The Best Guacamole Recipe is one that combines just a handful of fresh ingredients, herbs, a hint of lime, and the level of heat you choose. This super simple dip is incredibly flavorful, and the perfect game day snack. Serve with tortilla chips, veggies, or crackers and this dreamy dip is sure to please everyone!
Girls night, apps and drinks night or Mexican themed night always call for an assortment of delicious shareable snacks. Guacamole is a given, but what’s better than one dip? Two! Salsa Verde is another simple fresh Mexican inspired dip. Top off the night with a pitcher of Mojito and you’re set!
What is Guacamole Dip?
Originally a Mexican dip, Guacamole has become wildly popular in North America. Not only is it used for chips and dip, but it’s used as a condiment, a spread and as its own ingredient within a dish. When something is this easy to make and packs such a flavor punch, it’s not at all hard to see why it is so versatile!
Knowing how to make a good dip from scratch, much like my creamy dill, isn’t rocket science. Except for it kind of is. As easy as it is to make a good dip good, it’s just as easy to have it go south. This easy to follow guacamole recipe takes the guesswork out of it and results in the best tasting guacamole every time!
Keeping plenty of dip recipes in your back pocket is a good idea if you host often, or even just to have in a pinch if you’ve been asked to bring an appetizer someplace. This isn’t a hot dip so it requires no bake time, and can be made in just minutes. It’s always a crowd-pleaser, because, really who doesn’t love a creamy, avocado with a note of fresh herbs, citrus, and a spice blend of cumin and chili powder?!
It’s naturally gluten-free, vegan, and loaded with good fats, which makes this one of the healthier dips out there. Taste, simplicity, and function…so much to love!
How to quickly ripen your avocados:
Unripe avocados are usually quite dense on the outside and have no give when squeezed. For the absolute best guacamole, you need them ripe so if yours aren’t quite there yet, below are a couple of ways to speed up the process.
- If you have a few days to spare, put your avocado in a brown paper bag with either an apple or a banana and leave it on your counter for about 3 days.
- If you have an hour to spare, you can actually wrap them in foil and bake in the oven for anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour. Then put them in the fridge to cool down before continuing.
Ingredients for Easy Guacamole:
- Avocados – You want to use ripe avocados as they’ll be softer and creamier. Also, easier to work with when mixing.
- Fresh lime juice – You’ll need about 2 limes total.
- Coarse sea salt – Use coarse sea salt if you can, but if not, table salt is just fine.
- Cumin – A warming flavorful earthy spice that offsets the citrus quite nicely.
- Chili powder – When blended with the cumin, it adds a little smoky heat.
- Fresh cilantro – Chopped cilantro is a fresh herb that rounds everything out nicely. If you’re a nonlover of cilantro you can leave it out, but it really does add something special.
- Diced tomatoes – Seeds removed. You can also toss some pre-made pico de gallo or salsa into the guacamole.
- Jalapeno – This optional garnish adds another layer of heat but also flavor. Diced or sliced as a topping.
How to Make Guacamole Dip:
Step 1: Grab your avocadoes and slice them in half lengthwise. If they’re nice and ripe they should be easy to cut through. Remove the pit and scoop the flesh from the skin into a bowl, using a spoon.
Step 2: Squeeze lime over the avocados. They tend to turn brown quite quickly (not a bad thing, it’s just not cute), so lime serves two purposes. Awesome flavor, but it also helps keep the avocados from turning brown. Then, add salt, cumin, and chili powder.
Step 3: Use a fork (or potato masher) to mash the avocado to desired consistency – you can make a chunky guacamole or mash it as smooth as you’d like. I personally like a bit more chunky guacamole.
Step 4: Add the chopped cilantro and diced tomatoes and stir to combine.
Serve guacamole immediately with chips, veggies, or your favorite Mexican dish!
Other Mexican-Inspired Favorites
Substitutions and Variations for the Best Guacamole:
You may have noticed this recipe doesn’t use any onions or garlic. If you’ve dipped your finger in it, by now you’ll realize it doesn’t need any. As much as we love our onion and garlic combo, when using it raw, it can really overpower everything else.
With that being said, if you love yourself some red onions and want to add garlic, you totally can! If you want to omit the tomatoes you can do this too. Customize this homemade guacamole to your liking, season to taste and good luck having any leftover!
I recommend making it the day of, however, there are some tips and tricks you can use to keep it from turning brown if making it the day before.
When storing it the bowl, keep the pits in there with it. Slice some lime wedges and place those in there as well. Squeeze an extra amount of lime juice to prevent browning, then cover tightly with plastic wrap.
Even still, the top may brown overnight, in which case, just scrape it off. The dip underneath should still be nice and green.
The Best Guacamole Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 large avocados ripe
- 1/8-1/4 cup fresh lime juice 1-2 limes
- pinch coarse sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro chopped
- 1/2 cup diced tomatoes seeds removed
- 1 jalapeno optional, diced or slices for topping
Instructions
- Slice avocados in half lengthwise and scoop the flesh from the skin with a spoon. Place avocado in a mixing bowl.
- Squeeze lime over the avocados. Add salt, cumin, and chili powder.
- Use a fork (or potato masher) to mash the avocado to desired consistency – you can make a chunky guacamole or mash it as smooth as you'd like. I personally like a bit more chunky guacamole.
- Add the chopped cilantro and diced tomatoes and stir to combine.
- Serve guacamole immediately with chips, veggies, or your favorite Mexican dish!
