Name: Easy Homemade Guacamole
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Ingredients: 3 ripe avocados, peels and pits removed; 2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice; 1/3 cup finely minced tomato (I prefer to remove the seeds for guacamole); 2 Tablespoons finely minced red or white onion; 1 Tablespoon jalapeño (start small and add from there–check to see how spicy your jalapeño is!); 2-4 Tablespoons minced cilantro; 1/2 teaspoon salt (more or less, to taste); 1/4 teaspoon pepper, optional (can sub a pinch of cumin instead)

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Easy Homemade Guacamole – This classic guacamole recipe has all the flavor you love. Add some chips & you have an instant party!

Overhead view of homemade guacamole with baked tortilla chips

When given the choice, I will ALWAYS choose “add guacamole.”

Tacos? Nachos? Grilled chicken? Burrito bowls? A SPOON?

I WILL TAKE ALL OF THE GUACAMOLE PLEASE.

We’ve shared several guacamole recipes over the years, but I was astonished to discover I haven’t published a good, back-to-basics, classic guacamole recipe anywhere. So, today’s the day!

This is my best guacamole recipe when you’re craving the classic. It’s made in minutes from simple ingredients & tastes good on basically everything.

Here’s what you need for this easy guacamole recipe…

Our Easy Guacamole Recipe, At A Glance:

Ingredients For Classic Guacamole
How To Make Authentic Guacamole, Step By Step
Yummy Ways To Serve Guacamole
More Mix-Ins To Try
FAQ + Tips For The Best Homemade Guacamole
More Yummy Dips & Salsas To Try
RECIPE: Easy Homemade Guacamole

Here’s What You Need To Make Homemade Guacamole:

Ripe Avocados. You’ll need 3 avocados to make our homemade guacamole recipe. Nailing the ripeness of avocados can be tricky if you don’t eat them regularly–I love these tips for choosing avocados & ripening avocados perfectly. (We use the paper bag trick all the time!)
Fresh Lime Juice. Using fresh lime juice is crucial for the best flavor! It’s bright and fresh, where bottled lime juice can easily taste bitter or overly acidic. I only recommend fresh lime juice for homemade guacamole.
Red Or White Onion. What type of onion is best for guacamole? Different families, regions, and restaurants make different choices here, but red onion adds a pop of color, while white onion can be more authentic. Either will work!
Tomatoes. If you don’t like tomatoes, you *can* leave them out. But I love the color and flavor they bring to this easy guacamole!
Jalapeño. A little or a lot, depending on how hot your jalapeño is and how spicy you want your guacamole to be.
Fresh Cilantro. I’m a huge cilantro fan. I love the bright, fresh note and color it adds to classic guacamole. (PS – here’s how to keep your cilantro fresh for 2 weeks or more!)
Salt. One of the secrets to great guacamole is using enough salt! Using enough salt will make or break your guacamole. If it’s not tasting quite right, it probably needs just a little more salt!

ripe avocados for making homemade guacamole

Mashing avocado with lime to make easy guacamole

How To Make Authentic Guacamole, Step By Step:

A NOTE ON AUTHENTICITY: USE A MOLCAJETE!

To make truly authentic guacamole, you’ll use a molcajete. This stone or basalt mortar & pestle has been used since Aztec & Mayan eras to grind spices or chiles, and to prepare salsas and guacamole. Dora from Dora’s Table has a great tutorial for how to care for & cure a molcajete (new ones need to be seasoned or cured).

Since not all U.S. households have a molcajete, we’ll be making our guacamole in a bowl today. I’ll be using as authentic a method and ingredients as possible.

Start With The Avocado. In a medium bowl, mash avocados with lime juice until fairly smooth. I prefer using a fork, but some people prefer a potato masher for this job! (The lime juice keeps the avocado looking fresh & makes it easier to mash.)
Next, Add The Mix-Ins. Add tomato, onion, jalapeño, cilantro, salt and pepper
Stir to combine with a fork.
Taste and adjust, add additional onion, lime juice, jalapeño, salt, cilantro, or tomato as desired.
Enjoy immediately for best results or store covered in the refrigerator 2-3 days. (See the FAQ below for how to keep your guacamole from browning!)

Yummy Ways To Serve Homemade Guacamole

WITH CHIPS. Obviously, we need to start with chips! The salty crunch of some good tortilla chips is heaven on earth with the cool, creamy guac. One of my favorite flavor & texture combos on the planet!

ON BURGERS, SANDWICHES & WRAPS. Add instant flavor to your favorite burgers, sandwiches, or wraps. It’s fabulous on a BLT, with chicken, veggies & lettuce in a wrap, or on top of our buffalo chicken burgers!

SCOOPED OVER GRILLED CHICKEN. Make some grilled chicken and serve it with a dollop of classic guacamole. It’s light, fresh, and full of flavor!

ON ALL YOUR TEX-MEX FAVES. Level up all your Tex-Mex favorites with a scoop or two of guacamole. Try it with:

Chipotle Sweet Potato Burrito Bowls.
Quesadillas.
Vegan Black Bean Tostadas or these refried bean tostadas.
With ALL The Tacos & Burritos— Fish Tacos, Honey Lime Chicken Tacos, Breakfast Tacos, Barbacoa Beef, Sweet Pork, Birria de Res, etc.
On Nachos – Isabel Eats is the queen of nachos!
In 7-Layer Dip, like this one from Ahead of Thyme

More Mix-Ins & Extras To Try: Guacamole Variations

Try It With Chili Powder Or Cumin. Some folks love adding a little smoky depth with a pinch or two of chili powder or cumin.
Add Sour Cream or Greek Yogurt. This isn’t authentic, but it’s a Tex-Mex fave for some! If you want a little tang (or want to stretch your guacamole further), mix in a dollop of sour cream or some plain Greek yogurt.
Charred or Grilled Corn. In the summer, I love mixing grilled corn into my guacamole!
Fresh Garlic Or Garlic Powder. Some restaurants & families SWEAR by adding a clove of fresh garlic or a pinch of garlic powder to their guacamole recipe. If you’re a garlic lover, go for it!
Swap The Tomatoes For Fruit! Sounds crazy, but that sweet-spicy-savory combo is delightful! Skip tomatoes in favor of fresh mango, pineapple, or even strawberries!

Overhead view of classic guacamole with tomatoes & jalapeño

FAQ + Tips For The Best Guacamole:

How Do You Keep Guacamole From Turning Brown? Guacamole turns brown when it’s exposed to air (oxidation), so reducing the air exposure by protecting the surface helps keep it looking fresh. Here are my two favorite methods for keeping guacamole green:

The food wrap method. Press plastic wrap or reusable food wrap down onto the surface of the guacamole. Press out any air bubbles, then cover with a lid if you can.
The water method. Use the back of a spoon or a spatula to level out the surface of the guacamole, sealing the edges against the sides of the bowl or container you’re using. Cover the surface of the guacamole with a thin layer of water. Drain and give the guacamole a stir before serving again. Repeat as needed!

How To Seed Tomatoes. You may want to remove the seeds from the tomatoes before dicing to avoid adding extra liquid to your guacamole. This tutorial for removing seeds & dicing your tomatoes is great!

Make It Mild Or Make It Spicy! If you want LESS heat in your guacamole, remove the seeds and white “ribs” from the jalapeño before mincing. Start with a small amount and add more, as desired, until you reach the right level of spice/heat. If you want SPICY guacamole, add more minced jalapeño to the guacamole or leave the seeds and ribs in for extra heat. You can also swap the jalapeno for a serrano pepper instead!

What’s In Traditional Guacamole? Common ingredients in authentic guacamole are avocados, onion, tomatoes, jalapeño, cilantro, lime juice, and salt. Just like most families have their own spins on classic recipes, the ingredients can vary, family to family, and region to region.

More Healthy Dip Recipes To Try:

⭐ Don’t forget to leave a star review and comment below when you make our Homemade Guacamole recipe. I can’t wait to hear how it goes!