Best Ever Guacamole
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!
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 get in Mexico.
Guacamole Ingredients
With just 8 simple ingredients you can make one of the all-time-best dip recipes.
- Avocados: I’ve got a few tips for picking ripe ones 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 flakey 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.
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.
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?
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:
- Carne Asada (turned into Tacos and Fries)
- Carnitas (turned into Tacos and Burrito Bowl)
- Barbacoa (turned into Tacos and Burrito Bowl)
- Shrimp Tacos
- Citrus Shrimp Ceviche
- Pico de Gallo (Chunky Salsa)
- Salsa (Restaurant-Style)
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!
Best Ever Guacamole (Fresh, Easy & Authentic)
Recipe 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.
- 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.
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.
- 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
Recipe originally posted August 2014, but updated to include new photos and video May 2018 and again today.
You’ve been there for me through all my ups and downs, and I hope you know I’m always here for you too. Thanks for being such a wonderful best friend. I hope you have a great birthday, and the year ahead is the best yet!
Absolutely The Best Guacomole
Tried this recipe but took only half of the salt and it came out perfect!
Happy you loved the guacamole, Anna!
Add a tablespoon of double cream,and stir into guacamole,1, makes guacamole creamier 2 , seems the lactose works as a preservative!
Great recipe! Will become a go-to for sure
Thank you for such a great recipe! I followed your guacamole instructions to the “T” and had excellent results, much better than the expensive grocery store guacamole. Kudos! Thanks again!
-Glen
This was my first time ever making guacamole, and I am so glad that I found your recipe. The flavor profiles are spot on! Thank you for sharing:-)
You’re more than welcome, Tammy! So happy you enjoyed the guac.
Yum, great recipe! Didn’t have cilantro when I made it, so I ate most of it without it. Went to market and grabbed a bunch and chopped it up a bit and added it in to taste the true recipe. Not a big fan of cilantro, but I do believe it adds to the flavor very well. Recipe is a keeper and will make this again! Thank you!
Cilantro definitely is a key ingredient for this guacamole! Glad you enjoyed it Cheryl :)
The Best Guacamole ever!!! Thank you!
Happy to hear you love this guacamole recipe Kim!
Absolutely outstanding recipe that is easy to make! I had no fresh peppers so used (store-bought and then chopped up) Mt Olive mild banana pepper rings instead–and that worked great. Adds just that bit of kick. Will certainly make again–this coming weekend to begin with. Lovely recipe! My thanks.
Glad this turned out great with the banana pepper rings :)
I tried this recipe and it’s truly the best. Thank you for sharing.
Happy to hear you enjoyed this guacamole recipe Amy!
Love this recipe! I added cilantro and ground black pepper.
Glad you enjoyed the guacamole recipe :)
Great recipe. I was craving guac all last week and picked up some avocados but they weren’t ripe. It was like torture waiting for them to ripen. Love that you add the jalapeno pepper, It gives the dip such a nice kick without creating too much heat and taking away from the other flavors. Its also amazing how much of a different it makes using fresh lime juice
You can put avocados in a paper bag with bananas to speed up the ripening process!
I freeze my guacamole! I make a large batch and freeze in small jars and when I ready for some guac I just take it out of the freezer, thaw, and enjoy! Tastes the same as the day I made it!
I have been making this quacamole on repeat for the past 6 weeks. My husband, who is not an avocado fan, has been requesting it weekly!
Glad you and your husband are enjoying this guacamole recipe!
Fantastic guac. Simple, easy and delicious. i used tomatoes fresh from the garden. They weren’t Romas and were perfect for the dish.
Glad you enjoyed this guacamole recipe! I’m sure the fresh tomatoes made it that much better :)
I am going to try it out today Allimuthu Perumal
Hope you enjoyed this guacamole recipe!
Tastes really good, but “authentic guacamole “ does not contain tomatoes and leaving them out makes very little difference to the tast.
Recipes are made to be altered. I grew up in a large Italian family that ran an authentic pizzeria. If I had a dollar for everytime I saw a local pizza shop changing the authentic recipes I would be a billionaire. I also have an authentic Mexican restaurant in my town, and the family that owns that place moved here from Mexico about a decade ago and they put tomatoes in their Guacamole and I consider theirs the best I’ve ever had.
If I don’t like cilantro can I use parsley instead?
It’s possible to add parsley, but it will change the flavor. I personally like the flavor of cilantro better for this recipe.
My whole family loves this recipe, it has become a staple in many meals. Thanks for the story and the advice.
Happy to hear you loved this recipe Francis!
Turned out great and was simple to make
Wonderful! Glad your guacamole was a success :)
Easy. I’m looking for recipes high in potamssium
What is “potamssium”!?
Avocados are high in potassium
I have made this recipe multiple times before, and it has always been delicious! I only needed half of the recipe this time, but forgot about that when I added the salt. Do you have any suggestions on how to easily counteract the extra salt without having to add the other half of all of the ingredients? Thanks!
I bought a guacamole saver and it works like a charm to keep my guacamole fresh for multiple days..you just press the lid down..it lets the air out until you reach the surface of the guac.. it lets me nom on this recipe for 3-7days..
I just use plastic wrap and press it down so no air is left, works great and super cheap!
Great taste of home
Glad you enjoyed this guacamole recipe Aris!
This is the best homemade guac!!! Hands down. I amped up the lime w lemon juice too. Really good!!!
Glad you love this guacamole recipe Linda!
I loved this recipe! Roma tomatoes and fresh lime juice is a must.
Absolutely! Glad you loved this guacamole recipe Joe :)
Easy and delicious
Easiest way to preserve leftover guacamole and super effective – place a leftover/spare tortilla over the top and press down slightly to cover, then put a lid on the container. The tortilla will be a little soggy the next day but the guacamole is good as new!
Love it! As good as my own…from your native N. Californian here. The trick is to keep one pit and stick it straight down in the middle of vuacomole in your serving bowl, with a little showing on top–for fun and color. It stops the oxidization, even in the fridge for a night or two. Guac. should be made fresh like yours, yum, and eaten that day…or next day at least.
Thanks for the tip!
Perfect. Nothing else to say.
This is the best guacamole I ever made. I’ve tried about 6 or 7 recipes over the years, all only slightly different but this one tastes better, fresher. I subbed green onions for the regular onion, it was great.
Thrilled to hear you’ve found a winning guacamole recipe!
Seriously, the best; simple recipe for guacamole I’ve ever made. I paired this with your salsa (bomb diggity) and Fajitas (bomb diggity x2) and I was the hero of the night to my family even more than usual because I’m blessed with amazing boys :)
This was easy, and delicious. The texture is such a perfect mix of creamy, substance and crunch. Thank you!!
Also, thanks for including “jump to recipe” button. (I have stopped visiting blogs that don’t have this.)
Glad you enjoyed this guacamole recipe and that the button is helpful :)
Love your recipes. Do you have any for CKD renal stage 5 patients? Thank
Unfortunately, I’m not quite too sure. But you can possibly find some individuals who are sharing the same experience in the Facebook Community Group! If you’re not part of it yet, come join and meet tons of Downshifters around the world :)
Judy, have you explored the Davita website for recipes? I would have been lost without it following my husband’s CKD diagnosis. Thanks to the Davita recipes, nutritionists and information, he lost 40 lbs in 4 months and raised his GFR from 50 to 74. I hope this helps you, and I wish you the best.
I use a potato masher with square holes to mash avocados, pressing down only once on each part of the fruit.
love this/ have to make it soon!
Wonderful recipe, my preference is to use red onion.
The red onion definitely makes all the difference :)
this really is the BEST! thank you!!! yum!
A lot of things have passed over my tongue in 87 years but cilantro was the nastiest.
BTW, Julia Child didn’t like it!
(see previous comment) Otherwise the recipe sounds delicious.
Hi Dorothy, my family doesn’t like cilantro too so I always substitute it with parsley. Try it with parsley, it’s really the best guacamole recipe.
Some of the best guac I’ve ever had!!
I loved the crunchy deliciousness! It’s my favorite recipe…..
Happy to hear you’ve found a winning guacamole recipe!
Made your recipe for my husband’s birthday & everyone said it was THE BEST guacamole they ever ate!!! Thank you so much for sharing.
Amazing! Now you have a guacamole recipe you can always reference :)
Go to recipe. Love this. Have made it multiple times. I have made it with and without cilantro depending on what I had in the house. Perfect, simple mix of ingredients that works every time.
Happy to hear you love this recipe!
It was very very good!
Actually really good. Use a potato masher if you have one to smash the avocados quicker
Love this recipe! I made it without garlic and topped it with some sliced scallions/spring onions. It’s very tasty and sooo fresh.
Love the idea of adding scallions and spring onions! Glad you enjoyed this recipe Regi :)
I am very thankful for the avocado storage tip!
Glad it was helpful Kate! :)
AWESOME EASY DELICIOUS
Glad you love this recipe Tom :)
So delicious!
Glad you enjoyed this guacamole recipe Neda!
I worked for Whole Foods and made guacamole. This recipe is just like how we made it!
Glad you enjoyed this guacamole recipe!