Classic Guacamole Recipe (2024)

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January 7, 2019

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Everyone loves Guacamole, especially this classic, fail-proof Guacamole Recipe! Perfect for any party and always a winner. Make this basic guac recipe with avocados and lime juice and add in any extras you like!

Today I’m sharing a Classic Guacamole Recipe. I don’t know about you, but I love Guacamole with the passion of a thousand suns. I could eat it all day, but only when it is made correctly. And by correctly I mean how I like it.

My husband used to hate the fact that I added garlic in my guacamole because that isn’t how his mom made it, but I’ve won him over (after being married for 11 years! Ha!). Of course there are a million ways and variations but here is the tried and true version I love.

How to make this basic Guacamole Recipe:

Guacamole at its core is ripe, mashed avocado with different ingredients added for freshness and flavor. Here’s the breakdown:

  1. Scoop ripe avocados into a bowl. Mash until it is as smooth or chunky as you’d like.
  2. Squeeze over lime juice. This adds acidity and
  3. Add salt & pepper to taste.
  4. Stir in any extra guacamole add-ins, as listed below.
  5. Serve with chips.

Need more appetizers? See here:Mexican Street Corn Recipe,Crockpot Chicken Wings,Taco Lettuce Wraps, andSimple Bruschetta Recipe.

Guacamole Recipe add-ins:

After you have your basic guacamole-avocado mix, add in a few of these ingredients to customize and create your own best guacamole recipe! I’ve never met a guacamole I didn’t like.

  • cilantro, for herby freshness
  • fresh jalapenos, for spice
  • garlic, for flavor
  • hot sauce, for more heat
  • red onion, for onion flavor
  • tomatoes, for extra freshness
  • diced pineapple, mango or pomegranate arils for a sweet bite
  • nuts or seeds, for crunch
  • cooked bacon, because WHY NOT. Also, yum!
  • cheese, for a creamy richness only cheese can bring

Classic Guacamole Recipe (2)

How to Prevent Guacamole from turning brown

Guacamole and avocados in general turn brown when they are exposed to air. The best way to combat this is to add in a little extra squeeze of lime juice or cover directly with plastic wrap. If you have made this in advance for a party or just to store for later use, I like to smooth the top of the guacamole, then sprinkle with a little extra lime juice on the very top before covering with plastic wrap. I press it directly on top of the guac to press out any air and then refrigerate.

When I make this for a large group, I always try to add a few extra onions and tomatoes to beef it up a bit and help it go further since avocados are a little on the pricey side, depending on the time of year.

When are avocados ripe?

If you’ve ever bought an avocado in your life, odds are you’ve missed the small window it is perfectly ripe. You will most likely buy an avocado from the store when the exterior is more green than dark green/black in color and hard. As it sits on your counter, you want to use an avocado when it is slightly soft (gives a little when you press it) and very dark green/black brown.

More Dips to Try!

If guac isn’t your thing, don’t worry, I have a whole arsenal of delicious dips!

  • Amazing Pico de Gallo Recipe
  • Cowboy Caviar Recipe
  • 7 Layer Dip
  • Basic Salsa Recipe
  • Creamy Cowboy Caviar
  • Beef Enchilada Dip
  • Jalapeño Queso Fundido
  • Roasted Jalapeño Queso

Anyways, be sure to save/pin/bookmark/print this recipe, depending on preference. Have a great day, friends! xo

Classic Guacamole Recipe (3)

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5 from 1 vote

Classic Guacamole Recipe

Everyone loves Guacamole, especially this classic, fail-proof Guacamole Recipe! Perfect for any party and always a winner. Make this basic guac recipe with avocados and lime juice and add in any extras you like!

servings 6 Servings

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 2 ripe Haas avocados
  • 1 lime juiced
  • 1 garlic clove finely minced, I use a pretty big one
  • salt
  • pepper
  • 1 small roma tomato diced
  • 2 tablespoons cilantro chopped, I use it when I have it and when I'm feeling peppy

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Open ripe avocados, remove the seed and scoop out the flesh into a large bowl. Squeeze lime juice over avocados and mash slightly. Stir in remaining ingredients according to your preference and serve as desired.

Notes

I find it is best when you let the guacamole sit in the fridge 20-30 minutes to let the garlic work its magic...I usually can't wait that long.

Nutrition

Calories: 113kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 5mg | Potassium: 360mg | Fiber: 4g | Vitamin A: 195IU | Vitamin C: 11.6mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 0.4mg

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: guacamole

Classic Guacamole Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is traditional guacamole made of? ›

Here's all you need for traditional guacamole: ripe avocados, coriander/cilantro, red onions, jalapeño or Serrano chilli, lime and salt. Avoid unnecessary fillers such as sour cream and cream cheese. They only dilute flavour. Popular optional extras include: garlic, tomato, cumin powder.

What is the difference between Mexican guacamole and American guacamole? ›

Generally speaking, the guacamole in Mexico is going to taste a bit fresher. The avocados, cilantro, and even the chiles used in the Mexican version are likely to be significantly fresher than those in the U.S. version.

Does traditional guacamole have tomatoes? ›

Guacamole's main ingredient is avocado, however, it also features cilantro, lime, jalapeño, and tomato! Is avocado spread and guacamole the same thing? No, avocado spread is typically just mashed avocado with a touch of lime juice or lemon juice. Guacamole has additional ingredients.

Do Mexicans put tomato in guacamole? ›

The main ingredient in the popular Mexican dish "Guacamole" is avocado. Guacamole is a delicious and creamy dip made from mashed avocados and typically seasoned with various ingredients such as lime juice, cilantro, onions, tomatoes, garlic, salt, and sometimes chili peppers for added spice.

What is Western style avocado guacamole? ›

Mash avocados with lemon juice in large mixing bowl. Stir in chilies, tomato, soy sauce, onion, garlic and red pepper. Cover and refrigerate several hours for flavors to blend. Turn out into serving bowl and serve with chips.

Does authentic guacamole contain garlic? ›

FYI: Authentic Guacamole consists of four ingredients and one is still optional: Avocado, finely diced sweet or red onion, salt and if you wish, lime. That is it. And absolutely never, ever, garlic!

What do Mexicans eat guacamole with? ›

This treat is usually served with chips at local Mexican or Tex-Mex restaurants, such as Moe's or Chipotle, but is also a popular ingredient on tacos, nachos, burritos, quesadillas, and more. Lucky for you—guacamole is easy to make and can also be enjoyed at home. What is Guacamole?

Why you should leave the lime out of guacamole? ›

With ripe tomatoes so rare in the U.S., I generally leave them out.) I know what you're about to ask. "But what about oxidation?” While lime is touted as a way prevent avocados from browning, it takes a lot of lime for that to work—and it's generally a bad idea to transform a dish's taste for aesthetic reasons.

Is red or yellow onion better for guacamole? ›

Most people prefer to use sweet white onion in their guacamole recipe. Red or yellow onion tends to give the guacamole too strong of a garlic flavor.

Is guacamole just smashed avocado? ›

Guacamole is traditionally made by mashing peeled, ripe avocados and salt with a molcajete y tejolote (mortar and pestle). Recipes often call for lime juice, cilantro, onions, and jalapeños. Some non-traditional recipes may call for sour cream, tomatoes, basil, or peas.

What makes guacamole taste better? ›

If you taste your guac and it is bland, start with more salt. Next, add lime juice. Often an additional pop of citrus is all guac needs to come alive and taste better. If you still aren't happy with the taste, you can rely on mix-ins to jazz it up.

Why put olive oil in guacamole? ›

Olive oil is rich in healthy fats and imparts a subtle richness to guacamole that makes it even more satisfying. In addition, it can help to prevent the avocado from turning brown too quickly by forming a barrier between the surface of the guacamole and the air.

Can you put too much lemon juice in guacamole? ›

Typically the recipe is 3 to 4 avocados, 1 to 2 tomatoes, 1/2 onion, 1 to 2 hot peppers, 3 to 4 tablespoons chopped cilantro, 1 to 2 tablespoons lemon or lime juice, 1 garlic clove (optional), and salt and pepper to taste. Adding too much lemon or lime juice can cause a very watery guacamole.

What is guacamole in Mexican culture? ›

Guacamole History: A Mexican Food? The history of this tasty treat dates back to the Aztec Empire in Central America during the 1500s. Avocados were a favorite fruit in the area, and the Aztecs loved their “ahuaca-mulli” or avocado-mixture.

Why is restaurant guacamole so green? ›

It isn't exposed to air

When avocados are exposed to air, they begin to oxidize. That's when and why they start to turn brown. But if you can eliminate any contact with air, guacamole — or even an avocado half — can be stored for longer without changing colors.

What's the difference between avocado and guacamole? ›

We know the answer is obvious to most of you, but nevertheless, a lot of people ask this question. The difference between avocado and guacamole is: the first item is a fruit, and the second item is a dip using that fruit.

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