SaveThis easy guacamole recipe mashes ripe avocados with fresh lime juice and salt, then folds in finely chopped onion, tomato, jalapeño and cilantro for a fresh, chunky dip. It takes about 10 minutes and no cooking. Serve it with tortilla chips, spoon it onto tacos and burritos, or add it to bowls and sandwiches. Below you’ll find how to pick ripe avocados, what each ingredient adds, ways to adjust the heat, and how to slow down browning.
What Is Guacamole?
Guacamole is a fresh dip made from mashed ripe avocado, brightened with lime and salt. Most home versions add onion, chile and cilantro, and many add tomato for color and juiciness. The texture can be smooth or chunky; this version leaves small pieces of avocado for a hearty dip.
Guacamole vs. other taco toppings
| Guacamole | Chipotle sauce | Fish taco sauce | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base | Ripe avocado | Sour cream, mayo, chipotles | Mayo, sour cream, lime |
| Texture | Chunky dip | Creamy, pourable | Creamy, pourable |
| Flavor | Fresh, buttery, tangy | Smoky, medium heat | Tangy lime, mild spice |
| Best with | Chips, tacos, burritos | Tacos, bowls | Fish and shrimp tacos |
For a cooked sauce for baked enchiladas, see our homemade enchilada sauce. For a creamy drizzle for seafood tacos, try our fish taco sauce. For a full chip spread, add warm queso dip and roasted salsa verde.
How to Pick Ripe Avocados
Choose avocados that feel heavy for their size and yield slightly when you press them gently in your palm. Very firm avocados aren’t ready yet; very soft ones with dents may be brown inside. If yours are hard, leave them on the counter for a day or two.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Ripe avocados (2 medium): the creamy base.
- Fresh lime juice (1 1/2 tablespoons): brightness and balance. It also helps slow browning.
- Salt (1/2 teaspoon): brings out the avocado’s flavor. Add it in stages and taste.
- White or red onion (1/4 cup, finely chopped): crunch and a sharp bite. Rinse chopped onion under cold water if you want it milder.
- Roma tomato (1 small, seeded and diced): color and juiciness. Removing the seeds keeps the guacamole from getting watery.
- Jalapeño (1/2, seeded and finely chopped): gentle heat. Leave some seeds in for more.
- Fresh cilantro (2 tablespoons, chopped): a fresh, herbal finish.
How to Make Guacamole
- Mash. Halve and pit the avocados, scoop the flesh into a bowl and mash with a fork or potato masher, leaving some chunks.
- Season. Stir in the lime juice and salt.
- Fold in the rest. Add the onion, tomato, jalapeño and cilantro and fold gently.
- Taste and serve. Adjust with more lime, salt or jalapeño, and serve right away.
Milder, Spicier or Smoother
| You want | Change |
|---|---|
| Milder | Skip the jalapeño or use only a little, fully seeded |
| Spicier | Use a whole jalapeño or a serrano, with some seeds |
| Smoother | Mash longer, or blend half the avocado |
| Garlicky | Add 1 small minced garlic clove or a pinch of garlic powder |
| Simplest | Avocado, lime, salt and cilantro only |
Keeping Guacamole Green
Cut avocado darkens when it’s exposed to air. Lime juice helps, but the best fix is limiting air: spoon leftovers into a small container, press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the guacamole, then close the lid. If the top darkens a little, scrape off the thin layer or stir it in.
Because guacamole is made from cut fresh produce, refrigerate it within 2 hours of making it (1 hour above 90°F), and keep your refrigerator at 40°F or below, as the CDC advises.
Frequently Asked Questions
What goes in guacamole?
Ripe avocado, lime juice and salt, usually with onion, chile and cilantro. Many recipes also add tomato.
How do you make guacamole from scratch?
Mash ripe avocados, stir in lime juice and salt, then fold in chopped onion, tomato, jalapeño and cilantro.
How do I keep guacamole from turning brown?
Add lime juice and press plastic wrap directly onto the surface before refrigerating.
Can I make guacamole without tomato or cilantro?
Yes. Leave out either one; avocado, lime and salt are the essentials.
What do you serve guacamole with?
Tortilla chips, tacos, burritos, quesadillas, rice bowls and sandwiches.
