Best Guacamole Recipe - Love and Lemons (2024)

The BEST guacamole recipe! It's easy to make with simple, fresh ingredients like ripe avocados, onion, and lime juice. Great with chips, tacos, and more!

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If you don’t already have a go-to guacamole recipe, let me introduce you to mine.

  • This guacamole recipe is easy to make. You can whip it up in 10 minutes or less!
  • It calls for simple, fresh ingredients. Think ripe avocados, onion, cilantro, and lime.
  • It’s DELICIOUS. This homemade guacamole is creamy, zesty, and bright.

I developed the recipe while I was living in Austin, Texas. The city has incredible Tex Mex and Mexican food, and I ate a TON of great guac at local restaurants there. It inspired me to learn how to make guacamole at home. With a little trial and error (and lots of lime juice), I worked out this simple guacamole recipe, which rivals any I’ve had out to eat. It’s been a hit at countless parties and taco nights over the years—I think you’re going to love it!

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Guacamole Ingredients

To make this guacamole recipe, you’ll need these simple ingredients:

  • Ripe avocados – Emphasis on ripe! If your avocados are too firm, they won’t mash into a smooth and creamy guac. See the tip below!
  • Red onion – For crunch and savory bite. Diced white onions work here too.
  • Fresh cilantro – I love the refreshing kick it adds to this guacamole recipe, but you can skip it if you’re not a fan.
  • Fresh lime juice and zest – They make the guacamole zesty and bright.
  • Jalapeño – For heat. Feel free to omit it if you’re sensitive to spice. A serrano pepper would work here too!
  • Ground cumin – Optional, but delicious. It adds earthy depth of flavor.
  • And sea salt – To make all the flavors pop!

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

Recipe Tip

Buy the avocados ahead of time.I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone to the grocery store planning to make this guacamole recipe…only to discover that all the avocados are rocks!

If you can, shop a few days in advance. Store unripe avocados at room temperature until they’re soft to the touch. Then, transfer them to the fridge until you’re ready to make guac.

Wondering if you can speed up the ripening process?I’ve tried every trick there is (putting the avocados in a paper bag, baking them, etc.) with zero success. Planning ahead is the best way to ensure you’ll have perfectly ripe avocados for this recipe!

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How to Make Guacamole

You can find the complete guacamole recipe with measurements below, but for now, here’s a quick overview of how to make guacamole:

Starting by prepping the ingredients. Peel and pit the avocados, and finely dice the onion, cilantro, and jalapeño. Zest the limes.

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Place the avocados, onion, cilantro, lime zest, peppers, salt, and cumin, if using, in a large bowl. Squeeze in the lime juice.

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Next, mash.Use a fork or potato masher to mash the guacamole together. The final texture is up to you. Mash less if you like your guac a little chunky. Mash more if you like it smoother!

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Finally, season to taste.Add more salt, lime, cumin, etc. as desired. Enjoy!

Recipe Variations

This classic guacamole recipe is delicious as written, but feel free to change it up! If you like, stir in mix-ins such as these:

  • Diced roma tomatoes
  • Grated garlic
  • Cotija cheese
  • Diced fresh mango or pineapple

Let me know what variations you try!

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How to Serve Guacamole

My favorite way to serve this easy guacamole recipe is as a dip with tortilla chips. It’s such a crowd-pleasing appetizer!

For a full party spread, I like to pair it with margaritas to drink and a homemade salsa. It goes well with any of these salsa recipes:

  • Salsa Roja
  • Tomatillo Salsa Verde
  • Pico de Gallo

Homemade guacamole is also a great accompaniment to Mexican-inspired meals. Add a scoop to veggie tacos or a breakfast burrito, or spoon it onto your next burrito bowl. Find more Mexican-inspired recipes below.

How to Store Leftovers

Like bananas and apples, avocados oxidize, or turn brown, after you slice them open. This browning won’t change how the guac tastes, but it doesn’t look super appealing. For this reason, I like to mix up this recipe right before serving.

If you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.

To prevent leftover guac from browning, squeeze a little lemon juice or lime juice over its surface before sealing the container. You could also press a layer of plastic wrap over the top of the guacamole before placing on the lid.

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More Mexican-Inspired Recipes

If you loved learning how to make guacamole, try one of these Mexican-inspired recipes next:

  • Elote
  • Easy Enchiladas
  • Tortilla Soup
  • Homemade Tortillas
  • Mushroom Tacos
  • Chilaquiles

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Best Guacamole Recipe

rate this recipe:

4.97 from 33 votes

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Total Time: 10 minutes mins

Serves 4 to 6

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The BEST guacamole recipe! It's easy to make with simple, fresh ingredients. Serve it as a dip with tortilla chips or with Tex Mex and Mexican dishes like tacos, burritos, and more.

Ingredients

  • 3 avocados, ripe
  • ¼ cup diced red onion
  • ¼ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
  • Zest and juice of 2 limes
  • 1 small jalapeño pepper, diced
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt, plus more to taste
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin, optional
  • optional: 1 to 2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, combine the avocados, onion, cilantro, lime zest and juice, jalapeño, salt, and cumin, if using. Mash until the ingredients are combined but still a bit chunky.

  • Fold in the tomatoes, if using.

  • Season to taste and serve.

Best Guacamole Recipe - Love and Lemons (2024)

FAQs

Best Guacamole Recipe - Love and Lemons? ›

I know the traditional way uses lime, but I personally prefer guacamole with lemon! I like the flavor better with lemon juice, but lime works too. If you're out of fresh lemons or limes, try using bottled lime or lemon juice. Although, freshly squeezed juice is definitely the best!

What to use instead of lime juice in guacamole? ›

I know the traditional way uses lime, but I personally prefer guacamole with lemon! I like the flavor better with lemon juice, but lime works too. If you're out of fresh lemons or limes, try using bottled lime or lemon juice. Although, freshly squeezed juice is definitely the best!

Why should you leave the lime out of guacamole? ›

You see, lime is a very strong acidic flavor and it can easily overpower the delicate flavor of the avocado. Instead, finely dice red onions and pickle them with lime juice for 15-30 minutes.

Should you add tomatoes to guacamole? ›

In my opinion, all guacamole should include tomato for texture and flavor. Regular tomatoes tend to be too watery, so go for grape tomatoes instead! You can quarter them and they'll stay nice and firm. Go easy on the lime.

Is it better to make guacamole the night before? ›

When you use roughly 1 tablespoon of lime juice per avocado, the acidity will prevent the avocados from turning brown overnight in the fridge. I always make this recipe the night before with no browning. Use a tall (not wide) storage container.

Why does lemon juice prevent guacamole from turning brown? ›

Acidulants, such as citric and ascorbic acid found in lemon juice, help lower the pH of avocados and decrease the enzymatic activity, keeping them from turning brown ( 1 , 3 ). Therefore, squeezing a little lemon juice on top of your cut avocado before storing it could help delay browning.

Can you freeze guacamole? ›

You can freeze guacamole for up to 3 months. So, if you have a good avo that's about to turn, mash it, mix it with guac ingredients (here's the full recipe), drizzle with oil and freeze for when you next need a creamy avo dip hit, or want to jazz up a mid-week Mexican dinner.

What happens if you use lime juice instead of lemon juice? ›

Lime juice is the winner for the best overall substitute for lemon juice because of its similar taste and acidity level (which makes a big difference in recipes). It can be used at a 1:1 ratio level. Lime juice will work for both savory and sweet dishes and in co*cktails.

How does Chipotle keep their guacamole so green? ›

Each panned guac gets sealed airtight with Saran Wrap,” he said. “Then it gets lidded, labeled and stored for later use. This process ensures freshness and prevents browning,” he continued.

How far ahead can you make guacamole before it turns brown? ›

Topping off your avocado dip with water keeps air, at least in part, from being able to penetrate the guacamole, which keeps it from browning. By using this simple technique, you can keep the brown at bay for about two days (maybe longer if you're lucky).

Does putting the pit in guacamole keep it fresh? ›

Some people swear by this one, so we had to put it to the test. The verdict: Contrary to popular belief, adding the avocado pit to guacamole does not prevent oxidation. In fact, if it sticks out above the surface, it creates air pockets that prevent the plastic wrap from adhering tightly enough.

How to tell if guacamole is bad? ›

Once opened, store-bought guacamole usually lasts 1-2 days. Homemade guacamole also usually lasts 1-2 days. You'll know it's gone bad when it has a substantial puddle of brown liquid and the layers below the surface have lost their vibrant green hue. That's when it's time to throw it out.

Why do people put sour cream in guacamole? ›

Keep your guacamole recipe the same, but when preparing the ingredients, mash your avocados with ¼ cup of sour cream before adding in extras like chopped onion and cilantro. The tanginess of sour cream will add depth of flavor — and work to keep your guacamole fresh until chow time.

What are the symptoms of food poisoning from guacamole? ›

The most common symptoms of food poisoning include diarrhea, stomach pain or cramps, nausea, vomiting, and fever. Signs of severe food poisoning include bloody diarrhea, diarrhea that lasts more than 3 days, fever over 102°F, vomiting so often that you cannot keep liquids down, and signs of dehydration.

When should you not eat guacamole? ›

Although brown guacamole isn't the most appealing, it's completely safe to eat (as long as you've stored the guacamole in the refrigerator, and it isn't more than three days old). "While a bit off-putting to look at, brown guacamole is totally safe," confirms Food Network's nutritionist, Dana Angelo White, MS RD ATC.

Can you make guacamole if the avocado is still hard? ›

Guacamole must be made with perfectly ripe avocados, she insists. But if you find yourself with subpar avocados, add a teaspoon of olive oil into the mix. “The oil helps it be more lush and unctuous,” Cámara explains.

What makes guacamole unhealthy? ›

Store-bought guacamole often contains sour cream, added sugar, artificial flavors, preservatives, and a lot of sodium.

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