Best Ever Guacamole

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This is the best guacamole recipe as it’s simple to make and uses fresh, high-quality ingredients. Authentic guacamole doesn’t contain fillers and unnecessary ingredients. All you need is avocados, onion, tomatoes, cilantro, jalapeno pepper, lime juice, garlic, and salt. Easy and delicious!

Guacamole in a bowl with a chip dipping in.

I’m not one for hyperbole, but this really is the best guacamole recipe. When it comes to crowd-raving guacamole the key is to not get too fancy or try to be too unique. Guacamole is meant to be easy to make and delicious. Plain and simple. It’s a blend of a few high quality ingredients with flavors that meld together beautifully.

After numerous trips to Mexico and working alongside Mexican chefs, I can confirm that this guacamole is the real deal. Fresh, easy, and authentic! Just as you would enjoy it in Mexico.

Ingredients for making guacamole on a counter.

Guacamole Ingredients

With just eight simple ingredients you can make one of the all-time-best dip recipes.

  • Avocados: Want to know how to pick the best, most ripe avocados? See my tips below!
  • Onion: I’m using yellow onion which is most often used in Mexico, but you could use red onion as well.
  • Tomatoes: Choose Roma tomatoes which are less juicy. No one wants a watery guac.
  • Cilantro: One of my favorite herbs and a staple in Mexican cuisine.
  • Jalapeno: You can also use serrano pepper for a little extra heat.
  • Garlic: Some people like their guac with garlic, others like it without. I love just a little.
  • Lime: Freshly squeezed lime is a must. Don’t use jarred lime juice as the flavor is muted.
  • Salt: A pinch of flaky salt brings it all together.

Pick Ripe Avocados for the Best Guacamole

The best guacamole starts with the freshest ingredients. Look for avocados that are ripe, but firm. You definitely don’t want soft and mushy avocados.

So how do you pick good, ripe avocados? First, grab avocados that still have the stem attached. If the stem has been removed in the store, it’s more likely to have brown spots on the inside. Then, gently press on one end. It should be firm, but have a slight give to it.

Guacamole recipe ingredients in a bowl ready to be mixed.

How Do You Make Guacamole?

Slice three ripe avocados in half, remove the pit and scoop them into a mixing bowl. Then use a fork to gently mash them to your desired level of chunky or smooth. Add the onions, tomatoes, cilantro, jalapeno pepper, garlic, lime juice and salt and stir everything together. That’s it. The most delicious, easy guacamole.

A bowl of fresh, authentic guacamole next to tortilla chips.

How to Store Leftovers (and Keep it Green!)

Guacamole oxidizes and turns brown pretty darn quick. The lime juice helps to slow this process, but it’s inevitable that leftover guacamole will eventually start to brown.

Now, I’ve tried every kitchen hack imaginable to keep guacamole green (I eat a lot of guacamole). So what doesn’t work? Well, let’s start with leaving the pit in the guacamole. This does nothing to prevent browning and there’s no scientific justification for it. Consider it an old wives tale.

Next, many say to add lemon juice. And this helps a bit, but I don’t like that it changes the flavor profile of my beloved guacamole.

The most common guacamole preservation hack is placing plastic wrap directly on the guacamole to prevent oxidation. And this may work for a day or two. But I’m striving to reduce my plastic consumption and just don’t love this method.

So in my quest to keep my guacamole green I stumbled on this hack – and it’s brilliant.

Here’s how to keep guacamole green:

  • Place your leftover guacamole in a storage container and pat it down firmly with a spoon so it’s nice and flat on top.
  • Add about 1/2 inch of water on top (I used cold water).
  • Place the lid on the storage container and store it in the fridge. That’s it!
  • When you want to enjoy the guacamole, drain the water off the top, give it a stir and you’re good to go.

I tested this method for three full days and it worked like a charm. It stays perfectly fresh and delicious. Though I will admit by the third day it does start to get a little more watery. But who has guacamole last that long anyway?

A scoop of guacamole on a tortilla chip.

Watch My Guacamole Recipe Video

While this recipe is easy to make, I have some tips for making the best guacamole recipe you’ve ever tasted. Watch my step-by-step tutorial video below!

More Delicious Mexican Inspired Recipes

For all my Mexican food lovers, give these reader favorite recipes a try:

And you can wash all of those down with my Mango Margarita, Strawberry Margarita or Classic Margarita. Or my Agua Fresca for a non-alcoholic option.

For tasty guacamole variations, try my festive Pomegranate Guacamole, tasty BLT Guacamole, and bite-sized Guacamole Stuffed Tomatoes!

Guacamole recipe in a bowl next to tortilla chips.

Best Ever Guacamole (Fresh, Easy & Authentic)

4.96 from 625 votes
Prep: 10 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Lisa Bryan

Description

A tried and true guacamole recipe that's easy to make, uses fresh ingredients and is loaded with flavor. It's the best guacamole dip hands down. Watch the video below to see how quickly it comes together!

Video

Ingredients 
 

  • 3 avocados, ripe
  • ½ small yellow onion, finely diced
  • 2 Roma tomatoes, diced
  • 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 jalapeno pepper, seeds removed and finely diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 lime, juiced
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt

Instructions 

  • Slice the avocados in half, remove the pit, and scoop into a mixing bowl. 
    Scooped avocado in a mixing bowl.
  • Mash the avocado with a fork and make it as chunky or smooth as you’d like.
  • Add the remaining ingredients and stir together. Give it a taste test and add a pinch more salt or lime juice if needed.
  • Serve the guacamole with tortilla chips.
    Guacamole in a serving bowl next to tortilla chips.

Lisa’s Tips

  • Look for large avocados for this recipe. If you can only find small avocados, feel free to add one more!
  • Definitely use fresh limes rather than lime juice in a bottle. The flavor difference is worth it. And speaking of limes, I’m using Mexican limes which give about 1 to 2 tablespoons of juice. 
  • Make sure to read my tips above for keeping leftover guacamole green and fresh. It’s truly amazing! And I store the leftover guacamole in these food storage containers.

Nutrition

Calories: 184.8kcal | Carbohydrates: 12.3g | Protein: 2.5g | Fat: 15.8g | Saturated Fat: 2.2g | Sodium: 305.5mg | Fiber: 7.6g | Sugar: 1.7g
Course: Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: authentic guacamole, easy guacamole, Guacamole, Guacamole Recipe, How to make guacamole
Did you make this recipe?Mention @downshiftology or tag #downshiftology!

Recipe originally posted August 2014, but updated to include new photos and video May 2018 and again today. 

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About the author

Lisa Bryan

Lisa is a bestselling cookbook author, recipe developer, and YouTuber (with over 2.5 million subscribers) living in sunny Southern California. She started Downshiftology in 2014, and is passionate about making healthy food with fresh, simple and seasonal ingredients.

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Recipe Rating




1,090 Comments

  1. Wowwwwww! This is damn good! I eat and buy guacamole all the time and this is my favorite recipe! Thank you thank you! I can’t stop eating it. I’m gonna have to get some carrots to eat with it so I don’t go overboard with the tortilla chips!5 stars

    1. Hi Kelechi- So glad you’ve enjoyed this guacamole recipe! Eating this with fresh veggies is also a great option.

  2. We made this and it was excellent.. maybe would use less salt but otherwise.. excellent. Thanks for posting.5 stars

    1. So glad you enjoyed this guacamole recipe! Definitely keep this recipe on hand for Cinco De Mayo :)

  3. Loved this recipe. I like the zesty flavors lemon and limes. Instead of one lime as the recipe called for, I used two.🍋5 stars

    1. Thrilled to hear that! Now you have a great guacamole recipe up your sleeve whenever you need it :)

  4. I didn’t bother reading the comments, but I do know a thin layer of mayonnaise or Miracle Whip on the top will keep guacamole from browning. They also add additional flavor which can be stirred right in.

  5. Not my favorite. Too much tomato, onion, and lime juice masking the taste of avocadoes. Maybe if you cut all the other ingredients in half, except the salt and jalapeno, it would be OK.

    1. Sorry this wasn’t your favorite Sabrina. As we all have different tastes, definitely feel free to tweak the quantities of the tomato, onion and lime to your liking. :)

  6. I use this recipe all the time and it is the best. I like going to the local Mexican grocery store to buy their avocados and they are kind enough to select 3 or 4 that I can use within the next two days. Much better than the chain grocery store. It is delicious and I really don’t modify a great thing.5 stars

  7. I also heard the tomatoes makws the quacamolw go off evwn quicker. Havent triedcit myself, but you could try discarding the tomatoes if you are planning to store the quacamole away for more than 2 days

    1. Just put the avacodo pits back into the guac before storing. It should easily last 4 or 5 days. If the top gets brown just stir it back together.

  8. My avocados weren’t quite ripe enough so I use the food processor to mash them and then I just mixed everything else after chopped – the same way. It will definitely taste better with riper guacamoles but this certainly was a great first try for me. 5 stars

    1. This is a good recipe for guacamole. I love to add a couple of shakes of cumin to mine, it really gives it a delicious flavor!5 stars

    1. Hi Sage – I’m glad you loved my guacamole recipe! And more garlic and lime juice sounds like a good idea to me. ;)

  9. I grew up in the Southwest, currently in Tucson, Az and this is how I make Guac. As a short cut I use green tobacco sauce instead of jalapenos, I like mine mild though. Love the water hint. People in Tucson like to add cumin, but i usually skip it. Great post!5 stars

    1. Thanks so much Karen! I’m happy you loved this guacamole! The green tabasco sauce is a great alternative yet still gives it a kick of flavor. Thanks for sharing!

  10. I made the guacamole for my super bowl party and it was a huge hit. My friend has made hundreds of batches of guac and considers himself an expert said it was better than his!! I was super proud and gave you all the credit. It was a great day having a win-win for my fav player Patrick Mahomes and my fav appetizer guacamole! Also – thanks for the helpful hints. I didn’t have any guac to save this time, but I’ll remember the cold water trick for future reference. Thanks. 5 stars

    1. Hi Sarah – Thrilled to hear this was a hit during the Super Bowl! And yes, definitely try the water trick next time and let me know if it works for you :)

  11. I made Lisa’s Guacamole to have as one of our snacks for Super Bowl Sunday! All I can say is that it was indeed a delicious super bowl of Guac! This recipe is fantastic and so easy to make! Thanks Lisa!5 stars

  12. Best Ever Guacamole!!! Exactly what it’s call! Made this for my family for the super bowl and it was the first item that finished first! Delicious! Lisa’s recipe’s never disappoints. 5 stars

    1. Hi Emily – Awesome! Looks like this is definitely a winning recipe to keep on hand for your next party :)

    1. Hi Jim – I have actually tried that method, but it didn’t work for me. I would try suggesting to use the water method I had stated in the post! Let me know how it goes :)

  13. This is so yummy! Perfect combo of ingredients, or leaves room for customizing. Lisa I made your carne asada fries your guacamole your Israeli salad and the artichoke spinach dip for Super Bowl Sunday and son’s birthday party event today. Thank you so much for your great recipes! I didn’t have to go looking for recipes anywhere else but your website/YouTube channel. 😘5 stars

    1. I’m so happy you’re loving all those recipe Jeri! It makes me abundantly happy to know you found everything you need here, and I keep adding more new recipes every week! :) x

  14. This was my first time making guacamole for my husband. It was a hit! I never liked it at restaurants so I wouldn’t eat it, but I tried this because I made it and knew what was in it. My husband had to tell me to stop eating it because it was supposed to be for the game meal. This is the BEST ever recipe! I will make my own bowl next time.5 stars

    1. Yay! I’m so happy you loved the recipe Lorett! It really does make a difference making it at home with fresh ingredients. And I agree, you should have your own bowl in the future – ha! I’m not very good at sharing my guac either. ;)

  15. Lovely guac. Eating it right now, while watching the snow fall outside. Good call on the squeezed (vs. bottled) lime. Thanks for the recipe.5 stars

  16. Absolutely delicious, the entire family demolished this eagerly. Thank you Lisa you are giving me inspiration in the kitchen. 5 stars

  17. This recipe was fantastic and full of flavor!!  We had extra so I put in storage jar and put little water on the top as you demonstrated in one of your videos.  The next day I poured the water off and it was beautiful green.  Thanks for the tip!!  I put avocados on my list for next grocery shop.  I look forward to making again.  As always, I so appreciate you, Lisa5 stars

  18. This REALLY is THE best ever guacamole!! Since first making it I would never make it any other way. Thanks Lisa, you really are a genius x5 stars

  19. If you want to keep your guacamole from turning brown, save the pit and put it back in the guacamole after you’ve made it. Lemon juice does work, but I sprits the top layer. I don’t mind the lemon flavor, i grew up eating it that way.
    Store it in a tightly slealed container. Should last a week in the fridge. To prevent further discoloration, refrain from opening the container to snack on it it too many times.5 stars

    1. Hi Denise – You can use either red or yellow onion :) In my most recent pomegranate guacamole, I used red onion.

      1. Thank you! This guacamole lived up to its name! It is delicious and your storage hack worked like a charm. :) Thanks for sharing. 5 stars

      2. Yay, I’m so happy you loved the recipe Denise! And yes, that little water trick is amazing, isn’t it? Can’t let good guacamole go to waste. ;)

  20. This is the same as my recipe except I use more cilantro and jalapeño but I’ve seen many people add the garlic does it really taste better with garlic?

  21. I had bought toooooooo many avocados for the holiday dinner so 2 days after I of course went to your guacamole dip!!! Also did the water trick to save and it worked!!! Thank you so much. #downshiftologyrecipesALWAYS5 stars

  22. This one is really the best ever guac. I’ve made it for friends, family, basically everybody and they’re asking for it since all the time. I also make it for myself a lot and put it on my nachos. I’m obssessed with it 😊5 stars

    1. Hi Niki – I’m not lying when it really is the best guacamole! I’m glad you and everyone enjoyed this recipe :)

    1. Hi Nick – Hahah! I wasn’t kidding when I said it is the best :) I’m glad you enjoyed this recipe!