. Start small—you 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 ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder for each clove of fresh garlic and adjust to taste.
📖The Recipe Card
Small-Batch Guacamole Recipe with 2 Avocados
Ingredients
- 2 avocados - ripe
- 1 lime
- 1 clove garlic
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 Roma tomato
- 1 jalapeno pepper
- ½ red onion - medium
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 2-3 tablespoons minced cilantro - optional
Step-by-Step Instructions
- If using, chop the red onion and tomato. Devein the jalapeño and chop it finely. Mince the garlic.
- Cut the avocado lengthwise around the pit and twist the halves apart. Carefully remove the pit.
- Scoop the inside of the avocado into a bowl and add the prepared ingredients.
- 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 ½ teaspoon kosher salt and ¼ 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
- The basic recipe uses avocados, lime juice, garlic, and salt. Tomato, onion, jalapeño, pepper, and cilantro are optional.
- Adjust the jalapeño to control the heat, and mash the guacamole to your preferred consistency.
- Choose ripe avocados that yield slightly to gentle pressure.
- To prevent browning, press plastic wrap directly against the surface or cover with a thin layer of water. Refrigerate promptly and use within 2 days.
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 and refreshed photos.
Sue says
You are my #1 go-to for lone cooking, never disappointed. Today I made your guacamole, and talk about “knock your socks off!” It’s 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.